tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-363117642024-03-14T08:15:52.911-05:00Journal of Sports MediaAn academic discussion of sports media issues hosted by the Journal of Sports MediaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger521125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-21801876004839655602011-08-15T11:16:00.006-05:002011-08-15T11:29:57.211-05:00Goodbye for NowI wanted to inform any readers of this blog that I am putting it on the shelf for awhile. I've enjoyed contributing to it over the years, but several circumstances have changed. In particular:
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<br />1) Howard Schlossberg has taken over as editor of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Journal of Sports Media</span>. Since he has <a href="http://hbssports.blogspot.com/">his own blog</a> it seems to be working at cross purposes to keep this one going. (A reminder also that if you want to submit to JSM, please send your inquiries to Howard at Hbssports@aol.com ).
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<br />2) Most importantly, other things are occupying my time and interest. If you want to talk to me about <a href="http://www.acts18stl.org/">something like this</a>, I'll talk all day.
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<br />Before I go, I do want to mention that you need to continue to support the <a href="http://comm.psu.edu/about/centers/john-curley-center-for-sports-journalism/aejmc-interest-group">Sports Communication Interest group</a> within AEJMC. At the recent AEJMC convention in St. Louis, Pam Laucella of Indiana (plaucell@iu.edu) was named Chair and I was named Vice Chair. The Vice Chair is in charge of programming for next year's convention, so if you have any ideas for panels, presentations, etc., let me know.
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<br />I'll check in from time to time, but don't know for sure when (or if) I'll be back. But as always, you know where to find me if you need to (bschultz@olemiss.edu)
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-74130631150554532832011-08-05T11:57:00.004-05:002011-08-05T12:05:38.441-05:00Sports Interest Group in St.L.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVxKxn3sBcrUihZzbEqU_7lV99QEYI-JPwiK5c3tIl_oyyCzNjxYLGfu_w8QNIKPFUnlOAEw-sKKz__3q284p-vzpKSwaxGM3d-skHkR_DoEXQX0KVRce1dayCepHK94-xpWJ/s1600/2011logo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 186px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVxKxn3sBcrUihZzbEqU_7lV99QEYI-JPwiK5c3tIl_oyyCzNjxYLGfu_w8QNIKPFUnlOAEw-sKKz__3q284p-vzpKSwaxGM3d-skHkR_DoEXQX0KVRce1dayCepHK94-xpWJ/s200/2011logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637417231821842338" border="0" /></a>Less than a week now to the AEJMC in St. Louis, and don't forget about the sports interest group. It's the first full year for the SIG, and there are a lot of panels, poster sessions and research presentations. For a more complete listing <a href="http://comm.psu.edu/about/centers/john-curley-center-for-sports-journalism/about/centers/john-curley-center-for-sports-journalism/aejmc-sig-program">click here</a>. The most important time/date to remember is the SIG members/business meeting. That's at 8:30-10pm, Thursday, August 11.<br /><br />After a great year on the job, SIG Chair Scott Reinardy will officially hand over the reins to Pam Laucella of Indiana. Scott was instrumental in helping get the SIG off the ground, and if you missed his newsletter you can view it <a href="http://comm.psu.edu/about/centers/john-curley-center-for-sports-journalism/aejmc-interest-group">here</a>.<br /><br />On a side note, Scott also organized a trip to the Cardinals-Brewers game at Busch Stadium on Wednesday the 10th. There may be some single tickets still available for that ($35 dollars apiece). If you're interested, contact Scott at reinardy@ku.edu<br /><br />See you in St.L.!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-58716720477137555392011-07-31T22:47:00.002-05:002011-07-31T22:56:09.523-05:00Can You Believe It?If you're watching WPRI-TV sports, the answer is ... maybe not.<br /><a href="http://deadspin.com/5825774/rhode-island-tv-station-admits-it-staged-some-television-magic-after-a-golf-tournament"><br />According to Deadspin</a>, the station recreated the ending of an amateur golf tournament in Rhode Island, having the participants fake their final putts for the television cameras. It's hard to determine what the worst part of all this is: the recreation, the reporter's reaction, or the news director's lame excuse--<br /><br />"The video that Sara Hogan was taking of the players was for a story that she is working on about the players that has not yet aired. It is not our policy to recreate or reenact 'highlights.' It is, however, our policy to specifically and accurately describe and identify the video that we present. It appears in this case that although the video was not described as highlights, it should not have aired in this context."<br /><br />Saying nothing at all would have been better than contrived double talk, which essentially admitted the crime.<br /><br />In this age of the Internet, citizen journalism and YouTube, one of the few things that separates real journalism from the other 99% of sports content is credibility. Lose that, and you're just content taking up bandwidth. WPRI didn't lose it so much as the station set it on fire and threw it out the window.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-77587155017177376172011-07-26T15:57:00.002-05:002011-07-26T16:08:47.678-05:00Back from DallasWow, did the last days of my Texas trip get away from me. Lots going on in Dallas, including a minor league baseball game at the Frisco Roughriders (won a free t-shirt), which is one of the best kept secrets in that area).<br /><br />My overall experience at WFAA was fantastic and the people there simply could not have been nicer or more accommodating. Among the many things I brought back with me, three stand out:<br /><br />1) No one really knows how multimedia figures in the future of journalism. I get tired of all this talk about "the future of journalism," like people know exactly how it's going to play out. No one does, including the very smart people at WFAA. The station doesn't have a strong commitment yet to multimedia, including its web news, because it can't figure out how to monetize it. WFAA still gets 96% of its revenue from TV advertising and only 4% from the web. The social media (Facebook, et. al.) are encouraged, but not required. Until someone figures out how to make money from all this, multimedia is still somewhat stuck in limbo.