Where are we heading next? (Sports journalism)

As we enter the last weeks of 2008, the world is heading towards a crisis. However, the crisis I'm speaking of is not the economy or the automobile industry. The crisis is in the newspaper industry. Some of the biggest newspapers in the United States have cut down on pages due to lack of advertising. The Chicago Tribune has reportedly sought out bankruptcy protection. The New York Times is seeking a $225 million mortgage off its Headquarters.

At the same time, according to Technorati, the internet is seeking a surge of blogs dealing with all different topics and subjects. Blogs have become a major part of the daily internet goings, with a reported 94.1 million blog readers in the United States alone, according to eMarketer (May 2008). That is roughly 50% of the United States who use the internet. Needless to say, blogs have their own audience, whether small or big.

One of the ways newspapers have tried to recoup losses and attract readers and advertisers to their websites is utilizing blogs. According to the Technorati study, 95% of the top 100 US newspapers have reporter blogs. However, despite the growth in blogs, newspapers are still struggling to gather advertising and funds from the medium, though Technorati reports there is money in blogging:

Among those with advertising, the mean annual investment in their blog is $1,800, but it’s paying off. The mean annual revenue is $6,000 with $75K+ in revenue for those with 100,000 or more unique visitors per month.

In regards to sports journalism, some newspapers have taken a hit. Most notably is the New York Times, which has combined the sports section with the business section. However, due to the rise in sports blogs, fans are able to gather as much up-to-date information about their teams as possible.

One of the most famous New York Yankee sports blogs known is the LoHud Yankees Blog, written by Peter Abraham, a beat writer for the Journal News. Even though baseball is now in the off-season, throughout the Winter Meetings, the blog had nearly 5,500 comments in a matter of three days. In addition, as Abraham said in a December 1st, 2008 post about November:

Meanwhile, thanks to everybody for reading last month. Despite the relative lack of activity in baseball, we had 1.1 million page views on this blog.

From its humble beginnings in late February of 2006, the blog has gathered a large and local fanbase who carry on conversations and even friendships outside the comments section. The blog also has given once a little-known beat writer opportunities to speak on other sports networks like ESPN. The blog also has explored different areas of journalism, including video and live blogging, and has as up-to-date information about the Yankees as he could possibly provide.

Abraham is just one of the success stories associated with sports blogging. Larry Mahnken started up Replacement Level Yankees Weblog (RLYW) in late April of 2003, one of the most respected and well-received Yankee fan blogs. RLYW offered bits of Larry's criticism with elements of sabermetrics to study the statistics more closely of each player. Due to the respect he earned, he was able to help start up The Hardball Times two years later, a well-read online baseball magazine.

These two men are just two prime examples of what professionally-done, well-respected, and well-advertised blogs can bring to a writer. Using various techniques including linking blogs to comments and linking blogs to search sites like Google can bring vast numbers of unknown readers to see posts. I know that experience head-on.

When I was a writer for MVN: The Bronx Block (on temporary hiatus for now) in late May of 2008, I wrote a piece about former Yankee pitcher Mike Mussina and his eligibility for the Hall of Fame. It was by far the most read post I have written. I used links to pass into various websites and because of the high readership, my post itched up Google search results for "Mussina Hall Fame". In fact, a few months after my post was up, one college professor from Buffalo sent me this comment:

Kenneth W. Regan — September 18, 2008 @ 9:53 pm

Fabulous post, comes up high on Google mussina hall fame, which is how I found it. I think another 10-12 win season, so he gets to 280, would make him an eventual lock. He gets props this season for keeping the Yanks alive thru Labor Day. Getting W’s next Tuesday and Sunday would help too!

As blogs continue to be used both a form of communication and information, people will continue to get information at a much quicker rate, either through professionals or amateurs. As this post has shown, some writers have been able to cash in and get notoriety for their work. However, the popularity of sports blogs and blogs in general bring about a question that has yet to be answered: "will the newspaper soon become irrelevant?"

If big newspapers don't adjust quickly to the potential cash-cow blogs can bring, some big names can become irrelevant. For newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times, the pressure is on now to adjust to the 21st century. Clearly, blogs are the future and newspapers must move along with it, or else, they may be another casualty in our economic recession.

Obama's (Potential) Fumble #6: The World Is Watching

Obama won, and many in the world celebrated. Now what?
-- (Joe Burbank//MCT)

All throughout the world, people have been reacting to Obama's victory. Here are a few highlights:

• Kenya is celebrating with beeming pride. One man was quoted, referring to Obama's election, saying, "God is rewarding us."
  
  
• The Australian Prime Minister, along 9 other world leaders, congratulated Obama, stating: "As I've said before publicly, I believe him to be a very good man. I've also said publicly that his message of hope for America is, I believe, equally a message of hope for the world."
  
  
• Celebrations rung out in all areas of the world from India to Brazil to even China, with supporters liberally using the word 'change' to describe what an Obama presidency can do to both America and the world.

