All-Area themes

[Fnerry]

I wanted to start a discussion on All-Area team themes you have done in the past. Just trying to get ideas for high school baseball soon.

 

[txsportsscribe]

why on earth does anyone need a freakin theme for all-area team?

 

[Fnerry]

You don't NEED a theme for an All-Area team, but I've seen some done in the past that really turned out nice. Just wanted some suggestions. Not smart ass comments from idiots.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Zagoshe would do one for softball players that look least like men.

 

[Starman]

"Here's the All-Area Team."

 

[spnited]

Seriously, Fnerry, tx--scribe is right.

 

[Bob Loblaw Law Blog]

Just wanted some suggestions. Not smart ass comments from idiots.

Here's a suggestion: don't do a ****ing theme for your all-area baseball team. You'll be the one who looks like an idiot.

 

[chazp]

[blue] How about who's a switch hitter and who's not.[/blue] Inspired by a situation in my area. I cover a school that had a lot of controversy last fall, because one of their volleyball players came out to her teammates and coach as a lesbian. She's also on the school's softball team. During a area tournament for the softball team, I was in the press box when she came to bat, a teacher at the school announced that she was dating (think of any boy's name). The PA announcer, did a double take and asked the teacher, "She's dating boys now?" You could put her in the switch hitter category.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Use an 80s TV theme.

Smart players can be Alex P. Keatons (Family Ties)
Grumpy managers can be Mr. Ropers (Three's Company)

Wait a sec, now that I think of it, wasn't Mr. Roper replaced by Ralph Furley on "Three's Company" in '79?

Ehh, do what you want.

 

[Rockbottom]

We do photo pages instead of stories at our shop -- with the "visual artists" of our photo staff dreaming up different backgrounds and themes to take individual photos of the Super 11/Super 5/Super9/Greater Podunk Spring All-Stars. That saves us the 50-inch fellatio each season.

Football gets a double-truck (natch), and the rest get single color pages. Works out well for all.

rb

 

[EStreetJoe]

Years ago we would do the baseball and softball teams as baseball cards. A posed picture (or file photo game shot) for the front of the card and the players stats and a paragraph or two on the back.
It would take up two pages (one page for the front, the preceeding page for the back)... when we had a 16 page Sunday section, the fronts of the cards would be page 16, the backs page 15.

 

[txsportsscribe]

You don't NEED a theme for an All-Area team, but I've seen some done in the past that really turned out nice. Just wanted some suggestions. Not smart ass comments from idiots.

dude, you have some serious self-issues if you get that bent out of shape over my comment like i was taking a personal potshot. it wasn't smartass, it was a legitimate observation. people spend too much effort on themes that end up seeming quite lame when all you need is "all-area team."

 

[LiveStrong]

"Here's the All-Area Team."

Seconded.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

All-area teams are made of fail. You can't get the people to show up for photos, you'll put ungodly hours in picking the teams, compiling the stats and writing the copy, and your reward will be a voicemailbox loaded to the hilt with WHY DIDN'T YOU NAME MY DAUGHTER TO THE FIRST TEAM SHE WORKS AS HARD AS ANYONE ELSE AND JUST BECAUSE YOU AND THE COACHES CAN'T SEE THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT NOT TRUE AND WHY COME YOU HAVE SIX PLAYERS FROM CENTER CITY HIGH BUT ONLY FOUR FROM EAST MOUNTAIN HIGH DID YOU GET LAID FOR THE FIRST TIME BY A CENTER CITY ***** I BET YOU DID F*** YOU *click*

Best way to handle it: just run all the rosters for all the teams in your area under the banner "EVERYONE'S A CHAMPION". And that's that.

 

[ADifferentOkie]

As a veteran of many All-Area teams, I agree that using a theme isn't the best idea. Even the best themes are going to rub some the wrong way and they probably aren't worth the extra work/thought.
Get some names, pictures and stats and call it good.

 

[silkytransition]

Master of the obvious statement of the day: It's a best in the area theme. If it's presented cleanly and provokes some discussion, the section or pull-out has served its purpose.

 

[HejiraHenry]

Just. Don't.

 

[DanOregon]

One to stay away from- "Most Wanted" posters.

 

[Starman]

I just know somebody, somewhere, will try to do All-Area teams done up like a MySpace page.

 

[John]

I just know somebody, somewhere, will try to do All-Area teams done up like a MySpace page.

With a bunch of creepy 45-year-old men posing at 16-year-olds.