<br /><br />2) I don't think I would want to get back into TV. Seeing the fast-paced life is nice for a visit, but television news is a young man's (person's) game.<br /><br />3) Even so, television is television. WFAA has more toys and more money, but it's doing news the same way they do it from Abilene (TX) to Zanesville (OH), and it looks a lot like the way we did TV back in the day. The process of television news has changed very little from the days of magnetic weather symbols and greaseboards (which WFAA still uses, by the way).<br /><a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/plus_%C3%A7a_change,_plus_c%27est_la_m%C3%AAme_chose" title="plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> 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mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--></a><i><br />Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose</i>--The more things change, the more they stay the same.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-72577236558732531782011-07-18T08:46:00.002-05:002011-07-18T08:57:23.584-05:00A Break from WFAAA slight break from WFAA this morning to pass along some CFPs that have been lingering in my inbox:<br /><br />The North American Society for the Sociology of Sport is accepting abstracts for its 32nd annual conference. The submission deadline is August 1 and there's more information at the <a href="http://www.nasss.org/">NASSS website</a>. The conference is November 2-5 in Minneapolis. (Don't forget to pack your mittens!)<br /><br /><em>The International Journal on Sports Management and Marketing</em> will publish a special issue, "Sport Participation Management and Marketing." Deadline for submission is December 31, and more information can be found at the <a href="http://www.inderscience.com/browse/callpaper.php?callID=1678">IJSMM site</a>.<br /><br />And finally, plans are underway for the Fifth Summit on Communication and Sport to be held at Bradley University, March 29-31, 2012. You can submit either an abstract (200-500 words) or a full length manuscript (5,000-10,000 words, APA style). Deadline for submssion is October 7, and you can contact Paul Guillifor for more information, <a href="mailto:pfg@bradley.edu">pfg@bradley.edu</a>. You can find more information about the summit <a href="http://communicationandsport.org/">here.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-17941421179990362942011-07-14T17:31:00.004-05:002011-07-14T17:53:13.591-05:00WFAA-Days 3 and 4Sorry I missed yesterday, but it's going so well here I hardly have time to slow down. I've talked to a lot of people the past few days and some consistent themes have emerged:<br /><br />*WFAA puts a premium on original and unique stories, more than fancy toys and technology. The station doesn't even have a social media policy yet; it's trying to figure out how to implement social media without losing its emphasis on solid reporting. "Technology has to be a critical part of what we do," says Michael Valentine, Vice President of News, "but at the end of the day if we let technology drive the vision and content, then we have not done right by the viewer."<br /><br />*The station is moving toward multitasking journalism, but there are still segmented roles of photographer, reporter and editor. "What makes unique reporting is giving our reporters tie and resources to find those stories," says Valentine. "If you're out shooting, writing, editing, and tweeting, you're probably not uncovering information that one one else can uncover; you're just covering what's going on."<br /><br />Such philosophy is somewhat unique in a television environment ruled by multitasking reporters and expensive toys, but you can't argue with success. WFAA regularly dominates the ratings and towers over its competition in terms of Emmy, Murrow and Peabody Awards. <span style="line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast- mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:Calibri;font-size:12.0pt;" ></span><span style="line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast- mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:Calibri;font-size:12.0pt;" ></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-51682494154519617922011-07-12T08:29:00.004-05:002011-07-12T12:10:42.274-05:00WFAA-Day 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRjOhfPm1PhVa9JB9FiIfaFn5eSUJ6kOIVa87YE7UC7gEWfm37Lp9N48OMXNZHQmcKwbb2WO4UEgbWNS-D-3UT4cvLDR7znOv8drwOUITPQPlQqAkt6WnptPr3RP9NciMtHNT/s1600/tvupack_image.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 172px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628512530506270210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRjOhfPm1PhVa9JB9FiIfaFn5eSUJ6kOIVa87YE7UC7gEWfm37Lp9N48OMXNZHQmcKwbb2WO4UEgbWNS-D-3UT4cvLDR7znOv8drwOUITPQPlQqAkt6WnptPr3RP9NciMtHNT/s200/tvupack_image.jpg" /></a>One thing I'm finding out by getting back in the newsroom is that despite all the new gadgets, television news really hasn't changed that much. WFAA has a morning news meeting to go over stories and assignments (on a greaseboard, no less); then reporters go out and report while photographers shoot. Reporters will do a VO/SOT for one newscast and a package for another.<br /><br />And like almost everywhere else, WFAA has some reporters as a one-man band. This morning, I'm with Wyatt Goolsby, who not only one-man bands, but also sets up and performs his own live shots. (We're at city hall in Fort Worth for the swearing in of the new mayor).<br /><br />Wyatt did the live shot with TVU mobile technology, more commonly called backpack journalism. No live trucks, no satellites ... it transmits using cell phones, and is no bigger than what you see in the picture. Wyatt doesn't simply set the camera on a tripod; he picks it up and gets <a href="http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Instant-Live-8-Wyatt-runs-a-play-with-arena-football-team-the-Vigilantes--118080504.html">right in the middle</a> of stories. He does almost all his stories this way, hopping from place to place around the Metroplex.<br /><br />A fascinating thing about Wyatt: he's only 26 years old. He jumped from the Midland-Odessa TV market (#155) right to Dallas (#5), which is almost unheard of. He credits his ability and willingness to use new technologies like TVU for getting his position.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-51793618763554651672011-07-11T11:24:00.002-05:002011-07-11T11:29:48.927-05:00WFAA-Day OneHave only been here a few hours, but what an opportunity! A great station with a long history of great television journalism (several Peabodys, Murrows and Emmys every year).