From these news reports and more, it is clear the world was watching on November 4th. If the reaction was anything to come, the world will be watching come January 20th, 2009 all the way until January 20th, 2012.

With Obama making history, all eyes will be on him in erasing what many view was a big 8-year stain on foreign relations with other countries. The main question raised in some newspapers on November 6th was: "will all this hope become a letdown?" Some of the topics raised in newspapers (via the Chicago Tribute) are:

• Jerusalem Post: "Obama's presidential success will depend on outmaneuvering, deterring and ultimately defeating those malicious global forces that peddle darkness and misery, and are sneering to themselves right now: 'No, you can't.'"
  
  
• Toronto Star: Don't expect too much from a president who is distracted by a "economic crisis, a debt mountain, two wars and making good on health and education reforms."
  
  
• Sydney Morning Herald: "No one needs to be reminded what happened to Abraham Lincoln, the last brilliant young newcomer from Illinois who made it all the way to the White House amid times of great national tribulation."
  
  
• The Daily Telegraph (in England): "(O)ne cannot help but have one overwhelming feeling: that the expectations are so insanely high, and the reality both at home and abroad so intractable in the short or even the medium term, that this is an administration that cannot but disappoint."

The expectations are high. Change needs to happen. America elected a man who many think can bring that change. However, seeing the reaction elsewhere, Americans aren't the only ones wanting that change.

The world is watching, Barack, You make the next move.



^ As Obama said after winning the presidency:

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Will the world be chanting that "timeless creed"? We have 4 long years to find out.

Obama's Fumble #5: Pissed-Off Athletes

Is Latrell Sprewell mad because he would now have to play more of a tax on his millions?
-- (C.W. Griffen/MCT)

Personalizing the blog post for a bit, I have to say: out of all the different people to be affected by Obama's tax hike on people making more than $250,000 a year, we haven't heard from the ones with little voice. Ones that make more noise with their sneakers on the hardwood or with their wooden bats against a tightly-wounded ball than with their mouths or their written words. No, I'm not speaking about the blue-collar workers in a small business. I'm talking about the victims: overpaid professional athletes.

The impeding doom of Obama's inauguration has gotten to a point that ESPN had to run an article, detailing the concerns of baseball players' agents over the tax hike. Mind you, this was the same tax hike that was imposed during the Clinton administration.

Despite the fact that the least amount of money a major league baseball player can make is $400,000, even super-agent Scott Boras expressed concern, stating: "There's some consideration to be had with the impact of the election."

To a sports fan like myself, I expect a quality product every time I turn on the television to see a game, whether it's basketball, baseball or the like. If the athletes I'm watching are not happy, how can I expect them to perform at their absolute best?

I mean, just look at Latrell Sprewell. Making over $8 million per year in his NBA career, he still had worries on paying for his life and the people he supports. Famously, after rejecting a 4 year/$32 million deal, he said, "I got a family to feed."

As a college student barely able to afford an education that allows me to type this post and see these money-starved athletes on Sportscenter in a $12,000+ dorm room, thinking about Sprewell's struggle pains me. Even though he said this during a Bush administration, when his taxes went down, it's still something that scars my dreams at night.

President-elect Obama has to deal with a legion of overpaid athletes, upset about having to pay a little extra just so the middle-class (or frankly, people making less than $250,000 a year, including college graduates making entry-level wages) can have more.

I don't know about you, but I can't stand to watch a sub-par performance because of some tax hikes...

(Morry Gash/AP)

... oh wait, I'm a New York Knicks fan. Nevermind.

Obama's Fumble #4: Hype

Now it's time for Obama to capitalize on the hype. Will he?
-- (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)

So he did it. America voted as a majority to president-elect Barack Obama. The main question now is: Where do we go from here?

Nas addresses some of the question in his song, "Black President".

"What’s the black pres. thinkin’ on election night
Is it how can I protect my life?
Protect my wife?
Protect my rights?
Every other president was nothin' less than white
Except Thomas Jefferson and mixed Indian blood
and Calvin coolers
KKK is like 'what the fuck', loadin' they guns up
loadin' mine too, Ready to ride
Cause im ridin with my crew
He dies - we die too
But on a positive side,
I think Obama provides Hope - and challenges minds
Of all races and colors to erase the hate
And try and love one another, so many political snakes
We in need of a break
Im thinkin' I can trust this brotha
But will he keep it way real?
Every innocent n!gga in jail - gets out on appeal
When he wins - will he really care still?"


He has to answer that question from January 20th on, but some wish to hear him address the hype sooner. Either way, this will be an interesting 4 years.

Obama's Fumble #3: Puppy in a sea of Pitbulls

This video is a campaign ad endorsed by Senior Senator Elizabeth Dole from North Carolina, running for another term in the Senate. Opposing her is a Presbyterian and former Sunday School teacher by the name of Kay Hagan, who has been on the North Carolina Senate since 1999. The reason for addressing her religious afflication is because of the "Godless" attack ad from Dole's campaign.

