FB: Liberty League

[stimulator]

Had not seen it but good for him..  I understand reporters and newspaper guys are paid to do their job, but as he said these are kids and not professional athletes. 

The kids that play ball are struggling with class, with adjusting to life as young men and facing the pressure from all angles to perform athletically and academically.

I did not read the article in question but I've seen enough negative articles that sell papers w/o taking into account what the athletes, parents, friends and relatives have to endure while reading half truths and suggestive comments that demean a high school or amateur athlete.  Even if the reporting is accurate and the kid throws six interceptions keep it to that without throwing in the "maybe he's not ready for the big games" or "seemed like ____  was scared" crap. 

Keep the reporting to the game and emphasize the positive achievements w/o taking shots at the kid who struggles on the field.

[Pat Coleman]

You should read the article in question before you generalize, I guess.

[PBR...]

Rico feels your pain Gro.  Damn cyber cops got my computer almost shut down.  What do they think...     we are supposed to work all day??

exactly... who is less productive?  Gro aka "Captain multitask" who can post, surf, purchase goods, and still deliver on his work projects...

Or the guy who takes 15 smoke breaks a day and can barely type a 3 line email in under 10min?

Question for Gro-
When Reg beats you this week in LLPPSCFJFFL, can he use Tino's club for his celebration dinner?
I am RSVP'ing- YES!!!!

tis a king kong battle this week ballin on a budge vs. the yazz....just like the ol' days of training camp w/ tackling practice mano et mano rb running straight ahead against the defender trying to tackle him....may the best man (llppffl'r ) win....

[stimulator]

http://www.kotv.com/sports/local/story/?id=136583

You tell me.........responsible journalism?

Or providing content to those lowlifes that can't get enough of the Brangelina gossip style of sports reporting.  The kid has not performed...... fine..... but to call in question his ability to play through injuries or by insinuation that he's a mama's boy... please.  Leave it alone.. 

Go cover Brittany's parenting skills.

[Frank Rossi]

Here are the paragraphs that really don't belong anywhere in a newspaper:

"That scene in the parking lot last week had no bearing on the Cowboys changing quarterbacks, and yet, it said so much about Reid. A 21-year-old letting his mother feed him in public? Most college kids, much less college football players, would just as soon be seen running naked across campus.

And what of the scene television cameras captured earlier that evening of Reid on the sidelines laughing with assistant strength coach Trumain Carroll? The same cameras showed him throwing his cap in disgust after a missed play earlier, but to be laughing in the final minutes of an embarrassing loss is bad form."

First off, I think a lot of overbearing mothers, or some mothers out of jest, will try to force feed their kids ("Frankie, have another piece of chicken," while pushing it in my face).  It sounds like the kid has such nerve issues that she's making sure he doesn't pass out on the field or after the game.  God forbid.

And the second paragraph -- do we know what they were saying?  Was the coach perhaps trying to let him know that it was something that would pass -- that things could be worse, but they needed to play better from now on?  Maybe he threw in a joke about something?  I mean, the negative connotations this columnist is trying to draw ARE outrageous in two situations that may have a lot more context than she cares to learn about or offer in the article.  I have to agree that it was haphazard journalism here...and usually, I'll defend the press except in the most extreme cases.  I used to write for and became an Editor of a pretty liberal student newspaper -- so I know the territory.  I would've questioned this story from the start.

Just my two cents.

[Pat Coleman]

http://www.kotv.com/sports/local/story/?id=136583

You tell me.........responsible journalism?

Or providing content to those lowlifes that can't get enough of the Brangelina gossip style of sports reporting.  The kid has not performed...... fine..... but to call in question his ability to play through injuries or by insinuation that he's a mama's boy... please.  Leave it alone.. 

Go cover Brittany's parenting skills.

That doesn't tell me you read the story -- just that you watched TV coverage.

Frank -- thanks for actually reading the story you're commenting on. That's all I ask.

[Jonny Utah]

http://www.kotv.com/sports/local/story/?id=136583

You tell me.........responsible journalism?

