confrontation with glory-seeking dad

[John]

Ask the dad what plays his son made that were critical in the game. Then enjoy the silence.

 

[ServeItUp]

"Sir, I'm terribly sorry. Perhaps they cut your son's name out of my story out for length,

Of course. When in doubt, blame the desk. :

 

[Starman]

For the team's next game, do a preview story about how the team is happy with last game's win, but has to cut down on costly turnovers.

 

[Moderator1]

Good call. Goad the coach into mentioning the kid by name when talking about turnovers.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Dad should be pissed. Your oversight may cost that kid a DI scholarship.







(OK seriously, 32 minutes, no field goals, 3 assists? How is that even possible? My kid does that, I'd be scared to death that his name would be in the paper the next day. The asshole ought to be thanking you.)

 

[Write-brained]

Here's my advice: stand up to bullies. Don't tell him to **** off, but politely and sternly tell him what you told us ... the truth: "I've got 20 minutes to write the story and I only have room for key plays ... etc" ... but don't be all sheepish to the point the guy thinks he's right. Be careful what you apologize for. If he's still invading your space, politely walk away. You're a ****ing reporter, do the best you can and stand by it.

 

[greenie]

"I have limited space for my game stories, so I only mention the players and moments most significant in the game. Feel free to contact my editor if you'd like to discuss the matter further. Have a good day."

 

[chazp]

This is exactly why taser guns were invented. Hit him in the zipper area with it. After five or six minutes he'll get up. If his attitude has not changed, repeat as needed until he thanks you for leaving his son's name out of the paper.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Here's my advice: stand up to bullies. Don't tell him to **** off, but politely and sternly tell him what you told us ... the truth: "I've got 20 minutes to write the story and I only have room for key plays ... etc" ... but don't be all sheepish to the point the guy thinks he's right. Be careful what you apologize for. If he's still invading your space, politely walk away. You're a ****ing reporter, do the best you can and stand by it.

Ditto on the apologizing. Don't do it, unless you made an error.

I don't apologize for not mentioning a kid in a story. I don't apologize for not picking a kid for all-area. I don't apologize for writing that so-and-so's own goal was the deciding goal in her team's loss. I do apologize if I put an error in the story (and to echo the thoughts of blaming the desk ... I most certainly don't blame the desk for not catching the error I put in my story, nor for potentially cutting a name.)

 

[Tom Petty]

"Sir, I'm terribly sorry. Perhaps they cut your son's name out of my story out for length,

Of course. When in doubt, blame the desk. :

i was waiting for that. thanks for not letting me down.

 

[dwychwder]

"Sir, I'd like to politely invite you to suck my balls"

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

This is exactly why taser guns were invented. Hit him in the zipper area with it. After five or six minutes he'll get up. If his attitude has not changed, repeat as needed until he thanks you for leaving his son's name out of the paper.

No one gets a good chuckle out of an electrical charge to the junk anymore. Nice call.

 

[slappy4428]

Dad should be pissed. Your oversight may cost that kid a DI scholarship.







(OK seriously, 32 minutes, no field goals, 3 assists? How is that even possible? My kid does that, I'd be scared to death that his name would be in the paper the next day. The asshole ought to be thanking you.)

It's possible because he can handle the ball, but is a horrible outside shooter.
In my senior year of high school, our starting point guard was the brother of ESPN's Steve Phillips. Had no midrange jumper at all and was probably the best athlete on the team, but he could run the offense.
The coach would tell the team that in a close game, under no circumstances was he to shoot the basketball...

 

[Flip Wilson]

Dad should be pissed. Your oversight may cost that kid a DI scholarship.







(OK seriously, 32 minutes, no field goals, 3 assists? How is that even possible? My kid does that, I'd be scared to death that his name would be in the paper the next day. The asshole ought to be thanking you.)

It's possible because he can handle the ball, but is a horrible outside shooter.
In my senior year of high school, our starting point guard was the brother of ESPN's Steve Phillips. Had no midrange jumper at all and was probably the best athlete on the team, but he could run the offense.
The coach would tell the team that in a close game, under no circumstances was he to shoot the basketball...

