Explain Awards to Me. Seriously.

Actually, I'd say the real talent in writing that story is knowing how NOT to write it -- those kind of stories tend to write themselves, so the key is to pen it with a subtle hand instead of throwing in literary pyrotechnics because you think the story warrants that kind of treatment. Sort of like framing a perfect rose versus bronzing it and building a disco around it.

But few people win awards by writing awesome stories about mundane topics. State titles and dead parents trump mid-season gamers and senior captains every time.

 

i was talking more effort, but, yeah.

 

When someone explains the ESPYs to me, I'll move on to this question.

 

ESPN needed something to fill the void in the summer when the only pro sport going on is baseball, so they created an awards show that doubles as self promotion?

 

The Golden Globes of sport. But without the awesome cultural authority of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association behind them.

 

Maybe we can get the Hollywood Foreign Press to start voting on sports journalism.

 

Or get the folks at ESPN to choose our OscarTMwinners.

 

There Will Be Junction Boys

 

For some, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Plus, like Mizzou said, if you're looking to move up, it looks good on a resume.

 

I have only entered one contest in the last 7-8 years. When I was younger, it mattered to me if my bosses put me in the APSEs somewhere. I won 3 of them, and it's nice to be able to say I did, but the older you get the less it matters. At least that's been my experience. Once you can call yourself an "award-winning writer" in your bio, I'm not sure what's left.

 

A Season on the Brink of Atonement

 

I honestly just like going to the state press association and getting drunk with my bosses, friends and colleagues from other papers. Seriously. That's the best part.