<br /><br />A few things learned already:<br /><br />*Even large market stations are still trying to figure out the web and how to monetize it. They simply repurpose material here--put the same stuff on the web they have on TV--for several reasons, including economic.<br /><br />*Heavy emphasis on reporting skills and unique television content. Not so much on technology. "The speed changes, but not the process," is how they put it. "Reporters still need to go out and ask questions."<br /><br />*For all you hear about generalists, there is still a division between reporters and videographers here. That may be more of a large market situation, and small market stations are probably more in need of one-man bands.<br /><br />Going out on a story now ... should have more after that.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-10948413315583554862011-07-06T07:53:00.003-05:002011-07-06T08:00:39.243-05:00Summer in Dallas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vGfst_v7KWlXWLhyQQ3kjqizIpnf1KoMk6GsCaunRBtst1UaxSkWiZkg2CCia60FdTclG2BaNQTywke7a8m135-3B4FyZuk1qkyR9BAZipXnsHCA0tzFLCHfFAgNTMaay9EN/s1600/WFAA.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 162px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vGfst_v7KWlXWLhyQQ3kjqizIpnf1KoMk6GsCaunRBtst1UaxSkWiZkg2CCia60FdTclG2BaNQTywke7a8m135-3B4FyZuk1qkyR9BAZipXnsHCA0tzFLCHfFAgNTMaay9EN/s200/WFAA.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626222001843042450" border="0" /></a>I found out today that I'll be spending three weeks of my summer at WFAA-TV in Dallas as part of the <a href="http://www.natpe.org/natpe/">NATPE</a> Faculty Fellowship program. NATPE places faculty in newsrooms across the country to help us get a handle on what's going on these days in professional newsrooms. My goal is to find out what makes WFAA so successful in terms of its multimedia approach to journalism ... and bring that back to our students and faculty.<br /><br />Belo Corp. is an incredible place to learn and <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/five-belo-television-stations-honored-with-seven-national-edward-r-murrow-awards-123910049.html">has been honored</a> as one of the best media groups in the country. I'm excited to have the opportunity and will try to pass along what I'm learning through this blog. It may not all be sports related, but I hope interesting nonetheless.<br /><br />First day is this Monday!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-5825506136937491982011-07-02T21:32:00.002-05:002011-07-02T22:23:17.804-05:00Image Rehab<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLPIHfGlSkn8VCatxHBObxTwk3xvToQmMa45wwB1DqXwiKfJUxXe0DQWSVV3d-xfXeBiKTMx4VLaWMTQfKhmK5MDrVffXT46741Z0xrCpjKlXPig-ntK-8QdPZZEsgMQJZlVi/s1600/MichaelVick-Eagles-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLPIHfGlSkn8VCatxHBObxTwk3xvToQmMa45wwB1DqXwiKfJUxXe0DQWSVV3d-xfXeBiKTMx4VLaWMTQfKhmK5MDrVffXT46741Z0xrCpjKlXPig-ntK-8QdPZZEsgMQJZlVi/s200/MichaelVick-Eagles-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624948614235361682" border="0" /></a>In a rare change of mind, Nike has <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2011/07/01/2011-07-01_michael_vick_tiger_woods_sign_new_endorsement_deals.html">decided to resign </a>quarterback Michael Vick as an athletic endorser. Nike dropped Vick after his conviction and incarceration on dogfighting charges. But Vick has stayed clean since his release and done a lot of community work to <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/michael-vicks-winning-pr-strategy-redemption-by-work-ethic/">rehabilitate his image</a>.<br /><br />Think about this for a minute. Nike has now rehired a convicted felon to be one of its public faces; an amazing marketing coup for someone who was in prison just a couple of years ago. Today, Vick's jersey sales are climbing and he is in the top 10 of the <a href="http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/florida-gators/2011-06-11/story/tim-tebows-star-still-rises">league's most popular players</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pamil-visions.net/michael-vick-beating-bad-pr/221889/">Some have suggested</a> that Vick's rehabilitation is due to his outstanding ability and the fact that he plays for a winning team. But ability really hasn't worked for Tiger Woods, who <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h_TuufMGi8-n8nRo6BdkJKgrPYdA?docId=CNG.117d0714f5b672226d5b5b12cdfa5987.371">just this week</a> signed his first post-crisis endorsement deal ... for a sports cream in Japan.<br /><br />I really think Vick's turnaround is due greatly to the 24/7 media world we live in. The news cycle is so short today that the public simply moves on to the next big story. Michael Vick is big news for awhile, but only until Tiger Woods comes along. Vick has also successfully used the social media and his <a href="http://mikevick.ning.com/">own website</a>, which allows fan interaction, but interestingly has a huge disclaimer against any negative posting or "non Vick comments."<br /><br />Another former NFLer, receiver Plaxico Burress, is just out of jail (for gun charges) and also looking to rehabilitate his public image. He should follow the Vick PR blueprint--take ownership of his mistakes and engage in positive media rehabilitation (which he already <a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-06-14/news/29675590_1_plaxico-burress-guns-young-people">seems to be doing</a>).<br /><br />He should also take heart in that someone will soon come along and bump him out of the sports media headlines.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-68922025293920512322011-06-28T09:11:00.005-05:002011-06-28T09:27:49.140-05:00Lies, Libel and Lazy Reporting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8Bg9XewHi2IMOnOQnhkxG_ptCD8qc7YBJhqiY2NBmneQdnF5CDUca4AmMJs8XLq_323hTvYtPviLrRfWL_khB_o8DfhwoWOIFdsqn7RrmRj3gznVxiRLzLucaylGnU39CWpo/s1600/medium_sheridanvecsey.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8Bg9XewHi2IMOnOQnhkxG_ptCD8qc7YBJhqiY2NBmneQdnF5CDUca4AmMJs8XLq_323hTvYtPviLrRfWL_khB_o8DfhwoWOIFdsqn7RrmRj3gznVxiRLzLucaylGnU39CWpo/s200/medium_sheridanvecsey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623276997638124818" border="0" /></a>It has received little attention in the media, but in an interesting move ESPN NBA reporter Chris Sheridan (on the left in the photo) has <a href="http://blogs.forbes.com/nathanvardi/2011/06/16/espn-basketball-reporter-sues-new-york-post-columnist-for-libel/">filed a libel lawsuit</a> against Peter Vecsey and the <span style="font-style: italic;">New York Post</span>. Sheridan was upset about a <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/it_jersey_boys_XIuTZfsghD0e2eD1U6nu0O">column Vecsey wrote</a> in which he criticized Sheridan's reporting abilities and called his reporting of the Carmelo Anthony trade situation a "fairy tale."