Sharp writing in story on NBA executive coming out

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/sports/basketball/nba-executive-says-he-is-gay.html

You'll spot the paragraph that grabs the reader by the throat. Nicely done, I think.

 

The one that grabbed me was the paragraph relaying the story of the always race sensitive Bill Russell calling Welts "White Boy".

If I understood correctly it seemed like Welts went to The Times to plan out the story in advance of going to Stern and Russell.

 

There is probably nothing the Arizona Republic could have done to get this before the NYT, because he likely chose the venue that would get him maximum impact, but it kind of sucks for them.

 

1/2 the reason for going to Russell was to ask him to speak to the media.

I feel bad for the guy. Everyone deserves the right to come out at the time and place of his/her choosing, but it seems like everybody he told either already knew or didn't care.

 

Late this afternoon the Republic managed to get an AP write-thru on its web site.

First reader comment: "Eww." Next comment goes with "deviant and unnatural." A couple of comments later, someone uses this to attack Obama.

 

No doubt advance notice helped to "sharpen" the writing.

 

Is a guy most sports fans have never heard of coming out of the closet that big of a deal?

I'm happy for him if it's what he wants to do, and I understand it's still rare in professional team sports, but I'm not sure why the Times took part in an orchestrated "roll out" of the news.

 

Any possibility that the AR turned story down?

 

Fixed.

And no - this is a ridiculous non-story.

Who gives a fuck about this dude and this kind of personal shit.

Do what makes you happy.

 

Even if he's sleeping with LaBron James' dad, it isn't a big story.