A Master of His Trade

While browsing the internet, sports journalist Steve Jackson's web page was discovered. Steve is considered one of the best sports journalists in the United Kingdom, with his freelance journalism based in the South Midlands. He is knowledgeable in most sports, but particularly in soccer, golf, cricket, tennis and rugby union. Steve has worked for a number of the biggest magazines, radio, television, and internet companies. These companies include Sky Sports TV, Sportiva, Reuters and TheFA.com. Steve was contacted for an interview via email in order to learn more about his experiences as a journalist.

Steve Jackson knows that there is no easy way of getting into sports journalism. He said, "Although there isn't a perfect way of going about it, there are right and wrong ways of trying. My advice would be to start at the bottom, helping out at a radio station or local newspaper. You might only be answering the telephone or shadowing someone, but you'll get an idea about what you need to do." Steve also offered a very unique suggestion of getting involved with a hospital radio station. The beauty of this is that in most cases hardly anyone listens to the station, meaning you can make plenty of mistakes without ruining your reputation. After mastering these smaller, yet important tasks, aspiring sports journalists will eventually improve to a point of moving on to other sports journalism jobs.

Although Steve does not have any journalist qualifications, he is a master of his trade. He said, "Everything I know, I've learnt on the job." He feels that although taking journalistic courses would not harm, there is no reason why it should hold you back if you do not take any. "It's obviously useful to have a good grasp of English, but I only got two C's at GCSE level. So, once again, you don't have to be a bookworm!"

In Steve's experience, obtaining journalist coverage has been a case of putting himself in the right places at the right times. He has found it most useful to try to get to know other reporters. Steve stated, "It's a very old truism but 'it's not what you know, it's who you know'. By getting your face known you will get recommended by other journalists."

Steve describes the only skills needed to be a sports journalist as enthusiasm, a good background knowledge of sports, a desire to learn, plenty of flair, decent English (and possibly a second language), foresight, good organizational skills, and lastly, stubbornness and perseverance.

Steve is very simple in his love for sports journalism and the best qualities of his job. Of all the statements that could have been made regarding why he enjoys his career, Steve loves the freebees and clout associated with the lifestyle most. "You don't have to pay to watch soccer matches… in fact you get paid for going! Also, occasionally, getting your friends/family into matches free of cost can make you very popular. Just imagine meeting someone for the first time and saying... 'I met David Beckham and Sven Goran Eriksson the other day. There're such nice men'. I've done that." Steve's sarcastic sense of humor about his lifestyle was quite amusing.

Being a native to the UK, Steve has found that covering stories there differs in many respects to US coverage. Many times the emphasis in US stories is placed differently than what he is used to.

Steve's phenomenal success is both commendable and well deserved. Steve left one final piece of advice. "It's a rubbish cliché but it's true, 'Success only comes before Work in the Dictionary'."

By: Darrielle

Red Sox Out-Slug Yankees in Rubber Match

New York - The Boston Red Sox aren't looking over their shoulder for the Yankees. The Yankees can't even see the Red Sox from the cellar of the AL East.

The Red Sox expanded their AL East lead as the Yankees dropped the final game at Yankee Stadium, 7-4, on Sunday.

David Ortiz put Boston on the board with two outs in the first inning with a mammoth solo blast in to the upper deck off of Chien-Ming Wang.

Boston added to its lead in the top of the third with another run but the Yankees struck in the bottom half with a three run home run off the bat of former Red Sox first basemen, Doug Mientkiewicz off of starter Julian Tavarez (1-2). But the Sox never looked back.

With the Yankees ahead 3-2 in the fifth Short Stop Alex Cora belted a two run shot in to the right-centerfield seats to put the Sox up 5-3.

Like a prize fighter sensing a knock-out blow, Manny Ramirez came up in the eighth and padded the Sox lead by going yard off of reliever Sean Henn with a two-run shot.

Reliever Jonathan Papelbon came in for a perfect ninth and continued to dominate the competition by converting his eighth save in the month of April and remaining perfect on save opportunities for the season.

Boston (16-8) remains atop the AL East and New York fell to an AL East worst (9-14). The Red Sox have a four- game lead in the East and are 6 1/2 ahead of the Yankees.

Game Story Update!!!

By now, you should have either attended the game you'll be covering for your game story, or it should be in your not too distant future. Please consult the syllabus for information about the teams and their upcoming schedules - all of the folks listed there have been briefed about your visit, and are awaiting your email or call.

Also: you should have completed the first four miniprojects listed on the schedule (see earlier post). We can adopt a sort of rolling due date for them - even though they're only worth a couple of points a piece, those points can be important to your final grade. That, and I really love reading them. So post early and often!

Tomorrow (5/1), it's on to Grantland Rice, the Golden Age of Sportswriting, and Ring Lardner - please make sure you're caught up on the readings.

Turning the Tables on the Journalist
By: Amy Breckin

Some readers may believe that sports writers have it made. They get the chance to attend sporting events, meet talented athletes, write about something that interests them, and also get paid to do this. Any sports journalist knows that this misconception is anything like the actual job. Demanding editors, critical readers, and of course, uncooperative athletes encompass the realm of what a sports journalist entertains everyday. Don’t believe me? Just ask Courier Post sports writer, Don Benevento.

Don Benevento has been a Courier Post sports writer for ten years. He has covered a spectrum of sections in the newspaper including his humble beginnings of obituary writing. Just as Don always says, “You gotta start somewhere.” Now, Don covers local South Jersey high school varsity teams. He says that covering the high school sports beat is more significant and exciting than most readers imagine.

For most sports writers, you are not fulfilled until you are covering a major professional sports club, but Don does not feel that way. As a journalist, Don knows what is means to fight for a story, or to see your column and word count shrink because a professional team is doing something significant like winning, losing, or has entered the hunt for a playoff spot. “Sometimes people don’t understand that high school sports can be exciting, these are the athletes of tomorrow, and there is something rewarding about seeing these kids do incredible things at such a young age,” says Don, “I am always in a battle for space and column inches, and I know that I won’t get it because the editor knows that the Philadelphia sports teams sell the papers.”

High school sports can be interesting on the local level. “High school sports are great because the kids really get into it, the kids paint their faces and have crazy chants at games, the atmosphere is great,” says Don. Don also explained that just as the Philadelphia Eagles have fanatic fans, high school sports have groupies, and those that are invested in the team. Those high school athletes are truly the professional athletes of tomorrow; therefore, Don’s job is more important than most people think.

Don is responsible for informing the public about how well high school athletes are performing. “I try to expose some of the kids and how well they are doing. The colleges and universities locally, and nationally read the articles that I write about the kids, so I guess I am kind of important, if you really think about it,” says Don, “I have parents and coaches calling me all of the time with possible stories about athletes, the more their name gets out there, the better their chance of being contacted by a good college.”

As a sports writer covering the high school beat there is always that nagging problem of parents and coaches. “I have dealt with crazy parents, great parents, overbearing coaches, and even some really supportive coaches. I always ask the parents if it is okay with them for me to speak with their son or daughter, and I ask the coaches too, especially if I use practice time or school time to conduct the interview. Permission is always key in this type of sports writing because you are dealing with kids, not adults,” says Don.

So, what has been Don’s key to success over the years? “Stick to the local stories because that is where you will find the good ‘tug-on-the-heart-strings’ kind of stories that resonate with readers. Also, don’t always try to cover the professional major teams, because you might get more out of seeing and writing about a 15 year-old kid pitching a no-hitter than seeing and writing about Barry Bonds breaking the record,” says Don.

The Game of Golf

By: Ryan Barbieri

For the past couple of years, I have been learning to play what I consider to be the most frustrating game ever - golf. That isn't such a bad thing, because there's many dynamics and elements involved when learning the game.

For starters, there are three types of clubs: woods, irons, and a putter. A standard set includes 12 clubs. The standard woods, which are used for long shots, include the driver (also referred to as the 1), 3, and 5. Eight irons are used for shots less than 200 yards away from the green. A set of irons consists of the 3 through 9 iron, and the pitching wedge. A pitching wedge, while it is an iron, is much more versatile than the rest of them. The face of the club has a higher angle, causing the ball, when struck, to have a much higher flight. This is ideal for shots close to the green because the roll is no longer as big of a factor, so it's easier to get the ball to stop near the hole. Most people who have gone miniature golfing understand what a putter is used for. However, putting isn't as easy as one would think, and I'll explain that later.

Before I had my first golf lesson, I didn't think I'd have a hard time swinging the club at all. That all changed when my instructor began to explain the right way to have my feet planted on the ground, where my grip is around the club, and how to always keep my head square on the ball. I had the opportunity to get some information during a lesson I had recently.

"The problem most golfers have when they get started in golf is being able to keep your head square on the ball. If you continue to move your head while taking a swing, your ball will go in all sorts of directions," said Pete Coffee, golf instructor at Lower State Road Driving Range in North Wales, PA.

There are three aspects of the golf swing: the backswing, the downswing, and the impact/follow-through. A player is allowed to put his golf ball on a tee only on the first shot of a hole. It is easier to strike the ball off of a tee.

Before you swing the club, you should make sure you are at a comfortable distance from the ball with both of your feet in line with the target. A "comfortable distance" will mean something different for every person. Obviously, someone who is 5'1 is going to stand closer to the ball than someone who is 6'2, but a good rule is to let your arms relax and wherever the head of the club is, that's how far away from the ball you should stand. Once you are in correct stance and have the head of club parallel with the ball, you will lift your club slowly, pointing straight to the air, this called the backswing.

"Some beginner golfers have the issue of not having the club pointed directly to the air and because of that, the ball will continue to go left or right," said Coffee.

As you begin the downswing, make sure to have your hips, thighs, and legs all moving in the same smooth motion as the club makes its' way down to the ball.

