Introduction to Sports Reporting and WritingIntroduction to Sports Reporting and WritingJanuary 9, 2014January 9, 2014

What was the hardest part of What was the hardest part of writing the gamer?writing the gamer?

• What was the story of this game? The most important What was the story of this game? The most important story, the most interesting story, the story you most story, the most interesting story, the story you most want to tell?want to tell?

• What was the outcome for each team and pro football What was the outcome for each team and pro football in general?in general?

• What was your lede?What was your lede?

• What was the decisive moment? What was the decisive moment?

• Would you read this story if you'd watched the game?Would you read this story if you'd watched the game?

What’s the point of this What’s the point of this class?class?

Sport is storySport is story

Pyramid of skillsPyramid of skills• StatsStats

• Play-by-playPlay-by-play

• Social mediaSocial media

• GamersGamers

• Multimedia (toe-dip)Multimedia (toe-dip)

• Team coverageTeam coverage

• Running gamerRunning gamer

• ProfileProfile

Building content knowledgeBuilding content knowledge

• Beat blogs and commentsBeat blogs and comments

• QuizzesQuizzes

How are we going to do this?How are we going to do this?

• Teams: Teams: http://bit.ly/1cR7CHMhttp://bit.ly/1cR7CHM

• Equipment: Equipment: http://bit.ly/1gGGG2rhttp://bit.ly/1gGGG2r

Professional behaviorProfessional behavior

• No cheering in the press boxNo cheering in the press box

• No logos for high school, college, pro teams in class or at eventsNo logos for high school, college, pro teams in class or at events

• Arch is only acceptable UGA logoArch is only acceptable UGA logo

• AttendanceAttendance

• DeadlinesDeadlines

• PlagiarismPlagiarism

• When in class, you’re in classWhen in class, you’re in class

Students and professionalsStudents and professionalsWhat students doWhat students do

• ProcrastinateProcrastinate

• Let words wash over themLet words wash over them

• Pull stuff together at the last minutePull stuff together at the last minute

• Absorb passivelyAbsorb passively

• Assume the teacher is there to assessAssume the teacher is there to assess

What professionals doWhat professionals do

• OrganizeOrganize

• Take USEFUL notesTake USEFUL notes

• GameplanGameplan

• Take everything they can getTake everything they can get

• Assume the teacher is there to helpAssume the teacher is there to help

Day 1 storiesDay 1 stories

ClichesCliches

• A true tale of two halves...Then is when the magic happened. A true tale of two halves...Then is when the magic happened.

• Johnny U is somewhere smiling, and Chuck Pagano would Johnny U is somewhere smiling, and Chuck Pagano would rather be Lucky than good. If you saw the 4th quarter of rather be Lucky than good. If you saw the 4th quarter of Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff defeat at Indianapolis, you’ll Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff defeat at Indianapolis, you’ll already understand why cliches like this are more than already understand why cliches like this are more than appropriate, they’re becoming gospel. For a city who just appropriate, they’re becoming gospel. For a city who just this fall said their final farewell to yet another legend, it does this fall said their final farewell to yet another legend, it does not even seem as if they will break stride.not even seem as if they will break stride.

• The matchup of the Colts against the Chiefs Jan. 4 in The matchup of the Colts against the Chiefs Jan. 4 in Indianapolis, Ind. proved to be a tale of the comeback kids Indianapolis, Ind. proved to be a tale of the comeback kids with Andrew Luck casted as the leading man.with Andrew Luck casted as the leading man.

JargonJargon

• Just four minutes later, Luck completed a three-yard Just four minutes later, Luck completed a three-yard pass to Brown, bringing the game within two pass to Brown, bringing the game within two possessions.possessions.

• The ball was spiked to running back Donald Brown The ball was spiked to running back Donald Brown who fumbled the ball. Luck recovered the dropped who fumbled the ball. Luck recovered the dropped pigskin and pushed his way into the endzone.pigskin and pushed his way into the endzone.

Don’t capitalize everythingDon’t capitalize everything

• Looking for revenge in Saturday’s Wild Card Playoff Looking for revenge in Saturday’s Wild Card Playoff GameGame

Clause overloadClause overload

• In the red zone, Andrew Luck handed the ball off to In the red zone, Andrew Luck handed the ball off to Donald Brown who tried to pound the ball down the Donald Brown who tried to pound the ball down the middle for a score, but his effort was stopped when a middle for a score, but his effort was stopped when a Chiefs defender knocked the ball loose.Chiefs defender knocked the ball loose.

Be specific, don’t summarizeBe specific, don’t summarize

• The battle between the Indianapolis Colts and the The battle between the Indianapolis Colts and the Kansas City Chiefs gave true meaning to the “wild” in Kansas City Chiefs gave true meaning to the “wild” in the Wild Card Game this weekend, after the Colts the Wild Card Game this weekend, after the Colts came out on top with just a one point lead in the final came out on top with just a one point lead in the final minutes of action.minutes of action.

Always include a hed, byline, Always include a hed, byline, document namedocument name

LogicLogic

• In one of the greatest comebacks in post-season NFL In one of the greatest comebacks in post-season NFL history, the Indianapolis Colts prevailed over the history, the Indianapolis Colts prevailed over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Colts were outscored 31-10 Kansas City Chiefs. The Colts were outscored 31-10 in the first half.in the first half.

