Lots of numbers and play by play or the story?

[Damaramu]

Ok so as a new graduate I'm still learning exactly what people want in a gamer. I've learned it's a ton of different things obviously and that everyone wants something different.

But, my style has always been not to bog the story down with numbers or play by play. I usually take the stance that there's a key moment or trend in the game that makes the whole game. Then I talk about that and the other stuff is there but it's not as big as that moment or trend or player that had the big game. I try to have my quotes and description revolving around that.
I'll throw PBP in if it revolves around that key moment but I never do it for the sake of doing it.
I was told by my ME at the time that my writing was very clean and easy to read. He enjoyed it because there weren't a ton of stats jumbling everything up. There were key stats but I didn't put everything in there.

Then I'm told by another sports journalist that people like numbers and people like PBP. I need to include more of that in my stories.

I'm just wondering what everyone's philosophy on writing a gamer is? I just feel like throwing all the numbers in there and a ton of PBP really makes it bland.

 

[Overrated]

I usually take the stance that there's a key moment or trend in the game that makes the whole game. Then I talk about that and the other stuff is there but it's not as big as that moment or trend or player that had the big game. I try to have my quotes and description revolving around that.
I'll throw PBP in if it revolves around that key moment but I never do it for the sake of doing it.

That's the way to go. There's nothing worse than reading play-by-play.

 

[forever_town]

I agree with your style of less stats and PBP and more of the story. Also, don't get too bogged down in sports jargon.

The gamers I remember best are the ones that tell a story. The key play is what people are going to remember, not that Joe Blow threw for 279 yards or 297 yards for Podunk U against Bumble**** State. They're going to remember his crucial interception on the goalline or his rare scramble to pick up a critical first down when his team desperately needed to keep a drive going.

It's not that stats or PBP aren't important. They have their place. But to me, story is king.

 

[Batman]

My philosophy is, find a happy medium. Too much play by play and stats can bog a story down. However, if all you're writing about is the key moment and what it means, you can sometimes be left wondering what the hell happened when you read the story.
I usually try to lead with the key moment or trend and then get into the pbp and stats later. For example, if Johnny Nutsack hits two free throws with 10 seconds left to win a basketball game, you lead with that. But after you talk about that, try to mention how the game got to that point. Was it close the whole way? Did Johnny's team make a big comeback or hold one off? There's usually a point in time where you can pick up the action and go from there. Way I look at it, if the score is close at halftime then my story hasn't been written yet.

 

[HandsomeHarley]

It really depends on who your audience is.

Either way, you want to tell the story to the point that your readers feel they were there. Those that actually were there (the ones who care the most about what you write) do want to know the numbers. But it's your job to write about stuff that even they might not have picked up on.

Stats are good, and a vital part of the story, but if you're working for a nondaily, then stats aren't the story. The game may be 2-3 days old by the time your readers see it. Therefore, you want to write more about the team and its next game as you do a blow-by-blow.

 

[Diabeetus]

People who care about play by play watch or listen to the game. Or they read a recap of it right afterward online. With stats, just ask your editor for a small box to the side where people interested in them can look. Your instincts are right.

 

[didntdoit19]

Ok so as a new graduate I'm still learning exactly what people want in a gamer. I've learned it's a ton of different things obviously and that everyone wants something different.

But, my style has always been not to bog the story down with numbers or play by play. I usually take the stance that there's a key moment or trend in the game that makes the whole game. Then I talk about that and the other stuff is there but it's not as big as that moment or trend or player that had the big game. I try to have my quotes and description revolving around that.
I'll throw PBP in if it revolves around that key moment but I never do it for the sake of doing it.
I was told by my ME at the time that my writing was very clean and easy to read. He enjoyed it because there weren't a ton of stats jumbling everything up. There were key stats but I didn't put everything in there.

Then I'm told by another sports journalist that people like numbers and people like PBP. I need to include more of that in my stories.

I'm just wondering what everyone's philosophy on writing a gamer is? I just feel like throwing all the numbers in there and a ton of PBP really makes it bland.

Do. What. Your. Editor. Wants.

It's very simple.

 

[didntdoit19]

People who care about play by play watch or listen to the game. Or they read a recap of it right afterward online. With stats, just ask your editor for a small box to the side where people interested in them can look. Your instincts are right.

That should only be applied to major-league or major-college games. It doesn't work for high schools, small colleges or low-minor league games.

For example, I doubt there will be a p-b-p recap online of a Cornhole City-Asshair North football game, nor will it lead the 10 p.m. news.

The person who tought you that should have qualified his lectures. What works when you're covering Big State U. doesn't work when you're covering Little City High. To say that both require the same type of gamer is ludicrous.

And since the person who started this thread is a recent college grad, I'm betting he/she will start by covering high schools, small colleges or low minor-league games, ie, Little City High or the Little City Wieners of the Outoftheway League.

 

[zebracoy]

What works when you're covering Big State U. doesn't work when you're covering Little City High. To say that both require the same type of gamer is ludicrous.

You got it right there. When I'm covering a game that's on TV and the radio and all seats are sold out - otherwise known as pro or Division I, I guess - I'll throw in a number here or there and write with the assumption that people saw the game and know what happened. Granted, there are those who missed the game and are looking in the paper to see what happened, but generally, I keep my play-by-play to two or three paragraphs, at max.