"When you swing the club, you want to swing in a relaxed fashion. Swinging too fast or "chopping at the ball" will effect how accurate the shot is," explained Coffee, as he swung the club in slow motion.

Once the head of a club comes into contact with the ball, the golfer should snap their wrist similar to the way a baseball player swings a bat.

"You shouldn't snap at the ball too hard, or else you will continue to hit line drives," said Coffee, in reference to the impact/follow-through part of swinging.

"Just like everything else, golf takes practice. If you stay calm and relaxed, and do things step by step, you will gradually improve. It just takes time," said Coffee.

Putting is the final, most critical part of golf. As I said before, we've all played miniature golf, but it's much harder on the course. Sure, there aren't any windmills or farm animals in your way, but most of the time, you're much farther away from the hole and there aren't any boards behind the hole to stop your ball from flying by. It's important to have both of your feet close together, and the club head relaxed on the green. A smooth putt is key, but the direction you hit the ball is always different.

Ian Micir of Levittown, PA, plays golf on a fairly regular basis, and I was able to talk to him for a few minutes about putting.

"Unfortunately, putting is the most important part of the game," said Micir. "That's what makes golf so damn boring boring to watch on TV. But if you think about it, a putt that goes six inches counts just as much as a 300-yard tee shot. So if you can't putt, it doesn't really matter how good you are at the rest of the shots," he added.

In this modern world of cell phones, On Demand television, and high-speed internet, we're used to everything being done in the time it takes to snap our fingers. But with golf, there's no "easy button" (to quote Staples). It's one of the few things left that has to be done the old fashion way: with hard work, dedication, and consistent practice.

Miniproject Descriptions and Schedule

Instructions: Unless otherwise indicated, you will write a short (500 words or so) story for each of the miniprojects described below.

All miniproject stories should be posted here on the MSWG blog (www.mswg.blogspot.com). They must come complete with headlines - don't just write "Week 6 miniproject" - and bylines (by Ron Bishop, MSWG)

Week 1
Write a story that describes your most compelling sports memory. It doesn’t have to come from your participation in sports – it could be a memorable game you attended or watched on TV, or the love a relative has for a particular team, or even just a particularly memorable game of catch you had with a sibling, parent, or friend.

Tell me (and your reader) about what makes this moment so memorable. Consider what we typically believe is so memorable about participation in sports today.


Week 2
Watch a game, meet, or match on television (even though as a reporter you actually should be there), and do your best to cover it as though you were a reporter. Obtain as much information as possible beforehand about the teams or participants; this can usually be accomplished by visiting their websites.

As you watch, look for strong and compelling (and not so strong and compelling) individual performances. Carefully observe the flow and pace of the game. Does one team jump out to an early lead? Does the other make a strong comeback? What’s the weather like? Is the crowd a factor in the game? Are they quiet or loud?

Observe the players carefully for signs that they are either on or off of their games. Look for behavioral quirks (see Nomar Garciaparra’s pre-at bat ritual). Watch the players’ behavior – are there signs of weakness, fatigue, nervousness, elation? Check out their range of emotions.

When you’re done, stick around for the post-match interview; the quotes from these can be used in your game story.


Week 3
Here, try your hand at a story about how to do something sports-related: throw a football in a tight spiral, swing a golf club correctly, cradle a lacrosse ball, throw a curve ball. It can come from any sport, so you cricket fans out there – have at it!

Write as though you are introducing the action to your reader; assume they’ve never seen or tried the action before. Ask an athlete for help as a source; quote the athlete in your story.

Week 4
Contact, either via phone or email, a working sports journalist – print, broadcast, cable, online, community newspaper. Conduct a short interview with them in which you discuss the most significant challenge(s) they face in doing their job. Is it dealing with recalcitrant athletes? Trying to make their editors believe that sports is still an important part of the news hole? Write the story based on your interview.


Week 5
Conduct a short interview with someone who has been a longtime (at least a decade or more) fan of a professional or collegiate sports team or of an athlete. Find out what drew them to that team/person, and what keeps them so devoted.

Then conduct the same interview with a young (your age or slightly older or younger) of a team or athlete – ask them roughly the same questions.

What strikes you as the most significant similarities and differences in their approach to being a fan? In the level of their dedication to the team/athlete?


Week 6
Now that we’ve explored the mechanics of sports writing, it’s your turn to play professor. Obtain a sports-related story from a news organization; the story must deal with a significant issue; no game stories allowed. You can use a segment from Real Sports or Outside the Lines for this miniproject.

Using the tools we’ve been discussing, write a review of the article – what are the strengths and weaknesses? Any missing information? Any glaring stereotypes evident in the language or description? Any unfounded or unsupported assertions? Does the story flow well? Do the quotes sound canned or are they compelling?


Week 7
Did you and your friends ever prevent someone from playing a sport with you for no real reason? Maybe the person was a girl, or overweight, or of a different race than the rest of you, or too tall. Maybe you were targeted for exclusion that day for some reason.

Locate the person who either excluded you or who you excluded and conduct a short interview (phone or email) with them. The interview should revolve around this question (although you’re free to add others): How did that incident of exclusion change their view of/love of sports?

Week 8
What gets your vote for the most bizarre/involved pre-game or in-game athlete ritual? Ask several athletes (any level – we have lots of very kind folks on our teams here) before declaring a winner. Focus on why the winning athlete engages in that ritual.

Week 9
Conduct a short interview with a child who competes in one or more sports. Make sure you obtain the permission of the child’s parent before conducting the interview.

What do they get out of participating in sports? Why do they do it – are they truly into the sport, or are they taking part for other reasons? Then, interview one or both parents. Do the reasons/motivations match up, or are there significant discrepancies?

Week 10
Your final mission: write a short column on the three changes (and only three) changes you would make in how the worlds of sports and journalism intersect.

Remember: only three.

8 Ball, Corner Pocket

Pocket billiards…sport or game? A sport is a competition that requires physical ability where the result is objectively determined. So clearly pool is a sport. But there are numerous indoor games that require physical skill, such as the steadiness of hands that are not considered sports. Therefore, surely pool is a game.

The barbaric description of pocket billiards, commonly known as pool, is to hit designated balls into a hole using a stick. Michael Gordon, recreational and 5 year competitive player, was gracious enough to walk me through a game. After racking the balls I was shown how to strike the cue ball for the opening break shot. During the opening break which ever type of ball, solid colored or striped, drops into the pocket becomes your ball. If both types enter the pocket you are able to choose which one you would like to play for the remainder of the game. If neither enters the pocket your opponent determines the ball by which one they hit into the pocket during their play.

While learning, I began to ask Michael what he thought of the controversy between sports and games. He responded by saying, “I consider sports a game where you can legally make it difficult for your opponent to play. I physically, and not psychologically, affect my opponent's plays all the time. Like when I play a safety shot.” Perhaps the definition between sports and games hinges on the concept. It is not required of sports to exude extreme physical exertion. So long as they require complex physical skills, they can be considered sports. By this definition, pool is certainly a sport. Michael says he usually practices for hours at a time. Simply because it does not shatter him physically does not count against pocket billiards as a sport. So perhaps the sweat on his brow is nervous sweat and not physical exertion sweat, but is he not still playing hard? When confronted with those who doubt pool as a sport he commonly tells them that, “The mental stamina required to play under pressure can be greater than physical skill.”

During the course of play, players alternate turns, known as innings, with a player's inning ending when they either fail to legally pocket a ball, or foul. A ball is considered a pocketed ball if it drops into the pocket during a legal shot and remains there without rebounding back onto the table bed or floor. Other plays that can loose your inning are if you cause your opponents balls to drop into a pocket or if the cue ball jumps the table. When the cue ball jumps the table it is returned to the table by your opponent for their inning and must be placed on the circle designated for the opening break shot. It is a foul, mostly referred to as a scratch, if the cue ball is pocketed on a stroke. This also applies to the cue ball touching balls that were already pocketed, for example, a pocket full of balls.

One aspect of he game I found myself to be terribly horrible at was calling my shots. Players must call the shot they are about to make by indicating which ball they will strike into which pocket. If they fail to make that play or hit additional balls into the pocket during the play, their inning is over.

More fouls include fouls by making any contact with the cue ball or any object balls with the body, clothing, chalk, etc. If an object ball is illegally moved it must be returned as closely as possible to its original positioning. Push shots are when the cue ball is pushed by the cue tip (the tip of the billiard stick) for more than a momentary time. Balls that jump off of the bed of the table are considered jump balls and will therefore be fouled. In order to create a legal jump shot players are not allowed to dig underneath the ball in order to make the shot, otherwise considered obstructing the ball.

I ironically while discussing the difference between sports and games a spectator overhearing the conversation, offered to share his opinion. “I classify sports as a game played by more than one player or team where both occupy and compete on a playing surface at the same time. One player/team must be able to influence the other. In this case, games like basketball, football, tennis, etc are sports. But pool, darts, and curling don’t fit the criteria. In pool, both players occupy the same playing surface and can influence the other's game, but they don’t compete at the same time. Pool is a game.”

Ultimately billiard sports are recognized by the International Olympic Committee and therefore considered sports, but it is always rewarding to investigate and settle personal scores with my opinionated friends. After experiencing all of the skill required to successfully play pool, I now agree…pool is definitely a sport!

By: Darrielle Williams

Correction on Angelo Cataldi

Joel Brennan brought it to my attention after class Thursday that Angelo Cataldi was nominated twice for Pulitzer Prizes for his sportswriting - he has not won one.

Thanks to Joel for the clarification.

Tips for Little League Coaches

Teach a Little-Leaguer to Bat without Getting Hurt

By: Amy Breckin

Gloucester Township Little League coach Bill Staines Jr. has been coaching boys’ baseball for close to 20 years. He has produced three videos dedicated to teaching children how to play the game of baseball. His team, the Phillies, have won five championships over the course of his 20-season tenure as coach.