<br /><br />Legally, Sheridan's lawsuit has almost a zero chance of success. As a public figure, Sheridan would have to demonstrate malice, proving that Vecsey published false information, knew it was false and published it specifically to hurt Sheridan. Vecsey's article is critical, but hardly rises to the level of libel.<br /><br />More interesting to me is the disturbing habit these days of media quoting media. In other words, too many stories get covered simply by reporting what other people in the media are writing. Some of it is totally innocuous, such as <span style="font-style: italic;">Sports Illustrated</span> reporting on <a href="http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/292933-barkley-nba-needs-a-miracle?eref=sihp&sct=hp_bf2_a4">Charles Barkley's comments </a>to a radio station about a possible NBA lockout. But the point is, no matter how innocent this is NOT sports reporting; it's simply republishing someone else's reporting.<br /><br />It used to be if you wanted to report on a story you went out and talked to the people involved in it. Today, we simply run around and ask other journalists what they think. I understand there is a tremendous need for content to fill Internet pages, blogs and newspaper space. But this seems to me to be a lazy way to write a story.<br /><br />Just ask Chris Sheridan.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-63149147702220056572011-06-24T08:20:00.005-05:002011-06-24T08:29:52.226-05:00CFP: JSSI<div>David Leonard at Washington State passes along this call for a special issue of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Journal of Sport and Social Issues</span>:<br /><br />Call for Papers<br />New Media Literacy and Sporting Cultures<br />Special Issue of <span style="font-style: italic;">Journal of Sport and Social Issues</span></div><br /> <div>This special issue works to highlight the dynamic nature of sporting cultures and the transformative possibilities resulting from new media technologies. It attempts to build upon the existing literature all while engaging ongoing debates and discussions. It seeks to foster critical new media literacy in a sporting context, all while elucidating the social, cultural and political significance resulting from the changing sports landscape.<br /><br />We look for pieces that are theoretically rich, those focused on asking questions and expanding the discussion, and those dedicated to critical analysis.<br /><br />Essays should be roughly 4,000-5,000 words. Send questions to C.L. Cole at clcole@illinois.edu, and/or David J. Leonard at djl@wsu.edu. Deadline for submissions is February 1, 2012.<br /><br />Authors should follow the manuscript submission guidelines from <a href="http://jss.sagepub.com/">JSSI</a>. All papers must be submitted through <a href="http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jssi">Manuscript Central</a>.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-81231976021439215932011-06-20T13:12:00.003-05:002011-06-20T13:24:13.906-05:00NBC Takes the PledgeI'm sorry, but I don't accept NBC's <a href="http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2011/06/really-nbc-cuts-under-god-from.php">lame apology </a>for its editing of the Pledge of Allegiance during Sunday's final round coverage of the U.S. Open golf tournament. The network produced a short feature on patriotism to coincide with the tournament being held near Washington, DC, but in the feature the pledge omitted the words "under God."<br /><br />NBC's excuse? It really never offered one, other than to say the editing was "not meant to offend anyone." Of course, it did offend quite a few people, including those conservatives who for years <a href="http://www.mrc.org/public/default.aspx">have complained</a> about perceived NBC liberal bias.<br /><br />I do believe NBC slants left (and its cable outlets MSNBC and CNBC go <span style="font-style: italic;">way </span>left), but the main problem here seems to be one of cowardice. Maybe NBC didn't want to deal with calls of complaints from anti-religious groups yelling to "get God out of the U.S. Open" (and on a Sunday, no less!), but there's just no excuse for changing the pledge.<br /><br />Bad, dumb and unnecessary.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-39137961235943656752011-06-16T16:05:00.005-05:002011-06-16T16:21:22.045-05:00Lose a Game, Trash the City<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4nMDvnLh3pInrf6cO1h9fuc0uiPjcozg0oaqGA7QjlJ3M0_UWeH6aXbK47xu8jDC_9vf_QhMM5PWimq15mjZKEOoCjmCGGLPoJHJTF_nQsL8X544SJeGEegjd69ufRlvtt1s/s1600/VANCOUVER-RIOTS-2011.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4nMDvnLh3pInrf6cO1h9fuc0uiPjcozg0oaqGA7QjlJ3M0_UWeH6aXbK47xu8jDC_9vf_QhMM5PWimq15mjZKEOoCjmCGGLPoJHJTF_nQsL8X544SJeGEegjd69ufRlvtt1s/s200/VANCOUVER-RIOTS-2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618926869367553906" border="0" /></a>By now, you've no doubt seen and heard <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/michael_rosenberg/06/16/sports.rioting/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a2">the images</a> from the riots that took place in Vancouver in the wake of the Canucks' loss to Boston in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. All across North America today most sane people are asking the same question--why did it happen (and why does it continue to happen <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124338232128656507.html">in other places</a>)?<br /><br />The short answers are alcohol and ... the media. Media? Well, to a degree. Alcohol certainly is the biggest culprit, but there's also a segment of the population that does it because they know they'll get in the newspaper, on TV, or even better yet they may go viral on YouTube.<br /><br />Consider the picture above, which has created <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/16/vancouver-riots-2011_n_878128.html">quite a sensation </a>since it first appeared on <span style="font-style: italic;">Esquire</span>. The people involved, whom still haven't been identified, have become a cause celeb in the Internet world. Who are they? Why did they stop in the midst of chaos to kiss? In a perverse way, they've become as (in)famous as the <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2MPCXSZbjITrafeNK3g0mVYTMyyW5r7G-LbbpsAKtsVXzQF0Kdwh9wS5h5mrO-POCIjxaGi98Cf-dDu2OhUZlOoprSxocfaxgnHnxf4Q8O3aUlDi6nn-5-m3TYrMsh2ToBrJ/s400/AE_VJ_Day.jpg&imgrefurl=http://monroegallery.blogspot.com/2010/08/vj-day-times-square-new-york-august-14.html&usg=__fOziHNwni5dF7IiGz7cpby4UYmE=&h=400&w=337&sz=65&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=GsZPMWvOiFS3bM:&tbnh=162&tbnw=131&ei=A3L6TbH-K4Pd0QGev5jfAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dtimes%2Bsquare%2Bvj%2Bday%2Bphoto%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1760%26bih%3D792%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=416&page=1&ndsp=36&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0&tx=79&ty=96&biw=1760&bih=792">couple caught kissing</a> in Times Square on VJ Day.