When it's a high school game, Division II or there's no more than 100 people seeing it, play-by-play is a little bit more important, especially the trends. But don't forget to give something to the people who were there.

 

[huntsie]

You don't need play by play unless you're writing running copy to deadline with a specific size hole to fill. If you have time to get quotes from the principals or build it around a key play or a turning point, that's the way to go. Stats just kind of sum it up.

 

[Damaramu]

Ok so as a new graduate I'm still learning exactly what people want in a gamer. I've learned it's a ton of different things obviously and that everyone wants something different.

But, my style has always been not to bog the story down with numbers or play by play. I usually take the stance that there's a key moment or trend in the game that makes the whole game. Then I talk about that and the other stuff is there but it's not as big as that moment or trend or player that had the big game. I try to have my quotes and description revolving around that.
I'll throw PBP in if it revolves around that key moment but I never do it for the sake of doing it.
I was told by my ME at the time that my writing was very clean and easy to read. He enjoyed it because there weren't a ton of stats jumbling everything up. There were key stats but I didn't put everything in there.

Then I'm told by another sports journalist that people like numbers and people like PBP. I need to include more of that in my stories.

I'm just wondering what everyone's philosophy on writing a gamer is? I just feel like throwing all the numbers in there and a ton of PBP really makes it bland.

Do. What. Your. Editor. Wants.

It's very simple.

I'm a one man shop.....so I suppose I should do what I want. haha.

The only thing that worries me about doing what the editor wants in that instance is that it could hamper your writing style or growth. What if you get to a bigger paper and they want another style or something completely different and you find yourself struggling to break old habits?

 

[zebracoy]

I'm a one man shop.....so I suppose I should do what I want. haha.

The only thing that worries me about doing what the editor wants in that instance is that it could hamper your writing style or growth. What if you get to a bigger paper and they want another style or something completely different and you find yourself struggling to break old habits?

Mix it up every once in a while. Don't let it get to a point where you develop these "old habits."

Remember, forward thinking. You'll get eaten alive if you're not.

 

[Stitch]

It all depends on the budget. If you have to write a 700-word gamer, then a lot of PBP is needed. But if its 400 words, it's more of a lede, quotes, and some stats.

 

[PHINJ]

I despise play-by-play.

 

[In Cold Blood]

I think balance is the best approach. Key plays or runs may deserve some play-by-play. Some stats are important, such as the leading scorer or rushing yards for the star back. There are certain nuts and bolts that should be there, but don't forget to tell the reader a story. Find a way to get a bit of play-by-play and a sprinkling of stats into a compelling storyline.

 

[Jeremy Goodwin]

My philosophy is, find a happy medium. Too much play by play and stats can bog a story down. However, if all you're writing about is the key moment and what it means, you can sometimes be left wondering what the hell happened when you read the story.
I usually try to lead with the key moment or trend and then get into the pbp and stats later. For example, if Johnny Nutsack hits two free throws with 10 seconds left to win a basketball game, you lead with that. But after you talk about that, try to mention how the game got to that point. Was it close the whole way? Did Johnny's team make a big comeback or hold one off? There's usually a point in time where you can pick up the action and go from there. Way I look at it, if the score is close at halftime then my story hasn't been written yet.

That's one of my problems. I sometimes think of my gamers almost as sidebars when I'm covering colleges. People will already know the results, so i write about a specific moment or play, but then I read my story the next day and think, "it's great I talked about this last second play, but i left out some / most of the drama (PxP) of how they got to that point."

I'm a one man shop.....so I suppose I should do what I want. haha.

The only thing that worries me about doing what the editor wants in that instance is that it could hamper your writing style or growth. What if you get to a bigger paper and they want another style or something completely different and you find yourself struggling to break old habits?

Mix it up every once in a while. Don't let it get to a point where you develop these "old habits."

Remember, forward thinking. You'll get eaten alive if you're not.

Forward thinking is good, but it all depends on the game time. If you cover an afternoon game people that care should know the score. For pros or colleges it will be on the Internet; for HS or small colleges you have local radio, tv and word of mouth. The later the game is, the less likely people will know about it. With afternoon games you have extra time, so talk to an extra player or think of a more unique angle. Night games you don't always have time for that you have to get your one or two quotes and get the desk 10-15 inches ASAP.

 

[jagtrader]

Hardly anyone wants to read play-by-play when it comes to preps. The interest level just isn't that high. You need to find something interesting beyond the actual game action to expand your readership.

 

[Ace]

I despise play-by-play.

Ditto

 

[cranberry]

NOBODY wants to read play by play. You're on the right track.

When I was doing gamers my guiding thought was to find the one thing that makes that game different from all of the other games you've covered and then write about it. And that was before cable TV and the Internet changed the way we consume sports.

 

[shotglass]

Just because veteran journalists hate play-by-play, Damaramu, doesn't mean that you don't need some.

Never assume that everybody who wants to know about the game was at the game. That's another trap we fall into -- that, and writers becoming enamored with their ability to spin a yarn.

Strike a balance. Don't give me a minute-by-minute of the second quarter. But do point out the big plays and how they were set up.

The answer isn't ruling out PBP ... the answer is knowing when to use it.

P.S. And give me the final score before the story jumps.