Who’s your columnist #8

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17 Responses to “Who’s your columnist #8”

  1.   Latonya Says:

    “David Haye is ready for heavy lifting”

    By Tim Smith

    This article discussed a fight set between David Haye and Enzo Maccarinelli both natives from London, England. The spin is Haye’s future plans of moving up to the heavyweight division.

    A recent discussion in our Comm 371 class talked about looking for an angle that goes beyond just telling what has happened.

    This article is a perfect example of how a wiriter can look for other aspects that still relate to the topic at hand, but give the reader the basics to the story also.

    Here is the link for your own enjoyment:

    http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2008/03/05/2008-03-05_david_haye_is_ready_for_heavy_lifting.html

  2.   Elliot Says:

    “A Sad Site: Hoyas Ousted in Carolina”

    By Tom Boswell

    This article by Tom Boswell covers one of the biggest upsets in the men’s college basketball tournament so far.

    The Georgetown Hoyas faced their biggest upset in 30 years to Davidson Sunday night. In those 30 years they have lost only twice to lower seeded teams.

    Boswell goes on to discuss the comeback Davidson had in the second half and how they overcame a 17-point deficit.

    A great line in the story that Boswell uses is “Georgetown was primarily jobbed, robbed, and hosed here.” And they most certainly were. Davidson has not won a NCAA tournament game since 1969.

    It was most definitely a great upset and one that will be remembered about this years tournament.

    I like how Boswell puts it in words, the way Stephen Curry (Davidson) played in the game:

    “Riding the kind of upset wave, that makes March unique, he raised his game.”

    March is unique, it’s a time for madness.

    To read more you can go to:

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/23/AR2008032302067_2.html?sub=AR&sid;=ST2008032302032A Sad Site: Hoyas Ousted in Carolina

  3.   Josh Says:

    Davis, Raiders in the midst of eye-popping spending spree

    Clayton is talking about the Al Davis from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. I guess he is tired of winning four games per season.

    Where was this before Warren Sapp retired. Now all of a sudden the raiders have the highest payroll.

    But they couldn’t keep Randy Moss interested in football. Also, the raiders are unsure of who is going to be the head coach. After all Davis asked his head coach to resign. So he could save $2 million? haha, it sounds ridiculous since Davis is buying everything at high dollar.

    But it sounds like he wants to win again. I like the end of the story:

    “But Davis isn’t thinking about the green. He’s thinking about the silver and black. He’s just trying to win, baby.”

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id;=3299615

  4.   Carlos Says:

    “Mike Rose baseball’s ultimate squatter”

    By Woody Paige

    This article is about a 31 year old baseball player, Mike Rose, who has played 27 games in The Show. Paige opens his column with a quote from Crash Davis, because it is totally relevant to this piece, and it happens to be the movie’s 20th anniversary. Mike Rose is the real-life Crash Davis.

    Woody does a great job of describing Rose, his career, and through great quotes – captures the catcher’s attitude and essence. Mike has even played for the Durham Bulls.

    There is a fun comparisons that Paige draws: Don Quixote’s tilting at windmills, to Rose’s squatting over the plate. The author not only ties the player to pop culture icon Kevin Costner, but also throws in Cervante’s most famous literary character.

    This article is a great read; showing Paige’s versatility in sports writing. Check it out at:

    http://www.denverpost.com/paige/ci_8665010

  5.   Nadia Says:

    Wisconsin simply had the more talented team against K-State
    -Joe Posnanski

    Posnanski does a good job in writing this article and talking to the reader like they were actually there.

    Instead of just relaying events he seems to be sitting the reader down and saying this is what happend and why. His writing is personal, almost like you were at his home eating sunday dinner with him.

    http://www.kansascity.com/180/story/542876.html

    From The Notebook: Three screw-ups
    -Posnanski

    It was really interesting to read Posnanski’s personal screw ups in his career. I like how he tells the stories and gets into his thoughts while events were taking place.

