In what ways should college sports be covered differently than the pros?

arrrests would have actually made it a story that could be based on something.

 

Every media outlet has different standards on sourcing, how subjects are covered, etc.
There is not going to be an industry-wide shakeup, as much as you'd like to see that happen.
This was a unique situation because of how the coach reacted.
Besides, it's not as if reporters on the college beat are stalking athletes in class or at home. Even athletes at big-time programs generally are covered based on what they do on the field or the court, unless they get arrested or do something stupid like park in a handicap space.

 

I was making fun of your "doesn't pertain to football" comment. The best stories about athletes are the ones that don't necessarily focus on athletic accomplishments.

A kid's attitude has everything to do with football.

 

yes, I agree that athletes are generally covered for what they do on the field, court, etc .. and only make it into the news when they do something stupid, break a law, etc ... but I think there's a shift. ... more personal stuff is making its way onto the Internet and in this case a newspaper (the story was cheap like an Internet piece).

as a parallel, look at the coverage of celebrities ... to me, it's sick and wrong how paparazzi and internet sites are all over a star's every move ... sure, Britney does some stupid things, but chronicling her every move is just wrong.

i'm not saying that this is happening in coverage of college sports. i'm saying there's a parallel.

 

bertold, yes but the story wasn't about his attitude ... it was about his emotional makeup -- and about that in ways that are beyond football ... if he loses his temper in the huddle, fine ... if he fights with coaches, fine ... but if he's a momma's boy, so what?

and I'm on the record as saying that it makes total sense that legal problems are covered in full

 

Britney and her ilk are stalked by the paps because flacks hired by Brit and her ilk tip the paps off to where and when they might catch a skank without underwear getting in and out of a car. These things don't happen in a vacuum.

SIDs and PR people for colleges and pros spend a good chunk of their time pitching feel-good personal profiles to the media. We spin them out often. It works both ways, more often than not to the players' benefit.

 

Fuck. The. Story.
If you want to talk about the column go to the original thread.

If the starting quarterback at the second-biggest school/team in your coverage area is benched because he's sissy and you have quotes from coaches and players to back it up, then the story can be written.

You say it shouldn't. Am I right?

 

I posted it this on the other thread, but I'll reiterate here:

If you aren't covering your major college beat like it's the pros, or at least striving to, then you're doing it wrong.

 

Yeah! To hell with what the customer wants! Let's protect the feelings of an over-privledged, second-rate quarterback instead!

Note to self: Figure out how to use blue font.

 

First of all, the writer didn't have quotes from other players and coaches. Just rumblings. That's pretty weak. ... but yeah, I'm saying even if you get a quote from a player on the record saying that, you don't necessarily print that either ...

and I'm saying you can't be black and white about this. Just because you have a quote doesn't mean you use it.

 

The customer wants porn, you give them that, too? The customer wants gossip. Customer wants lots of things.

In my book, it's part of the guideline but not an absolute guideline.

 

How about Sammie Stroughter at Oregon State? He did not play in the first few games b/c of "personal issues." That's what the coaches said, that's what the newspaper printed.

That was a little odd and vague. I searched a little and found a story that reported that two father figures in his life died. Hey I have no problem with that. But it stopped there.

What if there was more? ANd I"m just saying what if -- I don't know about the situation. What if someone told a reporter that a player in such a situation was on anti-depressants. You print that? What is someone told you he'd been suicidal? Print that? What if he tried? You print that?

ANd when I say do you print that, let's make it a parallel to OK St. story, you don't have anything from the player or the coach. But you have rumblings and rumor. Hell you even have a player on the record.

Customer wants it. It's on the record. Do you print it? I wouldn't. ANd I'd stay farther away from the story if were a college kid vs. a pro.