During my last year as an SID, our starting point guard averaged 36.8 minutes a game (39.5 a game in conference, including playing every minute of a five-overtime loss) and took less than three shots a game. His job was to run the offense, and that's what he did.

And no, I don't have all this memorized. I had to go check some stats.

 

[Football_Bat]

Had an out-of-town dad e-bomb us with questions about why his son didn't get into stories about his juco team.

The next home game we covered, the kid was running a morgue in left field, misjudging fly balls, letting balls get past him to the fence, overthrowing cutoff men, etc.

He got his name in the paper, all right. And the e-mails stopped.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Cheerleaders work hard, too.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Dad should be pissed. Your oversight may cost that kid a DI scholarship.







(OK seriously, 32 minutes, no field goals, 3 assists? How is that even possible? My kid does that, I'd be scared to death that his name would be in the paper the next day. The asshole ought to be thanking you.)

It's possible because he can handle the ball, but is a horrible outside shooter.
In my senior year of high school, our starting point guard was the brother of ESPN's Steve Phillips. Had no midrange jumper at all and was probably the best athlete on the team, but he could run the offense.
The coach would tell the team that in a close game, under no circumstances was he to shoot the basketball...

During my last year as an SID, our starting point guard averaged 36.8 minutes a game (39.5 a game in conference, including playing every minute of a five-overtime loss) and took less than three shots a game. His job was to run the offense, and that's what he did.

And no, I don't have all this memorized. I had to go check some stats.

Again, 3 assists?

 

[Starman]

Dad should be pissed. Your oversight may cost that kid a DI scholarship.







(OK seriously, 32 minutes, no field goals, 3 assists? How is that even possible? My kid does that, I'd be scared to death that his name would be in the paper the next day. The asshole ought to be thanking you.)

It's possible because he can handle the ball, but is a horrible outside shooter.
In my senior year of high school, our starting point guard was the brother of ESPN's Steve Phillips. Had no midrange jumper at all and was probably the best athlete on the team, but he could run the offense.
The coach would tell the team that in a close game, under no circumstances was he to shoot the basketball...

During my last year as an SID, our starting point guard averaged 36.8 minutes a game (39.5 a game in conference, including playing every minute of a five-overtime loss) and took less than three shots a game. His job was to run the offense, and that's what he did.

And no, I don't have all this memorized. I had to go check some stats.

Again, 3 assists?

Dad should be pissed. Your oversight may cost that kid a DI scholarship.







(OK seriously, 32 minutes, no field goals, 3 assists? How is that even possible? My kid does that, I'd be scared to death that his name would be in the paper the next day. The asshole ought to be thanking you.)

It's possible because he can handle the ball, but is a horrible outside shooter.
In my senior year of high school, our starting point guard was the brother of ESPN's Steve Phillips. Had no midrange jumper at all and was probably the best athlete on the team, but he could run the offense.
The coach would tell the team that in a close game, under no circumstances was he to shoot the basketball...

During my last year as an SID, our starting point guard averaged 36.8 minutes a game (39.5 a game in conference, including playing every minute of a five-overtime loss) and took less than three shots a game. His job was to run the offense, and that's what he did.

And no, I don't have all this memorized. I had to go check some stats.

Again, 3 assists?

And SIX (6) turnovers.

I'd ask the coach, "Why is a PG who turned the ball over 6 times playing 32 minutes? You think you might have somebody on the bench who might not turn the ball every other time he comes down court??"

 

[Ace]

What I truly would (and have) said in that situation is:

"The game story is not mean to list every player or every score. That's why we have the boxscore where your son's name and his four points are listed. In the future if he scores in double digits or makes a key play, then he may be in the story."

 

[slappy4428]

What I truly would (and have) said in that situation is:

"The game story is not mean to list every player or every score. That's why we have the boxscore where your son's name and his four points are listed. In the future if he scores in double digits or makes a key play, then he may be in the story."

as long as that paper does agate...