Comments for ON SPORTS http://onsports.wordpress.com TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO COVER SPORTS Tue, 13 May 2008 15:43:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on About me by Dan Formosa http://onsports.wordpress.com/about-me/#comment-290 Dan Formosa Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:36:15 +0000 http://onsports.wordpress.com/about-me/#comment-290 Hi Someone pointed me to your April 22 post "To Error is Human..." Check pages 219 and 220 in the Baseball Field Guide (a new edition came out earlier this month, covering recent MLB rule changes. If you have the first edition, with the red cover, here is the pertinent info below). From your description it sounds like this may have been the situation. Dan Dan Formosa www.baseballfieldguide.com ------------------------------ Baseball Field Guide Page 219: Fielding Errors: An error must be a physical mishandling of the ball. If a fielder handles the ball slowly but is in control of the ball, an error will not be charged. page 220: Mental Mistakes An error will not be charged for a “mental mistake” (Major League Baseball’s terminology). This includes throwing to the wrong base and other misjudgments. An error will be charged if the mental mistake leads to a physical misplay — for example, when a fielder mistakenly believes there are three outs and throws the ball into the stands. Hi

Someone pointed me to your April 22 post “To Error is Human…”

Check pages 219 and 220 in the Baseball Field Guide (a new edition came out earlier this month, covering recent MLB rule changes. If you have the first edition, with the red cover, here is the pertinent info below). From your description it sounds like this may have been the situation.

Dan

Dan Formosa
http://www.baseballfieldguide.com

——————————
Baseball Field Guide

Page 219:
Fielding Errors:
An error must be a physical mishandling of the ball. If a fielder handles the ball slowly but is in control of the ball, an error will not be charged.

page 220:
Mental Mistakes
An error will not be charged for a “mental mistake” (Major League Baseball’s terminology). This includes throwing to the wrong base and other misjudgments. An error will be charged if the mental mistake leads to a physical misplay — for example, when a fielder mistakenly believes there are three outs and throws the ball into the stands.

]]> Comment on S.I. offers great lessons for writers by Daniel http://onsports.wordpress.com/2008/04/15/si-offers-great-lessons-for-writers/#comment-289 Daniel Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:07:36 +0000 http://onsports.wordpress.com/?p=176#comment-289 Thanks for the advice! I am an avid reader of SI, and aspire to be able to write as well as some of those guys. Guys like Gary Smith and L. Jon Wertheim are great, but my favorite is newcomer David Epstein. He writes some of the more science based stuff, but he manages to do it in a way that makes it understandable to the average reader and INCREDIBLY COMPELLING to readers with broad interests. He did a piece called "Following the Trail of Broken Hearts" that was the best thing I've read in recent memory. If you haven't read it, please do. I'm astounded that Epstein was able to make such a technical issue to understandable and compelling. In any case, thanks again for the advice. Keep it up! Thanks for the advice! I am an avid reader of SI, and aspire to be able to write as well as some of those guys. Guys like Gary Smith and L. Jon Wertheim are great, but my favorite is newcomer David Epstein. He writes some of the more science based stuff, but he manages to do it in a way that makes it understandable to the average reader and INCREDIBLY COMPELLING to readers with broad interests. He did a piece called “Following the Trail of Broken Hearts” that was the best thing I’ve read in recent memory. If you haven’t read it, please do. I’m astounded that Epstein was able to make such a technical issue to understandable and compelling. In any case, thanks again for the advice. Keep it up!

]]> Comment on Davidson sportswriter does terrific job by Will http://onsports.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/davidson-sportswriter-does-terrific-job/#comment-251 Will Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:18:46 +0000 http://onsports.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/davidson-sportswriter-does-terrific-job/#comment-251 Hey thanks so much for the compliments. I really appreciate all of the great feedback. I actually used to be the editor of the student newspaper (if you look at the archives of the site, you can see) but I finished my term and just do blogging now. It's been an incredible ride. I hope we can get through another weekend. Hey thanks so much for the compliments. I really appreciate all of the great feedback. I actually used to be the editor of the student newspaper (if you look at the archives of the site, you can see) but I finished my term and just do blogging now. It’s been an incredible ride. I hope we can get through another weekend.

]]> Comment on ‘Crash’ into sports journalism: Some lessons from an Oscar-winning writer by Folasde Omogun http://onsports.wordpress.com/2007/11/07/crash-into-sports-journalism-some-lessons-from-an-oscar-winning-writer/#comment-194 Folasde Omogun Sun, 17 Feb 2008 23:34:28 +0000 http://onsports.wordpress.com/2007/11/07/crash-into-sports-journalism-some-lessons-from-an-oscar-winning-writer/#comment-194 This was a great inspiration. I am a black females sports journalist in college. I know in order for me to become successful I have to do the unthinkable and be better then the next person and the nesxt person after...I know what it takes, but this is my passion and I will do WHATEVER to get there. I love sports journalism..Couldn't see myself doing anything else. This was a great inspiration. I am a black females sports journalist in college. I know in order for me to become successful I have to do the unthinkable and be better then the next person and the nesxt person after…I know what it takes, but this is my passion and I will do WHATEVER to get there. I love sports journalism..Couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

]]> Comment on What do sports editors want? A mix of old and new skills, they say by Innovation in College Media » Blog Archive » Gisondi: Sports editors looking for multimedia skills http://onsports.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/what-do-sports-editors-want-a-mix-of-old-and-new-skills-they-say/#comment-193 Innovation in College Media » Blog Archive » Gisondi: Sports editors looking for multimedia skills Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:44:33 +0000 http://onsports.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/what-do-sports-editors-want-a-mix-of-old-and-new-skills-they-say/#comment-193 [...] Gisondi, a colleague here at EIU, does a good job canvassing some sports editors and beat reporters about the state of the job market. One thing that sticks out: multimedia skills are an increasingly [...] [...] Gisondi, a colleague here at EIU, does a good job canvassing some sports editors and beat reporters about the state of the job market. One thing that sticks out: multimedia skills are an increasingly [...]

