Sports Writing
Sports Writing
The Sports Page talks about heroes. The Front Page talks about mans failures.
Among the different sections of a newspaper, the sports page perhaps has the widest range of readership. Survey shows that 95% of male readers
This is because sports stories are more interesting to read due to the action and rivalries of opposing teams which are vividly and colorfully written.
The rivalry between schools and intramurals teams brings thrill and excitement to the student readers.
Ideally, any sports story would have quotes from the winners and losers. Indeed, many sports articles are written around what athletes say rather than what they have achieved on the field of play.
a catchy lead,
The lead is the attention-getter, the news in a nutshell.
The classic five Ws appear in the sports leas as:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Who won? Against whom? By what scores? Where? When?
THE BODY
The FLOW of the body: 1. Team and/or individual standing- if the event is part of a series of games, the story must report how the teams or players stand in their relation to their competitors. 2. Decisive play- this is the most crucial part of the game that gives a certain team the winning margin. 3. Best scores for the day- the scores usually appear in the headline and in the lead. However, the writer must not neglect the top scorer of the day.
THE BODY
The FLOW of the body: 4. Play-by-play- due to limited space, play-by-play has to be condensed. In top boxing events, a separate rate round-by-round account is provided, describing the progress of the fight in detail. 5. Quotation- it is costumary for the hero of the day to have his sentiments of the fight in detail.
Former executive editor Jose Luna Castro of the Manila Times has listed elements that make up a good sports story.
Personalities Play-by-play description Statistics Quotes by players Quotes by trainers/coaches Background stuff on players The importance/significance of the event The background of the game
Suggested Pointers:
The score or outcome- who won? That of course is the point of the story. Even if the game should end in a tie, with a riot, or be called off on account of a rain, the outcome is still important The significance of the outcome- was a championship at stake? Do the standings of the teams change? Who gets the cup? Is the grudge wiped out?
Suggested Pointers:
Highlights of the game- find the turning point of the game. Describe spectacular plays. tell about the last minute fumble, or the last three-second basket from midcourt if it were a basketball game. Comparison of the teams- which was the better team? Was the defending champion out-jumped on the rebound? Who did better from the foul line? In what department were the losers weak?
Suggested Pointers:
Individual stars- while present-day sports stories on teamwork have greatly discouraged individual stars and so called- grandstand players, there are still instances where some players stand out from the rest? Who are they? What did they do to become the heroes of the game? Weather conditions- mud, sunshine, heat, cold, or wind may have a bearing on the game.
Suggested Pointers:
Crowd and celebration- dont forget the spectators. Was it a record crowd? How did the spectators behave? Where they particularly hostile to the referee?
SPORTS JARGONS
NBA game between Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers on April 1 as our example article.
The Cavaliers were without star player LeBron James, suffering from a knee injury, while the Celtics were minus Paul Pierce. Gerald Green led the way for Celtics with 25 points while Kendrick Perkins had 12 points and nine rebounds. The Cavaliers, for whom Larry Hughes scored 24 with Sasha Pavlovic scoring 17, have already qualified for the play-offs while Boston are out of the running."
Celtic forward Al Jefferson, said: They were missing their best player and we were missing our best play. We just stuck in there. Cavs coach Mike Brown said James absence was a key factor in their loss.
and use them frequently in stories. Find out who keeps the scoraebooks for various sports, and review the stats often.
6.Make sure your sports stories are the last stories turned in before deadline. This is so the
7. If you are writing about a team, watch the team practice and watch the team play. You must be present
to know what happened, and you must take notes on what you are watching. You cannot write a good sports story on the basis of what someone tells you from memory.
8. If you are doing a profile on an athlete, watch that person at practice and watch that person in competition.
9.Look for opportunities to do sports feature stories that are not tied directly to games. These might
include stories about student trainers, the pre-season tryout process, different coaching philosophies, why benchwarmers persist in trying out for teams when they know they won't get much playing time.
10. Sports writing can be more flexible than news or feature writing, but remember that even in sports writing a clear distinction exists between reporting and commenting. If you are
writing your own opinion about a team or a sport or a sports issue, that is commentary.
SPORTSWRITING RULES:
NEVER be a cheerleader for your teams on the sports pages. Don't write about "our" team, write about "the" team. NEVER congratulate a team or an athlete in your sports stories. NEVER end a story like this: "The Fighting Gnus will undoubtedly be the class of conference and will achieve anything they set out to do.
Manny Pacquiao
Wesley So
Jeson Patrombon
Maria Sharapova
Li Na
Michael Phelps
Lin Dan
Usain Bolt
THE SECOND encounter proved to be just as one-sided as the first one as the Ateneo Blue Eagles moved a win away from achieving a sweep of the elimination round after they disposed of the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 61-39, in the 74th UAAP basketball tournament yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum. The four-time champions Eagles are now just a victory away from gaining an outright seat in the finals, but will be hardpressed to complete the feat with the Adamson Soaring Falcons standing in their way.