<br /><br />This isn't one of those rants about the evils of the media in our society; rather, just a sad recognition that the world we live in today is overrun with people who want nothing more than their 15 minutes of fame.<br /><br />Call me old fashioned, but I liked it much better when such attention-seekers were handled by men like former Colts linebacker <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdP2G7UtS9I">Mike Curtis</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-87515352904007733152011-06-14T18:51:00.002-05:002011-06-14T19:07:57.582-05:00How to Use the Media ... and Vice VersaTwo incredibly talented athletes; two lightning rods for controversy; two huge egos. Two ways of using the sports media.<br /><br />Terrelle Pryor and LeBron James are both in need of some serious reputation repair. James may be the most hated athlete on the planet since leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers, and his poor play in the NBA Finals was considered a major reason the Miami Heat lost in six games to the Dallas Mavericks. Terrelle Pryor has been forced out of the Ohio State football program, which is still under investigation for some of his questionable activities.<br /><br />James is using the media as a public confessional. Even after some potentially damaging comments following the Heat's loss in game six, <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/06/lebron-james-says-he-has-a-lot-to-learn-and-a-lot-of-work-to-do-miami-heat-dalas-mavericks-nba-finals/1">he stepped forward </a>to clarify, apologize and restate his intention to work harder in the off season. James met the media again today with no script and took the heat (pardon the pun) like a man. Even his <a href="http://www.lebronjames.com/#/en/Basketball/Miami-Heat/Welcome-to-Miami/Message-from-LeBron.aspx">website reflected</a> a dose of humility and contrition.<br /><br />By contrast, Pryor had decided to take his PR campaign through super agent Drew Rosenhaus--the same agent who also handles Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco, which should tell you something. Pryor held a <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/fl-terrelle-pryor-apologizes-ohio-sta20110614,0,5358055.story">press event today </a>in Miami (more irony); his scripted statement said nothing and he refused to handle questions. Pryor seems happy to let Rosenhaus to blow his horn for him, which considering what's happened with Owens and Ochocinco may not the wisest decision.<br /><br />Two athletes in need of reputation repair. James has a long way to go, but at least seems to understand the road to redemption. To be honest, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/sports/basketball/lebron-jamess-worst-fan-has-a-book-deal-and-a-happy-ending.html">the level of hate</a> against him is so strong, he may never get there. But Pryor just doesn't seem to get it, and he appears determined to head down a road that may one day push James from his position as America's public sports enemy number one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-34153510119367814002011-06-09T08:47:00.002-05:002011-06-09T11:55:22.636-05:00Investigative Sports Journalism and Local MediaIn a previous post we talked about the role of the media in bringing down Jim Tressell (and now <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/BigTen/post/_/id/27634/pryors-departure-from-osu-inevitable">Terrelle Pryor</a>) at Ohio State. Without the good, solid investigative journalism at places like <span style="font-style: italic;">Sports Illustrated</span>, that entire situation might have gone under the radar.<br /><br />Some interesting comments related to investigative sports journalism appeared in a chat in yesterday's <span style="font-style: italic;">Austin American-Statesman</span>. Columnists Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden made the point that because of a bad economy for newspapers, and corresponding cutbacks in staffing and coverage, such investigative work is much harder to do on the local level. Their comments are below:<br /><br /><span id="txt183406085"><span><span style="font-style: italic;">Q: Do local journalists have a responsibility to expose NCAA violations? Do you have a responsibility to expose violations by (Texas Longhorns) players & coaches, even though you’d become persona non grata in Bellmont for the rest of your careers?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Kirk Bohls: I'd like to think that all journalists feel it's their responsibility to unearth violations or abuses of any kind. Newspapers have severely cut their staffs across the country, which has made it harder to do long investigations. Hard enough to cover all our beats.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cedric Golden: We're already persona non grata. We have an obligation to expose corruption and report wrongdoing by whomever. Investigative journalism is a great tool, but newsrooms are much smaller these days, which makes the pieces much more difficult to pursue. Some of the best pieces take weeks, months, years to complete. The staffs aren't as equipped compared to past decades. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Kirk Bohls: Newspapers are declining because young readers--too many of them--just want entertainment, and consequently have lost tons of manpower and have smaller staffs. Investigations take a huge time and manpower commitment. People don't understand how important a role newspapers play in checking abuses of all kinds. </span><br /><br />And that's a very important point. We seem very willing to turn over sports coverage to bloggers, fans and citizen journalists, but are any of them willing to go beyond boosterism and do the hard work of sports investigation? Do they have the time, resources and courage to do what the <span style="font-style: italic;">Lexington Herald Leader</span> did in exposing corruption at the University of Kentucky basketball program in the mid-1980s (which won a Pulitzer Prize) or what Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams did with the <a href="http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A28578">BALCO investigation</a>?