Basic Sports WritingTips and Pitfalls

What Is Sports News?Sports news is in the sports section of a newspaper in which the sportswriter reports the scenes of sports, tournaments and games such as athletics, football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, handball, softball, tennis table tennis, boxing, swimming, gymnastics, archery, fencing, golf, squash, shooting, rowing, rugby football, American football, hockey, billiards and snooker, wrestling, bowling, canoeing, cycling, equestrian events, tae kwon do, judo, arnis, sepak takraw, weightlifting, yachting, and Muay Thai.

Essential Ingredients of Sports StoryThe Teams and the scoreReference to whether it was a championship or an exhibition gameSite of the gameWhen the game was playedKey plays (who made them, and who was responsible for calling them, etc.)Scoring summary

Essential Ingredients of Sports StoryReferences to the star playersKey offensive statisticsKey defensive statisticsDirect quotes by the playersDirect quotes by the coaches

Essential Ingredients of Sports StoryWeather and its effect on the gameInjuries and condition updatesResults of previous games between the teamsOverall records

Essential Ingredients of Sports StoryConference recordsReference to national rankings, if relevantNext games for both teamsHistorical significance, if any, of the game

Gathering Sports MaterialsGathering information before the game:Read the rulesKnow key peopleGet the names in full and check the spellingAttend sports events and practice sessionsMake notes on things that countRead various newspapers

Gathering Sports MaterialsGathering information during the game:Organize your materialsBe there well ahead of the eventSecure a good working placeNote interesting events before the gameDevelop a system of note-takingMake notes as complete as possibleObserve:Important playsThe unexpected or unusualPersonal standouts on things other than point scoringTouches of humor or the light things

Gathering Sports MaterialsGathering information after the game:Seek out the coaches, outstanding playersGet quotesCheck facts, especially scoresGather more information from:Special statisticsNewspaper storiesGame movesBox scoresStandings

Gathering Sports MaterialsGathering information after the game:Seek out the coaches, outstanding playersGet quotesCheck facts, especially scoresGather more information from:Special statisticsNewspaper storiesGame movesBox scoresStandings

Types of Sports StoriesThe Advance StoryThe Game StoryThe Follow-up StoryThe post mortem story

Writing the Sports StoryGood sports writing is good news writing

Structure of Sports NewsThe headline must describe the whole storyThe lead may be summarized or analyzed; it may give the significance, the winner, the hero, the score. The score is usually played up in the first sentence or set in bold above the story proper.

Structure of Sports NewsThe body plays up other elements not in the lead and gives detail of those already mentioned.Key play an outstanding performerQuotations from players, trainers and coachesPlay-by-play account (seldom found in the school paper for lack of space)PersonalitiesBackground of playersImportance of the eventSummaries of results and statistics (these may be complied for future reference)

Parts of a Sports StoryHeadlineLeadBodyConclusion

Organizing the storyThe sports writer wisely may adopt the Boy Scout motto: Be preparedThe sports writer usually knows in advance whether there is a press boxHe should take notes systematicallyThe sports writer must concentrate on the gameThe sports writer for broadcast media must keep up with the actionThe sports writer writes his story after the game

Writing the Sports Story Since good sports writing is good news writing, the sports writer should, by now, organize his story in the inverted pyramid structure.The sports writer will include the five Ws and H in the first few paragraphs and will include as many elements as possible

Two requisites of good sports storyImpartiality and accuracyCheck your facts carefullyNames of playersNames of teamsFinal ScoreIndividual scoresTabulations

Pitfalls to avoidWriting in sports jargonOrganizing a game summary in chronological orderNarrating play-by-playBecoming a criticFailing to get specific factsWriting with too many adjectives and adverbsToo much clichs

A Good Sports WriterA sports writer must be a natural descriptive writerIt is important that the sports writer must have a feeling and genuine loveTraining is important in this form of editorial lifeThe sports writer must always be in the struggle in finding new wordsThe sports writer must be endowed with a keen memorySportsmanshipAbility to report accurately a fast contestA style of writing that includes familiarity with sports termsA basic knowledge of sports rules and regulationsA specialized use of summary and feature leads

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Ateneo nears elimination-round sweepCebu Daily News7:08 am | Sunday, September 4th, 2011THE SECOND encounter proved to be just as one-sided as the first one as the Ateneo Blue Eagles moved a win away from achieving a sweep of the elimination round after they disposed of the NationalUniversity(NU) Bulldogs, 61-39, in the 74th UAAPbasketballtournamentyesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.The four-time champions Eagles are now just a victory away from gaining an outright seat in the finals, but will be hardpressed to complete the feat with the Adamson SoaringFalconsstanding in their way.

Struggling to bust the Bulldogs zone all game, the defending champion turned to its defense and held NU to its lowest scoring output since the start of the archiving of statistics in the UAAP in 2003.A telling third period exploit triggered by a 10-0 blast to conclude the first half gave the Blue Eagles their commanding advantage as they dropped 22 points compared to the Bulldogs eight in one just one quarter.

