dealing with 1-star teams.

[Brain of J]

So ok,

Monday I wrote what I thought was a fair article on the girls' basketball team here in town.

It was a season preview, and, the coach called me today and wants to speak about "the way you handled it, it wasn't about the team but one player."

Now granted, I DID mention one player as their stud, mainly because she is. I did also mention other players, it's not like I made it sound like they were a 1 player team, when realistically they sortof are this year. I've talked to 2 players who have both said so.

I'm dreading talking to the coach, I just started this beat and I don't really wanna start off on a bad foot, but it looks like it's going down that road.

I haven't watched the team play yet, like I said, I'm new here, so I'm going on what I could find from last year, which wasn't much.....

How do you make it "sound" like you're not covering just one player even if that 1 player is head and shoulders above the rest?

I don't want to upset this coach, but at the same time I don't want to lay over and make it seem like I'm going to write whatever he wants in there.

How should I go into this meeting with the coach?

 

[SoSueMe]

I hate coaches like that. The reality is some players are better than others. Some teams are better than others. I hate the "everyone is equal" and "they all work hard" bull**** coaches spew.

The reality is the team has one good player. Two players said so. He's just saying that because he's afraid players' parents are going to blame him for the spin of the story.

I say don't worry about. Move on. Keep reporting, HONESTLY.

 

[Breakyoself]

did you have quotes from the coach backing up that the one girl was their star and they would lean on her?

he may not be mad at you per say, but perhaps is getting heat from parents and is passing the buck. I would tell him that you thought the article was fair, apologize that he doesn't and say you will do all you can to make sure the coverage is as balanced on their team as possible with keeping with what is newsworthy.

 

[Chi City 81]

I hate coaches like that. The reality is some players are better than others. Some teams are better than others. I hate the "everyone is equal" and "they all work hard" bull**** coaches spew.

The reality is the team has one good player. Two players said so. He's just saying that because he's afraid players' parents are going to blame him for the spin of the story.

I say don't worry about. Move on. Keep reporting, HONESTLY.

I agree, but look at it from the coach's angle. He has a whole team full of parents to deal with. He also has to keep the rest of his players interested (and at least trying on defense) while the star player pulls a Teen Wolf.

You did nothing wrong. But try to cut the coach a little slack, unless he's an out-and-out prick about it.

 

[sportswriter not a junky]

Damn it, guys! Some of you really are too soft-skinned to work in this business. People are going to be angry at you, no matter what you write. That, flat out, is a side effect of being balanced.

Take it with a grain of salt. Listen to your readers, coaches and parents without being judgemental. After considering their input, if you agree, tell them and thank them and let them known that it'll have an effect next time you're in the same situation. If you don't agree, stand firm with your beliefs without being rude. If they get rude or unreasonable, hang up.

I've gotten calls and emails like that before. My response: "That was a feature on Player A, not Team B." After this point, the conversation may continue, but the argument aspect of it is over.

 

[Crimson Tide]

****, that's all?

I had a coach pissed at me because I wrote that his team of all-star studs that nearly won state last year are back and could make a run at the title and at least a 25-win season.

Figure that one out.

 

[Chi City 81]

****, that's all?

I had a coach pissed at me because I wrote that his team of all-star studs that nearly won state last year are back and could make a run at the title and at least a 25-win season.

Figure that one out.

You put a target on their backs, asshole.

(Just kidding. I've had that happen to me, too.)

 

[pressboxer]

****, that's all?

I had a coach pissed at me because I wrote that his team of all-star studs that nearly won state last year are back and could make a run at the title and at least a 25-win season.

Figure that one out.

Apparently you set the bar too high and these poor kids will never be able to live up to such impossible expectations.

Or maybe he's afraid they will choke and it'll be his ass.

 

[Crimson Tide]

But isn't it the role of the high school writer to make stars out of kids and paint targets on teams' backs? ;D :

 

[sportschick]

This coach is obviously a COCKDIAN!

 

[pallister]

Does the coach allow the players to wear headbands?

 

[BYH]

"It's about the team" = "It's all about me, the coach, me, I'm the one that put this together you see me I put it together to maximize the talent on this team we've got adequate talent but I am the one molding it into a champion. Me. Me. Me."

 

[Starman]

"It's about the team" = "It's all about me, the coach, me, I'm the one that put this together you see me I put it together to maximize the talent on this team we've got adequate talent but I am the one molding it into a champion. Me. Me. Me."

Thank you. Precisely.

It's not that these players have a lot of talent and I am using it in a way which can win; I, Myself, Mr. Big Time Genius Coach, am teaching them "The Right Way To Play."

 

[BYH]

"It's about the team" = "It's all about me, the coach, me, I'm the one that put this together you see me I put it together to maximize the talent on this team we've got adequate talent but I am the one molding it into a champion. Me. Me. Me."

Thank you. Precisely.

It's not that these players have a lot of talent and I am using it in a way which can win; I, Myself, Mr. Big Time Genius Coach, am teaching them "The Right Way To Play."

You forgot to add the trademark there, Starman.

Larry Brown is gonna sue your ass!!!

 

[Tom Petty]

So ok,

Monday I wrote what I thought was a fair article on the girls' basketball team here in town.

It was a season preview, and, the coach called me today and wants to speak about "the way you handled it, it wasn't about the team but one player."

Now granted, I DID mention one player as their stud, mainly because she is. I did also mention other players, it's not like I made it sound like they were a 1 player team, when realistically they sortof are this year. I've talked to 2 players who have both said so.

I'm dreading talking to the coach, I just started this beat and I don't really wanna start off on a bad foot, but it looks like it's going down that road.

I haven't watched the team play yet, like I said, I'm new here, so I'm going on what I could find from last year, which wasn't much.....

How do you make it "sound" like you're not covering just one player even if that 1 player is head and shoulders above the rest?

I don't want to upset this coach, but at the same time I don't want to lay over and make it seem like I'm going to write whatever he wants in there.

How should I go into this meeting with the coach?

your mistake was not cutting the coach off at the knees and allowing him to make a big production out of the situation by coming in and feeding you a line of **** in person.

you should have taken care of this on the phone. you are allowing him to create an inferno instead of simply putting out a brush fire ... and your freaking out is tossing gas on the fire as well.

 

[Dale Cooper]

Your job is to report on the team accurately. If it's a one-player team, you write in a way that does not trash everyone else -- unless they really deserve to be trashed. If a coach does not like it, that's really too bad for the coach.

Explain to him that it is not your job to be a spokesman for the team, just to report on its happenings in an unbiased, accurate fashion. Tell him that you understand his concern but that his agenda is not yours.

 

[Gomer]

Just make sure you write at least one story this season that focuses on someone other than the star. If they're winning, somebody's playing defence, somebody's rebounding and somebody's getting a lot of assists.

The coach may just be scared that the hotshot will get all of the media attention. She'll still be the star every game, but even your readers will get sick of reading about her.

Oh, and tell the coach to screw off, unless he wants you second-guessing his zone defence next game.