<br /><br />To be sure, many local sports journalists find it easier and more comfortable to play the role of booster and ignore local problems. (The old mantra--"hey, we have to live in this community, too"--is still alive and well). But as long as journalists are willing to take the time and effort to look under the rocks of big-time sports -- and as long as local newspapers are willing to commit to the effort -- we're all better off.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-41975962171561026612011-06-07T16:18:00.005-05:002011-06-07T16:36:40.941-05:00Tiger and the Olympics<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIadwkvtQQDeQeUg8CQHHbKxYM2UvwcA828_quUmqb8FMsmn9-DqpRMNvtadPDdFGuFmbgrorkUPepqRlBEWLVSrWlglby5Dabi4FS5Y0bFOJAVZHMT05C019y89-mH9rnbwF/s1600/nbc.jpg.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIadwkvtQQDeQeUg8CQHHbKxYM2UvwcA828_quUmqb8FMsmn9-DqpRMNvtadPDdFGuFmbgrorkUPepqRlBEWLVSrWlglby5Dabi4FS5Y0bFOJAVZHMT05C019y89-mH9rnbwF/s200/nbc.jpg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615594349459913042" border="0" /></a>Two significant developments in sports media today, both involved NBC:<br /><br />NBC has apparently <a href="http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2011/06/nbc-awarded-rights-to-olympics.php">retained the rights</a> to televise the next four Olympic Games. The winning bid was $4.38 billion, which represents a drop from the current rate. NBC's austerity (if you can call it that) is understandable considering the network lost around $200 million for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. NBC Universal's new owners, Comcast, have spent the entire year cutting costs (and personnel <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/05/dick-ebersol-leaving-nbc-sports-espn-olympics-john-skipper-nfl-nhl-comcast/1">like Dick Ebersol</a>), so the move does come as a surprise. What's not surprising is that the value of mega-events not named the Super Bowl continue to decrease in value.<br /><br />NBC received some bad news today when Tiger Woods announced <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/usopen11/news/story?id=6635618">he's skipping</a> this month's U.S. Open because of continuing health problems. NBC has the television rights to the Open, and it's a <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2011-01-30-golf-tv-ratings-sports-media_N.htm">well established fact</a> that golf's television ratings drop when Woods isn't involved. The glimmer of hope for NBC is that Woods has been a non-factor all year and TV ratings have actually <a href="http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/golf/2011/05/colonial-enjoys-tv-ratings-spike-despite-attendance-drop-in-2011.html">been strong</a> at <a href="http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/03/15/golf-channel-sets-viewership-record-for-wgc-cadillac-championship/85903/">several</a> <a href="http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2064746,00.html">events</a>.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>It might be the first indication that golf viewers are finally adjusting to a post-Tiger world. This is not to say that Woods will not win in the future, but the days of him dominating both tournaments and TV ratings are apparently over. And in the long run that's probably a good thing. <span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);" class="" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-11475961635556718302011-06-02T09:34:00.005-05:002011-06-02T09:49:14.595-05:00A Media Salute to the "Big Aristotle"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R15J35OlturpJGcEODhUsJDXmLotMhEXFVQXyxBVsYF-WwNb8Jqjj5iafnHcq0nDtIpffGw6A87gJzqO9sn-F8-uh5btmBQdzKy-CcYUmQd1_jKOlkCWGoTSN-QFV08MA4Uz/s1600/shaq2-gal_20110601181850775_338_225.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R15J35OlturpJGcEODhUsJDXmLotMhEXFVQXyxBVsYF-WwNb8Jqjj5iafnHcq0nDtIpffGw6A87gJzqO9sn-F8-uh5btmBQdzKy-CcYUmQd1_jKOlkCWGoTSN-QFV08MA4Uz/s200/shaq2-gal_20110601181850775_338_225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613631023614202962" border="0" /></a>The NBA is going to <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=6615886">miss Shaquille O'Neal</a>, who announced his retirement yesterday after 19 seasons and four NBA titles. In an age of surly, often threatening professional athletes, Shaq was pure fun--from his dozens of different nicknames to his off-court antics. In many ways, he was the world's biggest (7'1", 325 lbs.) kid.<br /><br />Shaq also had a unique understanding of how to use the social media. He dwarfs (in more ways than one) other athletes with more than three million Twitter followers, and <a href="http://www.tout.com/u/Shaq">announced his retirement</a> yesterday on the new social media site Tout. "I am the emperor of the social media network," he noted, and it's hard to disagree. Shaq's willingness to interact with fans and his pioneering use of the social media built up a storehouse of good will that long outlive <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116756/">Kazaam</a>.<br /><br />Shaq will hold an official retirement press conference on Friday, but he's already made his point: knowing how to use the social media is essential for athletes in today's sports environment. Others could take a lesson from the "Big Aristotle," who is now well positioned for any number of lucrative options in his post-NBA life.<br /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);" class="" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-52002973775222877432011-05-31T07:13:00.008-05:002011-05-31T07:40:53.537-05:00Old School Journalism does in Tressel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DJlC9DyvuT4TThHG_YGwVrL-j4qJvfN5EbM2vcvVRhXR9TJeHt-gnSzUJsDYf0CwATF82Hk-7NZn0e1lkRIoYcqkDWat713xMsWHp1cql2fSniBo3AZPWHgWURAk_A68Rbj3/s1600/jim_tressel_downtrodden.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DJlC9DyvuT4TThHG_YGwVrL-j4qJvfN5EbM2vcvVRhXR9TJeHt-gnSzUJsDYf0CwATF82Hk-7NZn0e1lkRIoYcqkDWat713xMsWHp1cql2fSniBo3AZPWHgWURAk_A68Rbj3/s200/jim_tressel_downtrodden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612852714276650050" border="0" /></a>The big news from this Memorial Day weekend was the resignation of Ohio State football <a href="http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/05/31/tressel-out-at-osu.html?sid=101">coach Jim Tressel</a>; not exactly a shocking piece of news considering the growing evidence of Buckeye wrongdoing under Tressel.