With all of this experience, Coach Staines says that there is one issue that plagues him every season. The most difficult task in coaching, he says, “Trying to teach the kids how to hit without having them hit me. Sometimes you need to protect yourself, if you know what I mean.”

The Phillies little league baseball team consists of boys around the ages of nine or ten. This age is difficult in baseball because the kids are now playing with real bats and balls, and the days of hitting off of a tee are over. Basically, coach Staines says that this fact can get a little scary. He says, “We try to make them understand the importance of safety, and we only let one kid have one bat at a time. You always have to have your eyes open because you never know what can happen when you are dealing with kids. I’ve gone to practice dressed in football pads, a helmet, and a cup. Sometimes you get some wild swingers.” Coach Staines has several tips for those future little league coaches out there.

How to teach a little-leaguer to bat (Tips from Coach Staines):

1. Keep your eye on the bat at all times, these kids love to swing.

2. Stay behind the batter at all times.

3. Don’t get distracted. Teach discipline, this is a game, but it can be
dangerous.

4. Hold the bat with the child, and help them learn how to swing through the
pitch.

5. Show them how to stand; posture is vital to a good swing in order to make
contact.

6. Have an experienced coach pitch to the kids, so that they can gain
confidence by hitting.

7. Teach the child the art of dropping the bat after a hit. (Most kids forget
to leave the bat)

8. Show the kids how to have their hands around the bat, but make sure that
they feel comfortable. Having them choke up on the bat is a good idea,
until they feel confident in their swing.

9. Show the child what to look for while batting. Teach them the strike zone.

10. Most importantly, have fun with the kids. Teach them a few dugout chants!

Coach Staines and his Phillies will be taking part in the annual Gloucester Township baseball parade this Saturday. It will be the usual route, around Lincoln Drive in Glen Oaks. So, how does the team look this year? Coach Staines says, “They look good. We’ve followed my list of ten tips and I’ve molded some strong hitters this year.” The Phillies will be hosting the Cherry Hill Strikers this weekend. And the Phillies new chant that they will be screaming from the dugout, “Rally, rally, the pitcher’s name is Sally.” Ah, an oldie, but a goodie.

The Real Winners

The Real Winners

By Matt Wolfe

If you are looking for an article that chronicles the next up and coming high school football star or the team to beat in high school baseball, that every parent in town knows their name and tail gates every game as in Varsity Blues, feel free to stop reading now.

This article outlines the legend of a no-name middle school recreational basketball team in Haddon Township. Their name, The Raptors (named for the NBA team). Their jerseys were screen printed t-shirts, purple in homage to the professional team they hoped to emulate.

There were no up and coming stars on this team. No child prodigies who dribbled and shot circles around all of the other kids. This story is not even about a team that finished the season above .500.

Their venue was the Haddon Township High School gymnasium. The hazy atmosphere that seems to accompany every gym hung in the air with various banners showing off the schools illustrious sports history.

With their head coach, at the time 17 year-old high school Senior Mike Parzanese at the helm and assistant head coach Travis Greene, they instilled the most important quality in all of sports.

At this point, you may wonder what could possibly warrant a story about a team such as this that pulls the community together. This team did not bring the town any accolades but it did foster good habits for the kids that played for this team. And their parents loved to watch it (for the most part, I’ll get to that).

It was not in having fancy jersey’s, or having notable players or amazing statistics or even wins. The most important thing for Mike and his team was fun. As previously mentioned, they finished well below .500, a dismal 2-10. To have talked to one of his kids, you would never have guessed it.

Mike said that, “as a kid, I had coaches that yelled at us during practices and games and took the game way too seriously. If I hadn’t loved basketball, I would have quit”.

And that is an all too common theme in sports today. There is a lot of emphasis on winning even at a young age. Take for instance the Little League World Series. These twelve year-olds lay their hearts on the line for the love of the game. Did I mention they are 12?

I am not taking away from their passion for the game but all too often there is too much pressure put on them by parents and coaches.

Mike brought this community a sports team that cared about fun, not winning. Through his efforts, these kids enjoyed their time playing recreational basketball even if by all accounts, the lack stats, records, prestige and a championship trophy would have left other teams down in the dumps.

“For me, it’s about fun, and learning. Yeah, you aren’t always going to be the on the best team or be the best player on the team” says Mike. “All you have to do is be willing to learn, try your best and most importantly have fun. These kids are not at the level where they need to worry about winning, it’s a shame that a lot of these kids grow up too fast because of their parents pressuring them”

The legacy of Mike’s story begins with his first coaches meeting. All of the coaches were asked to take a look at the roster of kids interested in playing and choose the kids they wanted to form their squad. Mike didn’t know any of the kids on the list and just took a blind leap of faith.

Just like that, he had himself a team. Keeping with his fun loving, educational approach, Mike taught his players fundamentals. “I never got mad at the kids or raised my voice. I just told them to try their best and listen to what I was trying to teach them.”

So as the season started, Mike’s group of players, who looked to be inspired by the motion picture Major League, took to the court and got their middle school butts handed to them. The miraculous thing though, “not one kid complained. They all wanted to play even though they were losing, horribly too I might add” he quipped.

Mike’s biggest coaching hurdle wasn’t the kids and their abilities. It came from the parents. One player in particular never came to practice, and in fitting with his team concept, Mike did not play him nearly as much as those kids who attended practice and tried to learn and be part of the team.

As a typical parental response, the parent asked ‘Why isn’t my kid playing?’ “I answered with a question, why doesn’t your kid come to practice?” he said. After a futile attempt to defend their child’s actions, the parent quickly returned to his seat. The player in question made every practice from there on out.

The concept here is simple. The team was about having fun and learning the fundamentals. Mike and Travis were passing on to a new generation the things that they found important in sports. They knew that even if they had drilled these kids and made them work hard, chances were that none of them would have excelled at that age.

“The point of this team was to get the kids out and interacting. If they weren’t here, they would probably be playing X-Box or watching tv.” Mike’s contribution was to help these kids get out and be active, and maybe learn a little bit of basketball on the side.

He and Travis brought the community a team that wasn’t setting records and making headlines but one that gave kids a lesson on the important factors of any sporting team. It’s not worth doing if it isn’t any fun.

There is no better way to wrap up an article, in this engineers opinion than to give an, ‘in conclusion’ statement. Too many coaches make their sons pitch in baseball or be the starting quarterback in football. Mike and Travis brought the concept of team spirit and sportsmanship. This assignment was to focus on a team that brought the community together. I could have written about the Moorestown Girls LAX team that was ranked no. 1 in the nation for years at a time with no losses or the Washington Township Ice Hockey team that, in my high school days were the Russians of our league. Instead, I wrote about a team that no one, even those on it probably remember.

Mike and Travis contributed more to these kids lives and to the community by fostering noble sportsman ideals and team spirit in their players. Through their fun loving and laid back approach, the team, “had fun. They told me and Travis that we were the best coaches they had ever had. It makes me feel good to hear that despite my horrible managerial skills.”

A Royal Surprise

By: Joel Brennan, Sports Journalism

“Play-offs?! Play-offs?!” This infamous quote was made by then Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Mora. When he made this statement, his team had no chance of making the post-season. However, members of the Upper Darby community could be heard making similar statements when they found out the varsity Boy’s Basketball team had made the play-offs last season. This accomplishment marked the first time in over 20 years that the Royals reached the post-season.

After a first round knockout, the coaching staff and team were looking for next season to begin right away. They knew that were going to be something to watch. Even the community responded to their success, flooding e-mail boxes and voicemails with congratulatory sentiments.

Senior G Elie Daniel, the team leader and captain, was instrumental in getting people to pay attention to them. Through use of the school’s closed circuited television program, Daniel and his teammates promoted the team. Head Coach Bob Miller met Daniel when he was in the 8th grade and knew right away that with him, they had a chance to make an impact in the Central League. Daniel, joined with a supporting cast of six other seniors, led the Royals to their first Central League Championship since 1979.

At the beginning of the season, the team participated in the Skip Coleman Tip-Off. Upper Darby Athletic Director Rich Smith said, “When they won their pre-season tip-off tournament, I knew that this was going to be a special season.” By the end of the season, the team would only lose twice, finishing with a 20-2 record.

Over the course of the season, attendance steadily increased, but there was one fan that was there from the beginning. According to Smith and Miller, UD Superintendent Joseph Galli, Sr. was the team’s biggest fan and supporter. “[Superintendent] Galli was one of the more vocal members of the crowd and defended the team wholeheartedly,” Smith said, recalling an incident where a parent referred to a player in a derogatory manner.

In addition to Galli, other district administrators and faculty comprised a large portion of the audience. With an increase of press coverage, college scouts made their way to the state’s largest high school. Even members of the 1979 team, revisited their alma mater to witness the team’s success. All the excitement required Smith to make some accommodations by adding extra seating to the gymnasium. When asked if he was surprised by the interest in the team, Smith replied, “No, not at all because basketball is a high profile sport in the district.”

Through the 1990s, the Royals won six consecutive Central League titles in wrestling and had several superstar track athletes, many who won medals at the State Championships. However, these accomplishments did not get the attention of the community that the basketball team has in the past two seasons.

With the amount of attention that the team was getting from within the district, there was no surprise that the media took notice of the team. The district’s public access channel started to show replays of the team’s games and there was an increase in coverage by local newspapers. When asked if there was a particular player that the community came to watch, neither Daniel nor Miller could give a name. They both felt like the style of play prevented a “star” to emerge and that the team concept was strong among the players.

There are times where attention like this can affect a team negatively. However, this team seemed to be more at ease with the audience and enjoyed playing the game. According to Daniel, “It was impressive to see all those people. We had a lot of fun playing for them.” The team didn’t feel obligated to perform for the crowd. They enjoyed playing for them and understood that the crowd was there to support them, not to be awed. The team seemed to be having fun, but Miller was feeling pressure. “It’s easy to be the underdog. With each game, you can feel pressure of success,” Miller said. He’s referring to the metaphorical bull’s eye that gets placed on teams when they succeed.

