God has a good arm.

[HeinekenMan]

He throws touchdowns in Super Bowls and so forth.

Apparently, he also has a good foot. I'm doing a story on a local soccer player, and the kid insisted on playing up his new-found religion. He took a leading role this year, instituted pre- and post-game prayers and convinced several players to join his church. It's all good and well, but he puts God into nearly every sentence and credits his Holiness with every good thing the team accomplished. Will his focus on doing God's work take away from a story that's supposed by about sports? I mean, it's somewhat inspirational. He went from the bad kid to the nicest kid in school.

 

[Ace]

If you are doing a story on the kid and he instituted pre- and post-game prayers and got kids to join his church, yeah, I think you have to get into his religion.

Sounds like it could be a good story. What prompted this change? How do temmates feel about it? Any offended?

Doesn't mean you have to have a whole slew of quotes praising God, though.

 

[NoTalentAndFatToo]

God doesn't care whether Upper Armpit High wins state. She has more important things on her mind, I suspect.

If the kid converted tio Islam, and credited Allah with everything that had gone on in his life, would you pepper the piece with "praise be to Allah" in every quote?

Keep Jesus out. Please.

 

[Riddick]

God doesn't care whether Upper Armpit High wins state. She has more important things on her mind, I suspect.

I'm sure she does. = )

 

[Ellis Redding]

God doesn't care whether Upper Armpit High wins state. She has more important things on her mind, I suspect.

If the kid converted tio Islam, and credited Allah with everything that had gone on in his life, would you pepper the piece with "praise be to Allah" in every quote?

Keep Jesus out. Please.

What he said.

 

[Ace]

For those who want to keep religion out, how do yo write a story about this kid and keep religion out?

Why would you want to read a story on this kid that just talks about how many goals he has scored or something?

 

[terrier]

Hey, the kid has a constitutional right to look like a pompous ass if he wants.
If he makes God (or Allah, or Wicca, whatever) the 12th player on the field and has gotten other players on the team involved (ask them, in case star player's hyping it), that's a legitimate part of the story.

 

[Trouser_Buddah]

You're doing a story about this kid...This is what the kid is about. So that's what you write about. Simple. You can't eliminate an important part of what makes your subject who he is simply because it annoys you or goes against something you believe in.

If this kid told you that he felt a certain training technique was vital to his skills and that he used a traumatic life experience to motivate him, you'd most certainly write about it.

But because there's a general cynicism about religion, you will ignore something that clearly has impacted him, and in his mind, is crucial to where he is in life. And if that happens, you are not painting an accurate picture of this kid.

And before I get jumped for being a Jesus freak, this is about journalism, not religion.

 

[Taylee]

I wouldn't make it the focal part of the story. You mentioned he changed. I'm sure that went beyond religion. Volunteers with area youth, hasn't gotten arrested in 18 months. Stuff like that you can elaborate on without making it a religion issue. But I agree that it has to be mentioned because that was his motivation behind the change.
We cover a Christian school and almost every kid quoted wanted to "thank God" or "honor God." Only on rare cases do those make the story.
Another story: Football coach and our reporter attend the same church. Football coach asks reporter why his quotes about God aren't ever in the paper "especially because we attend the same church." Reporter, much to my delight, responded: "Well, coach, almost everyone does that now. It's almost a cliche."

 

[HeinekenMan]

I think Trouser Buddha has good advice on this one. We all know that God doesn't care about soccer. But five of the kid's teammates went to his church had their souls "saved." I think God might care about that.

For the record, I'm an atheist, and I think the kid is crazy. But I'm trying to be open-minded and do the right thing. It seems that his faith in God is part of the story, so I'm planning to lead with that.

 

[Ike Broflovski]

I'm not particularly religious, but to ignore someone's life-altering faith journey in a profile, even a short one, is not just lousy journalism, it's astonishingly arrogant.

Whether we agree with it or not, an athlete or coach's relationship with God can be profoundly important. I did a story a couple of years ago about a college basketball coach who was born again, and his Christianity had almost everything to do with giving him a baseline (no pun intended) to reconstruct his life.

I think we can use a little moderation -- I don't like it when they credit God for the winning touchdown pass, either -- but it seems to me as if religion has had an effect on how HeinekenMan's soccer player lives his life. I think HeinekenMan is using the right approach.