Struggling to bust the Bulldogs zone all game, the defending champion turned to its defense and held NU to its lowest scoring output since the start of the archiving of statistics in the UAAP in 2003. A telling third period exploit triggered by a 10-0 blast to conclude the first half gave the Blue Eagles their commanding advantage as they dropped 22 points compared to the Bulldogs eight in one just one quarter.
Mainstays Kirk Long and Nico Salva and newcomers Kiefer Ravena and Greg Slaughter took turns in the demolition job, churning out double-double scoring. Salva, whose slam with 7:36 in the fourth quarter spiked the lead to 24 points, 55-31, produced a game-best 14 points even as Slaughter, Ravena and Long added 13, 12 and 10 markers respectively. Long, who was tasked to contain NU Ray Parks, held the hyped rookie to just 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting and forced him to commit five turnovers.
Parks and Emmanuel Mbe contributed 10 points each in a losing cause for NU. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio
Im disappointed, though, that Im not gonna see Tim break Baby Dalupans record while coaching Alaska, he added, referring to the legendary Crispa mentor who owns 15 PBA titles, just two ahead of Cone. Uytengsu said the show goes on for Alaska and for starters, they are elevating senior assistant Joel Banal to Cones old job. I wouldnt consider it a rest; more of a change in direction, kind of parting of ways, not a breakup, and taking a different career path, Cone said in explaining his decision to ask for a release from Alaska.
The grapevine is swirling with talks of Cone supposedly moving to another team but the multititled mentor himself said hes not going anywhere for now. I dont have any firm offer. I have close friends saying theres this or that but Ive not done anything. Im kinda open, he said. Saying goodbye to a long-time partner was quite emotionally draining for Cone. Ive been actually married to the Alaska organization longer than Im married to my wife, said a teary-eyed Cone.
The hardest thing for me right now is leaving the players. When I saw them here, its like a sledgehammer hitting my heart. I dont want anyone to feel Im abandoning them but in fact I am so it kills me, he said, getting a warm hug from team captain Tony dela Cruz. But both Cone and Alaska management expressed confidence with Banal, an assistant for 10 years and champion coach with Talk N Text in 2003, taking over. He (Banal) is too good to be an assistant coach, said Cone.
In contrast, Marquez received an early tour of the historic Manila Cathedral after he and his party arrived early. Marquez wore denim pants and a purple shirt, the report added. Cathedral rector Msgr. Nestor Cerbo led officials in giving Marquez a tour of the historic structure. Security was tight at the Cathedral, which was packed with regular Sunday churchgoers. Pacquiao and Marquez held a face-off in Manila Saturday to promote their November 12 bout. The two are to leave abroad to promote the bout further before going into training. LBG, GMA News
Pacquiao told the Inquirer that Fernandez was adept at strategy for the Marquez duel at the MGM Grand on Nov. 12 because he watched my two previous fights with Marquez and he knows his style. Pacquiao was throwing combinations to the midsection which was protected by a body-guard when he inadvertently landed a hard left on the punch-mitt that Fernandez used to cushion the impact of Pacquiaos body shots.
Pacquiao appeared to twist his left wrist as he connected and shouted and grimaced in apparent pain with adviser Michael Koncz and Fernandez himself showing concern. But Pacquiao made Fernandez remove his bodyguard and Pacquiao went through his regular routine working on the speed ball along with skipping rope and a series of abdominal exercises. Although he was faster and hit harder on the fourth day of his return to the gym after a four-month layoff since his last fight against Shane Mosley, Pacquiao said he was not satisfied because I am only 50 percent.
Reacting to Marquezs earlier statement warning him to train hard because their fight was going to be a war, Pacquiao replied: Its going to be a war for him, for me its going to be fun. But Pacquiao later insisted that it will be a good fight and well give the fans a great fight to watch. Fernandez said that Pacquiaos trainer Freddie Roach had taught him how to handle light training at the start of his workouts.
English
Bag Grab Harvest Sweep Triumph Clinch Take
Filipino
Nakamit Dinurog Napasakamay Namayani Namayagpag Nanguna Nasungkit
English
Claim Cop Seize Reign supreme Rule Hack out
Filipino
Naghari Winalis Nasulot Naagaw Nagkampeon Nanalo
English
Blank Overwhelm Outsmart Outclass Destroy Demolish Knock out Shock Shame
Filipino
Hinagupit Ginulantang Nilupig Hiniya Pinaluhod Pinabagsak Nagapi Naungusan nilupig
Prevail over Snatch Pocket Capture Romp away Bring home Chalk up
END
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