Names and factsNames and facts

• Payton ManningPayton Manning

• Last night the Kansas City Chiefs faced off against Last night the Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the Indianapolis Colts in the Pro Bowl for an the Indianapolis Colts in the Pro Bowl for an unforgettable win by the underdog, Indianapolis unforgettable win by the underdog, Indianapolis Colts. Colts.

Short, sharp grafsShort, sharp grafs

• The Chiefs began the game with a key players out to injuries, placing them at a disadvantage before The Chiefs began the game with a key players out to injuries, placing them at a disadvantage before even stepping on the field. Smith opened the fourth quarter with a pass to Gray way overthrown, even stepping on the field. Smith opened the fourth quarter with a pass to Gray way overthrown, proceeding to throw the ball away again on the fourth down. With the ball in Colts’ possession and the proceeding to throw the ball away again on the fourth down. With the ball in Colts’ possession and the Chiefs leading 41-31, Luck passed to Hilton for a first down to begin the Colts’ comeback over Kansas Chiefs leading 41-31, Luck passed to Hilton for a first down to begin the Colts’ comeback over Kansas City in the second half. Luck and Hilton together proved to be a dynamic pair. Luck made good use of City in the second half. Luck and Hilton together proved to be a dynamic pair. Luck made good use of his feet and legs throughout the game, making solid passes but running the ball when necessary, his feet and legs throughout the game, making solid passes but running the ball when necessary, including a 3 yard rush for a first down which gave Luck a total of 42 yards in the game. Wide receiver including a 3 yard rush for a first down which gave Luck a total of 42 yards in the game. Wide receiver Hilton also proved to be a serious asset to the Colts’ success in this game, setting an NFL record total Hilton also proved to be a serious asset to the Colts’ success in this game, setting an NFL record total of 224 yards in the post-season. In the wild turnaround play of the game, Luck recovered a fumble after of 224 yards in the post-season. In the wild turnaround play of the game, Luck recovered a fumble after handing the ball off to Brown, then dove over Chief defense for a touchdown to bring the score to 41-handing the ball off to Brown, then dove over Chief defense for a touchdown to bring the score to 41-38 Chiefs. With top wide receiver Avery and two tailbacks already out of the game with an injury, Chiefs 38 Chiefs. With top wide receiver Avery and two tailbacks already out of the game with an injury, Chiefs backup running back Davis went down with a knee injury that kept him out of the game shortly after backup running back Davis went down with a knee injury that kept him out of the game shortly after the punt return. In a creative play by the Chiefs, all receivers but Jenkins stayed back to block, leaving the punt return. In a creative play by the Chiefs, all receivers but Jenkins stayed back to block, leaving Jenkins open to run down the field and receive a pass from Smith, picking up 27 yards and a first down Jenkins open to run down the field and receive a pass from Smith, picking up 27 yards and a first down shortly before going out of bounds at the Colts’ 29. A couple more plays including a loss of four yards shortly before going out of bounds at the Colts’ 29. A couple more plays including a loss of four yards on a pass to Sherman and a pass to McCluster lead the Chiefs to a 43 yard field goal, bringing the on a pass to Sherman and a pass to McCluster lead the Chiefs to a 43 yard field goal, bringing the score to 44-38 Chiefs with 5:36 remaining in the game. With the ball in Colts’ possession, Luck and score to 44-38 Chiefs with 5:36 remaining in the game. With the ball in Colts’ possession, Luck and Hilton once again prove a necessary combination with a touchdown pass bringing the Colts to a 45-44 Hilton once again prove a necessary combination with a touchdown pass bringing the Colts to a 45-44 lead over the Chiefs. The game ends shortly after Colts cornerback Gordy pushes Bowe out of bounds lead over the Chiefs. The game ends shortly after Colts cornerback Gordy pushes Bowe out of bounds just before catching a pass from Smith. The comeback win for the Colts’, leaving Kansas City with a 0-just before catching a pass from Smith. The comeback win for the Colts’, leaving Kansas City with a 0-8 post-season record, went down as one of the greatest in NFL post-season history. 8 post-season record, went down as one of the greatest in NFL post-season history.

Strong subjects, strong verbsStrong subjects, strong verbs

• With a 38-10 Chiefs lead early in the third quarter, the With a 38-10 Chiefs lead early in the third quarter, the Colts’ Super Bowl dreams looked to remain a fantasy.Colts’ Super Bowl dreams looked to remain a fantasy.

Strong, specific ledeStrong, specific lede

• Colts fans raise their heads with hope. Their team, Colts fans raise their heads with hope. Their team, once down by 28 points this game, has put the game once down by 28 points this game, has put the game within 10 and they have an entire quarter left to within 10 and they have an entire quarter left to extend their playoff dreams.extend their playoff dreams.

Write what you knowWrite what you know

• Coach Andy Reid and Alex Smith were limping by the Coach Andy Reid and Alex Smith were limping by the middle of the 4th quarter, rattled by a raucous crowd middle of the 4th quarter, rattled by a raucous crowd in Indianapolis that totaled 63,551, and they were not in Indianapolis that totaled 63,551, and they were not only sensing, but also feeling a 28 point lead slip right only sensing, but also feeling a 28 point lead slip right out of their grasp. out of their grasp.

For next MondayFor next Monday

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