There seems to be a real awkwardness about this subject among reporters, because they just don't know a whole lot, or enough, about the subject. Yes, I know: some athletes and coaches lay it on pretty thick.

But sometimes a reporter can find out a lot about a Christian athlete simply by asking his/her favorite Bible verse. I've found they're only too happy to tell me, because they're witnessing the faith, but it's interesting to look it up when I'm writing the story, because it tells me a lot about their approach to the game, or to life.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

You know, what you SHOULD have done is taken his Bible and pissed on it. That'd show him. How dare he not keep his mouth shut about his faith? Everyone knows the only time to talk about God is if you have a loved one ill, then it's okay to ask for prayers. Otherwise, keep your ****ing retard beliefs out of the way of the normals.

</ifyouneedasarcasmtagthenyoufailatlife>

Look, if being a born-again Christian means that much to him, how the hell (as it were) do you not make it an intergal part of the story? If he attributed his success to yoga or Buddhist chants or straight edge, would you be so concerned about it?

There's this ridiculous fear, manifest here and in other places, that every time someone talks openly about Jesus as their lord and savior, it's some sort of codeword that starts a Falwell/Robertson Seven-Days-In-May takeover of the country. There's a lot of good people who have good stories in which Jesus is inextricably intertwined, but we're scared that by mentioning that part of it, we're promoting Christianity as a state religion. And that's just overboard.

 

[Ellis Redding]

I'm not particularly religious, but to ignore someone's life-altering faith journey in a profile, even a short one, is not just lousy journalism, it's astonishingly arrogant.

Whether we agree with it or not, an athlete or coach's relationship with God can be profoundly important. I did a story a couple of years ago about a college basketball coach who was born again, and his Christianity had almost everything to do with giving him a baseline (no pun intended) to reconstruct his life.

I think we can use a little moderation -- I don't like it when they credit God for the winning touchdown pass, either -- but it seems to me as if religion has had an effect on how HeinekenMan's soccer player lives his life. I think HeinekenMan is using the right approach.

There seems to be a real awkwardness about this subject among reporters, because they just don't know a whole lot, or enough, about the subject. Yes, I know: some athletes and coaches lay it on pretty thick.

But sometimes a reporter can find out a lot about a Christian athlete simply by asking his/her favorite Bible verse. I've found they're only too happy to tell me, because they're witnessing the faith, but it's interesting to look it up when I'm writing the story, because it tells me a lot about their approach to the game, or to life.

I guess I shouldn't have said I agree with all of what No-Talent said. But I did agree with the part about not having a God reference in every quote from the kid. If that's all he gave you, then either truncate the quote (if possible) or quote other sources more frequently than you otherwise would.

 

[expendable]

You know, what you SHOULD have done is taken his Bible and pissed on it. That'd show him. How dare he not keep his mouth shut about his faith? Everyone knows the only time to talk about God is if you have a loved one ill, then it's okay to ask for prayers. Otherwise, keep your ****ing retard beliefs out of the way of the normals.

</ifyouneedasarcasmtagthenyoufailatlife>

Look, if being a born-again Christian means that much to him, how the hell (as it were) do you not make it an intergal part of the story? If he attributed his success to yoga or Buddhist chants or straight edge, would you be so concerned about it?

There's this ridiculous fear, manifest here and in other places, that every time someone talks openly about Jesus as their lord and savior, it's some sort of codeword that starts a Falwell/Robertson Seven-Days-In-May takeover of the country. There's a lot of good people who have good stories in which Jesus is inextricably intertwined, but we're scared that by mentioning that part of it, we're promoting Christianity as a state religion. And that's just overboard.

Good post Meat.


And for the record, I believe Jesus Christ can hit a curve ball.

 

[SixToe]

We all know that God doesn't care about soccer.

Actually, not "all" of us believe he doesn't care about soccer or sports or politics or what some think are "minor" things.

Some of us believe God cares about every single thing that happens everywhere, all day and night.

And I agree with this part of Ike Broflowvski's opening statement: "to ignore someone's life-altering faith journey in a profile, even a short one, is not just lousy journalism, it's astonishingly arrogant."

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Outing alert -- Heinekman obviously does not work for The Plain Dealer. Or any other Cleveland-area newspaper.

 

[HeinekenMan]

Thanks for the feedback. I knew this would stir some debate.

The only thing that is a turnoff is that it's clearly PR work of the highest order. He specifically mentioned that he wanted me to include his message that anything is possible through God.

