Soccer terminology in stories

Worked with an intern earlier this year, who was a soccer geek. And no matter how often I told him to dumb it down and start writing for readers instead of coaches, he kept writing way overthe readers heads. I hated him.

 

It doesn't matter what you say, BBAM. Nobody reads your stories.

 

you're the one who made the initial remark:

"If we want to become a soccer country we have to start appreciating its language. Gotta start somewhere."

is that not being a cheerleader/advocate for the sport?

 

Bob Ryan, for one, has never hidden the fact that he is a fan -- that is, a cheerleader/advocate -- of both the NBA and MLB. There is no ethical quandary about a journalist writing to bring in new readers -- and the best way to bring in new readers is if they are fans and enjoying the games. If you don't enjoy what you do, what's the point?

 

You can;t write over their heads on something as simple as a high school soccer story... period

 

Asshat United's Joe Poop was cautioned in the 86th minute.

FC Dingleberry's Josh Bumleg was sent off in the 72nd minute.

 

fuckin Dingleberrys....

 

I'm a sports writer and I didn't know the term "bookings."
Write "booked for two yellows and a red" and I think it's fine.
Otherwise, you're losing too many readers.

 

In the typical terminology, a booking is a yellow card. You wouldn't say "booked for a yellow card;" you would simply say, "he was booked" or he "received a booking."

A red card is typically described as a sending-off; the recipient is said to have been sent off.

 

My dad was born in Europe, was a huge soccer fan and I played it starting when I was very young. I never heard him or anyone else use the word booked. Just my two cents.

 

I had no clue what booked or booking meant. I say keep the jargon to a minimum -- and not only in soccer stories.

 

If Jack Lord ran the copy desk ..