Coach reaction

[DemoChristian]

Never apologize for the facts. They aren't your fault.
And never, never, never say anything about supporting anything.

 

[JakeandElwood]

By his logic you shouldn't mention anything good that happened in prior years in connection to a current team because the players aren't exactly the same.

You did the right thing, it was a very newsworthy piece of info. The coach was just being a jackass.

 

[crusoes]

I'm at a small newspaper, too, frog, but I don't tell people I "support" the teams I cover. Saying things like that will make people go off the deep end when you have to write about something negative, because they'll wonder why you're "not supporting the kids."

Exactly.

 

[Dan Hickling]

And how many of those girls actually read your story? .... None would be my guess...

 

[forever_town]

I agree with IJAG.

You're there to report on the game and write the story, not to be the mouthpiece for those girls, nor are you there to support the team.

 

[zagoshe]

Tell the guy to go **** himself and that you don't work for him and that you don't need some Tommy Lasorda wannabe telling you how to do your ****ing job.

 

[Football_Bat]

Tell the guy to go **** himself and that you don't work for him and that you don't need some Tommy Lasorda wannabe telling you how to do your ****ing job.

Big talk.

 

[zagoshe]

Tell the guy to go **** himself and that you don't work for him and that you don't need some Tommy Lasorda wannabe telling you how to do your ****ing job.

Big talk.

No, that's just how you handle a grandstanding high school coach.

 

[spikechiquet]

Tell the guy to go **** himself and that you don't work for him and that you don't need some Tommy Lasorda wannabe telling you how to do your ****ing job.

Then slap him until he STOPS crying....think about it.

 

[silentbob]

So next time, try the opposite approach: "I dont support your team and I never will!"

Be sure the girls are around to hear it, too.

 

[Fredrick]

If that's me I lose great respect for the coach. No coach likes when we point out that it's the worst loss in school history or breaks a streak, etc. But they love it when we say it's the first team in school history to score 100 points or win 20 games.
You shouldn't have said you are always supportive of the team in my opinion. That's not your job.
The coach is just another coach; I'd lose a lot of respect for him after this incident.

 

[frogscribe]

If that's me I lose great respect for the coach. No coach likes when we point out that it's the worst loss in school history or breaks a streak, etc. But they love it when we say it's the first team in school history to score 100 points or win 20 games.
You shouldn't have said you are always supportive of the team in my opinion.

Again, it was the shock of the moment. Besides, everyone knows when you write for a community newspaper in a one high school town that you support the team. Hell, this guy is a friend, and still is. I think this "you shouldn't have said that" talk on this thread is easy to write and pass judgement (although y'all have convinced me never to say that again - and it was the first time I have ever said that to a coach) when you weren't there in the moment.
But hey, thanks for the advice, and it is something I already knew it's just - again - a shock of the moment thing, so I think I should be spared the crtiticism.

 

[DemoChristian]

I strongly disagree with the idea that everyone knows you support the team. It's not your job to support the team and you should tell people that. It makes you a homer.
It's your job to cover the team. That's entirely different.
Is the team rooting for you to write a good story or win awards? Probably not.

 

[frogscribe]

I strongly disagree with the idea that everyone knows you support the team. It's not your job to support the team and you should tell people that. It makes you a homer.
It's your job to cover the team. That's entirely different.
Is the team rooting for you to write a good story or win awards? Probably not.

Dude, I was just telling him (by saying it that way) that I was not out to sensationalize the situation and that I wasn't begging for a loss so I could "write a dramatic article." I have never openly cheered for any team I cover. Some of you guys act like I brought pom poms into the dugout and led the cheers.
I should have just left that part out of my original post. It doesn't have a damn thing to do with the questions I brought up. Some of you people are not realistic at all. And those who claim to have worked in community newpapers - how soon you forget.
All this talk should have ended with my reply acknowledging that I shouldn't have said that. Quite ****ing piling on, and get ****ing real.

 

[DemoChristian]

Um, I worked at a community paper for 10 years until recently. I know exactly what I'm talking about.
Take our advice or don't, but we're right. You shouldn't say that because people hear it as, "I root for your team."

 

[expendable]

Does your government writer support city officials? Same thing should apply to us in sports. You would never hear a writer say, "You know, I always support the council.

 

[frogscribe]

Um, I worked at a community paper for 10 years until recently. I know exactly what I'm talking about.
Take our advice or don't, but we're right. You shouldn't say that because people hear it as, "I root for your team."

Not disputing (as I wrote in a previous post). And I understand what you (and others) are saying.
Like we say down here in Tony Romoville, preception is reality.

 

[Ace]

Um, I worked at a community paper for 10 years until recently. I know exactly what I'm talking about.
Take our advice or don't, but we're right. You shouldn't say that because people hear it as, "I root for your team."

Not disputing (as I wrote in a previous post). And I understand what you (and others) are saying.
Like we say down here in Tony Romoville, preception is reality.

People don't understand how journalism works.

And it's easy -- especially at smaller papers that cover fewer schools -- to fall into the trap of being liked instead of doing your job.

 

[Fredrick]

I think this "you shouldn't have said that" talk on this thread is easy to write and pass judgement (although y'all have convinced me never to say that again - and it was the first time I have ever said that to a coach) when you weren't there in the moment.
But hey, thanks for the advice, and it is something I already knew it's just - again - a shock of the moment thing, so I think I should be spared the crtiticism.

I wasn't trying to bury you even though it may have seemed that way. You admitted you shouldn't have said that about supporting the team. No big deal. It was a shock of the moment thing like you said. You deserve credit IMO for saying you agree and wouldn't do it again. My apologies as far as my post implying you are no good.

 

[sportsjunkie]

The worst are the coaches who call up and ***** you out for reporting that Jane Doe made an error which allowed the winning run to score. Don't you care about Jane Doe's feelings, Mr. Mean Writer? How would you feel if that was YOUR daughter, Mr. Mean Writer. You're hurting a 15-year-old's feelings!