The "Homer" sports writer

[shotglass]

And is that the assessment of a fellow journalist, or the assessment of a fan?

 

[expendable]

I love small-town writers (and usually, more often) radio guys who, when the game is over, come over and shake your hand and say "good luck to you guys the rest of the year."

Yes, "us guys" will do whatever we can to write the best stories & headlines and design the best section and kick your @$$ while you're waving pompoms, thanks.

Yes, I hate it when someone shakes my hand and wishes me well.

And it's pom-pons. Not that I have any to wave.

They weren't wishing me well ... it was as if I was a part of the team I covered. "Good luck to you guys" means, to them, "good luck to the team you cover, so you can have fun covering them, since all reporters are a part of the team."

After games, I almost always wish the other reporters there well, and usually spend a lot of time chatting while we work. But it always cracked me up when someone assumed I was part of the team.

Sorry about the pompons issue. We forbade cheerleading references in the sports section.

I do agree with your cheerleading stance, and limit any cheerleading item in my pages to a competitive cheer pic-and-cut submission.

I've often wished other reporters "good luck the rest of the way", but not with the thought of hoping the team he's covering keeps winning or wins out in a tournament. I've always meant it as a comment directed at the reporter, wishing him good luck in his craft. I do hope that's never been misinterpreted.

 

[shotglass]

That's a nice thought on your part, for sure. But ... yeah, I'd think some might look at that in the other way, what with all the "homer" talk.

Kind of a shame it's that way, but anyway.

 

[NQLBLQ]

And is that the assessment of a fellow journalist, or the assessment of a fan?

If this was directed my way, yes, it's the assessment of a fellow journalist. I haven't confronted him regarding "borrowing ideas" because I'm afraid I might scare him off, too. No one wants to read three pages of one reporter's news plus a column.

At least I wouldn't.

So instead I have just been editing his work with a very, very, very fine-toothed comb. As opposed to the normal very, very fine toothed comb.

 

[expendable]

Then I'll just become a well-wisher, in that I don't wish anyone any particular harm.

Or I could just say, "May you not get bought out."

 

[jfs1000]

Since this thread turned into a gift thread, I wonder now that there are layoffs etc., should we relax the rules on perks?

I don't question people for eating meals, taking dinners, shirts and other graf anymore. Why? Because we aren't getting paid enough, and it's obvious our superiors are interested only in money, why shouldn't we?

We get paid less, but have more integrity than our managers? What is that all about. I think all this stuff about professionalism is for suckers (yes I am jaded). Professionals act like they do because they have the comfort of a big check and esteem. A writer? It should be all about No. 1.

Leave the "conflict of interest" to people who can afford it. I think as a sports writer, you can talk as much graf as you want as long as it doesn't influence your writing.

I will take the steak dinner, and call you a loser. That is the sign of a true professional.

 

[hanging_curveball]

At a 20,000-circ paper 20 years ago, I worked with a dude who was a blatant homer and had to be carefully edited. He'd write "Bumfork High unfortunately blew a 10-point lead" or "Bumfork High fortunately got tough on the boards." We'd flip him shirt about it. We called him "Homer" and even referred to him by the head coach's last name, but his copy never changed. He always wanted to cover the team, even though there were 35 other local teams.

The funny part was that he always denied he was a homer. He'd get pissed and whine, "I'm not like that!"

Finally, Bumfork High won the state title. So during the trophy presentation, he leaned over and said to me, "Now that it's over, I can say it. WE WON!!"

They also won the next year, which must have sent him over the top in orgasmic glee.

Last I heard, he was the religion page editor ... at the same newspaper.

 

[shotglass]

And is that the assessment of a fellow journalist, or the assessment of a fan?

If this was directed my way, yes, it’s the assessment of a fellow journalist. I haven't confronted him regarding "borrowing ideas" because I'm afraid I might scare him off, too. No one wants to read three pages of one reporter's news plus a column.

At least I wouldn't.

So instead I have just been editing his work with a very, very, very fine-toothed comb. As opposed to the normal very, very fine toothed comb.

No, I meant big green wahoo's assessment of Hartman.

 

[NightHawk112005]

I'm not a homer and never will be, although I do have to say I don't bother to worry about the color of my shirt. I always wear a logoless polo shirt and just pick whatever color is clean and most easily available. Only once has it led to any confusion, when I wore a dark blue polo while covering the Trenton Thunder, which was also what the employees were wearing. Fortunately, I had no nametag and a press credential, so the confusion only lasted for five seconds.

 

[Tom Petty]

polo shirt wearin' homer.

 

[Dickens Cider]

polo shirt wearin' homer.

So's your mom.

 

[Tom Petty]

polo shirt wearin' homer.

So's your mom.

suck it, trebek.