Doing non-journalism piddling while working

This most accurately reflects my feelings.

I was never a huge notetaker when I covered games, and if I was still doing that, I'd probably spend a little time here during all the stoppages in play at a typical football game.

Writers do these things in different ways. Let's see what shows up on the paper before judging them.

 

The problem here is not who's piddling around with "non-journalism" stuff in the press box, it's RB's condescending attitude:

"Meanwhile, the other 200 of us up here are keeping notes, blogging, and, well, DOING OUR JOBS."

"I thought at the time -- and continue to think -- that these guys had better NEVER go looking for a job that I have to offer ... because that isn't getting it done.

"These two guys didn't note crap. You telling me their gamers and sidebars will win awards? Will they serve their readers as well as the ones in the paper down the road? Answer *any* of those questions with a "yes", and you are lying to yourself."

"I posted here twice during the game -- both during timeouts -- and would put my work today against ANYBODY ... both in quantity and quality. That ain't bragging, either."

"Why don't you care?

Maybe because we have a crappy reputation, collectively, as journalists. My boss, whom I generally respect, jokingly referred to us as the "toy department" the other day. And it stung then like it did the first time I heard it.

Maybe because I bust my ass to eliminate reasons for the people I manage to say to themselves "ah, fuck it ... who cares, right?"

Let me put it another way: I could endure a "journalist" letting a cheer escape his lips once in a blue moon WAY over one that clearly isn't giving half a shit. I saw that today, not 10 feet from me. And it made me wonder ..."

I guess RB is a big-time SE at some major paper to have all that talent and wield all the power he claims to.

Or else he's just a pompous asshole.

 

THAT'S what I have a problem with.

Any kind of cheering, homerism or partiality does tenfold more damage to the reputation of our profession than taking the time to post here, check e-mail, place an online order for the Pudding of the Month or whatever.

I haven't a clue why this should bother anyone. If YOU know that YOU'RE doing YOUR job to the best of YOUR ability, then the other writers can spend the game smearing themselves with sour cream while singing "Shock The Monkey" for all you should care.

Look, people have different ways of doing different things. You might be surprised to find that those who are "piddling away" their time end up writing solid, concise gamers and comprehensive game reports. Conversely, those who prop their non-blinking eyes open with toothpicks and carry colostomy bags to avoid bathroom breaks could be producing absolute dreck.

There's more than one way to deliver the baby.

 

And then there is this issue of "our crappy reputation as journalists."

I do not buy into nor care about this so-called "crappy reputation." And how does what anyone is doing in a press box contribute to that supposed "crappy reputation" when readers have no fucking clue what anybody is doing in the press box? Nor do they know or care how we do our jobs or what awards we might win.

All readers care about is a story they "like." Most don't even know what's really good writing and what isn't. If it says something they agree with and like, it's good. If it says something they disagree with and don't like, it's bad---even if it's Pulitzer quality writing.

Maybe RB feels he has a crappy reputation.
I know I have a very good reputation among my peers, my bosses, the coaches I deal with, the readers I've dealt with.

"Crappy reputation" to me is an individual thing and those who worry about our supposedly collective "crappy reputation" or what others are doing to feed that supposed reputation are probably insecure hacks.

 

RB -

Something else I'll point out, lest you dismiss this whole deal as a massive non-lubricated pile-on.

My last job, I worked with probably the nicest, most laid-back group I'll likely ever encounter. Not perfect by any stretch of the means, but a genuinely good group of guys.

I proceeded to spend my entire year there alienating myself from that group. And why? Because maybe they were a little homerish at times. Because maybe they didn't sometimes stay in the office until 2 a.m. working, like I would. Because maybe they were happy where they were, and perhaps a little complacent, and therefore they didn't always share my ambition and long-range vision.

They were, in my short-sighted view, not the best journalists they could be, and therefore somehow not worth my time.

I left a year later for greener pastures, which I'm sure triggered a mass celebration among those guys. Looking back, thanks to some not-too-gentle life lessons along the way, I realize how absolutely terrible I must have come off to them. I mean, so the hell what if I worked a little harder at times or delved a little deeper on occasion? They did some good work, too.

And more to the point, that time I spent bemoaning their behavior could have been better spent making myself better.

Of course, that's hard to do, because our culture celebrates criticism of others far more than it celebrates self-criticism. We're not supposed to point at ourselves before we point at others. This is the age - to borrow a phrase from every boss I've had - of "You're Too Hard On Yourself."

All I know is that my behavior during that year probably did irreparable harm to parts of my reputation, at least in this particular state. And you know what? I deserve it.

Point being, who cares what those around you are doing? If anything, be privately proud that you're not doing the same thing. But don't think for a minute that pointing these things out is more honorable than looking inside yourself and asking how you can better yourself, your staff, your section.

Plus, don't forget what you were staffing when this was going on. I'd estimate that about 75% or more of those guys up there with you were veteran writers who clearly knew what the hell they were doing, or else they wouldn't be in a SEC press box.

 

It really bugs me when Mitch Albom writes about a game he watched on television. He should be more professional. -- Mike Lupica

 

There are apparently a lot of online poker games going on in press boxes across the country.

 

Shottie, why can't someone disagree with rockbottom's attitude and pissiness without being sinners themselves?

 

And a lot of hearts games, and a lot of checking fantasy football and baseball stats, and a lot of IMing buddies across the country, and a lot of general putzing around. What's the big deal? Get your work done and nobody cares that the entire press box is checking their fantasy football lineups throughout September baseball games.

 

All I know is, if the guy sitting next to me in the press box is piddling, I'm moving RIGHT FUCKING NOW.

And if it's a girl piddling ... hmmm ....

 

What she said.

 

rb - it's refreshing to see such strong christian values in a sports guy.