Jackie Mac smashes one

[GBNF]

Simmons linked to this in his new column:

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/04/20/routine_excellence_is_allens_secret/?page=5

An awesome, awesome feature - drops from 100% to 98% at the end - but the ease in which she converses with the Celtics is amazing. Some fantastic quotes.

I would've closed with the Lewis thing, myself, though.

All in all an A+ effort.

 

[Joe Williams]

Thought she was leaving. Is it an at-the-end-of-the-Celtics-playoff-run sort of exit?

 

[Mighty_Wingman]

Simmons linked to this in his new, great column:

The feature is fantastic...you're absolutely right about the connection she's clearly established with these guys. The stuff from Nate McMillan and Rashard Lewis was also a nice addition.

 

[GBNF]

I was being a bit sarcastic...I forgot the blue font

 

[Mighty_Wingman]

Apologies. I've edited my post and considered switching to decaf.

 

[-Scoop-]

Awesome read, and some quality quotes from Pierce and KG.

 

[awriter]

Great story. I might have ended it with the Pierce quote. But great read.

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

Picked it up at Logan during the Boston/Montreal series. Kept it because this feature was so good. What terrific stuff.

 

[GBNF]

Channeling JGMacG,

What made this so good?

My idea: Not only did she get fantastic quotes and include great color, but she actually told the story. I shudder to think of the great stuff she left on the cutting-room floor. Her use of quotes was so good. Just, wow.

That's a tool for us young writers to learn: I still try to include EVERYTHING, even when I don't necessarily have to. Guess you learn that along the way.

 

[funky_mountain]

for my mileage, it's just not the quotes, it's the number of voices, the reporting that went into it. she didn't settle for quotes from celtics only. she had quotes from portland, seattle and orlando and picked up more anecdotes along the way. always another interview, always another phone call.

 

[GBNF]

for my mileage, it's just not the quotes, it's the number of voices, the reporting that went into it. she didn't settle for quotes from celtics only. she had quotes from portland, seattle and orlando and picked up more anecdotes along the way. always another interview, always another phone call.

Very, very well said. Thanks Funk

 

[Dan Hickling]

I been schooled

 

[Boobie Miles]

Nothing seemed wasted. Everything fit. The Lewis in Seattle stuff was introduced and then mentioned later with him in Orlando and didn't seem forced. Good insight into how these three stars with huge egos have meshed. Just well done and well reported.

 

[Overrated]

Although I thought it was well-written and an interesting story, it bothered me she referred to Ray Allen several times as "Ray." Why is she able to get away with this? I don't like it.

 

[Walter_Sobchak]

Although I thought it was well-written and an interesting story, it bothered me she referred to Ray Allen several times as "Ray." Why is she able to get away with this? I don't like it.

I didn't mind it. Adds a human element to the story. And although I don't think he was mentioned, it helps avoid confusion with fellow Celtic Tony Allen.

 

[awriter]

Although I thought it was well-written and an interesting story, it bothered me she referred to Ray Allen several times as "Ray." Why is she able to get away with this? I don't like it.

I didn't mind it. Adds a human element to the story. And although I don't think he was mentioned, it helps avoid confusion with fellow Celtic Tony Allen.

I also think it worked in this case because she's showing the readers who he is. It's not about his numbers, it's about him.

 

[Overrated]

Although I thought it was well-written and an interesting story, it bothered me she referred to Ray Allen several times as "Ray." Why is she able to get away with this? I don't like it.

I didn't mind it. Adds a human element to the story. And although I don't think he was mentioned, it helps avoid confusion with fellow Celtic Tony Allen.

I also think it worked in this case because she's showing the readers who he is. It's not about his numbers, it's about him.

I get that, but I think it would work just as well using "Allen." Hell, every young writer who reads this story will probably start trying to use first names. When I was the sports editor in college, I spent a lot of time tying to break the habit of young writers using first names as opposed to last. It's not really a big deal for her to do it, but I don't care for it.

 

[awriter]

Although I thought it was well-written and an interesting story, it bothered me she referred to Ray Allen several times as "Ray." Why is she able to get away with this? I don't like it.

I didn't mind it. Adds a human element to the story. And although I don't think he was mentioned, it helps avoid confusion with fellow Celtic Tony Allen.

I also think it worked in this case because she's showing the readers who he is. It's not about his numbers, it's about him.

I get that, but I think it would work just as well using "Allen." Hell, every young writer who reads this story will probably start trying to use first names. When I was the sports editor in college, I spent a lot of time tying to break the habit of young writers using first names as opposed to last. It's not really a big deal for her to do it, but I don't care for it.

99.9 percent of the time I would absolutely agree with you. But in this case, it works. As for young writers, I would also try to break them out of the habit of using first names. Jackie Mac is good enough to know when to break that rule.

 

[Bears00]

Loved it all except the last paragraph.

 

[Beaker]

Great stuff...just loved the variety of quotes.