Sports News Lead

The lead

Like any other news story, a sports story has a lead and a body. The sports lead is the

attention-getter, the news is a- nut-shell.

The classic 5W’s appear in the sports lead as:

1. Who won?

2. Against whom?

3. By what score?

4. Where?

5. When?

For example:

The Torres High School Quintet poured 10 baskets in the last three minutes to edge out the

Osminians 65-63 at the opponents homeground yesterday afternoon.

Who won? The Torres High School Quintet

Against whom? Poured 10 baskets in the last three minutes to edge out the Osmenians

By what score? 65-63

Where? At the opponents homeground

When? Yesterday afternoon

This kind of summary lead may vary.

The lead can also dramatize other elements like:

A. The key play

The Soliman High School sluggers bombed the Lakandula batter with six runs in the third

inning to subdue a nerve-frazzling lakandula rally,14-12 as they clinched the invitational

game here, in connection with the celebration of the Foundation Day of Lakandula National

High School.

B. The outstanding player

Romeo Reyes of Roxas High School, after almost four hours of battle over the chess

board, copped the most coveted YMCA trophy after outwitting Manila High school chesser

William Santos in 27 moves of a Sicilian defense.

C. Analytical approach

The outcome of the game is the result of a particular key play in action. Riding high on

sizzling spike and tricky placing, the MLQ netters blasted the Laurel High killers in the actual

crucial thirds set to win 15-10, 11-15, 15-7 in a mini district meet, Sept. 21 at the Torres High

School oval to celebrate the First Filipino Thanks-giving Day.

The Body

After the lead, the other elements follow in descending order.

These will include:

A. Team and/or individual standing

If the event is part of a series of games, the story must report how the teams or players

stand in relation to their competitors.

Example: The Golden State Warriors look unbeatable, the Cleveland Cavaliers are

struggling, and both the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are falling way short

of expectations. But atop the Eastern Conference are the Washington Wizards and

Atlanta Hawks.

B. Decisive plays

This is the most crucial part of the game that gives a certain team the winning margin.

Example: Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan struggles to control the ball as he

drives around New Orleans Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham, right, during first-half

NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015

C. Best scores for the day

The scores usually appear in the headline and in the lead. However, the writer must not

neglect the top scorer of the day.

Example: Despite blowing a 19-point halftime lead, Kansas managed to hold on for an

85-78 win over Oklahoma on Monday night.  

D. Play-by-play

Due to limited space, play-by-play has to be condensed. In top of boxing events, a

separate round-by-round account is provided, describing the progress of the fight in detail.

Example: Round 1: Matsuda takes the center of the Octagon, tagging Sanchez right away.

Sanchez firing off with big-time kicks and punches. He drops Matsuda with a right hand and

pounces with just over two minutes to go. Matsuda now in the guard and he appears to have

survived for the moment. Sanchez attempting to mount, instead switches to a rear-naked choke

as they stand. Sanchez bouncing around, picking his openings and striking.

FightLine scores the round 10-9 for Sanchez

Round 2: Matsuda again trying to work from the center and control the offense, but eats a

straight right. Here comes Matsuda back, landing a 1-2 combo. Takedown for Sanchez, working

for mount early in the round. Matsuda gets to his feet, but eats a left for his effort. Excellent

striking from both men through this round, keeping it standing for the most part.

FightLine scores the round 10-9 for Matsuda

Round 3: Sanchez comes out much quicker this time, not letting Matsuda take the center.

Matsuda the more effective striker this round, busting open the nose of Sanchez. Big time power

out of Sanchez again, rocking him with shots. He gains the clinch and tries to land a knee, but

misses. Sanchez literally pushes him to the ground and pounces, landing shots all over the place.

Credit Matsuda for being able to survive all of these shots from Sanchez, but he’s been

dominated this round.

E. Quotations

It is customary for the hero of the day to have his sentiments recorded for posterity.

Example: Carzola was telling BBC sports “Today the team played very well. When we

defend well, we have so many chances to win the game. Oliver Giroud was amazing; he’s

a very important striker for us”.

The above format was the suggestion of sports writer Eduardo Lachica of The Philippine Herald.