Or providing content to those lowlifes that can't get enough of the Brangelina gossip style of sports reporting.  The kid has not performed...... fine..... but to call in question his ability to play through injuries or by insinuation that he's a mama's boy... please.  Leave it alone.. 

Go cover Brittany's parenting skills.

yea if you are going to use quotes like these......

-"Other times, though, Reid has been nicked in games and sat it out instead of gutting it out."

-"There's something to be said for not being a malcontent, but you can almost see Reid shrugging his shoulders as he says those words. Does he have the fire in his belly?..........Or does he want to be coddled, babied, perhaps even fed chicken?"

You better be able to take some criticism when you put out stuff like that.

[Regulator]

http://www.kotv.com/sports/local/story/?id=136583

You tell me.........responsible journalism?

Or providing content to those lowlifes that can't get enough of the Brangelina gossip style of sports reporting.  The kid has not performed...... fine..... but to call in question his ability to play through injuries or by insinuation that he's a mama's boy... please.  Leave it alone.. 

Go cover Brittany's parenting skills.

That article went WAY overboard.  In fact, it actually reads like the reporter is out to get him....seriously, she brought up the part about his mother feeding him chicken like 4 times.

I bet Jenni Carlson just got hammered, started writing and submitted that article late because it was due.  Then, she has the nerve to show up at the press conference!  OH MAN!


"I feed myself fried chicken all the time"

[Jonny Utah]

http://www.kotv.com/sports/local/story/?id=136583

You tell me.........responsible journalism?

Or providing content to those lowlifes that can't get enough of the Brangelina gossip style of sports reporting.  The kid has not performed...... fine..... but to call in question his ability to play through injuries or by insinuation that he's a mama's boy... please.  Leave it alone.. 

Go cover Brittany's parenting skills.

That article went WAY overboard.  In fact, it actually reads like the reporter is out to get him....seriously, she brought up the part about his mother feeding him chicken like 4 times.

I bet Jenni Carlson just got hammered, started writing and submitted that article late because it was due.  Then, she has the nerve to show up at the press conference!  OH MAN!


"I feed myself fried chicken all the time"

Just being questioned about an injury by someone that has never stepped on a football field would drive me nuts.

[PBR...]

she is getting hammered enough that the "women in journalism" group is coming rushing to her defense now...

[dewcrew88]

Had not seen it but good for him..  I understand reporters and newspaper guys are paid to do their job, but as he said these are kids and not professional athletes. 

The kids that play ball are struggling with class, with adjusting to life as young men and facing the pressure from all angles to perform athletically and academically.

I did not read the article in question but I've seen enough negative articles that sell papers w/o taking into account what the athletes, parents, friends and relatives have to endure while reading half truths and suggestive comments that demean a high school or amateur athlete.  Even if the reporting is accurate and the kid throws six interceptions keep it to that without throwing in the "maybe he's not ready for the big games" or "seemed like ____  was scared" crap. 

Keep the reporting to the game and emphasize the positive achievements w/o taking shots at the kid who struggles on the field.

No. No. No. A thousand times NO. A good responsible journalist is not going to just "emphasize the positive achievements" and not "criticize" a player who struggles on the field. Plus, as Pat said, you apparently didn't read the story because the reporter had written a column basically saying that the QB didn't have enough guts to take criticism, play through minor injuries or be tough enough to sit out just because another player was better than he was.
Now I'm not saying her column is great, but the coach stepped over the line, IMO, in his public criticism and humliation. If he wants to say something in private, that's one thing. But to do something like the coach did, that's not right.

[dewcrew88]

http://www.kotv.com/sports/local/story/?id=136583

You tell me.........responsible journalism?

Or providing content to those lowlifes that can't get enough of the Brangelina gossip style of sports reporting.  The kid has not performed...... fine..... but to call in question his ability to play through injuries or by insinuation that he's a mama's boy... please.  Leave it alone.. 

Go cover Brittany's parenting skills.

That article went WAY overboard.  In fact, it actually reads like the reporter is out to get him....seriously, she brought up the part about his mother feeding him chicken like 4 times.

I bet Jenni Carlson just got hammered, started writing and submitted that article late because it was due.  Then, she has the nerve to show up at the press conference!  OH MAN!


