worst leads you have seen

I used to send out notes reminding the new guys that if they value their jobs, there would be no Friday the 13th ledes. I said something to the last two guys hired and they looked at me like I was joking. They couldn't believe someone would write that kind of lede. That was the beginning of a beautiful day.

 

It wasn't pretty, but State U. will take it.

Well, no shit. What school's gonna turn down an ugly win?

 

I'm guessing after the second graf, it read:

"It wasn't pretty," coach So-and-So said. "But, we'll take it."

 

How about this one:


Eisenhower was in a pickle. And not one of those sweet gherkins either. No, this was one of those big vinegary things you get at the fair.

 

You just made my day!

I just saw your reply on the other thread. Bringing this here is a tremendous development.

 

Some would say I'm being too harsh on the poor noob ...
but them's the breaks.

 

Naw...it's a harsh world.

In his defense, I will say anytime I've gone with a goofball lead, I get a lot more comments from readers saying how much they liked the way I opened the story...right before they ask me if I'll run a picture of their daughter because "she's a senior and it's her last year and her picture has only been in the paper once."

 

A prep stringer years ago at the Ann Arbor News...

"It was a game that could have gone either way and very nearly did."

 

After the Rockets swept the Magic in 1995 NBA Finals, this lede actually made it into print for at least one edition:

Fe Fi Fo Fum, the Houston Rockets smelled blood and they got them some.

I've heard the paper that ran it now uses it on a test it gives prospective copy editors. The correct answer: spike the story

 

Wanted to use this as a lede one time when a guy blew a golf tournament by missing a tap-in putt on the 72nd hole, then losing in a playoff. But our system doesn't print emoticons.

DATELINE --

 

Where is Dateline?

 

Where ever it has to be to catch a child molester.