Football, football and more football
Tiger blood.
That’s why as the football season gets ready to start there are a number of things I’d like to highlight personally so folks understand what my role is at work and at home.
- I’m going to continue doing high school sports. I love it and I wouldn’t have it any other way. That also means I’ll continue producing the high school football show on Boston.com, The Huddle.(My love thang.) And this year I’m going to make the added effort of hosting the show myself. I’m excited about that.
- I’m taking the lead on everything Patriots for Boston.com. What does that mean? It just means that I get first dibs on a lot of assignments. Nothing really more. We still have a massive team on Boston.com and at the Globe and everyone contributes in some way or another to our coverage. But this year my role will increase, contributing more than I have in the past two years. You’ll see my name pop up often on the highly popular Extra Points blog along with the Globe staffers and other Boston.com folks. But I’ll also pump out the more than occasional gallery and I’m always looking for good Buzz posts.
- If I can, and this is a big maybe, I’m going to keep writing about the 49ers and Raiders on this website. It’s tough given the number of assignments and the possible travel schedule I’ll have, but I think it’s worthwhile with the number of folks back home who have grown accustomed to my usual Alex Smith rants and Al Davis pot shots. I think they were funny and I’m pretty sure some of you did too. That’s the goal, but we’ll see how it goes on a week to week basis.
- Lastly, I’m beginning to use Tumblr a lot more. I find it to be a quick way to post a link or photo, like Twitter, but have a home for these items that can be archived better. It’s faster than jumping on here and sharing on WordPress. So if you’re a Tumblr person, you can follow me at zuriberry.tumblr.com. Or you can find the headlines for my Tumblr posts on the right rail here.
In general, my personal goal is to write more this year than I did last year. I’m already on my way with a number of posts on the Extra Points blog. I think I have the formula in place that will help me to continue to do that. It’s called tiger blood … a.k.a. 5-hour energy.
Not an expert by any means
Japan's players celebrate with the World Cup trophy after winning the final against the United States in Frankfurt, Germany. (Michael Probst / AP photo)
Did you see the World Cup final? Japan, victorious and smitten with their World Cup trophy above, beat out the Americans in an amazing match of wills and endurance. It was very enjoyable game. The US dropped its first three penalty kicks as Japan nailed three out of four to clinch the win.
But if you asked me to break it down for you — the game play, that is — I’d look like a moron.
Here’s the thing: I’ve covered a few hundred soccer games. Tons in high school and college; and now a handful of pro games. I’ve probably watched a ton more. But I’ll never consider myself an expert of the beautiful game. I am a casual fan, not much more. If you were to start a conversation about soccer strategy, soccer rules, or anything of the sort, it’ll likely just hurt my head. I’m that kind of fan.
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I’m back
St. John's Prep won its first ever state basketball championship this past winter. The school has won seven state championships in the last year. (Winslow Townson / For the Globe)
Until today, I hadn’t written a non-game oriented feature for a newspaper in almost two years. I had this silly idea to write about a school that gets a heckuva lot of publicity as it is. But they’re too good to ignore. The school, St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Mass., has won seven state championships in the last year. They’re success is so prolific that it’s practically controversial — at least according to the comments on the story.
(BTW, I really am trying to learn this whole thing about not reading the comments on my own stories. It’s tough though. I generally want to take part in the discussion, but folks online are so nasty and generally grumpy that it messes with my positive vibe. So I’m conflicted.)
But more than anything, this school is successful because they care about all of their athletic teams. That’s why the fencing, sailing and rugby teams are defending state champions. And it’s why its Catholic Conference rivals have to worry about them every year in football, hockey, basketball and baseball. That kind of balanced success is a model I think is very difficult to copy, but thanks to the relative wealth of the private school (tuition is $18,695) and its funding prowess, they’ve made it look easy. So it made for an interesting story.
I’m sure there will be detractors to what’s written, or quoted in some instances. But let’s call it like it is: St. John’s Prep has haters. That’s how it is when you’re a powerhouse. When you’re on top, like St. John’s Prep is year after year, you’re bound to attract the worst in people.
Top 5 sports writers I read
I got to blabbing on Twitter a week or so ago about sports writing and what it takes to be different and good and all that jazz. And then I got to thinking, who are my Top 5 sports writers. So I wrote this up and then slept on it. I didn’t want to put this up without actually being sure I felt this way about these writers. And I’m glad I did, because I switched it up.
Here’s the kicker, I don’t think anybody can take away from any one particular writer I didn’t choose either. There’s a number of fellas (and ladies) I read but I’d never put on this list because I don’t agree with their viewpoints. Or, in some rare cases, I think they’re too big for their britches. Pretty much, they’re assholes. It’s unfortunate but we have a lot of those guys in our business. Some of the guys below, I’ve never met before. Some, I have. I’m not sure if that matters.
