Controversial Quote -- In or Out?

[bostonbred]

“... High doesn’t even have a team,” snorted the disgruntled senior co-captain. “They have one player and that is ... . They played one player. We played 13.”

Covering varsity high school volleyball for a regional section of local newspaper. Sore loser co-captain gave me this quote, which is more interesting than anything else I could use. She gave me permission to use. Risk using it and pissing people off while trying to sass a dull story or go with a traditional covering of the sport?

 

[Magnum]

Run it.

 

[Flash]

I would.

 

[forever_town]

Use the quote. The player said it. Use it.

 

[bostonbred]

thanks, ill put it in.

 

[Magnum]

What's wrong with pissing people off? Anyway, you're not pissing anyone off. You're running with the kid said. And what do you mean, "she gave me permission to use it?" I know she's just a high school kid but that's a slippery slope you're standing on ...

 

[spnited]

Board seemed to glitch as I went to post this:

DO NOT USE the words "snorted" or disgruntled." But DO USE the quote.

Then tell your readers how that "one player" beat the **** out of the whiny losing ***** and her team.

 

[Magnum]

Board seemed to glitch as I went to post this:

DO NOT USE the words "snorted" or disgruntled." But DO USE the quote.

Then tell your readers how that "one player" beat the **** out of the whiny losing ***** and her team.

Good points all.

 

[mike311gd]

Gotta use the quote. That's gold, bostonbred. Gold.

But I'm with spnited. Just let the player do the talking. I'm not a fan of deviating so much from "said," especially if the option is snorted. You don't need to explain she was disgruntled. Happy people don't rip opponents like that.

 

[Dan Rydell]

Run it.

Makes it obvious that she's a sore loser. Maybe she'll learn something.

 

[Ace]

If you use it, ditch the snorted and disgruntled and set it up with the heroics of the one-woman gang that beat them.

 

[Mayfly]

If a player says something and it fits into the mold of your story, use it. As long as it's not libelous you are fine.

 

[Ace]

On the other hand, boston, if Miss Soreloser's team had won and she said the other team only had one player, I wouldn't use it in a high school story.

 

[hockeybeat]

Too many times, we're asked to make chicken salad out of chicken ****. In your case, you already have the chicken salad. Use the quote.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

 

[fishwrapper]

What's wrong with pissing people off? Anyway, you're not pissing anyone off. You're running with the kid said. And what do you mean, "she gave me permission to use it?" I know she's just a high school kid but that's a slippery slope you're standing on ...

I **** people off on a daily basis.

 

[slappy4428]

Why wouldn't you use something from a high school kid that has color. At least it's better than, "We played really hard and have worked hard for this..."

 

[Boomer7]

Gotta use the quote. That's gold, bostonbred. Gold.

But I'm with spnited. Just let the player do the talking. I'm not a fan of deviating so much from "said," especially if the option is snorted.

Agreed. "Said" takes care of things virtually every time. When it comes to quotes, it's silly to use verbs like "laughed," "sighed" or "snorted." If you need to note that a person was making a joke, use "said with a laugh." But laughs, sighs and snorts don't produce words.