In his fifth year as head coach of the varsity squad, Miller has instilled the “team-first” concept into his players. He encourages the team to make that extra pass to find an open teammate. This is the first group of seniors Miller has coached since their freshmen year. With four years of coaching the team has gelled into a cohesive unit, which allowed for their success.

However, the success of the regular season did not result in success in the post-season. The Royals were the number one team in the District 1, Class AAAA tournament. With wins over Bensalem and Norristown, they qualified (top eight from the district qualify) for the State Play-off. Loses in the next two games, forced them to drop to seventh in the district.

Despite the abrupt end to their fantastic season, everyone feels things were a success and look to the future. In some cases, teams like this shine for a season and then return to their previous status. “The best is yet to come,” Miller said, “We’ll be good for sometime.” His feeling is that in two years, his squad will be better than the one this year. He’s referring to the freshmen team that won the Central League title and the junior varsity team that was among the best in the district.

With the success each of these teams had, the culture at UD is changing and people are now expecting to win. The underclassmen have already begun working out together in preparation for next year. Between Smith, Miller, and even the graduating Daniel, they all feel that the level of interest by the community will continue next season. Smith says, “As long as Galli is involved with the team, the community will know about their success.”

Longmeadow Football: A Decade of Dominance

Growing up in Texas, high school football reigned supreme. Playing against some of the best competition in the country and playing on a high level, even a national spotlight, sets the stage for some intense rivalries. I was involved in football in Texas only up to middle school but I could see the heavy emphasis on football there. I moved to Longmeadow Massachusetts the summer before my freshman year of high school. I went from moving on to a large 4A school (schools are ranked from 1A to 5A, depending on the student population) in Texas to a measly 1100 person high school. My expectations were presumably low going in.

After I found out about the program in Longmeadow I discovered the program was on the up swing. The Longmeadow Lancers had won back to back Western Mass Super Bowls and had an optimistic outlook for the next season. This was a pleasant surprise to me. My apprehension melted away.

I found out that in the early to mid- nineties Longmeadow had shown a mediocre track record and was far from the power-house I had come to know. The community really got behind the team and Lancer pride was in full swing when my family arrived.
Over the last 10 years, (1997-2007) Longmeadow has not missed one Western Mass/Central Mass. Super Bowl. Although the players have some part in this, most of the success can be attributed to an outstanding coaching staff. The head coach, Alex Rotsko was a Division II coach at the collegiate level prior to his current stint at the helm of the Lancers.

Rotsko brought with him a college type mentality and a playbook to go along with it. Since he began coaching at Longmeadow he has posted an impressive 7-3 record in Super Bowls and it has gone undefeated for the third time in four years. In his 14 seasons he has displayed a passion for the game and a dedication for hard work and discipline.

In one word I can sum up what playing football at Longmeadow means. Tradition. Coach Rotsko states before every season that “Tradition doesn’t graduate” and in many ways he is right. I interviewed some of my former teammates who shared the same sentiment. Jim Pacella, a 2003 graduate and co-captain of the 2002 Super Bowl Championship team, had this to say regarding the program, “When I was in seventh grade I remember going to the Super Bowl because I played for the town and they had not gone to a Super Bowl in a while and seeing the players I though they looked huge but it made me want to be a part of it.” Pacella went on to say, “We went to (the super bowl) all four years I was at Longmeadow and I am proud to be a part of something that special and I feel lucky to have a ring.”

In 10 years the Longmeadow Lancer football team has lost one home game. Prior to the loss, the team had gone 7 years without a loss at home and has not lost since. So much can be attributed to the coaches as well as the community for this feat.
Organizations like the Gridiron Club, (an organization to better the program run by parents and members of the community, also alumni) support the program and work towards the betterment of it. The parents of the program want their children play football at Longmeadow because of the reputation it has built.

Being a juggernaut type program is something members of the community can stand behind. Going back to the beginning of the article, the town of Longmeadow resembles to me a small Texas town. A town that is football crazy and come Friday night revolves around the bright lights of the stadium.
For Thanksgiving, the Lancers play their traditional Turkey Day game against the rival Spartans from East Longmeadow (a completely separate town) and in keeping with tradition typically win. My sophomore year of college I went home and went to the game and they lost. Thanksgiving felt different without a Lancer victory to go with my turkey dinner. I was not alone in my feelings either. Much of the community makes its way out to a great majority of the games and the Thanksgiving Day game especially.

Both of my younger brothers played for the Lancers and my youngest brother is currently attending Longmeadow High School and will be a senior next year. Playing football at LHS has a legacy feel to it. If your older brother plays for Longmeadow you see the games and want to be a part of it. I interviewed both and asked them what they thought about the legacy aspect.

My brother Drew Michael, a 2004 graduate and member of back to back Super Bowl Championship teams said, “Coach Rotsko prepares his teams in a way that makes you want to work hard to be the next team to win one. It’s like you don’t want to be that team that all of a sudden doesn’t make it and I think the expectations of the community are the same. It will be a shock when Longmeadow ends their streak and doesn’t go to the Super Bowl.”

Michael also went on to say that, “With a coach like (Rotsko), his expectation is to have a Super Bowl team every year and I think it really motivates guys when it is almost like we let him and the other coaches down if they don’t make it one year. I think the town is the same way. It means a lot to people when you say, “I played football at Longmeadow”. It goes without saying that you played for a good program.”

In the 2007 season, Longmeadow will try to extend its current unbeaten streak to 58- 0 and accomplish a state record 11 straight Super Bowl berths.

R.K. Michael

The Vikings vs The Lancers : Battling for More than a Century

By Jennifer Rivera

Thanksgiving traditions in Philadelphia are about more than just turkey. If you’ve ever spent time in the city you know Philadelphians are just as interested in football. What you may not know is that they are also interested in a horse, no, not Barbaro (may he rest in peace.) I’m talking about the mahogany horse that represents over a hundred years of rivalry among two of the city’s biggest schools, Northeast and Central High Schools.

“I go to their thanksgiving game every year, they have one of the oldest rivalries in the country” said Rebecca Goodman, very matter of factly. The Cheltenham High School graduate and Drexel University student is a part of the tradition. “They have such great, loyal alumni” she added.

She’s living proof Central Lancer’s pride is inherent. Her father, Lewis Goodman graduated in 1970, a member of the 229th class. Goodman, who is now partner at a successful law firm in nearby Lansdale has been taking his two daughters, Rebecca and Kaitlyn to games since they could walk.

“In the beginning, my wife and I would go out to breakfast and the girls, after, they would go home with their mother, and I would go to the game” explained Goodman. But as soon as they got a little older, the two Goodman daughters became a part of the tradition.

The Northeast, Central High School rivalry, is not one of the oldest; it’s the oldest rivalry among public school’s in the nation. Since its beginning in1886 this tradition has grown to include generations of students, alumni and family from each school.

The schools have come a long way since their early beginnings Northeast and Central were traditionally all-boys’ schools. When Northeast High School was first founded it was originally located on 8th and Lehigh Streets in North Philadelphia. It even went by a different name; Northeast Manual Training School. In 1958, the school moved to its current location, Cottman and Algon Ave. That year the school began admitting girls and got a new name to match, Northeast High School.

Central High School, is older than northeast, in fact it is the second oldest high school in the country. It was founded in 1836. Central is known around the country not just because of its historical significance but also because of its academic programs (Bill Cosby and Noam Chomsky are among its alumni). Regardless of the school district’s economic struggles, it continues to be one of the most renowned magnet schools in the area.


The rivalry between northeast and central began in 1886 and they have been playing football on thanksgiving morning ever since. The Central Lancers travel to nearby Northeast each year to take on the Vikings at their home turf.

Each Thanksgiving, the schools battle it out for the mahogany horse. But the Trophy wasn’t always a part of the deal. It came into play in 1946 when a student committee decided the object would be awarded to the year’s winning team.

So how has this rivalry survived for so long? “Along with your school song you are taught that’s your rival” explained Lewis Goodman. “[the rivalry] Its introduced to you in middle school, when you are applying to high schools, you know that northeast and central hate each other…sports wise” said Jason Becker, a graduate of Northeast, and a member of the homecoming court in 2003.

“It’s not just about the rivalry that day, at least for northeast. Its homecoming too, there’s a huge parade before the game, everyone gets really excited”, added Becker. Each year the homecoming dance is held the Wednesday before thanksgiving. The King and Queen march through the streets, celebrating their win and hoping for a victory.

The pre-game tradition for Central High School students is a little different. “Since I was a freshman—on thanksgiving that’s where I am, that’s where everyone is, we would go to the Country Club dinner and then would walk over to the field. It was just what you did on thanksgiving” said Goodman.

As the years have passed, these schools have changed as much as the city has. Although both are still considered to be some of the best public high schools in the city, they are both struggling for funds and handling issues most inner-city kids are all too familiar with. “A lot of the football players were afraid to be in that neighborhood, well, all of us were at some point.” said Dave Koch a Graduate of Central High School referring to the section of North Philadelphia (also known as Olney) where Central High School is located.

Some would call Koch’s story some what colorful. He was once a cheerleader for the Lancers “A guy bet me I wouldn’t try out and when I did, I got in, so I did it. I was the guy that tossed girls up in the air.” he said bashfully, yet proudly.

The cheerleader admits, “We weren’t a really good a team, I think we won once the entire time I was there, but I think the games were more important to Northeast. We were more about academics.” Koch laughed as he realized, he was still defending his Alma mater’s defeat more than five years after graduating.