]]> Comment on Getting the most out of an interview by What do sports editors want? A mix of old and new skills, they say « ON SPORTS http://onsports.wordpress.com/2007/08/15/getting-the-most-out-of-an-interview/#comment-192 What do sports editors want? A mix of old and new skills, they say « ON SPORTS Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:46:50 +0000 http://onsports.wordpress.com/2007/08/15/getting-the-most-out-of-an-interview/#comment-192 [...] stories and features. Doing a story on the top scorer on the women’s basketball team? Then, interview opposing coaches and players over the course of several games. You will learn much about this [...] [...] stories and features. Doing a story on the top scorer on the women’s basketball team? Then, interview opposing coaches and players over the course of several games. You will learn much about this [...]

]]> Comment on College papers do not use enough sources by What do sports editors want? A mix of old and new skills, they say « ON SPORTS http://onsports.wordpress.com/2008/01/25/college-papers-do-not-use-enough-sources/#comment-191 What do sports editors want? A mix of old and new skills, they say « ON SPORTS Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:06:29 +0000 http://onsports.wordpress.com/?p=156#comment-191 [...] Sourcing is the single most important way one can stand out in a field populated by college sports journalists who rely mostly on home-team players and coaches. And this is not just the case for game stories. Outside sources are used even more infrequently in profile stories and features. Doing a story on the top scorer on the women’s basketball team? Then, interview opposing coaches and players over the course of several games. You will learn much about this player’s skills that cannot be learned from watching at the scorer’s table or by talking to a few teammates and coaches. Speak to as many outside sources as possible, whose perspective is essential to better understanding an issue and that will impress sports editors. [...] [...] Sourcing is the single most important way one can stand out in a field populated by college sports journalists who rely mostly on home-team players and coaches. And this is not just the case for game stories. Outside sources are used even more infrequently in profile stories and features. Doing a story on the top scorer on the women’s basketball team? Then, interview opposing coaches and players over the course of several games. You will learn much about this player’s skills that cannot be learned from watching at the scorer’s table or by talking to a few teammates and coaches. Speak to as many outside sources as possible, whose perspective is essential to better understanding an issue and that will impress sports editors. [...]

]]> Comment on Let’s focus more on athleticism, not sex by Kyle http://onsports.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/lets-focus-more-on-athleticism-not-sex/#comment-170 Kyle Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:45:20 +0000 http://onsports.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-170 (I'm about 50% serious, 50% devil's advocating in the following post. It's a tricky issue and I'm not sure how I feel about it on the whole): There are two types of successful women's sports leagues: Women's sports that are heavily subsidized by outside sources (government, universities, the NBA). Women's sports that make it on their own with a heavy emphasis on sex appeal to attract viewers (beach volleyball, tennis). No, I take that back, the LPGA seems to be pretty self-sufficient. Women's sports leagues often aren't afraid to use sex appeal to sell themselves. Many female athletes certainly don't have a problem with it. Why should an entertainment source (a magazine, a web site) covering an entertainment industry voluntarily hamstring itself from something that its readers are so thoroughly entertained by? Granted, I am perhaps more willing to give a pass because I don't consider these sources to be a serious journalistic outlet. (I’m about 50% serious, 50% devil’s advocating in the following post. It’s a tricky issue and I’m not sure how I feel about it on the whole):

There are two types of successful women’s sports leagues:

Women’s sports that are heavily subsidized by outside sources (government, universities, the NBA).

Women’s sports that make it on their own with a heavy emphasis on sex appeal to attract viewers (beach volleyball, tennis).

No, I take that back, the LPGA seems to be pretty self-sufficient.

Women’s sports leagues often aren’t afraid to use sex appeal to sell themselves. Many female athletes certainly don’t have a problem with it. Why should an entertainment source (a magazine, a web site) covering an entertainment industry voluntarily hamstring itself from something that its readers are so thoroughly entertained by?

Granted, I am perhaps more willing to give a pass because I don’t consider these sources to be a serious journalistic outlet.

]]> Comment on Let’s focus more on athleticism, not sex by Notes from a Teacher: Mark on Media » Sunday squibs http://onsports.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/lets-focus-more-on-athleticism-not-sex/#comment-169 Notes from a Teacher: Mark on Media » Sunday squibs Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:56:11 +0000 http://onsports.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-169 [...] Let’s focus more on athleticism, not sex. I really wish more sports writers felt this way and that that feeling was reflected in how and what they report. [...] [...] Let’s focus more on athleticism, not sex. I really wish more sports writers felt this way and that that feeling was reflected in how and what they report. [...]

]]> Comment on Don’t get burned by unnamed sources by Kyle http://onsports.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/dont-get-burned-by-unnamed-sources/#comment-116 Kyle Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:19:25 +0000 http://onsports.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/dont-get-burned-by-unnamed-sources/#comment-116 Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Your credibility is everything as a journalist. Why risk it because it makes it easier to get the story or to be nice to the source? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Your credibility is everything as a journalist. Why risk it because it makes it easier to get the story or to be nice to the source?

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