<br /><br />The latest issue of <span style="font-style: italic;">Sports Illustrated</span> has an <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/magazine/05/30/jim.tressel/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a2">in-depth report</a> on what happened at Ohio State, and digs even deeper into what has become a sordid affair. Particularly interesting is this section of the story: "Tressel was forced out three days after <i>Sports Illustrated</i> alerted Ohio State officials that the wrongdoing by Tressel's players was far more widespread than had been reported." Reading between the lines, SI is apparently taking credit for forcing Tressel's ouster.<br /><br />There's nothing wrong with SI tooting its own horn, and it also shows the power of investigative sports journalism. Outlets like SI and ESPN's <span style="font-style: italic;">Outside the Lines</span> have the power to effect significant change in sports. (Remember, it was SI that just a couple of years ago <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/02/07/alex-rodriguez-steroids/">uncovered</a> Alex Rodriguez' steroid use). ESPN's "30 for 30" series has also been effective in this regard; in the <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/smu-mustangs/20101204-pony-excess_tells-of-recruit-offered-20000-by-smu-who-said-coach-that_s-not-even-close.ece">film on SMU</a>, the newspaper wars in 1980s Dallas were credited with bringing down the school's renegade football program.<br /><br />We talk a lot about the fragmentation of today's sports media--the growth of blogging, fan participation and do-it-yourself sports content. But there is still a place for "old school" investigative sports journalism--working sources, following leads and digging for information that may take months to find. In other words, serious work by trained journalists.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/watergate/">Woodward and Bernstein</a> would be proud.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-39766197318365463542011-05-27T08:39:00.003-05:002011-05-27T08:58:04.278-05:00Pay to Play<div style="text-align: left;">In case you were not aware, there is a relatively new sports journal offering research publishing opportunities. The Journal of Physical Education and Sports Management publishes original articles in basic and applied research, case studies, critical reviews, surveys, essays, opinions and commentaries. <a href="http://www.academicjournals.org/JPESM/">JPESM</a> is currently looking for qualified researchers to join its editorial team as editors, sub-editors and/or reviewers.<br /></div><br />I didn't know much about this journal, but one of the interesting (and at least to me, discouraging) things I found was this note on their website: "Authors are required to pay a $550 dollar handling fee." Although the journal explains that publication is not contingent upon the author's ability to pay, and the journal may waive some of the fee under special circumstances, that still seems like a bad precedent to me. I assume it's because the journal is "open access," which means it's not charging a subscription for other people to see it. But $550 is a lot of money to me, and it seems like it would discourage some otherwise good scholarship. I hope it is not the wave of the future in terms of journal economics. I understand the realities of the publishing business, but I can't see how this model can sustain itself (especially since the journal publishes monthly).<br /><br />Anyway, if you are interested in becoming an editor or helping the journal, you can contact them at manuscript.jpesm@gmail.com. If you are interested in submitting, there is more information available at <a href="http://www.academicjournals.org/JPESM/Instruction.htm">this link</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img 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" alt="" /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-46568631960954343172011-05-23T07:16:00.006-05:002011-05-23T07:22:15.882-05:00It's Been a Long Weekend ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga73jSMz7DIN6yreeFl31Ms68bNs7-IQXjBwi6eh2HFw2t6ZU_15j5a3MIAb4GZBpPUFDnMDqUGRxuSYMAMqyKS41FyWjqUTsFd8QkWLjjKgNfSgx6On3_tdNlm6gxOt9n83V2/s1600/Emily+Grad-u.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga73jSMz7DIN6yreeFl31Ms68bNs7-IQXjBwi6eh2HFw2t6ZU_15j5a3MIAb4GZBpPUFDnMDqUGRxuSYMAMqyKS41FyWjqUTsFd8QkWLjjKgNfSgx6On3_tdNlm6gxOt9n83V2/s400/Emily+Grad-u.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609885655125572082" border="0" /></a>... and I don't mean sports-wise (although that is true). My daughter Emily graduated from Oxford High School this weekend and it was a great time. Lots of family in and a terrific graduation party at our house.<br /><br />So instead of talking about sports, which admittedly gets less interesting for me as time goes on, this picture is really what mattered to me this weekend.<br /><br />Congratulations, Emily and to all graduates of the class of 2011.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-13769669552368680402011-05-16T10:16:00.005-05:002011-05-16T11:07:33.853-05:00TV Markets and MediaInteresting that the final four for both the NBA and NHL playoffs are dominated by sun belt teams. In the NHL it's San Jose and Tampa (along with Boston and Vancouver), and in the NBA, Miami, Dallas and Oklahoma City (who will play an interesting I-35 Western Conference Finals) join Chicago. Free agency has a lot to do with it. If you're LeBron James and can make millions no matter where you play, doesn't sunny Miami sound a lot better than frigid Cleveland?<br /><br />On paper, TV executives seem to be happy with the remaining teams. After all, you've got markets 6 (San Jose), 7 (Boston) and 14 (Tampa) in the NHL, while the NBA has 3 (Chicago), 5 (Dallas), and 16 (Miami), to go along with 45 (Oklahoma City). But looking at it in terms of TV markets is old school thinking; the same kind of thinking that mistakenly got the NHL to add teams in places like Charlotte, Atlanta and <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/LaurieRoberts/128319">Phoenix</a>.<br /><br />The emphasis today is on national appeal, and big stars can play in little markets. Thus, an NBA Finals matching Miami (with you-know-who) and Oklahoma City (with Kevin Durant) is probably a more compelling television product than Dallas-Chicago, even though the TV markets are smaller. And would anyone outside of <a href="http://fans.nhl.com/topic/1895">San Jose and Tampa</a> watch that matchup in the Stanley Cup Finals?<br /><br />Today's sports programming needs stars (i.e. celebrities) and storylines to succeed. Golf has <a href="http://blogs.golf.com/presstent/2010/05/tv-ratings-for-players-down-with-mickelson-woods-not-in-mix.html">consistently shown</a> that without Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson it has trouble getting audiences to watch. The Players Championship, which the PGA has aggressively tried to market as a 5th major, took place this weekend in virtual anonymity.