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Barry Bonds headlines (real ones)

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Chi City 81, Aug 7, 2007.

  1. MertWindu

    MertWindu Active Member

    It'd be more like putting "Murderer signs book deal" on an OJ story. You Can. Not. Do. That.
     
  2. Claws for Concern

    Claws for Concern Active Member

    Uncommon Bonds, in hindsight, would have been a good headline
     
  3. dooley_womack1

    dooley_womack1 Well-Known Member

    Was that hed the winner in a reader contest? I hope a journalists wasn't responsible for that.
     
  4. caesarsghost

    caesarsghost Member

    Everyone here who is against the asterisk is missing it.

    An asterisk is a subjective device. It doesn't say "He did steroids." It says there's doubt about the validity of the record. And no doubt there is plenty of that.

    Would Bonds have grounds to sue over the use of an asterisk? NO.

    Would O.J. have grounds to sue over the phrase "Murderer Signs Book Deal"? YES.

    For those who view the asterisk as condemnation or an accusation of wrongdoing, keep in mind Roger Maris had an asterisk next to his name for nothing more untoward than playing a few extra games.

    ASTERISKS DO NOT IMPLY GUILT OF ANYTHING. THEY IMPLY RESERVATIONS OF ACCEPTANCE.
     
  5. spnited

    spnited Active Member

    For about the 900th time:

    Roger Maris NEVER had an asterisk next to his name...never, never, never.
     
  6. dooley_womack1

    dooley_womack1 Well-Known Member

    God I hope you're not a slot. A story should express the doubts, not the hed.
     
  7. caesarsghost

    caesarsghost Member

    Whatever happened to the hed reflecting what's in the story?
     
  8. caesarsghost

    caesarsghost Member

    It was never affixed, but Ford Frick had ordered it to be used until the league thought better and never followed through.

    My point remains the same.
     
  9. jlee

    jlee Well-Known Member

    I like it, just not for this story. That could work for a feature on Bonds and his relationship with something (possibly media), but the story was the home run.

    The question is not "Can someone sue the paper?" It is "Is this resposible journalism?"

    Also, Maris played those games. It's a proven, well-documented fact. However likely Bonds' steroid use may be, all we have is circumstancial evidence and leaked grand jury testimony. I think he 'roided up, but I wouldn't print it in a respected publication.

    EDIT: I realize that an asterisk is subjective and doesn't mean he definitely did steroids, but it does lead the readers that way.

    I'm disappointed that papers used asterisks. In due time, Bonds' name will be cleared or destroyed by his alleged steroid use, but neither happened last night. My hometown paper ran an A1 column that said Barry watched Sosa and McGuire with "growing jealousy" in 1998, which inspired Bonds to cheat like them. Ugh.
     
  10. TyWebb

    TyWebb Well-Known Member

    What the asterisk does is imply that there is something wrong with the record, and while most people think there is, there is nothing proven. Unless your story under the hed with the * was about how people/players/etc doubted its legitmacy, it shouldn't be there. For the story about the home run (how, when, who, where, blah blah blah) it does not fit.
     
  11. Chi City 81

    Chi City 81 Guest

    And if it does not fit, you must omit.
     
  12. TyWebb

    TyWebb Well-Known Member

    Thanks, Johnnie.
     
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