Keeping football stats for preps

Because I'm not right up against deadline after a game, I usually add everything up after the game s over.
Sometimes people ask me for someone's stats during a game or right after a game and I usually tell them I haven't added it up yet.
Is that a bad thing?
Should I be able to tell anyone, at any given moment, what any player's stats are?

 

No, of course not. Your job comes first. Finish that and then help out people if you want.

 

Tell them they can get the stats in your story online or in the paper. Your work has value, so make 'em pay for it.

 

Is someone's stats really your work, though?

 

Yes. You are compiling them.

 

I always add them up at halftime, so I'll have a ballpark figure I'll throw out there if they ask in the second half. If I don't know, I just politely tell them what he had at halftime and that I haven't added up the rest yet.
There's no need to be a dick. If you have them, and you know them off the top of your head, throw it out there. Otherwise be polite and tell them you don't have them added up yet.

 

Some newspapers and radio stations wage war and treat one another like shit.

That's stupid. Let the owners play those games.

There are times I'll ask the radio guys about a play and other times, they'll ask me. We share info. I plug their station in my preview box, and they drop my name on the air all the time. I even put on the headsets and discuss the line of storms during delays (weather fanatic).

My scoresheet allows me to know totals for rushing, passing and receiving instantly. Others, such as first downs, fumbles, etc., I add up at halftime and end of game.

 

What about using an Excel spreadsheet?

 

I was referring to the general public/readers. It's no different from when I covered sentencings or city council meetings: if you want the info, buy the product.

 

Yes, but it's the same thing, Bradley. If you make yourself inaccessible to the public, you're not doing your "brand" any favors. It doesn't hurt a thing to let them know that Billy Hotshot has 134 yards in the third quarter. Hey, you'd tweet that, right? So why guard it like a company secret?

 

If someone missed a play for whatever reason, and you were asked who scored that touchdown or caught that pass, would you tell them they can find out in the next day's paper? To me, that's no different and a terrible way to deal with a simple question.

 

My scoresheet is in Excel.