    While the events were taking place he was not in a good mood but now he can look back at them and laugh. Something we should all do.
    http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/03/20/from-the-notebook-three-screw-ups/

  6.   Dechele Says:

    “The tourney that will be better than the Big Dance”

    By Scoop Jackson

    Although the title of the article makes one think the article will be about March Madness, the article really discusses how the Western Conference playoffs will be better than the NCAA tournament.

    Jackson discusses that the previous match up of Duke vs UNC is no longer something to look forward to since the Western Conference has hit an all time high with its current level of competition.

    A good example from the article is:
    “Just when it seemed like the NCAA was about to get its swag back with Boston College guard Tyrese Rice’s 46-point performance — 34 at halftime! — against UNC, Kobe came back the next day on national television and dropped 52 — 30 in the fourth quarter and overtime — on the Mavs, reminding everyone that the NCAA is cute but the NBA West is sexy.”

    This article does a very good job of comparing the two and the different styles of play.
    Here is the link:

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/080319

  7.   matt Says:

    Ogilvy Holds Lead

    Leonard Shapro wrote a column about golfer Geoff Ogilvy and his attempt to hold off Tiger on the final day of the Doral tournament. The main point of the article is to highlight the fact that Ogilvy actually backed up his words about not being shook by having Tiger on the leaderboard looking up at him.
    I think it was certainly an interesting article because Tiger’s been so unstoppable this year that it seems like whether he’s winning or somewhere near the lead, he’s going to win. But, the golf world was a bit shook up the other day when Ogilvy held off Woods.
    You can see this article at http://www.washingtonpost.com

  8.   DannyU Says:

    With Less, Wizards Achieve More
    By: MICHAEL WILBON

    This article is about the Washington Wizards recent success on the basketball court. With the playoffs on the horizon, Washington looks to be in top form and only getting better. I always enjoy Wilbons articles about local sports teams. When he is not praising Tiger Woods, Wilbon displyas an uncanny sense of the D.C. sports fan.
    Again, when looking at this article, the reader gets a sense he is sitting in a sports bar, discussing this with Wilbon.
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/24/AR2008032403157.html?sub=AR

  9.   Eric Says:

    Mitch flashback: Cecil Fielder hits 51 home runs

    By Mitch Albom

    This article is a great example of how to use numbers to tell as story, while not allowing for the numbers to drowned out the story.

    Albom does a great job in this story with bringing in details about Cecil Fielders life struggles, family life, and baseball career. This creates the build up throughout the story. Albom is exceptionally well at using this method in his stories.

    Another notable technique that Albom uses are the pauses and breaks within the story. These set up a pattern for the reader to enjoy.

    In between the breaks he has interjections of Cecil Fielder’s voice or his families voice to add emphasis of the sheer excitement of this ordeal.

    Here is the link for you to read:

    http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080319/SPORTS02/80314064/1082/COL01

  10.   Dylan Cavalheri-Gaiteri Says:

    Johnson bailed out after crossing the line

    By Gene Wojciechowski

    Gene Wojciechowski writes about how Trent Johnson nearly cost Stanford a trip to the Sweet 16 by getting two technical fouls within a quick span and being thrown out.

    Wojciechowski writes about how Johnson should have been aware of the short temper of the referee and he should not have let his temper get the best of him and should not have walked on to the court.

    This article is all about Wojciechowski’s opinion as he very openly criticizes Johnson, while others may have disagreed with the referee.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id;=3307244&sportCat;=ncb

  11.   Brittany Says:

    “Let’s Make a Deal”
    By: Peter King

    This article talks about how the draft has not been very eventful in the past three years.

    He believes besides Reggie Bush there hasn’t been a blockbuster trade since the Philip Rivers-Eli Manning trade.

    He points out a couple teams he believes will work hard to bring in the guy they seem would fit their team best such as Miami, Atlanta, and Dallas.

