Dear dimwit on the phone

I would argue that it IS news. Just like business is news, politics is news, lifestyle is news, etc. We need to be reporters first and foremost, whether we happen to work in sports or some other department.

But it's issues like this that finally killed my willingness to cover high school sports. Not the kids themselves, who, for the most part, are good to deal with. But the parents, sadly, are a different story.

 

It's not like business or politics. It is somewhat similar to lifestyle reporting, and they should be held to a different set of rules than business and politics too. Heck, politics and business should have different standards.

 

This isn't a sports vs. news argument. This is a youth vs. adults argument.

Just like you're not supposed to identify minors when something bad on the news side happens, you're supposed to stay away from criticizing or directly pointing out mistakes by children when covering prep sports, as long is it doesn't get in the way of telling the story. You don't need to say "Little Johnny had five errors" when covering a Little League game, when you could say "Team X had six errors." Same goes for preps... What is the value of saying "Somewhat-bigger Johnny missed the game-tying extra point" when you could just say the team missed the extra point?

Coaches are fair game, as are pro and college players. I learned this at my first prep gig. Is this not standard practice?

 

I feel for you and your kid and I understand your anger, but come on.

While entirely understandable you made the mistake with your current life pressure, using your sick kid as an excuse for making a mistake at work and getting pissed at someone (who I assume didn't know your kid was sick) for pointing it out is pretty shitty.

Unless she knew your kid was sick, then she's a total bitch.

 

I have to agree here. Didn't want to be the first to say it. Sorry about your situation, but if you make a mistake, you still have to own up to it.

 

Totally agree here too. Sometimes you have no choice if the error/fumble/etc is a big part the game, but if you can simply say "team x had six errors," then I choose that route. It's a fine line.

 

Maybe it is some places. Another reason for me, personally, to avoid it then. I don't need to just write platitudes about how great Little Johnny Bedwetter is, but never write anything critical.

 

When something bad is happening to your kid, you should be able to walk down the street naked while taking a baseball bat to people's cars. Anything that makes you feel even a tiny bit better.

 

Yeesh. Really can't resist being critical of youth athletes? I agree, you shouldn't be covering youth sports.

 

You need to say "Somewhat-bigger Johnny missed the game-tying extra point" because it's critical to the story. It doesn't get in the way of telling the story. It is the story. The team didn't miss the extra point. Somewhat-bigger Johnny missed the extra point.

 

I think that case would be up for argument. I know editors that would fall on both sides. I would be totally fine with, "the team missed the extra point to tie the game."

Once, I was covering a prep baseball game... The tying run was on third and the go-ahead run was on second... The catcher attempted to back-pick the runner at third after a pitch, but pump-faked the throw, lost the grip on the ball and threw it into the ground. The ball rolled into the team's dugout, and I believe both runs scored (it was a while ago).

In that case, there was no avoiding it. That was the story.

 

With all of this mamby-pamby crap, why are we afraid to do our jobs? We are there to report on a game. Report what happened. If Little Johnny fucked up, say it. If Little Johnny was the hero, say it. Everyone doesn't get a fucking trophy in life and everyone isn't shielded from scorn when they fuck up. You are on the public stage, you fucked up, own it.

I hope that tells everyone what side this editor would fall on.