What do you guys write about during downtime?

I don't blame them, either. It just drives you crazy that you're filing this year-ender that's rating the biggest stories of the year, and you know that some obscure small-school relay is going to be pissed that you overlooked them. And the reason you overlooked them is because they came in seventh place in their race with a comparably mediocre performance, but since they were the highest finishing small school, they're considered state champs. They also separate out state and federation championship results. It's a headache.

 

My No. 1 hard and fast rule for sportswriting.

If it's a cheerleading story, hand it to the school/education news person.

It isn't sanctioned by the IOC, the local state high school athletic association, the NCAA or any other legitimate national or international sports governing body ... it's a school activity and goes with all of the other school activity news.

 

There are many times I'm glad I'm in Indiana, where there are no classes in individual sports. Trying to cover four track state finals would be a headache of massive proportions.