SportsSports

Types of sports stories:Types of sports stories:Pregame or advancePregame or advance

Post-gamePost-gameIndividual sportsIndividual sports

Sports briefsSports briefsSports featuresSports featuresIn-depth storiesIn-depth stories

ColumnsColumns

Writing that captures the actionby Bobby Hawthorne

Pregame stories:Pregame stories:

Two teams’ recordsTwo teams’ records

Results of previous matchupsResults of previous matchups

Strengths and weaknessesStrengths and weaknesses

Expected type of playExpected type of play

Quotes from coachesQuotes from coaches

Analysis of scoring records vs. Analysis of scoring records vs. common opponentscommon opponents

Date, time, and locationDate, time, and location

Game or post-game Game or post-game stories:stories:

Outstanding characteristics of Outstanding characteristics of the gamethe game

Basic information: type of Basic information: type of contest, name of teams, score, contest, name of teams, score, date, locationdate, location

The “newsmagazine diamond”—The “newsmagazine diamond”—a lead, a narrative body, the enda lead, a narrative body, the end

Additional information: how Additional information: how scores were made, unusual scores were made, unusual plays, types of play, outstanding plays, types of play, outstanding players, significance of the players, significance of the outcome, opinions of coaches outcome, opinions of coaches and playersand players

Individual sports:Individual sports:

How or why the person How or why the person won or lostwon or lost

Recent successes or Recent successes or failuresfailures

Meaningful quotesMeaningful quotes

Sports briefs:Sports briefs:Crisp and Crisp and conciseconcise

Season Season synopses with synopses with examples from examples from specific gamesspecific games

Sports features:Sports features:Focus on peopleFocus on people

Personality profiles of Personality profiles of coaches, team physicians, coaches, team physicians, trainers, bench-warmers, etc.trainers, bench-warmers, etc.

Then and now approachThen and now approach

Focus on fansFocus on fans

Lifetime activities or Lifetime activities or recreational activitiesrecreational activities

Strive for a balance of Strive for a balance of different sportsdifferent sports

The in-depth story:The in-depth story:

The propensity of parents and booster club The propensity of parents and booster club officials to go to court if a player was ruled officials to go to court if a player was ruled ineligibleineligible

How state eligibility standards were How state eligibility standards were adoptedadopted

How boys and girls receive the same How boys and girls receive the same treatment, but they don’t have the same treatment, but they don’t have the same prestigeprestige

The use of smokeless tobaccoThe use of smokeless tobacco

Topics that cut across individual program lines. For example:

The sports column:The sports column:To praise, criticize, To praise, criticize, analyze, or interpretanalyze, or interpret

Not to cheerlead, nit-pick, Not to cheerlead, nit-pick, second-guess or air second-guess or air personal grievancespersonal grievances

Should show honesty and Should show honesty and fair playfair play

All opinions should be All opinions should be supported with factssupported with facts

Can be serious or funny; a Can be serious or funny; a detailed look at one detailed look at one subject or a collection of subject or a collection of short insights short insights

Rick ReillySports Illustrated

ESPN

Beware:Beware:Don’t be a cheerleaderDon’t be a cheerleader

Avoid jargon (“the team switched from a box-and-one to a Avoid jargon (“the team switched from a box-and-one to a three/two match up zone”)three/two match up zone”)

Avoid cliches (“a tough loss” “a great win”)Avoid cliches (“a tough loss” “a great win”)

Avoid weak verbs (the team won, not the team is a winner)Avoid weak verbs (the team won, not the team is a winner)

Avoid nicknamesAvoid nicknames

Avoid false titles (use “Jane Jones, a co-captain,” not “co-Avoid false titles (use “Jane Jones, a co-captain,” not “co-captain Jane Jones”)captain Jane Jones”)

Don’t begin the lead with an article (a, an, the), the name of Don’t begin the lead with an article (a, an, the), the name of the school or its initials and the name of the teamthe school or its initials and the name of the team

Give attribution for opinions (“Coach Smith said that he Give attribution for opinions (“Coach Smith said that he thought they should have won,” not “Coach Smith believes thought they should have won,” not “Coach Smith believes that they should have won”)that they should have won”)

Avoid dumb, predictable quotes (“We are looking forward to Avoid dumb, predictable quotes (“We are looking forward to the season” or “I’m very proud of this team”)the season” or “I’m very proud of this team”)