What do you think of this lede?

I don't usually do this, but I think this lede is ridiculous, to say the least.



MINNEAPOLIS - Visiting hours are 2 TO 4 and 7 TO 9.

These are traditional times for wakes, but this isn't a public wake for the Yankees. Nevertheless, their supporters are urged to pay their respects privately today for the team that is looking toe-tag dead in the AL East and wild card races.

The pinstriped coffins have been delivered and when the final game at Yankee Stadium is played, it will be turned into a cemetery. The headstone will read: March 31-Aug. 13.

 

world-class bad

 

I always feel uncomfortable when someone else's work is posted for ridicule. Not saying that's what you are after, spnited, but you know that will be the end result.

Coming from a guy who has had several crummy ledes, and several more on the way, I know I wouldn't enjoy seeing mine on this board -- whether my name was attached to it or not.

 

I remember a paper writing a "Death March in Choketown" August headline a long time ago about the same team.

That team finished by winning 11 of its last 12 and making the playoffs. The next season, they won the World Series.

Six back with 40 left.

Lots of baseball left to play.

 

I more disagree with the knee-jerkness of it all.

 

It smells like death warmed over.

 

The only thing I thought of when I read that lead was during the wake for Chris in the final season of the Sopranos. Silvio pointed out one old lady and said her nickname was "2-to-4, 7-to-9 ... she never misses a wake."

 

I liked the idea, but the lede missed. No big deal - not every story anyone writes is going to win an APSE.

 

Pretty bad. But then, it's only sportswriting.

 

The NY Post had a picture of Tom Coughlin on its back page during Christmas 2006, with a headline that read: "Yule Have To Go."

The Giants ended up making the playoffs that year, albeit an 8-8 year.
Coughlin, of course, kept his job.
Then the Giants won the Super Bowl.

Now, if I had to go through all the examples of the NY media counting the Yankees out too soon ...

 

On June 1, 2005, the Houston Chronicle put a picture of a tombstone on its sports cover. The Astros were, you know, dead.

Until they went to the World Series, that is.

 

It's bad... But I've seen much, much worse.