1) Tim Kawakami, San Jose Mercury News — His Talking Points blog is probably my most read sports website outside of my Boston.com/ESPN/Yahoo peripherals. He hits on all of the important topics in the Bay, including the never-ending quarterback drama with the 49ers, the dysfunctional nature of the Oakland Raiders and the surprising but not so surprising rise of the San Francisco Giants. He conveniently ignores the San Jose Sharks and Oakland A’s. Rightfully so.
(Readers may also note that it was Kawakami who was the source of outrage for an Oakland Raiders executive whom threatened him with bodily harm in the Lane Kiffin days. Oh, those were the good days.)
2) Ray Ratto, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area / CBS Sportsline — In the Bay Area, Ray Ratto has the reputation of being a hit man. His columns often hammer sports figures. But his wit is unmatchable in the San Francisco sports scene. He’s much more of a reflective humorist, which is in great contrast with Kawakami who is issue-oriented. It was sad to see Ratto leave the San Francisco Chronicle, but I imagine Comcast is giving him opportunities he never had to begin with. Note: I don’t read him on Sportsline.
3) Bill Simmons, ESPN.com — Where do I start? Before I came to Boston, before I worked in Boston media and before I ever cared to read one story about the Red Sox, the Patriots and the Bruins, I read the Sports Guy. Not for any of the aforementioned, but because of everything else. I actually enjoy his fanaticism, his often extended parenthetical side notes, and, yes, his references to Teen Wolf. He’s enjoyable and his humor is expressed well in writing.
4) Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe — Great originality from Dan in each and every column. Besides being one of the local guys for me now in Boston, I was pleasantly surprised by his forcefulness on issues and his gumption. He doesn’t hold punches when he sees fit and he pretty much epitomizes Boston sports media. There’s not much to dislike about him.
(Also, it’s kind of weird how Boston sports fans are split up 50/50 on liking Shaughnessy. There isn’t a better example of a lightning rod than Dan. That paradox humors me as well.)
5) Tony Massarrotti, Boston.com — Now probably known more for his radio show on 98.5 The Sports Hub, Tony Massarrotti is an absolutely excellent writer. I can only imagine what he could bring to the table if he zoned in on national topics more so than the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics. But I also believe it’s his undeniably deep knowledge of the Sox that makes him a must read. Going through his archives is a good way to pick up on all trends for the laundry. Note: He doesn’t write for the pink hats.
There was a time when I used to turn to ESPN’s Scoop Jackson for a fix, crave for the professionalism and care from Fanhouse’s David Steele (also formerly of the San Francisco Chronicle), and L-O-L along with the L.A. Times’ TJ Simers. (He’s certainly on a number of “dead to me” lists.) I just don’t read those guys that much anymore. Victims of a busy reading/writing schedule. There are others the pique my interest, Michael Wilbon for one, but I truly do believe in local writers over national guys. And seeing how I’ve never lived in DC, I didn’t give the superbly talented Wilbon much of my time. But I’m sure I would if I did live there. DC folks are lucky. As are New Yorkers with Mike Lupica, and Michiganders with Mitch Albom. I never read these guys, but I respect the influence they have.
At home, I have Jim Murray’s book, “The Last of the Best.” It’s an anthology of his columns for the L.A. Times. When I was in college, I took part in the L.A. Times’ Jim Murray Sports Journalism workshop, where I met a number of individuals who are now reporting across the country. But it was also my chance to meet Bill Dwyre, Dave Morgan (now at Yahoo), Simers, Bill Plaschke, Mike Brennan and get exposed to Murray’s work. It’s one of the few sports books I go back to because of great shtick Murray was able to churn out. He had the humor column down to a science. I see Bill Simmons when I re-read Murray’s columns. But I also see a bit of prose that is often overlooked and often underutilized. Short sentences. Clear language. Anecdotes. Life lessons.
The best sports writing, in my mind, encompasses all of Murray’s characteristics. That’s easy to say, hard to repeat.
Who is on your list?
Drinking from an old man’s cup
Editor’s note: I wrote this weeks ago. Maybe a month or so. Unfortunately, time doesn’t change my opinion here.
I’ve read one too many articles and columns denouncing the end of sports journalism. It’s all hunky dory to reminisce about Red Smith and the good ol’ days, hypothesize on the demise of each writer’s talents and acceptable wordplay. But it is, after all, an over indulged topic.
Let’s play a game. Name three types of stories you’ll read in a newspaper every day. I dare you. Better yet, I’ll up the ante and name a few myself and let you fill in the rest from the bowels of your brain. 1) A game story; 2) a profile of some sort; 3) Some news of some signing, injury, etc; 4) A box score or two; and 5) a column to boot. And in those profiles and columns, the featured persons or people are often pitted in some struggle, often up against odds, have overcome something, or destined to be chasing things like trophies, rings and a peaceful state of mind. There’s not much else people care about, to be honest.
