Basic Sports WritingBasic Sports WritingTips and Pitfalls

What Is Sports News?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 Essential Ingredients of Sports Storyof Sports Story

•The Teams and the score•Reference to whether it was a championship or an exhibition game•Site of the game•When the game was played•Key plays (who made them, and who was responsible for calling them, etc.)•Scoring summary

Essential Ingredients Essential Ingredients of Sports Storyof Sports Story

•References to the star players

•Key offensive statistics

•Key defensive statistics

•Direct quotes by the players

•Direct quotes by the coaches

Essential Ingredients Essential Ingredients of Sports Storyof Sports Story

•Weather and its effect on the

game

• Injuries and condition

updates

•Results of previous games

between the teams

•Overall records

Essential Ingredients Essential Ingredients of Sports Storyof Sports Story

•Conference records

•Reference to national rankings,

if relevant

•Next games for both teams

•Historical significance, if any,

of the game

Gathering Sports MaterialsGathering Sports MaterialsGathering information before the

game:1.Read the rules2.Know key people3.Get the names in full and check

the spelling4.Attend sports events and practice

sessions5.Make notes on things that count6.Read various newspapers

Gathering Sports MaterialsGathering Sports MaterialsGathering information during the game:1.Organize your materials2.Be there well ahead of the event3.Secure a good working place4.Note interesting events before the game5.Develop a system of note-taking6.Make notes as complete as possible7.Observe:

◦ Important plays◦ The unexpected or unusual◦ Personal standouts on things other than point

scoring◦ Touches of humor or the light things

Gathering Sports MaterialsGathering Sports MaterialsGathering information after the game:1.Seek out the coaches, outstanding

players2.Get quotes3.Check facts, especially scores4.Gather more information from:

◦ Special statistics◦ Newspaper stories◦ Game moves◦ Box scores◦ Standings

Gathering Sports MaterialsGathering Sports MaterialsGathering information after the game:1.Seek out the coaches, outstanding

players2.Get quotes3.Check facts, especially scores4.Gather more information from:

◦ Special statistics◦ Newspaper stories◦ Game moves◦ Box scores◦ Standings

Types of Sports StoriesTypes of Sports Stories

The Advance StoryThe Game StoryThe Follow-up StoryThe post mortem story

Writing the Sports StoryWriting the Sports Story

Good sports writing

is good news writing

Structure of Sports NewsStructure 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 NewsStructure of Sports NewsThe body plays up other elements

not in the lead and gives detail of those already mentioned.◦Key play an outstanding performer◦Quotations from players, trainers and

coaches◦Play-by-play account (seldom found in

the school paper for lack of space)◦Personalities◦Background of players◦ Importance of the event◦Summaries of results and statistics

(these may be complied for future reference)

Parts of a Sports StoryParts of a Sports Story

HeadlineLeadBodyConclusion

Organizing the storyOrganizing the storyThe sports writer wisely may adopt

the Boy Scout motto: “Be prepared”The 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 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 Two requisites of good sports storystoryImpartiality and accuracyCheck your facts carefully

1. Names of players2. Names of teams3. Final Score4. Individual scores5. Tabulations

Pitfalls to avoidPitfalls 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 clichés

A Good Sports WriterA Good Sports Writer A sports writer must be a natural descriptive writer It is important that the sports writer must have a

feeling and genuine love Training is important in this form of editorial life The sports writer must always be in the struggle in

finding new words The sports writer must be endowed with a keen

memory Sportsmanship Ability to report accurately a fast contest A style of writing that includes familiarity with sports

terms A basic knowledge of sports rules and regulations A specialized use of summary and feature leads

Popular SportsPopular SportsBasketballVolleyballBoxingBilliardsFootball (Soccer)TennisGolfCyclingAthletics, Track and FieldBaseball/SoftballFootball (Rugby)Badminton

Philippine Soccer Team “Azkals”

Philippine Rugby Team “Volcanoes”

Efren “Bata” Reyes and Django Bustamante

Manny Pacquiao

Philippine Dragon Boat Team

Jeson Patrombon

Wesley So

Tim Lincecum (Filipino/White)Known as: Professional Baseball Player (Starting Pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball; Two-time Cy Young Award winner; Four-time All-Star; 2010 Babe Ruth Award Winner; 2008 MLB Strikeout Champion; Three-time National League Strikeout Champion)

Ateneo nears elimination-Ateneo nears elimination-round sweepround sweepCebu Daily News7:08 am | Sunday, September 4th, 2011 

THE 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 National University (NU) Bulldogs, 61-39, in the 74th UAAP basketball tournament yesterday 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 Soaring Falcons standing 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 Alaska's storied partnership ends 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 there’s been a lot of speculations, questions, we felt it’s important to address the issue professionally. We’re 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. We’re saddened but of course, we wish him well. We really had quite a journey. We know there’s never been a 22-year partnership like this in the PBA and there never will be another,”Uytengsu said.

“I’m disappointed, though, that I’m not gonna see Tim break Baby Dalupan’s 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 Cone’s old job.“I wouldn’t 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 he’s not going anywhere – for now.

“I don’t have any firm offer. I have close friends saying there’s this or that but I’ve not done anything. I’m kinda open, “ he said.Saying goodbye to a long-time partner was quite emotionally draining for Cone.“I’ve been actually married to the Alaska organization longer than I’m 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, it’s like a sledgehammer hitting my heart. I don’t want anyone to feel I’m 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 Special Mass held for Pacquiao, Marquez at Pacquiao, Marquez at Manila CathedralManila CathedralA special Mass was held Sunday at the Manila Cathedral for Filipino boxing 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 dzBB’s 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 Manny Pacquiao unrelenting in workoutin workout

By Ronnie Nathanielsz, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA—Manny Pacquiao hurt 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 Pacquiao’s body shots.

Pacquiao appeared to twist his left wrist as he connected and shouted and grimaced in apparent pain with adviser Michael Koncz and 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 the gym after a four-month layoff since his last fight against Shane Mosley, Pacquiao said he was “not satisfied because I am only 50 percent.”

Reacting to Marquez’s earlier statement warning him to train hard because their fight was going to be a war, Pacquiao replied: “It’s going to be a war for him, for me it’s going to be fun.”

But Pacquiao later insisted that “it will be a good fight and we’ll give the fans a great fight to watch.”

Fernandez said that Pacquiao’s  trainer Freddie Roach had taught him how to handle light training at the start of his workouts.