"I feed myself fried chicken all the time"

Just being questioned about an injury by someone that has never stepped on a football field would drive me nuts.

JU -- I agree with you on this to a point, but apparently, she must know what she's talking about or she wouldn't be a beat writer for a major college football team at a big newspaper.
Well, OK. I played in high school and college. If I questioned you about an injury, would that be a big deal? I don't think it matters if she played or not... if she knows her stuff, she's good. However, as I said previously, I don't think her column was good -- it was a lot of accusations thrown together.

[Frank Rossi]

Had not seen it but good for him..  I understand reporters and newspaper guys are paid to do their job, but as he said these are kids and not professional athletes. 

The kids that play ball are struggling with class, with adjusting to life as young men and facing the pressure from all angles to perform athletically and academically.

I did not read the article in question but I've seen enough negative articles that sell papers w/o taking into account what the athletes, parents, friends and relatives have to endure while reading half truths and suggestive comments that demean a high school or amateur athlete.  Even if the reporting is accurate and the kid throws six interceptions keep it to that without throwing in the "maybe he's not ready for the big games" or "seemed like ____  was scared" crap. 

Keep the reporting to the game and emphasize the positive achievements w/o taking shots at the kid who struggles on the field.

No. No. No. A thousand times NO. A good responsible journalist is not going to just "emphasize the positive achievements" and not "criticize" a player who struggles on the field. Plus, as Pat said, you apparently didn't read the story because the reporter had written a column basically saying that the QB didn't have enough guts to take criticism, play through minor injuries or be tough enough to sit out just because another player was better than he was.
Now I'm not saying her column is great, but the coach stepped over the line, IMO, in his public criticism and humliation. If he wants to say something in private, that's one thing. But to do something like the coach did, that's not right.

Actually, what the coach did in this case, whether he intended to or not, was to treat the journalist the same way she treated the player -- by soundbyting, lobbing criticism and acting like just because someone is a "public figure," they deserve such focused scrutiny as that she put on the player.  So, in the end, if you don't like what the coach did, then you shouldn't be backing up the journalist here.  Did the coach go overboard?  Yeah, probably -- but sometimes extremes require extreme responses in order to shed light as to why the other extreme was so ridiculous in the first place.  I think the coach was justified and that he may have unintentionally reminded journalists that the spotlight CAN be placed on the journalist since they, too, are public figures.  Well done.

[dewcrew88]

Had not seen it but good for him..  I understand reporters and newspaper guys are paid to do their job, but as he said these are kids and not professional athletes. 

The kids that play ball are struggling with class, with adjusting to life as young men and facing the pressure from all angles to perform athletically and academically.

I did not read the article in question but I've seen enough negative articles that sell papers w/o taking into account what the athletes, parents, friends and relatives have to endure while reading half truths and suggestive comments that demean a high school or amateur athlete.  Even if the reporting is accurate and the kid throws six interceptions keep it to that without throwing in the "maybe he's not ready for the big games" or "seemed like ____  was scared" crap. 

Keep the reporting to the game and emphasize the positive achievements w/o taking shots at the kid who struggles on the field.

No. No. No. A thousand times NO. A good responsible journalist is not going to just "emphasize the positive achievements" and not "criticize" a player who struggles on the field. Plus, as Pat said, you apparently didn't read the story because the reporter had written a column basically saying that the QB didn't have enough guts to take criticism, play through minor injuries or be tough enough to sit out just because another player was better than he was.
Now I'm not saying her column is great, but the coach stepped over the line, IMO, in his public criticism and humliation. If he wants to say something in private, that's one thing. But to do something like the coach did, that's not right.

Actually, what the coach did in this case, whether he intended to or not, was to treat the journalist the same way she treated the player -- by soundbyting, lobbing criticism and acting like just because someone is a "public figure," they deserve such focused scrutiny as that she put on the player.  So, in the end, if you don't like what the coach did, then you shouldn't be backing up the journalist here.  Did the coach go overboard?  Yeah, probably -- but sometimes extremes require extreme responses in order to shed light as to why the other extreme was so ridiculous in the first place.  I think the coach was justified and that he may have unintentionally reminded journalists that the spotlight CAN be placed on the journalist since they, too, are public figures.  Well done.