“The alumni treat the football players like royalty.” said Koch. Perhaps this is with good reason, after all Football have been a means to not only keep the existing community together, but also to motivate alumni to collaborate to their Alma maters, helping the new generation of Lancers and Vikings.

For those who wonder how this tradition has lasted more than one hundred years, two proud alumni will be happy to explain; Goodman says, “Its kind of like a home for me every year you either see people at the game who you haven seen for a years, or maybe just a year and you have breakfast –we’re all Philly kids from some neighborhood its a real homecoming a chance to reconnect.”

“Growing up in my mind things that go together are thanksgiving turkey and football and this is football that you are a part of, its meaningful, its not Greenbay playing Dallas” said Becker.

Where Do The Girls Play?

By: Ryan Barbieri

How would you feel if the only way to play your favorite sport would be to transfer to another school?

Jenkintown High School in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania is one of the smaller co-education schools in the Montgomery County area. Known for its academics, JHS has also had success in sports. With teams in football, baseball, field hockey, cross country, tennis, basketball, and lacrosse, it seems like just any other high school. But why isn’t there a softball team?

Willie Kohlhepp, President of J.Y.A. (Jenkintown Youth Activities), explained that it has to do with overall interest and the motivation by the schools.

“Every year, the school board has talked and tried to gives girls the opportunity to have a softball team for their school. But, it has just never come to fruition.”

For a while, J.Y.A offered a township travel softball team for girls up until their freshmen year of high school. But even that has changed. Kohlhepp explained that in order to continue playing, girls must transfer to a school that has softball.

“If you really enjoy a sport such as softball, you’re going to have to go to a high school that has a team for it. Whether it’s a private, catholic, or a school well known for its’ sports, there are other options.”

Girls’ lacrosse and field hockey have been very successful at JHS, and it might be because those are the sports that most girls are interested in. Kohlhepp agreed with that assumption, but also believed that making a girls’ softball team might take away the success that both the lacrosse and hockey teams have had.

“The problem is that because lacrosse and field hockey have had such successful teams, the school feels that a softball team might conflict with that success and take away girls that help with that success,” said Kohlhepp.

Another problem for all the sports in the area is the difficulty finding fields to play on. Kohlhepp pointed out that it has a lot to do with how small the town of Jenkintown and its’ surrounding townships are.

“It’s very difficult. For the size of a town it is, Jenkintown doesn’t give us a lot of options. Sometimes, we may even look outside of the township, even though they already have teams,” he said.

The point of college recruiting came up in the discussion. Kohlhepp explained how playing for township softball teams may effect their chances of getting recruited by colleges.

“It all has to do with how you’re driven. If a girl knows that she has a shot to play softball in college, she’ll make the sacrifice to switch schools,” said Kohlhepp.

Even if they have the drive to play, he explained that girls are sometimes left behind the boys when it comes to sports scholarships. He told a story about a sneaker store that he used to run during the 1990s, and how at the time, sports companies such as NIKE, Adidas, and Reebok didn’t even look at girls as athletes.

“NIKE didn’t even make girls’ basketball shoes until Sheryl Swoopes gained popularity playing in the WNBA. Girls playing before that would come into the store to buy smaller sizes of men’s or even children’s size shoes,” he said.

“I had a meeting one time with representatives from NIKE, and asked why there weren’t any women’s sports shoes being made. They told me it wasn’t necessary to make ‘play shoes’,”.

Kohlhepp agreed with the assumption of sexism playing a big role in this. Back then, and even today, sports aren’t promoted to girls like they are for boys.

He added how the number of players all together in baseball and softball has diminished.

“For the most part, J.Y.A. is geared towards kids ranging from kindergarten through 8th grade. However, the boys have the opportunity to play baseball through high school,” he said.

With the gradual increase of interest in women’s sports such as the WNBA, Olympic ice hockey, and soccer, there should be more possibilities to promote sports like softball. Let’s hope that girls see that.

The Impact of Sports on the Community Story

Amy Breckin
Professor Bishop
Com. 305-001
April 18, 2007

Maybe it’s the Luck of the Irish

Senior Anthony Trongone, 18, of Camden Catholic High School reached the epitome of what every wrestler dreams about, he pinned his way to the 2007 New Jersey State Championship Wrestling title. Anthony, who wrestles in the 171-pound weight class and is the Fighting Irish team captain, has that something special that we do not often see and has an amazing story to tell about his life, wrestling, and overcoming obstacles.

Anthony Trongone has wrestled his entire high school career and in those four years, all he wanted was the coveted title of New Jersey State Champion. Anthony explains, “No matter what you do in life, you are always working towards something. You want to accomplish something. I had my mind set on winning the title. Nothing would stop me. As my dad always says, ‘Anthony, there is no fear.’”

Anthony has excelled at almost everything that he has set his mind to accomplishing. He is a straight A student, spends his summers working at a camp for children, and has had an outstanding high school wrestling career. Anthony has celebrated more than 100 personal victories in career matches, and has celebrated with his team nine District Championships and nine New Jersey Parochial State Championships. The Fighting Irish were the 2007 New Jersey State Champions with 28 wins and two loses on the season.

Although the Fighting Irish have celebrated team success, Anthony believed that he was fighting a personal battle. Last season, Anthony lost the state title by coming in second at his last match of the season in 2006. He thought about quitting wrestling because he was so devastated over the loss. Anthony explains, “I was discouraged after that match. It was mine to win. I lost, and the person I had to blame was myself. Winning is everything, if people say it isn’t then they’re lying. You play to win, and I lost. I had to wrestle my best match and I gave up. I wanted to quit after that.” Anthony did not quit though, he received some strong advice from his coach, Pete DiPol. Coach DiPol says, “I gave Anthony some advice. I told him that I was proud of him and that he was a junior and still had one more year to win. Don’t give up when you still have time to fix the mistakes and try again.”

The new 2006-2007 season began with Anthony Trongone as team captain and as a man on mission to collect his title. Anthony said, “I waited 357 days to get that taste out of my mouth.” The 2006-2007 Fighting Irish wrestling team has much to be proud of based on their performance this year. The team attributes that to the great support that they received from the school and the surrounding community. Assistant coach Nick Papa explains the “Irish Fever” that swept through the school, “It was amazing. We had pep rallies, a bon fire, and even had students post music videos about the team on YouTube. The parents attended every match. We even had an awesome basket full of goodies sent to us from one of our rivals, Paul VI High School in Haddonfield. It was great, the whole community really got involved.”

Anthony Trongone found his inner strength during a trying time and achieved his goal. In recent days, Anthony learned that he may need to dig deep within himself to search for this inner strength once again. Last month, Anthony accepted a wrestling scholarship offer from Virginia Tech. Over the past few days, everyone has witnessed the devastation that took place in Blacksburg, Virginia on the Virginia Tech campus. 33 people died in Monday’s massacre, Anthony Trongone is supposed to leave this July for an early summer session at Virginia Tech. Once again, Anthony is having doubts. He explains, “Of course, I’m scared. I am really rethinking this decision.”

Anthony was really looking forward to the college experience, but a twist of fate has once again tested Anthony’s faith and has left him questioning whether he wants to start his collegiate journey at Virginia Tech. Anthony shared his feelings about the massacre, “I was excited for this new experience and to take my class in the summer. I really wanted to meet my new team and begin working out with them. I was proud to be a Hokie. This whole situation makes you rethink your priorities and makes Virginia Tech look really bad, but I would think that after this experience, Virginia Tech will be the safest campus in the country.”

The decision whether or not to fulfill his obligation to Virginia Tech remains in Anthony’s hands, but his parents have weighed in on the decision. Anthony’s father, Tony, spoke with Hokies head wrestling coach, Kevin Dresser, and feels as though his son should fulfill his obligation. Tony said, “This was an isolated incident, one student with a sick agenda. You could go outside tomorrow and get hit by a bus and be dead, or get shot. That is life. You cannot run from things like this. He should go and he will be safe. Of course I will worry about him, but I always worry about him. Knowing Anthony, he will think about this and make the right decision. He’s just a little scared right now.”

Anthony’s high school coach, Pete DiPol also gave him some advice about Virginia Tech, “I told him to go. If you look at the school without this incident, it’s an excellent school. He will excel, they have a great wrestling program. This incident will eventually blow over and security will be tighter than a drum at that school. He has nothing to worry about.” Coach DiPol also said that Anthony should not worry about this situation now, but instead bask in the glory of his New Jersey State Championship Wrestling title, and concentrate on the senior prom and graduation.

Sometimes everyone wishes that life was as simple as the good old days of proms and graduation. Anthony Trongone’s favorite catchphrase is, “no fear.” That is what he is channeling right now. Anthony is going to put his full concentration on graduating and he will be a Virginia Tech Hokie next fall. Anthony decided to fulfill his obligation. He explained his decision, “The way I see it, I faced a bad situation last year, I was down and out. Virginia Tech is facing this same feeling. I didn’t give up and neither will they. They need to rise up against this. I would be a coward and a fool to give up this opportunity. Go Hokies!”

Anthony Trongone is the 2007 New Jersey State Wrestling Champion and a part of the Virginia Tech class of 2011.

The Impact of Sportsmanship

Many community members don’t realize how much impact local sports have on their community. How Longwood High School’s basketball team affected their school and community is not by ways in which most would think, yet they have played an integral role in bringing the community together as a whole. It is imperative to access what really makes a team have an impact on their community or school. Is it the fact that they are champions, have only the best coaches, or birthed an NBA player? Or is it the fact that a team has impacted their community because they are good for the overall betterment their community?

High school athletic administrators have made large adjustments in their coaching style and the expectations of their players in order to improve sportsmanship among student-athletes. Implementing everything from incentives and awards to ratings systems and suspensions, they have encouraged sportsmanship on and off the court. The biggest influence on the team is the coach, and Dennis Terry, Head Boys’ Coach at Longwood High School, and winner of the 2001 Sportsmanship Award presented by the NBA, WNBA, and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), has aided in the impact Longwood High School’s basketball team has made on the students, teachers, and community members of Middle Island, NY.