Suggested Pointers

1. The score or outcome – Who won? That of course is the central point of the story. Even if

the game should end in tie, with a riot, or be called off on account of a rain, the outcome

is still important.

Example: Cavaliers 108, Bulls 94

LeBron James scored 26 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their resurgence

with a 108-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls. All five Cleveland starters scored in double

figures as the Cavs improved to 3-1 since James returned from a two-week layoff to rest

an injured knee and back.

2. The significance of the outcome – Was a championship at stake? Do the standings of the

teams change? Who gets the cup? Is the grudge wiped out?

Example: After leaving a do-or-die game early, some Seattle Seahawks fans got exactly

what they deserved. The 2015 NFC Championship Game wasn't looking good for

the home team in the waning minutes of the contest. That led some Seahawks fans to

leave CenturyLink Field prematurely. That turned out to be a massive mistake. Seattle

pulled off an incredible comeback against the Green Bay Packers, scoring 15 points in

the final 2:09 of regulation. The Seahawks then won the game—and advanced to

the Super Bowl—in overtime on Russell Wilson's 35-yard touchdown pass to

Jermaine Kearse.

3. Highlights of the game – Find the turning point of the game. Describe spectacular plays.

Tell about the last minute fumble, or the last three-second basket from the midcourt if it

were a basketball.

Example: Hawks 120, Wizards 89

Guard Kyle Korver went 5-of-7 on three-point attempts en route to 19 points and the red-hot

Atlanta Hawks ran their winning streak to eightgames with a 120-89 home rout of the

Washington Wizards. The victory was the 22nd in the past 24 games for the Hawks (29-8), who

made 16 three-pointers and forced the Wizards into 19 turnovers.

4. Comparison of the teams – Which was the better team? Was the defending champion out-

jumped on the rebound? Who did better from the foul line? In what department were the

losers weak?

Example: Not only the Blazers first in rebounding, first in defense and sixth in points per

game, they have the chemistry of a great NBA team. Both of the Blazers and Warriors

rely heavily on 3-point shooting; the only difference is when Stephen Curry and Klay

Thompson have a bad shooting night, the Warriors are almost guaranteed to lose, where

if the Blazers guards have a bad shooting night, they have plenty of other options to win.

5. Individual stars – While present-day sports story on team- work have greatly discourage

individual stars and so called “grandstand” players, there are still instances where some

players stand out from the rest. Who are they? What have they done to become the heroes

of the game?

Example: In a game littered with stars, it was a 19-year-old running back who shined

brightest. Ezekiel Elliott was the best player on the field in Ohio State's 42-20 win over

Oregon Monday night in the CFB Playoff National Championship Game. He was the clear

difference in the game, rushing for 246 yards and four touchdowns against a Ducks defense

that was baffled by the run all night.

Elliott's running style reminds me of Fred Taylor's. He was explosive between the tackles as well

as outside. He gave the Buckeye's favorable situations throughout game, and was money in short

yardage.

6. Weather conditions – Mud, sunshine, heat, cold or wind may have a bearing on the game.

Example: Opponent No.1 for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday was supposed to be the

New England Patriots.

But another enemy is threatening Indy's chances at an AFC Championship Game win

and a trip to the Super Bowl.

Rain, heavy rain, is predicted to move into Fox borough in the second half of the game at

Gillette Stadium. Local Boston meteorologists are estimating a half inch to three-

quarters of an inch will fall as the crucial, latter part of the game plays out.

Why that is bad for the Colts, whose home field at Lucas Oil Stadium sits under a cozy

roof that can be closed or opened at the team's will: The Patriots are undefeated in the

rain the past two seasons. The Colts were winless in the rain during the same time frame

until last week's victory against the Broncos, which included a sprinkling.

7. Crowd and celebration – Don’t forget the spectators. Was it a record crowd? How did the

spectators behave? Were they particularly hostile to the referee?

Reference:

Basic Campus Journalism for Third Year

By: Ceciliano-Jose B. Cruz

PNU-DECS National Teachers’ Trainer in Campus Journalism

Prepared by: Lea Joy Carmi D. Dela Torre