Learn new media skills ASAP

Storytelling and reporting are still the heart of sports journalism. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn other skills as well. As I’ve mentioned before, all sports journalists should start a blog to learn new media skills. Shoot, edit and post both video and audio. You might even sign up for Facebook and Twitter.

Composite bats should be banned, face masks for fielders required

OK, so when is someone going to finally step up and admit that using composite bats is a mistake?

When someone dies? That will happen soon, believe me. Especially if coaches don’t force players to wear face masks, which players dismiss as uncool even though they can save their lives.You’ll find travel softball players using these masks at summer tournaments, although mostly at the younger age levels.

Two weeks ago in Mattoon, I watched a batter drill a line drive right off the face of a third baseman in a U-14 game. The ball was hit so hard it popped about 20 feet in the air before being caught by the shortstop.

Does Twitter have legs?

I’d start this post by saying I’m not really atwitter about the social network called, well, Twitter, but I didn’t want to scare everybody off with that lame joke.

Instead, here’s a much funnier joke:

A guy is in the hospital with two broken legs. The nurse comes in and tells him that there’s good news and bad news.

The guy asks for the bad news first.

The nurse says, “We’re going to have to remove your legs.”

Focus on less obvious plays

To cover any sport, you need to understand its subtleties. Any schmuck knows that a pinch-hit grand slam is a big play, as is a last-second 3-pointer, or an 80-yard touchdown pass. But what led to these decisive plays? Did the batter fight off several good pitches before drilling the homer? Did someone set a great pick to allow the 3-pointer? And did the fullback fill in a hole to block a linebacker and allow the pass to be thrown?

Posnanski & James = terrific reading

Joe Posnanski, one of the best baseball writers in the country, has teamed with Bill James, the baseball stat guru, to write a regular column on SI.com. Reads sort of like a he said/she said – but with far more interesting anecdotes, analysis and insights (and none of the sophomoric humor). This week, they focus on hyped baseball prospects like Matt Wieters (re: the next Babe Ruth.) Check it out.

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Investigate your athletic dept.

I’m getting ready to revamp this blog site, but, in the meantime, everybody needs to read this terrific story on secrecy among college athletic programs. And all should start their own investigation into athletics on their own campuses.

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Sports Institute seeking applicants

The deadline for Boston University’s Sports Institute is about a month away. This is a great opportunity to learn and practice sports journalism in print, broadcast and new media. Here’s some basic info:

• Program Dates: June 1-26
• Admission: Open to both graduate and undergraduate level students. Undergraduate students must have junior year status or above. Professionals seeking career advancement are encouraged to enroll as well.
• Application Deadline: May 1
• Summer 2009 Tuition: $3,750
• University housing is available.

Click here for more information.

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Apply for sports scholarship

Here’s information about a terrific sports scholarship.

The Associated Press Sports Editors are sponsoring four $1,500 scholarship for collegiate sports journalists. APSE, a national organization of sports editors, is awarding four scholarships to help motivate talented students to pursue a career in sports journalism. Collegiate sports journalists entering their sophomore, junior or senior years are eligible for the scholarship which will awarded based on the students’ journalistic work, their academic record, financial need, and geography.

Thin line between truth, hype

Gene Wojciechowski

Indiana University is hosting a great event next week, bringing four experienced journalists and commentators together to discuss the thin line between hype and truth in sports coverage to launch its National Sports Journalism Center. The session, “Heroes, Hype and the Truth: Separating Fact from Fiction in Today’s Sports World,” set for March 11 features Gene Wojciechowski, senior writer for ESPN Magazine; Bob Kravitz, sports columnist at the Indianapolis Star and ESPN Radio co-host; Steve Lavin of ABC-TV and ESPN; and Sage Steele, ESPN SportsCenter anchor. If you’re close to Bloomington, Ind., you may want to drive on over. I’m certain it will be worth the time.

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Great chance to cover a major event

Here’s a terrific opportunity to cover a major sports event. I’ve had students attend these in the past. They learned a great deal and made some good contacts as well. Check it out.

Here’s the release.

You have the opportunity to spend a weekend with some of the best sports journalists in the business. The United States Basketball Writers Association will host its third annual Women’s Final Four Seminar on April 3-7 in St. Louis and once again award a $1,000 scholarship to one of the Seminar’s participants.