The community and schools of Middle Island, NY have come together as a result of a campaign fueled by the Longwood High School basketball team. By a most untraditional factor, they have created a sense of family that has united the district. In an effort to exhibit more sportsmanlike qualities they have inadvertently inspired the entire community and school to follow suit. Their acts have motivated so many others. Though their effort to increase sportsmanship was small in their eyes, they had no idea how huge of an effect it would have on the school and community as a whole.

As a result of the team’s efforts many of the students believe that peer to peer friendships have increased within the school. The grades of the players have also greatly increased, resulting in many of the players winning the Sports Award. The team averages a 3.75 GPA. Coach Terry has learned that “those who work hard in class, also seem to do so on the court.” 100% of Longwood High’s basketball players went to college last year. The campaign has also brought many faithful fans to the games. They want to support the team not only because of their stats but because they genuinely feel that the students are good people in need of support. Of course, the fact that they have been performing so well over the years also helps. Little did Coach Dennis Terry know that a simple effort to improve his team’s character would rouse so much unity among other groups also.

Coach Dennis Terry has perfected his coaching method by actively discussing the subject with his athletes, emphasizing complimenting each other, and promoting friendship off the court by slapping hands as they pass in the hall during school hours for example. “If they can learn to positively communicate with each other, they will also do it with teams they play against, since they already do it in practice.”

Most basketball coaches would agree that sportsmanship is an integral part of the game and that promoting sportsmanship begins with assessing how they conduct themselves. For example, maintaining composure at practice, in the locker-room, or on the sideline. Coach Terry believes that this includes watching his language. “I don’t curse, no matter how heated the situation gets,” Terry says. “You should be able to express yourself without cursing and if you have to stoop that low, there’s something wrong with you.” It is also the same view when it comes to the music they listen to, he continued. “I don’t allow them to play music with inappropriate language in the locker room or on the bus. I also go through our pre-game warm-up music to see if it’s clean before we’ll use it. I may be old-fashioned, but that’s the way I do things, and it works for me.”

Promoting good sportsmanship is not always easy in today’s sports entertainment world, given the numerous sports highlights featuring athletes fighting, trash-talking, and engaging in other unsportsmanlike acts. The influence this behavior has on younger basketball players is inarguably reflective of their style also. Despite one’s best efforts to build sportsmanship, these outside influences can negatively influence high school players, so another tool relied upon is a book full of inspirational stories and quotes, such as John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. “We want to make them think beyond shooting the ball, so we work through that book just as much as we go over the fundamentals in practice,” he says. “I would hate to think that a season’s success depends on the win-loss record, because you’re ultimately going to end with a loss unless you’re state champion.” It is important to improve the quality of these students as a whole. “Teams want to win because it’s more fun, but sportsmanship is a matter of behavior on and off the court and being a person people admire, appreciate, and want to be around.”

Coach Terry treats all of his athletes as role models. Though the team plays well, Coach Terry feels that how the players carry themselves has had a longer lasting impact on the school than their actual playing stats. Their behavior has improved the conduct of not only players and coaches, but also spectators.

Unfortunately, promoting sportsmanship can become challenging when athletes misinterpret sportsmanship as playing soft. Coaches of Longwood High find it imperative to emphasize that playing to win and acting sportsmanlike are not equally exclusive. “We all know that to be successful your players must play as hard as possible. You want confidence, without conceit. You want them to play hard and passionately, while knowing that there’s a line they shouldn’t cross with their behavior.” To draw that line, Coach Terry finds it useful to set definite rules. “I tell my players that if there’s an argument to be made during a game regarding a ref’s decision, I will be the only one making it.”

In order to institute positive behavior among his players, he will sometimes discipline them by using his most powerful weapon in his arsenal… playing time. He describes the bench as being an interesting tool that acts as the most undesirable punishment. Though no coach wants to jeopardize the outcome of a game, the overall betterment of the team is the most aspect of their future.

Sportsmanship has created a spiraling success story for the team. Prior to Coach Terry becoming the head coach and changing the structure of the team, the team struggled to pass budget for many years. In Long Island, NY basketball and football are the two major sports played. The success or struggle of the teams in the area largely impacts the budget. Many of the smaller areas have a much lower budget than areas with highly supported teams. Now, Longwood High’s budget has remained the same for the past 12 years since the team has been performing so well. They currently have a 12 and 9 record for wins this season and made it to the playoffs this year although they lost in the second round. Their last division 1 player was 4 years ago, but the success of the team has helped bring more college scouts to the high school.

Winning sportsmanship awards means a lot to some of the players because it is an award of character. It can be harder to develop character than a crossover dribble. “Very few of these kids are going to the NBA, and if basketball can teach them how to behave in intense situations, that’s going to be a positive tool for the rest of their lives.” Teachers, fans, and players realize and respect this fact. No one thought that a team effort would soon become a community effort; the results were far beyond their expectations. If not solely a team’s athletic success could draw supporters and create unity, but the team’s emotional success, more teams would be on and off court champions today.

By:Darrielle Williams

Another Home Playoff Loss for the Isles

By: Ryan Barbieri

After a 3-2 win at Buffalo in Saturday’s game against the Sabres, which tied the first round series 1-1, the New York Islanders knew that they would have to come out strong for their home crowd. Since 2002, the Islanders had lost four straight postseason home games and they were determined to end that streak.

Bill Clement, color analyst for Versus, explained that those working for Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum didn’t even expect the team to make the playoffs, and took the ice out of the arena after the final home game.

“We need the help from our home crowd”, said Jason Blake, defensemen for the Islanders.

The motivation of the home crowd was evident, as the Islanders outplayed Buffalo the entire first period. No goals were scored, but the team seemed poised to win the game.

Actress Christie Brinkley, a long-time Islanders’ fan, was at the game, and had a really good feeling about the team’s chances in this game.

“This Islanders team has a lot of heart, they give it their all every game,” said Brinkley.

Brinkley noted that she has started a blog on the internet dedicated to her favorite team. Her blog can be found here: http://fans.nhl.com/5A-notes/53249/56910/

Buffalo center Tim Connolly, thought the Sabres had to play a different game than on Saturday.

“I thought we came out slow in the first period of Game 2, tonight has to be a lot different,” said Connolly before the game.

The second period saw a much different game take place. From the drop of the puck, the Islanders again seemed pumped up to play in front of their home crowd. However, that changed when Buffalo center Adam Mair, scored the game’s first goal, his second career playoff goal. A hard check on New York’s Trent Hunter sent the puck free towards Islanders’ goalie Rick DiPietro, which Mair eventually fired at the goalie. Three minutes later, Buffalo left-winger Thomas Vanek made the game 2-0, on what seemed to be a questionable call. The goal was awarded after video review by the officials. Both of these goals quieted the New York crowd.

A minute later, Islanders’ right-winger Trent Hunter scored the team’s first goal, making the score 2-1. This seemed to give the fans hope after their disgust over the questionable call on the goal by Vanek. But, after giving the Sabres’ a two man advantage, the Islanders went down another goal, thanks to a hard slap shot from Buffalo captain, Daniel Briere.

The rest of the second period saw the Sabres’ outplay the Islanders’; similar to the way they were outplayed in the first period. After the Islanders’ went scoreless on a power play with 2:00 left in the period, boos began to surface from the crowd. But with eight seconds left, the fans erupted in cheers as Islanders’ left-winger, Ryan Smyth scored to make the game 3-2.

Those cheers were put to shame, as Sabres’ goalie Ryan Miller kept the Islanders team scoreless. Miller finished with 20 saves. Buffalo out shot the Islanders 35-22. The Buffalo defense played a perfect third period, and the team showed why they were the #1 seed coming into the playoffs.

The New York Islanders have another shot to end their home postseason draught Wednesday in Game 4. Only time will tell if they are able to do that.

Devils struck by Lightining

Ali Qari

Over the past decade, there has been one thing that has held true for the New Jersey Devils: Martin Brodeur is the backbone of the hockey club. So when the all-star goalie doesn't perform, the Devils have to pray their offensive weapons come to play.

There wasn't enough firepower from New Jersey tonight however, as the Devils lost 3-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning and gave their southern rivals the edge in first round of the Eastern Conference Stanley Cup playoffs.

Brodeur has given up three goals in each of the first three games of the series, a dismal statistic when compared to his 1.89 career playoff goals-against-average. In comparison, Johan Holmqvist, a goalie playing in his first-ever NHL playoff series, has been a clutch performer for the Lightning since his initial 5-goal loss in the first game of the series.

The Devils have been unable to stop offensive powerhouses Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. Lecavalier picked up an assist and his fourth goal of the playoffs, and St. Louis managed three assists.

Though Zach Parise managed to tie the game at two with 16:14 remaining, the Devils were playing catch up hockey all game long, and Vaclav Prospal came back with first goal of the playoffs to edge the Lightning over the Devils.

The game felt over when Richard Matvichuk, playing in his first playoff game, and only second game of the season, took a boarding call with 3:52 left in the game.

In the giveaways category, the Devils ran away with the prize, committing 11 giveaway compared to the Lightning's 4. The usually conservation and calculated Devils were anxious with the puck all game long.

The loss can't be solely laid on the play of Martin Brodeur and his defensive corps however.

The Devils failed to score on the man-advantage, going 0-for-3 and also failing to score on a one minute long two-man advantage.

Without key scoring from the Elias, Gionta and Gomez line, the Devils can't match the Lightning's explosive offensive production. In the past two games, the New Jersey trio has combined for 2 assists and a minus-seven rating.

Without production from the E-G-G line and better play from Martin Brodeur, the Devils will soon be seeing their Cup dreams vanish.