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/03/21/mmqb/index.html

  12.   Will Says:

    “UNLV stayed close by pestering Kansas”

    By Jason Whitlock

    In this week’s article, Whitlock, primarily talks about the ugliness of the game between UNLV and Kansas in the NCAA tournament this past weekend.

    He also laments about how all of the games played in the Qwest Center were, this past weekend, but for the most part he stickes to Kansas/UNLV.

    One thing Whitlock always has, is the perfect word choice to keep the reader interested in the article. He refers to doing an “autopsy” on the weekend’s games. He talks about UNLV will never “melt away from a challenge.” It is always little things like this that make Whitlock’s articles such enjoyable reads.

    The article can be read here:

    http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/jason_whitlock/story/542985.html

  13.   stephen ball Says:

    “Plenty of Heart, But Little Muscle”

    By Mike Wise

    This article discussed Duke University’s loss to West Virginia University in the second round of the men;s basketball tournament.

    Wise personified Duke’s struggles through senior guard Demarcus Nelson.

    Nelson struggled mightily in his last collegiate game, especially against WVU’s physical game plan.

    Check the article out here!

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/22/AR2008032202328_2.html?sid=ST2008032300064

  14.   Jeremy Says:

    Jayson Stark’s latest column is about the Red Sox, and how they have become one of baseball’s best teams.

    Basically the point of Stark’s article is to contrast the snake-bitten Sox of old to the modern Sox, who are expected to win. Stark feels that the Sox winning their second World Series title in four years has helped them finally cast aside the idea that they are cursed.

    Their success, coupled with the team’s international make-up, have helped bring about great international popularity, and rejuvenate baseball.

    Stark goes on to explain the things that make the Sox both successful and likable–unlike, say, the Yankees during the 90s.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview08/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id;=3308572

  15.   Robert Says:

    “It’s two-team race in NL Central,” By Chris De Luca

    De Luca writes about the high expectations placed on Chicago Cubs for this season.

    De Luca noted that the Cubs and Brewers are in a two-team race in the NL Central. However, Cubs GM Jim Hendry knows that the team did not fare well the last time they were labeled as favorites.

    Following their 2003 campaign which nearly ended in a World Series trip, the Cubs were predicted by Sports Illustrated to win the 2004 World Series. Instead, the team did not make the playoffs.

    Hendry said every team in the division has improved this season. Cubs Manager Lou Pinella mentioned that a good start will be crucial to compete with Milwaukee.

    ‘We’ve got to win some baseball games early because we’re at home a lot early,” Pinella said. “Milwaukee is a good baseball team. And I don’t want to see us behind the eight-ball like we were last year.”

    Here is the link:
    http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/857132,CST-SPT-deluca23.article

  16.   ambar Says:

    “Pearl Has Converted the Faithful in Tennessee”
    By Sally Jenkins

    In this article, Jenkins talks about the Tennessee men’s basketball team coach Bruce Pearl.

    It is safe to say that Jenkins has a way with words. When describing why she believes Pearl is a great coach and can make a believer out of anybody, she says, “If the locals’ first impression of Pearl was that he was one part salesman and one part carnival barker,it’s become obvious that he’s real. You could give the guy stick figures for players and he would find a way to energize them — and win.”

    Jenkins added historical context to this story to give more validity to her opinion, as she usually does.

    Here is the Link:
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/22/AR2008032202045.html?sub=AR

  17.   ssokler Says:

    Bob Ryan’s column “Style points are just part of judging” is about baseball managers and the question whether there really affect the outcome of games.

    He starts with Warren Spahn’s comment about Casey Stengel: “I knew Casey before he was a genius and after he was one,”, i.e. before he managed the Yankees and afterwards when he managed the Mets.

    Ryan discusses various managers and their styles and approaches to the game, statistics, and baserunning. He then focuses on current Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

    What seems to come through is that the one thing everyone agrees upon is that a good manager knows when to change pitchers.

    http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2008/03/23/style_points_are_just_part_of_judging/?page=1

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