Dear dimwit on the phone

I was talking in general, not specific to your photo, which I took as a pensive team watching the game.

 

That's how the managing editor saw that photo, too. She didn't know these girls (second to sixth from the left) were the starters and that this was taken during the last two minutes of the semifinal. Overprotective Grandma knew it and leaped to the "You embarassed the girls" conclusion. She saw conspiracy; I saw dull.

 

It is amazing what sets people off. You never know what to expect.

 

I agree. I've always told photographers for years to look for the emotion shots, especially in games when the stakes are highest. What I like to do as a layout editor is run action-reaction combination packages.

 

I got ya. Just kidding, mate. The description of the "overly muscular dimwit fisherman" made me chuckle.

 

Yeah, one place I worked ran a story that two HS girls basketball players had been suspended from the team for a violation of team rules. Turns out it was alcohol-related, although we never said that in print. Got a voice mail from an angry parent who insisted we were "crucifying those young girls".

Sometimes I'd be willing to lose a few subscribers just to save the grief.

 

Well, Crusifiction is a little cruel and unusual for an underage drinking charge.

 

But we did nothing of the such. Hell, we weren't even the people who suspended them.

We simply reported that "Betty and Sally have been suspended indefinitely for an unspecified violation of team rules". That explains why two of the team's three top scorers were not on the court or even on the bench and doesn't expose us to any sort of lawsuits, etc. It was a perfectly reasonable way to run it.

Had a similar issue come up years earlier when a star (NCAA Division I signee) softball player got busted for booze the night before the state tournament. Not in lineup. Team lost twice and was eliminated.

Fans back home want to know "where the hell was so-and-so?" As a reporter, I can't turn a blind eye when it's a significant player and their absence effects the outcome of games. Life is hard. Get used to it. Or cover your sins a little better and don't get suspended.

 

Did that really need the blue font? I agree with you 100 percent. I've had similar conversations -- one that changed on a dime when I reminded daddy that Sally was over 18, and I was well within my rights to say a whole lot more.

 

Just had my annual phone message telling me we discriminate against the women because we didn't publish their bracket along with the men's bracket. I'm never here when this certain lady calls to tell her: THEY RELEASE THE WOMEN'S BRACKET TONIGHT, DUMMY.
I feel better now.

 

Yeah, I was glad when they made that change and do them on different days. Many of my sections were only four pages on Monday and it was a real challenge to run both brackets and still get in any other sports news that day. Monday release for the women is much better.

I have wondered if the NCAA might flip-flop the Final Fours at some point and play the men Sunday/Tuesday instead.

 

Ran a list of event winners from a big track meet and a momma - I've dealt with her before, a real piece of work - called to complain that her little angel was left off the list. Little Angel won her heat, not the final race.