Rollins Cant Keep the Phils Rollin'

Jennifer Rivera
Mini project #2

Fresh off of just their second win of the season the Philadelphia Phillies were back in Shea Stadium to face the rival Mets for the final game of the series.

Unfortunately, the Phils can’t add a third win to their record just yet. The Mets beat the Phillies with a score of 5-3, which considering their season so far isn’t as bad as their recent run-ins with the Braves.

One look at the stands revealed a day off for Mets fans. With cloudy weather and temperature around 40 degrees, there were plenty of empty seats this evening. Everyone was bundled up, including the players.

With a combined age of eighty-five, two ageless wonders squared off on the mound. The Mets Tom Glavine, 41, faced the Phillies Jamie Moyer, 44. Moyer didn’t have such a great day, allowing four earned runs

It looked hopeful for the Phillies in the early goings of the game. Well it looked like Jimmy Rollins was bagging the whole thing himself. He hommered twice within the first two innings (a solo shot and a two-run homer), but that wasn’t enough as the Met’s rallied more than once.

But Mets fans took notice of Rollins’ play. They booed him, incessantly. Rollins told ESPN exactly how he felt about it “"I love it. It's just a lot of fun. They give you energy whether they realize it or not. I thrive on the booing.”

The game seemed to turn on two occasions that were sparked by the same player. Who was none other than the Mets starting pitcher Tom Glavine. Much of the Met’s scoring happened after two successful sacrifice bunts.

Philly is waiting for the Phils to awaken. They were swept by the Braves, defeated the Marlins and Mets only once and have a current record of 2-7. So why are the Phillies struggling?

Despite the Phillies being walked a major league high of 54 times, after tonight, they are still struggling to score runs. Even with an impressive lineup including Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and reigning NL MVP Ryan Howard, they fail to hit the ball with runners in scoring position.

It’s early to make any clear assertions, but what is clear is who’s in the game and who’s not. Jimmy Rollins is pulling his weight (which isn’t much to begin with), but how about last seasons superstar, Ryan Howard? Phillies starting pitching as a whole has been in the zone, only to have quality starts blown by the backend of the bullpen.

Well, for one, he’s not hitting so well. Howard is batting 0.212 with only one home run through nine games, compared to his 0.313 and fifty-eight home runs last season. Can Howard find his swing and end the Phils’ woes on offense? We’ll just have to stay tuned for an answer.

Up next for the Phillies is the visiting Houston Astros for a three game home stand. Game one features the Phils’ ace Brett Myers against the Stros’ Roy Oswalt. A win in this series would give the Phillies just their first win at home this season.

Tired Bullpen Perseveres in Yankee Win

When the Oakland Athletics jumped out to a 3-0 lead against the Yankees in Saturday's game, New York manager Joe Torre looked on from the dugout with a pained expression on his face, likely fearing it would be another long game.

He had no idea.

After a 13-inning game in which a combined total of 13 pitchers were used, the Yankees prevailed over Oakland 4-3. Jason Giambi's 13th-inning home run--his second of the season--proved to be the game-winner, and reliever Brian Bruney pitched two scoreless innings to earn his first win.

Bruney was clearly exhausted when he took the mound, after having labored over 36 pitches the night before in a 12-inning losing effort. Although his velocity was lower than what it normally is, he gutted it out, running on sheer adrenaline to help his team pick up a morale-boosting win. He even exacted a bit of revenge in the process with his game-ending strikeout of Travis Buck, who had scored the winning run off Bruney in extra innings the previous night.

Yankees pitching came up strong all night. After Oakland scored 3 unearned runs in the first inning, starter Darrell Rasner settled down to pitch effectively into the 6th inning. After he departed, six Yankee relievers combined to keep the game scoreless before handing the ball over to Bruney in the 12th.

Not all of these scoreless innings were without their tense moments, however. Lefty reliever Sean Henn got into a slight jam when he gave up a hit to Buck immediately after a throwing error by Derek Jeter, but the ever-dependable righthander Scott Proctor stepped in at that time and carried the game into the eighth inning.

After lefty specialist Mike Myers recorded the final out of the eighth, the Yankees turned the game over to Luis Vizcaino, Kyle Farnsworth and Mariano Rivera. Farnsworth's outing was surprisingly successful after a slew of early-season struggles; he'd surrendered game-tying hits in each of his two previous appearances. The key to Farnsworth's effectiveness seems to be getting ahead in the count early, which, for the most part, he was able to do on Saturday.

Oakland starter Joe Blanton got the A's off to a good start, allowing no Yankee runs for the first six innings. But eventually the Yankees broke through, and it all started with Alex Rodriguez, who has been a driving force behind much of the Yankees' offense all season.

Rodriguez clubbed a solo home run off Blanton to open the 5th. The blast was his seventh of the season, a Major League-leading mark. Robinson Cano scored later in the frame on a Melky Cabrera RBI, as the Yankees cut their early deficit to one run.

They tied the game in the 7th inning on Jorge Posada's 2-out RBI. Posada, who had just come off the bench to pinch-hit for Wil Nieves, smoked a double that scored Cano and chased Blanton from the game.

Losing pitcher Lenny DiNardo allowed 3 hits in 3 innings, including the fateful home run to Giambi, which inevitably sent the sellout crowd at McAfee Coliseum home disappointed. Giambi, a former member of the A's who is lustily booed whenever he returns to Oakland, was pleased to have a chance to contribute with the bat, as he had been mired in an early-season slump.

The third and final game of the series, and the last one of a six-game road trip for the Yankees, will take place at 4:05 p.m. EST on Sunday. Left-handed Andy Pettitte will oppose Oakland righthander Rich Harden.

'The King' Upstages Dice-K's Debut

By: Joel Brennan, Sports Journalism

In what was suppose to be Diasuke Matsuzaka's coming out party in Boston, but Seattle's 'King' Felix Hernandez provided the rain to ruin the festivities. Hernandez pitched a complete game, one-hitter and struck out six in the Mariner's 3-0 win, Wednesday night.

Hernandez, who just turned 21, retired the first eight batters he faced and set the tone of the game from the on-set. "He had everything going on tonight. He was just impossible," Boston's David Ortiz said. Through seven innings Hernandez was flirting with history, when J.D. Drew broke up the no-hitter on the first pitch in the eighth.

Matsuzaka, a.k.a. Dice-K, made his highly anticipated debut in from of a sellout Fenway Park. Dice-K's first pitch was against fellow countryman, Ichiro Suzuki. "He's a hitter that I've wanted to face since my days in Japan," Matsuzaka said, "so, compared to the other batters; I may have been a little more conscious of his at-bats." Despite Matsuzaka's rocky performance (7 IP, 3R, 8H, 4K, 2BB), he did get the best of Suzuki, who went o-5 and struck out once. "That was a moment that probably only Daisuke and I could have created," Suzuki said through an interpreter. "To be in that moment, I'm happy."

In the second inning, the Mariners silenced the crowd with their first score. Jose Guillen scored from third on a sacrifice fly. The Mariners would string together a few hits in the fifth. Adrian Beltre and Jose Vidro would each tally an RBI as the Mariners extended their lead to 3.

In addition to Ichiro, Matsuzaka (1-1) also faced Kenji Johjima, Seattle's catcher. Although not as hyped, these two have a history in which Johjima batted .271 against Dice-K. In the game, Johjima went 2-3 including two doubles and a walk.

In two games, Hernandez (2-0) has pitched 17 innings and hasn't allowed a run, striking out 18. Through 58 batters faced, only seven have been able to get the ball to the outfield and only four of them have reached base successfully.

On the other side, Boston catcher and team captain, Jason Varitek, was celebrating his 35th birthday. Though most fans were there to see the debut of Dice-K, some fans managed to make themselves known with signs of birthday wishes for the beloved Red Sox leader. However, Varitek struggled, like the rest of the team, going 0-3 including a strikeout.

Drew's hit in the eighth, not only broke Hernandez's streak of hitless innings, but also extended his own eight game hitting streak.

The last time Boston was on the wrong side of a no-hitter was April 22, 1993 against the Seattle Mariners' Chris Bosio.

Friday the 13th Nightmare

Amy Breckin
Professor Bishop
Com. 305-001
April 13, 2007

Friday the 13th Nightmare

44,336 fans were in attendance at Citizens Bank Park to watch the Fightin’ Phils lose to the Houston Astros 9-6.

As fans braved the chilly conditions, most doning ski caps instead of baseball caps, the Phillies blew an early 3-0 lead and watched Astros leftfielder Carlos Lee hit a career record three homeruns, including a third-inning grand slam. The three-run homer by Morgan Ensberg in the fourth inning certainly did not make it any easier for the Phillies to rally a comeback.

Once again, pitching was an issue for the Phillies. Brett Myers, who is supposed to be the Phillies’ ace pitcher, gave up seven runs and five walks in 3 ½ innings, and also pitched two of the homers hit by Carlos Lee.

Pitching was an issue for the Astros as well. Astros pitcher, Ray Oswalt struggled from the start of the game. He threw 46 pitches and allowed three runs in the first inning alone. Maybe it was the chilly temperature, 49 degrees, or the wind, 20 mph, but the Astros ace pitcher allowed six runs, six walks, and a run scored on a balk in a matter of five innings. The fifth inning balk angered Astros’ manager Phil ‘Scrap Iron’ Gardner and he was ejected from the game for arguing the call. Everyone knows that you cannot argue a balk! That's the rule!

The Phillies 3-0 lead did not last long, Carlos Lee hit a homerun to start off the second inning and his grand slam homerun in the third inning put the score at 5-3 in favor of the Astros. Then, Ensberg’s three-run homerun in the fourth inning put the Astros ahead 8-3.

Phillies pitcher Jon Lieber relieved Brett Myers in the fourth inning and later pitched to Craig Biggio, who hit his 641st career double and now finds himself in eighth place on the all-time list.

