Help an SID resolve some concerns..

Help me resolve two concerns, my friends -- and I'm very curious to see how this board responds compared to the SID board:

1) My WBB coach is pregnant again and is due during the conference play...again. She's hesitant about media coverage because a) of the distraction and b) The last time, one reporter asked "When do you and your husband (An NBA ref) have time for sex?" ...I actually see her point. Lousy question.

2) My ongoing gripe about game staffing is beyond the red line, but for crying out loud, if we have an afternoon game, give us more space than the Pittsburgh Pirates' off-season pitcher trades. Am I right?

And just for the record -- this is how we covered a game Saturday.

First was the "News Now" At The Buzzer sent to AP, ESPN and the league office

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Brandon Tabb scored 19 points as Bethune-Cookman downed Florida College 95-67 Saturday for its second straight win.

Shawntrez Davis double-doubled with 16 points and 11 rebounds, Soufiyane Diakite scored 15, David Francis 11 and Isaiah Bailey 10 as the Wildcats (3-3) led from start to finish.

Tabb, who entered the game ranked seventh in the nation in three point field goals per game at 4.2, finished with five from behind the arc.

Zack Brock, Jordan Benjamin and Darwin Morales led Florida College (6-3) with 10 apiece.

Second was the write-thru posted on our web site and sent to the local shop within an hour. (It does include a box score, but once we posted the next story, the editor takes it off...

@BCUhoops Downs Florida College 95-67 For 2nd Straight Win

And then is the optional. I give the student writer till the next morning. I gave myself that this time, because I wanted to go to dinner. Normally, I'll do it 90 minutes later to stay in shape for an NBA work night.

Last Look: Davis Does The Work Inside For @BCUhoops

Thank you. Dilly Dilly.

 

On No. 1, I can see the coach's side of things, but I think you have to at least acknowledge it, and let media ask about it. And that question from last time is WAY over the line. Maybe a head's up to that reporter beforehand that bullshit questions like that will not be tolerated.

On No. 2, just out of curiosity, is it a Gannett paper? Our local Gannett paper has the 7 p.m. deadlines now, and even for afternoon games, they are going out of their way to not run game stories or briefs of any kind. I've been told the beat writers have been "prohibited" from writing anything resembling a game story. And no local box scores of any kind, from high schools through area colleges. Which works out well, since they've laid off all their clerks.

If it's not a Gannett shop, then never mind.

But yes, you are not out of line for expecting even a little bit of some acknowledgement that you guys exist.

 

The first situation is really not a big deal at all. Any respectable media will not even concern themselves with her being pregnant until she actually pops, and it's really not that big a story. Sure, she's out for a few days and the lead assistant runs the team so the media should acknowledge it but that's really about it. I wouldn't worry about it at all. Agree, though, the question about when she has enough time for sex by the POS reporter is completely out of line. Communicating your concerns with that person and his editor would be a wise decision.

About the second situation, many places don't even acknowledge women's college basketball. If there's a somewhat local MLB team, say the Marlins or Rays, then they're probably going to take priority even if it's off-season crap. I'm sure Florida International and Florida Atlantic would love more coverage from the Miami Herald, but the truth is, in general, sports fans don't give a shit about women's college basketball. Hell, I cover the shit and I can't tell you who was in the Final Four last year. I think South Carolina won it? Beyond that, I don't really know shit about the sport and 99% of sports readers don't either. If you're getting anything more than a brief, consider yourself very fortunate because in the sports hierarchy, women's hoops is at the bottom of the barrel. By your comments, it appears nobody is staffing your games. There's a good reason for that. Man hours are limited, resources are limited, sports writers go where people go. Ask yourself this question, how many people are really in attendance at these games? That will give you an idea of what kind of coverage they deserve.

 

This, of course, leads to the chicken/egg question: Does attendance drive coverage, or does coverage drive attendance? I'm not saying it's the newspaper's responsibility in any way to help "grow" the program; it's just something to think about.

There are pockets where women's college basketball is a draw. Whether you're in one of those pockets is a question you should answer for yourself, Dan.

 

Mr. Jr/Shotglass -- I'm trying to pitch the story as "a love and basketball" thing. She's a coach. Her husband is an NBA ref. I know damn well the newspaper doesn't owe me anything. I just think it's a good family story and don't we need one in hoops these days?

The concern was over that question she had to deal with.

 

Understood. It's a feature.

 

South Carolina, UConn, Miss State and .... uh, drawing a blank.

 

I'll ask everybody else: Is that a bad question? You might get something really good from that question, right?

I guess there's a different way to get that answer, but you might get something outstanding with that tact.

 

Stanford. The Samuelson sisters were both there (though they didn't play each other) -- Karlie from Stanford and Katy Lou from UConn.

 

I don't know if I'd ask how they had time for sex. I'd probably wonder how often they get to see each other given their hectic schedules.

 

It depends on the relationship the reporter has with the coach. I have some sources I could jokingly ask that type of question who wouldn't be offended.

 

Asking that in a press conference setting is ridiculous.