Frank,
How was her column "an extreme?" She did what a thousand columnists have done -- she criticized a player (which as a columnist, she's allowed to do, as long as she doesn't libel them) -- for things that she has seen covering the beat.
I think she was just doing her job, and I don't believe the coach has the right to rip her apart for 10 minutes or however long it was in a professional forum.
I think she had the right idea about writing the column, but I don't believe the column was well-done. But neither is mine, so go figure.

[Frank Rossi]

Had not seen it but good for him..  I understand reporters and newspaper guys are paid to do their job, but as he said these are kids and not professional athletes. 

The kids that play ball are struggling with class, with adjusting to life as young men and facing the pressure from all angles to perform athletically and academically.

I did not read the article in question but I've seen enough negative articles that sell papers w/o taking into account what the athletes, parents, friends and relatives have to endure while reading half truths and suggestive comments that demean a high school or amateur athlete.  Even if the reporting is accurate and the kid throws six interceptions keep it to that without throwing in the "maybe he's not ready for the big games" or "seemed like ____  was scared" crap. 

Keep the reporting to the game and emphasize the positive achievements w/o taking shots at the kid who struggles on the field.

No. No. No. A thousand times NO. A good responsible journalist is not going to just "emphasize the positive achievements" and not "criticize" a player who struggles on the field. Plus, as Pat said, you apparently didn't read the story because the reporter had written a column basically saying that the QB didn't have enough guts to take criticism, play through minor injuries or be tough enough to sit out just because another player was better than he was.
Now I'm not saying her column is great, but the coach stepped over the line, IMO, in his public criticism and humliation. If he wants to say something in private, that's one thing. But to do something like the coach did, that's not right.

Actually, what the coach did in this case, whether he intended to or not, was to treat the journalist the same way she treated the player -- by soundbyting, lobbing criticism and acting like just because someone is a "public figure," they deserve such focused scrutiny as that she put on the player.  So, in the end, if you don't like what the coach did, then you shouldn't be backing up the journalist here.  Did the coach go overboard?  Yeah, probably -- but sometimes extremes require extreme responses in order to shed light as to why the other extreme was so ridiculous in the first place.  I think the coach was justified and that he may have unintentionally reminded journalists that the spotlight CAN be placed on the journalist since they, too, are public figures.  Well done.

Frank,
How was her column "an extreme?" She did what a thousand columnists have done -- she criticized a player (which as a columnist, she's allowed to do, as long as she doesn't libel them) -- for things that she has seen covering the beat.
I think she was just doing her job, and I don't believe the coach has the right to rip her apart for 10 minutes or however long it was in a professional forum.
I think she had the right idea about writing the column, but I don't believe the column was well-done. But neither is mine, so go figure.

Maybe it was libelous, actually...

1) Was the mother really feeding him?  If not, the reputational harm she'd cause by such an accusation could be considered libelous.

2) Many of the statements she made had some degree of recklessness in that, if she did not in fact check her facts when facts were readily available (through interviews), the newspaper could be sued for libel.  Trust me, I've been involved in a case where that situation has played out.

My feeling of why it was extreme?  It's one thing to say a player may not be playing through pain or is sidelined by a questionable injury -- and to let the reader decide BASED ON FACTS that the player might have some questionable decision making and nerve issue.  It's a whole 'nother thing to cherry pick the case she's making, and then to beat the reader over the head with the fried chicken part.  Journalists are supposed to leave opinions for the Op-Ed section or another section that is clearly marked as such.  We all have/had motivation, as journalists, to write stories for some reason -- but the challenge as a writer is to lay it out in a manner that allows the reader to FORM THEIR OWN OPINION.  Not vice-versa.

In addition, the use of the word "puke" in a "reputable" newspaper shows me just how out of whack the article is.  Perhaps "nauseous" or "vomit" or something along those lines?  But puke?!  How Bush League is that?  You're not going to sell me on this one at all.  Her column WAS an extreme -- hence why we're even discussing it and why the coach jumped all over it.  Q.E.D.