In the fourth inning, the Phillies started to rally. With base hits by Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, and Ryan Howard, the end of the fourth inning brought the score to 8-5 Astros. The fifth inning went to the Phillies’ advantage with one more run scored on a balk. With the sixth inning approaching, the Phillies were only down by two runs. The momentum tides were changing to favor the Phillies, and the crowd was starting to believe that the Phillies could pull this one out. The crowd even gave Pat Burrell a standing ovation when he was brought in on his night off to pinch hit.

Unfortunately, in the ninth inning, the Houston Astros sealed their win with a homerun hit off of Phillies pitcher Ryan Madson by Carlos Lee, his third of the evening, bringing the score to 9-6 Astros. The Phillies still had the bottom of the inning to come back.

The game ended with the Phillies going down swinging. Werth, Rowand, and Barajas all struck out in the bottom of the ninth inning to end the game at 9-6. The Houston Astros win the first game of a three game series against the Phillies. Game two is scheduled for 3:55pm on Saturday.

The Best Seat in the House

Tortillas and mild salsa dip...check. 2 liter bottle of soda...check. And last but not least, the remote...check. So it most likely sounds like one of two things are about to happen. Either a great movie is about to debut on cable tv, or the not so obvious Lakers vs. the Suns NBA game is a commercial away from gracing the television.

The Phoenix Suns sent an exhausted Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers to their sixth loss in seven games, 93-85 in the April 13th game. Phoenix’s Steve Nash had 26 points and 14 assists, while Bryant missed three shots in the final 35 seconds of the game, two of which were 3-pointers. His 17 points scored against Phoenix, were far short of his NBA-leading 31.5 point average.

You reach for the last chip and scoop up the salsa lingering around the edges of the jar while chalking the game up to a win of 89-85. But don’t be too sure. Nash seals the game with four free throws in the last 18 seconds.

Amare Stoudemire’s 15 points and 16 rebounds, helped keep the Suns two games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs. The Suns have three games to play in the fight for the No.2 playoff spot in the Western Conference, while the Lakers try to steadily hold on to their No.7 spot.

If it wasn’t Raja Bell’s 18 points or Shawn Marion 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns, surely it was Nash's free throw following a technical foul on Lakers coach Phil Jackson with 3:59 left in the third quarter that made the tortilla bowl worthy of refills only during commercials.

Luke Walton led the Lakers with 19 points making a 3-pointer that set the score 72-63. Even with Lamar Odom’s previously added 16 points, it wasn’t enough to tip the score. Marion thought those 3 points were 3 points too many and scored on a rebound putting the Suns ahead 76-63 entering the fourth quarter.

The Suns led 51-50 at the half; the smallest lead the Lakers saw since the first shot of the game was made. Los Angeles continued to diminish the lead to five several times during the game. The last 5 point trail was 88-83 on Odom's layup with 1:58 left in the game. Neither team scored again until Stoudemire made one of two free throws putting Phoenix up 89-83 in the last 34 seconds, a major adjustment from missing all six of his shots in the first quarter.

On the Lakers' next possession, Bryant’s careless 3-point air-ball, did nothing to bring the team out of the slump when they needed it most. Nash's two free throws at 18 seconds put the Suns ahead 91-83. His last two with 12 seconds left on the clock, finished out the game.

So maybe the game wasn’t as exciting as it would have been from court side seats, but not everyone is lucky enough to experience every game front and center, boxed seats, or season tickets. But that night I certainly can say that the best seat in the house was taken. The nicely broken in sofa with the slightly sunken in center and the game broadcast via a 20 inch flat screen. You should have opted for the plasma while you had the chance. The snacks ran out just in time as the Suns marked their fourth win in a row while coincidently, the Lakers shook their heads sadly for their fourth defeat in a row.

By: Darrielle Williams

Don Carman's Reporter Responses

Courtesy: www.baseball-almanac.com.

Don Carman pitched in the Major Leagues for the Phillies, the Indians and the Rangers during the 1980s and early 90s. He was well known for his catchy phrases and cliches given to reporters during interviews.

During the 1990 season he posted a handwritten list of his responses on his locker. The list found its way into many newspapers across the country.

This is what you're up against when you cover a team. Not all players are this, well, cliched, in their responses, but most have been encouraged to answer you in a predictable fashion.

Please feel free to add to the list!

1. I'm just glad to be here. I just want to help the club any way I can.
2. Baseball's a funny game.
3. I'd rather be lucky than good.
4. We're going to take the season one game at a time.
5. You're only as good as your last game (last at-bat).
6. This game has really changed.
7. If we stay healthy we should be right there.
8. It takes 24 (25) players.
9. We need two more players to take us over the top: Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig.
10. We have a different hero every day.
11. We'll get 'em tomorrow.
12. This team seems ready to gel.
13. With a couple breaks, we win that game.
14. That All-Star voting is a joke.
15. The catcher and I were on the same wavelength.
16. I just went right at 'em.
17. I did my best and that's all I can do.
18. You just can't pitch behind.
19. That's the name of the game.
20. We've got to have fun.
21. I didn't have my good stuff, but I battled 'em.
22. Give the guy some credit; he hit a good pitch.
23. He, we were due to catch a break or two.
24. Yes.
25. No.
26. That's why they pay him _____ million dollars.
27. Even I could have hit that pitch.
28. I know you are but what am I?
29. I was getting my off-speed stuff over so they couldn't sit on the fastball.
30. I have my at 'em ball going today.
31. I have some great plays made behind me tonight.
32. I couldn't have done it without my teammates.
33. You saw it... write it.
34. I just wanted to go as hard as I could as long as I could.
35. I'm seeing the ball real good.
36. I hit that ball good.
37. I don't get paid to hit.

Sources and Quoting

So now that we've nailed down what an editor/reporter looks for in a story - timeliness, proximity, conflict, impact, novelty, and prominence - let's talk a little about the relationship with sources.

One scholar has called it a "dance;" others like to think of it as a give and take; still others believe it's primarily adversarial.

But basics first: think about who'll you'll need to talk to craft the story you envision. For example, if you're writing a game story, you'll probably need to talk with, at the very least, the coach for both teams, and at least one or two players from each team - winners and losers.

Try not to think of this as a simple act of accumulation; it used to drive me crazy when my reporters would talk about "getting my quotes." Quotes are supposed to add color, humanity, and most of all credibility to a story. They complement the information you've provided as the reporter - extend it, amplify it.

Remember to always run your quotes, after your interviews, through the "Bland-O-Meter." The highest possible reading is 10 - these are quotes that just lie there - like the "I'm here to help the ballclub" quotes we've talked about in class. You want the quote - ideally, anyway - to reach out and smack the reader in the face.

As in:

"I don't know what to tell you - I screwed up. What a horrible decision. I cost us the game," said Bishop.

Again, you're looking for an extension, or amplification, of what you've written - or a score of 1, the least bland quote you can find.

This doesn't mean you'll be able to find compelling, knee-buckling quotes every time. Sometimes folks are unwilling to speak to you; you'll also get canned quotes more than once. But you have to be ready with a follow-up question in the latter situation; you can't let a talking point or canned quote go unchallenged. That's when it's time to break out the trusty "What does that mean/Can you help me understand..." tool from the toolbox.

Player: We left it all out on the field today
Journalist: Help me understand what you mean..

Coach: We just didn't play Armadillo volleyball today..
Journalist: What does that mean? Can you be more specific?

Even though your reader probably expects a certain number of bland quotes, they also want to feel as though they were at the game/meet/match/race. Transport them there.

More to come.

One way to do it, by Matt Wolfe

I love hockey. I might be one of approximately 42 people throughout the continental United States that can say that but it is true. I like that it is the only sport that you need to learn how to stand and walk and run all over again (on ice skates) and how so few are good enough to play at the most competitive level. I love that the talent pool is a global one with players coming from all over North America and Europe to play, and that high school kids (for the most part) cannot quickly become the best at the sport (yes, I have heard of Sydney Crosby).

My most memorable sports moment, fittingly, comes from Hockey. The funny thing is that the event happened 4 years before I was even a glint in my father’s eye. I am referring to was has been voted one of the greatest upsets in all of sports…ever. I know it has been well covered and recovered and analyzed and re-analyzed and that even a motion picture was made based on the event. Regardless, if I am moved to write about an event that I was not even able to see first hand, that should speak to the significance of said event (not to mention the Flyers haven’t won since 1976).

I am speaking about the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team. That was the year in which a group of college kids from the US, a team that was not even considered Olympic quality, beat the best hockey team in the world, hands down. The Russians were the best, no questions asked, no arguments. It was scientific fact. The Olympics were a battle for second place. Just imagine though, being a kid, literally a kid who barely shaves, playing against a team that has been together almost as long as you have been alive. Imagine yourself practicing everyday, knowing you might not make the team, knowing that no matter how fast you skated, how hard you shot the puck or how accurate that shot was, or how smart you played the game, you would still be, at most, the first loser (that’s second place).

Then, imagine winning. To steal a line from the HBO special covering the event, the Russians were amazed by the reaction of the American team when they won. The Russians had forgotten what competition was like. They had lost that thrill of victory feeling because to them, it was a job more than a game. The US team, against all odds, even against ‘science’ defeated the most powerful and most talented hockey team in the world. Never mind the political agendas that went with the game and the feeling of pride that Americans felt after the win. Just imagine yourself beating an opponent that was unbeatable. It’s like beating Chuck Norris in an arm wrestling match. The utter jubilation in those kid’s faces and in their actions when the clock hit 0:00 is a moment that I for one am glad was captured on film because without that, there would be no accomplishing the impossible. That game was truly an impossible goal and one that the American team in fact defied. Had it happened in any sport, I would have written about it. I am just glad that it happened in Hockey.