Monthly Archives: October 2007
Game Preview- Trail Blazers Vs. Spurs
Another new feature here at SMJ. From time to time we will preview a game through the resources of the local media in the cities which the teams reside.
The NBA season starts tonight with the Champion San Antonio Spurs taking on the Portland Trail Blazers. Before the summer this looked like a great match-up featuring Tim Duncan (the center of today) and Greg Oden (the center of tomorrow?). Oden’s injury put a damper on that…but hey, it’s still opening night!
Let’s go to the coverage of both teams:
Trail Blazers
The dominant news source for the Trail Blazers has to be The Oregonian, the state’s largest newspaper. The paper’s website creates unique content dedicated to the Trail Blazers, from a special sections, to two separate blogs. They also have a forum where registered users can post questions and discuss all things Blazers. Looks like the paper, in partnership with Oregon Live, has the team well covered.
We looked for independent blogs that focuses on the Trail Blazers. Blazers’ Edge looks like a winner. (Let’s get this out now…Don’t attack me for not including a blog. Feel free to add links through the comments-SMJ)
I would hope that local sports radio would be talking heavily about this opener today. If so, then KFXX is the place to go.
Spurs
The Spurs are covered extensively by their local paper the San Antonio Express News. Also in conjunction with a web partner, My San Antonio, there are special sections devoted to the Spurs, and a site-specific blog.
Independent blogs seem more plentiful with the World Champs, as evidenced by Spurs Report, Spurs Dynasty, and the Spurs Talk forum.
Sports radio chatter on the Spurs can be found at The Ticket KTTR.
There you go…get educated on the match-ups and enjoy the game!
Random Video Clip #2
Here is a set of promos from ESPN before they became, well, ESPN.
Isn’t it ironic that the NHL was one of their marquee draws when it barely gets noticed today? And how antiquated is that ad for the Sports Guide? I don’t remember it. Does anyone have an old copy lying around? I would love to see it. Must be filled with Australian Rules Football and BodyShaping episodes. Ah, the good old days.
Why Live Blog?
I consider myself pretty savvy when it comes to trends in technology and the sharing of information. Heck, I started a blog, didn’t I?
But there is one aspect of blogging that I cannot entirely embrace…the practice of live blogging.
First of all, let’s all agree that live blogging is a misnomer. Live blogging is by no means live. I refuse to use the term any further. Let’s call it what it is…event blogging or, in the world of sports, in-game blogging. By the time a blogger pens an in-game post and it’s sent to the blog, appropriate time has passed to classify the information as old news.
I’m not saying that event blogging doesn’t have its place. If you’re a blogger at an exclusive event, or one that is not well attended, providing insight from that event adds some exclusivity for the blogger. The inside scoop if you will.
Much was made last spring when the NCAA came down on Brian Bennett of the Louisville Courier-Journal for providing in-game blogging of an NCAA Regional Baseball game involving the Louisville Cardinals. Bennett had his credential revoked, with the NCAA claiming he violated a rule of providing “live” updates of an event to which he did not have the rights.
What I find puzzling is in-game blogging of a sporting event like the World Series. What information can one blogging from the event provide readers that they aren’t getting from the nationally televised broadcast of the game? It makes no sense to me.
Looking at the four major newspapers that cover the Red Sox and the Rockies in Game 1, three of the four have blogs for the teams. Both Boston papers, the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald, provided in-game blogging of the Sox’ 13-1 rout of Colorado. In Denver, only the Denver Post provides a sports blog on the Rockies, but there was no in-game coverage of Game 1.
Back to Boston, Rob Bradford’s Herald Blog provided more than just what was happening on the field. Bradford mixed in statistics and notes that was probably not noted by Joe Buck or Tim McCarver on Fox. That’s great, but how many people were glued to their computer monitor waiting for these tidbits? Bradford could have easily assembled those facts and posted them as part of the Herald’s online post game coverage.
The most disappointing in-game blogging came from the Boston Globe. In its Extra Bases Blog, reporter Amalie Benjamin used the space to rehash what happened after each inning. I’m sorry, that’s a waste of good bandwidth.
The Herald, Globe, and Denver Post do a good job of using their blogs to provide the pre-game flavor at Fenway Park. That’s cool. You won’t get that information in too many places. That has a purpose.
The newspapers are not alone in providing this useless in-game blogging. Many independent blogs also attempt the practice. At least the reporters at the game can provide some insight into the action. Independent bloggers often provide nothing in terms of pertinent information. The independent bloggers often use this in-game blogging as a way to criticize and mock either the players, announcers, or both. Again, why can’t they assemble this material for a comprehensive post-game post? Why is the in-game aspect a draw?
As much as I don’t think in-game blogging is effective I would never say a blogger shouldn’t partake in the process. I’m sure if there wasn’t an audience they wouldn’t do it. It’s just not for me.
The Homers on Homers
I had a chance today to listen to the two morning shows of the dominant sports radio stations in Boston (WEEI) and Denver (KKFN) and their take on the World Series. It was the classic case of each station looking at the series through the rose colored glasses of their respective teams.
At WEEI, hosts John Dennis and Gerry Callahan had little doubt that the Red Sox would win the Series in five games. They also didn’t think that a sweep would be out of the realm of possibility. They pointed to Boston’s experience in the post season and the Rockies lack of it in jumping to their conclusions.
Over at KKFN, The Sports Guys, Mike Evans and Sandy Clough had the Rockies winning the Series. Evans picked Colorado in six while Clough thought the series would end in five games. They feel the Rockies will remain on their hot streak and will catch Boston by surprise. They also noted that the Rockies have nothing to lose and the Red Sox will have more pressure to win.
Two cities, two perspectives. I guess that’s why they play the game on the field and not on the airwaves.
Random Video Clip #1
A new feature here at Sports Media Journal, a random sports media clip courtesy of the fine people who supply video at You Tube.
Our first clip is a timely one. With the World Series starting tonight, here is a clip of the opening of Game Two of the Fall Classic 25 years ago. Enjoy!