I generally don't like it when people tell me what I'm supposed to write. It makes me feel used. But he did accomplish enough to warrant a story and, thus, should have his story told. And, as I've said, his christianity is a key part of his personal metamorphosis.

On a personal, non-professional level, I don't like this sort of thing. First off, it appears there was pressure to conform, at least passively, on members of the team. That's disturbing to me.

Secondly, it sets a precedent that can't be upheld. What if the linebacker on the football team tells me that he believes little fairies caused a fumble? Am I supposed to print that? What if a chess player is part of an underground vampire club? It probably sounds like I'm re-framing the issue, but there are folks who would scream bigotry if such a case popped up.

Lastly, it's pushing a personal message off on the general public. It's almost an advertisement disguised as a story. Let's say that a guy claims his golden cleats brought him Olympic victory and that the Nike cleats deserve the credit. Are you going to write that? Lord knows this stuff comes up in NASCAR every day. But we don't write that Pennzoil got the credit for the win. And we certainly don't lead with that, even if that's all the driver had to say.

 

[Ace]

Heinie,

Who gets the credit isn't important. But this is the basis of his personality. If you think other players might have felt pressure, then you should talk to them as part of the story.

 

[BillyT]

Just because you use it once doesn't mean you have to use it again.

"Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." -- Thomas Hobbes, I think.

Use your professional judgment and don't worry about anything else.

Is it an integral part of the story? Sounds like it is to me. I don't see it as PR, but that's just my view.

I believe in Jesus and in God. My friends would not be able to tell you that. I pray for people. I ask God for help. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes, it rains. I don't make a big deal out of it, but I think it's a valid point here. If someone was doing a story about me, would I mention it? No. Not really part of the "Billy T Story."

As always, country music provides the answer. See "Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

Thanks for the feedback. I knew this would stir some debate.

The only thing that is a turnoff is that it's clearly PR work of the highest order. He specifically mentioned that he wanted me to include his message that anything is possible through God.

I generally don't like it when people tell me what I'm supposed to write. It makes me feel used. But he did accomplish enough to warrant a story and, thus, should have his story told. And, as I've said, his christianity is a key part of his personal metamorphosis.

On a personal, non-professional level, I don't like this sort of thing. First off, it appears there was pressure to conform, at least passively, on members of the team. That's disturbing to me.

Secondly, it sets a precedent that can't be upheld. What if the linebacker on the football team tells me that he believes little fairies caused a fumble? Am I supposed to print that? What if a hockey chess player is part of an underground vampire club? It probably sounds like I'm re-framing the issue, but there are folks who would scream bigotry if such a case popped up.

Lastly, it's pushing a personal message off on the general public. It's almost an advertisement disguised as a story. Let's say that a guy claims his golden cleats brought him Olympic victory and that the Nike cleats deserve the credit. Are you going to write that? Lord knows this stuff comes up in NASCAR every day. But we don't write that Pennzoil got the credit for the win. And we certainly don't lead with that, even if that's all the driver had to say.

First, you never should feel like you have to include everything a subject says. If it smells like bull**** or it's a cliche, then ax it with extreme prejudice. I wouldn't use "I give all glory to God" on its own because it's as hackeneyed as "do what you've gotta do" or something equally banal.

The thing is, you've got (from what you've told us) a moral rags-to-riches story. Once a punk, now a good kid. The impetus behind that change is a must in the story. If it's his parents, or a mentor, or God, or whatever, then it should be in there. It's kind of hard to do a "so-and-so turned his life around" story without at least trying to show WHY it changed.

As for it "taking away from a story that's supposed to be about sports": How would it be different than someone who talks about their time living in another country? Or playing for a dead relative? Or being editor of the school paper? If we limited feature topics to things that specifically take place on the field of play, we undercut ourselves tremendously.

As for precedent: Unless you mean that everything is equally valid or invalid, I don't see the issue. There's a difference, culturally, between adhering to Christianity or another mainstream faith and "little fairies causing a fumble". And the hockey/chess vampire? That's a story BEGGING to be written.

Finally, personal message: Is that the offense, or is it that it's a message with which you don't agree. Again, if they're throwing "I thank God for the victory" casually, that's one thing. But there's a MASSIVE difference between a committed believer humbly giving God the glory and a stock car driver namechecking all his sponsors.