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Priorities
This is pretty much how I felt when I was thinking about all of the things I do and whether or not they were leading me to the goals I wanted to achieve, eventually spurring me to shut down Addisports.com.
So watch the video below. But bloggers, do yourself a favor and check this man’s website. The original post is here.
Television is the new (new) enemy
24, Family Guy and old episodes of The Wire are currently my new enemy.
Television news and political commentary has become more and more out of bounds from mainstream thought and discourse, in my opinion. And it’s a good reason why I have given up on watching almost altogether.
But here’s the thing, I still turn on the TV for practically everything else. And I realized, ever so slowly, that my No. 1 enemy on a day-to-day basis is not the clock, but the television.
Oh, it romanced me with scenes of carnage and explosions (24), and it wined and dined me with comedic flair (South Park, Family Guy, etc.). And when I needed a dose of reality as perceived by urban America, it was there for me too (Southland, The Wire, etc.). And, finally, when I am implored to be wary of the news necessary for my job, ESPN and the locally run New England Sports Network (NESN) provide good background chatter.
But at the end of the day, the TV once again robs me cold, blind and stupid.
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Clean, fast copy done right
A big source of complaints I’ve seen on the various websites I’ve helped manage and edit has been the cleanliness of grammar and spelling.
This is not to diminish the quality of the writers or editors I’ve worked with, but to identify how sometimes simple mistakes can occur so easily and how to rectify them. A lot of this goes back to the copy editing process in which newspapers already employ.
Not too long ago, an e-mail was sent out at Boston.com advising folks to add a spellchecker to our browser plugins (for Firefox users). It was a subtle reminder that although we use two to three pairs of eyes before publishing content, two to three people can miss something. And as I’ve noted on this site before, the speed and very nature of internet publishing in a breaking news environment sometimes overrules caution in the urge to chase time stamps. So how do you remain fast in the thick of competition, and remain accurate with clean copy for your readers?
Here are my 5 quick and simple ways to be right every time, in the nick of time:
- Read the squiggly lines — There is a penchant among writing aficionados to ignore the red squiggly lines in Microsoft Word, your Internet browser or wherever you’re typing up your copy. Oftentimes, these dictionaries do not recognize non-English phrases or even Latin. The key is identifying which you’re using and using the appropriate measure to double check the word/phrase. For Latin …
- Just Google it — Everything you will write is not in the dictionary. A quick Google search on popular latin usage, foreign words, names, official titles, and other unique phrases can often times rectify a mistake before the world will know your shame. And yes, it is embarrassing.
Breaking down faulty arguments in writing
Socrates, developer of the Socratic method for argumentation, helped transform Western philosophy. Unfortunately, he's made a mark in the wrong places as well. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
How you do that, is what’s peculiar.
Socrates developed a style of deductive argumentation — called the Socratic method — more than 1,600 years ago. His methods are studied in colleges and across America. But more so, the principles of his argument — using leading questions as premises in order to sneakily convince one’s oppenent of your righteousness and therefore logical consequence — have seeped into the daily Americana experience. You can find his touch on TV, in movies, and even in journalism.
The latter of which, it seems, is where the trendiness has caught my attention. Newspaper columnists and journo-bloggers have employed these methods in an awkard attempt to translate what is a perfected form of person-to-person communication (or fighting depending on how loud you’re talking) in a medium that is not dependent on conversation.
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Finally learning when not to hit the publish button
It occurred to me without realizing the gravity of the moment. I was writing here, in this very space, and self editing a post before the eventual push to live. But before I knew it, I was stopped cold in my tracks.
Thought: I don’t think you need to know that!
In the six years I’ve been writing on this site and addisports.com, I’ve held back plenty as far as opinions I would reveal, people that piss me off, and so forth. It’s my duty to hold my tongue at times because I am often a speaker for a larger group of people (SacBJA, The Union, etc.) and that can require me to be more … corporate. It can also require me to forego my opinion for a greater good, whether that means I act as the “company man” or some other soulless twit. I have no problem with that. If shutting up means I have better career opportunities than when I blabber my mouth, I’ll continue to be quiet.
But generally speaking, there’s a gray area that I consider my playground. The tech stuff that interests me (like my over indulgence in Google products), personal writing battles, the journalism industry and sports. These are easy targets. And then there’s my personal life. The changes, the moves, the flights, the parties and the extracurricular activities that can be pretty funny and presumably interesting in each slice.
So when I get the idea to write, especially in this space, I’m all for it because it’s probably safe from the scrutiny of company business. However, there is a line in the sand that I never realized was there before.
(Stay focused because I’m about to write in hypotheticals now. And I know we all love fantasy!)
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