Mainstays Kirk Long and Nico Salva and newcomers Kiefer Ravena and Greg Slaughter took turns in the demolition job, churning out double-double scoring.Salva, whose slam with 7:36 in the fourth quarter spiked the lead to 24 points, 55-31, produced a game-best 14 points even as Slaughter, Ravena and Long added 13, 12 and 10 markers respectively.Long, who was tasked to contain NU Ray Parks, held the hyped rookie to just 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting and forced him to commit five turnovers.

Parks and Emmanuel Mbe contributed 10 points each in a losing cause for NU. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio

Alaska's storied partnership ends By Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star) Updated September 02, 2011 12:00 AMMANILA, Philippines - The Alaska Aces ball club and long-time coach Tim Cone officially parted ways yesterday, ending probably the most successful team-mentor partnership in the Philippine Basketball Association.As theres been a lot of speculations, questions, we felt its important to address the issue professionally. Were now confirming that we have released Tim Cone as head coach of Alaska Aces, team owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu said in a press conference in Makati.Cone handled the coaching chores for Alaska the past 22 years, leading them to 13 championships spiked by a rare grand slam in 1996 and a near-triple crown in 1998. The former TV analyst steered the franchise to 25 Finals appearances throughout his tenure.

Tim wants to explore other options, challenge himself, pursue other horizons. Were saddened but of course, we wish him well. We really had quite a journey. We know theres never been a 22-year partnership like this in the PBA and there never will be another,Uytengsu said.Im disappointed, though, that Im not gonna see Tim break Baby Dalupans record while coaching Alaska, he added, referring to the legendary Crispa mentor who owns 15 PBA titles, just two ahead of Cone.

Uytengsu said the show goes on for Alaska and for starters, they are elevating senior assistant Joel Banal to Cones old job.I wouldnt consider it a rest; more of a change in direction, kind of parting of ways, not a breakup, and taking a different career path, Cone said in explaining his decision to ask for a release from Alaska.The grapevine is swirling with talks of Cone supposedly moving to another team but the multi-titled mentor himself said hes not going anywhere for now.

I dont have any firm offer. I have close friends saying theres this or that but Ive not done anything. Im kinda open, he said.Saying goodbye to a long-time partner was quite emotionally draining for Cone.Ive been actually married to the Alaska organization longer than Im married to my wife, said a teary-eyed Cone.The hardest thing for me right now is leaving the players. When I saw them here, its like a sledgehammer hitting my heart. I dont want anyone to feel Im abandoning them but in fact I am so it kills me, he said, getting a warm hug from team captain Tony dela Cruz.But both Cone and Alaska management expressed confidence with Banal, an assistant for 10 years and champion coach with Talk N Text in 2003, taking over.He (Banal) is too good to be an assistant coach, said Cone.

Special Mass held for Pacquiao, Marquez at Manila CathedralA special Mass was held Sunday at the Manila Cathedral forFilipinoboxing icon Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel Manny" Pacquiao and Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez, who will face each other in the ring on November 12.Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo presided over the Mass that started shortly after 8:30 a.m., according to a report by radio dzBBs Manny Vargas.But Pacquiao and his party had yet to arrive more than 10 minutes after the Mass started, the report added.In contrast, Marquez received an early tour of the historic Manila Cathedral after he and his party arrived early. Marquez wore denim pants and a purple shirt, the report added.Cathedral rector Msgr. Nestor Cerbo led officials in giving Marquez a tour of the historic structure.Security was tight at the Cathedral, which was packed with regular Sunday churchgoers.Pacquiao and Marquez held a face-off in Manila Saturday to promote their November 12 bout. The two are to leave abroad to promote the bout further before going into training. LBG, GMA News

Manny Pacquiao unrelenting in workoutByRonnie Nathanielsz, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILAMannyPacquiaohurt his left wrist early in a punch mitts session with Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez on Thursday evening at the Planet Jupiter Gym in Makati City.But after a short break, Pacquiao shrugged off the discomfort and continued his workout for six rounds in-between discussing strategy with Fernandez on how to counter Juan Manuel Marquez favorite right straight and uppercut.Pacquiao told the Inquirer that Fernandez was adept at strategy for the Marquez duel at the MGM Grand on Nov. 12 because he watched my two previous fights with Marquez and he knows his style.

Pacquiao was throwing combinations to the mid-section which was protected by a body-guard when he inadvertently landed a hard left on the punch-mitt that Fernandez used to cushion the impact of Pacquiaos body shots.Pacquiao appeared to twist his left wrist as he connected and shouted and grimaced in apparent pain with adviser MichaelKonczand Fernandez himself showing concern.But Pacquiao made Fernandez remove his body-guard and Pacquiao went through his regular routine working on the speed ball along with skipping rope and a series of abdominal exercises.

Although he was faster and hit harder on the fourth day of his return to thegym after a four-month layoff since his last fight againstShaneMosley, Pacquiao said he was not satisfied because I am only 50 percent.Reacting to Marquezs earlier statement warning him to train hard because their fight was going to be a war, Pacquiao replied: Its going to be a war for him, for me its going to be fun.But Pacquiao later insisted that it will be a good fight and well give the fans a great fight to watch.Fernandez said that PacquiaostrainerFreddieRoachhad taught him how to handle light training at the start of his workouts.