<br /><br />The NBA should hope the Heat, even in market 16, rally to make the NBA Finals. As for the NHL, Boston-Vancouver looks like it would be the best draw.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-84326032803354704332011-05-13T16:06:00.005-05:002011-05-13T16:23:13.725-05:00Dwight Writes in Small BitesSorry it's been awhile since a post; blogger.com was down most of the week for maintenance.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/backpage/dwight_accuses_paper_orlando_trying_pzMcSdoUThfBdesUn7Pv7N">Interesting stories</a> filtering through Orlando and New York regarding Magic center Dwight Howard. The NBA All-Star is accusing the local newspaper, the Orlando <span style="font-style: italic;">Sentinel</span>, of trying to "run him out of town." The <span style="font-style: italic;">Sentinel </span>has published <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-bianchi-dwight-howard-0508-20110507,0,3224871.column">several articles</a> essentially telling the free-agent-t0-be that he needs to let the Magic know his plans so the team can avoid a situation like last summer, when LeBron's surprise announcement left the stunned Cavaliers little time to rebuild.<br /><br />Nothing much new here; athletes and newspapers have been feuding for decades. What's interesting is that Howard is not using the newspaper (or TV or radio) to fight back, but Twitter. He's posting messages and updates such as, "“I'm not blaming the media,” Howard would say in a later tweet. “I'm saying stop with the dumb articles." (To be honest, I'm not sure what the distinction is there).<br /><br />This is how the modern athlete uses social media--as a means of connecting with fans, shaping a personal message, and of course, responding to outside criticism. Why bother to respond to the <span style="font-style: italic;">Sentinel</span> (circulation 172,000 and falling) when Howard can reach more people (Dwight Howard Twitter followers: 2.02 million and climbing). <a href="http://www.iamagm.com/news/2011/03/26/dwight.howard.announces.his.2.millionth.twitter.follower.will.get.spend.day.him">Howard's affinity</a> for Twitter is well known, but he's certainly not alone among athletes.<br /><br />Maybe they should start taking classes or instruction on Twitter and PR strategies or crisis communications ...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-43520059728594738562011-05-09T19:56:00.002-05:002011-05-09T20:04:27.189-05:00Please ExplainI'm trying to figure out why I can't watch the NHL game tonight between the Predators and Canucks on the Versus Network. On DirecTV, the game is blacked out in my area, I assume because I'm considered in the 'local market' (even though I am five hours by car from Nashville).<br /><br />At the same time, I have no problem picking up the Grizzlies-Thunder game on TNT, even though I live less than an hour from Memphis.<br /><br />It looks like the Canucks are going to wrap up the series tonight, but I still would have liked to see it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36311764.post-65230003236850328572011-05-04T07:45:00.006-05:002011-05-04T08:09:27.966-05:00To Be There ... Or Not Be There<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07Ltu-wHUcLiQSXf_ntxZvTDnSlLqkYSSvz-K_37A60XCMmpgTQfBx97Ljr0ErHY4b27Y_AoXU4zNMSaLBW-m79SrNBx-nwLNC2qLvLKX3hBWRIj16nzfgD7geu4wnwevoKl-/s1600/Nationals_Marlins_Baseball2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07Ltu-wHUcLiQSXf_ntxZvTDnSlLqkYSSvz-K_37A60XCMmpgTQfBx97Ljr0ErHY4b27Y_AoXU4zNMSaLBW-m79SrNBx-nwLNC2qLvLKX3hBWRIj16nzfgD7geu4wnwevoKl-/s200/Nationals_Marlins_Baseball2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602846198451973922" border="0" /></a>"You had to be there!"<br /><br />How many times have we gone to a sporting event and said that later to a friend who wasn't at the game? But the actual live experience has lost something in recent years. For one thing, it's <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/11667728/graphic-of-the-day-spiraling-cost-of-attending-us-sporting-events">crazy expensive</a> to go to a game these days, and in a bad economy the average fan simply can't often afford it.<br /><br />More importantly, television (and the web) have now developed to the point where it's actually much better to stay home and watch the game. High definition, multiple angles, and now (in a limited fashion) <a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-07/computing/29392042_1_3d-production-truck-x-games">3D sports</a>, are making the mediated experience better than the game experience.<br /><br />Take <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2011/05/03/36211_recap.html?sct=mlb_t11_a2">last night's no-hitter</a> thrown by Francisco Liriano of the Twins, who beat the White Sox, 1-0. MLB Network cut live to the game in the bottom of the 9th, so fans all across the country could see the dramatic ending. Not only did they see the no-hitter, they also saw less than 21,000 fans shivering in the Chicago cold as temperatures hovered in the mid-30s. In Detroit, the players' breath was clearly visible on a similarly cold night. Which experience was better ... watching it live in the freezing cold or seeing the same thing in the comfort of your home? (FYI, I was at old Comiskey Park to see <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR6-__okGQU">Jack Morris' no-hitter</a> in 1984, and almost froze to death).<br /><br />Writing on <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tom_verducci/05/03/bud.selig.attendance/index.html?sct=mlb_wr_a1">baseball's attendance problems</a> this season, Tom Verducci of <span style="font-style: italic;">Sports Illustrated </span>frames the issue: "How do you keep the in-person experience special in the face of connectivity options that were intended to be complementary but grow to become competition? If DVRs and large, high-def flat screens and whiz-bang camerawork made the couch more attractive than 50-yard line seats, what more erosion will come from 3D TV refinement and other advancements?"<br /><br />That's what every sport now faces, especially in an era of inflated attendance costs. "We aren't just going to invest on new technologies that serve people at home," says Brian Rolapp, the NFL's Vice President for Digital Media. "We will continue to invest to make the stadium experience better."<br /><br />But as the mediated experience becomes better and better, making the stadium experience better will become even harder to do. These days, "You had to be there to see it!" is often replaced with, "I caught it on YouTube!"<br /><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0