The ad is one of the most misleading ads seen on the campaign trail for a number of reasons:

1. Yes, Hagan attended the fundraiser in question. However, the fundraiser was not exclusively hosted by the Godless Americans. One of the 40 co-hosts of the fundraiser is a member the organization. Catholic John Kerry also attended this fundraiser.
   
   
2. That voice at the end? It was not Hagan's voice, but the voice of Ellen Johnson, the executive director of the Godless Americans PAC.
   
   
3. Just like the question that Colin Powell posed with the Muslim accusation of Obama, so what if the ad had even the slightly bit of truth in it? So what if Hagan was an atheist? Is there something wrong with being an atheist in this country?
   

It is amazing to see that, in this ad, atheists are treated as Arab-Americans and the religion of Islam in the media: grossly misrepresented and vilified.

Why is this a question in terms of Obama's campaign?

These are the ads and attacks he and his party is dealing with every day on the campaign trail. In a dog-eat-dog world, Obama has done his best to pay it cool while the McCain/Palin ads are getting dirtier and the rallies... let's not go there.

Yes, the Obama campaign has dished out some harsh ads (this internet one, in particular), but has not gone much on the attack. Sure, that may be all and good with this campaign, but what would happen if leaders of other foreign countries start to bully Obama through protests, press conferences denouncing his presence, and effigies? Will Obama stand his ground and defend himself or will he let the possible inaccuracies pollute the countries?

McCain is viewed by some to be an attack-dog with Sarah "Barracuda" Palin by his side. They have shown that they will attack if deemed necessary. Will Obama exercise the judgment to attack the inaccurate words said about him after January 20, 2009?

Though Obama's aggressiveness and judgment are not greatly questioned here in this post, it is a question to think about when Obama, viewed by some to be "inexperienced", deals with countries that may not view us in the greatest light. Will Obama attack the anti-Muslim sentiment among other inaccuracies in this country and around the world? Little has been shown by Obama to really answer that question.

Oh, as for Elizabeth Dole? Despite Hagan filing a defamation suit against her, Dole dished out another ad only confirming the first "godless" ad.



Classy, Dole, classy.

Obama's Fumble #2: Abortion.

This YouTube video is a compelling illustration of what the video states as "the Catholic vote". The video starts with a basic appeal to Catholic voters on what they should center their vote on:

This November, America's future hangs in the balance. Catholics across the nation will have the responsibility to make their voices heard. Many issues are at stake. Some (picture of baby) are more important than others (gas prices). No issue can be ignored but none are more critical to the foundation of our country than life and family. The family must be strengthened, not refined. Human life is paramount and must be protected from conception to natural death.

The Catholic vote clearly points to abortion being an extremely important issue for Catholic voters. Though poll numbers state that Obama is getting more of the Catholic vote, the question remains: Where does Obama stand on the issue of the most fragile of lives, the life of the human fetus?

How important is the issue of life to Obama if he decides not
to protect the most fragile? -- Helen Hughes/MCT

Let's use a three-point outline to explore Obama's possible "extreme" abortion views:

1. He opposed the partial birth abortion ban and voiced his displeasure of the ban being passed early 2008. Though the term 'partial birth' is debated, a partial birth abortion would occur in the second trimester (12 to 24 weeks). Mind you, babies have been born as early as 21 weeks into the pregnancy.
   
   
2. As a Senator, he opposed an act titled the Induced Infant Liability Act, which is similar to the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. Both acts extend protection to an infant born alive after a failed attempt at induced abortion.
   
   
3. In late March 2008 at a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, Obama spoke about his sex education policies (YouTube link):
   

"When it comes specifically to HIV/AIDS, the most important prevention is education, which should include -- which should include abstinence education and teaching the children -- teaching children, you know, that sex is not something casual. But it should also include -- it should also include other, you know, information about contraception because, look, I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."

The language and actions Obama has shown in his short time in the Senate and in the blinding public eye has clearly explained his abortion views. In some ideas, especially the Pro-Life movement, his views are labeled as "extreme".

Yes, abortion is one of the numerous issues on the table for voters to consider, but unlike many issues, abortion deals with both the potential and the most fragile of life. Regardless if you are an Obama supporter or not, his abortion views should make one question his value on life from its beginnings to end.

If one believes a candidate doesn't truly value life, what is the motivation to vote for that candidate?

Obama's Fumble #1: Brandon Marshall?

Welcome to the first-post of "For Obama... and yet..."! For the last two weeks, leading up to the election, I will be detailing 6 reasons why some people who may be supporting Senator Barack Obama should be just a little weary on their choice, either serious issues like abortion or light-hearted issues. Personally, I have been on the Obama bandwagon for 2 years now. However, within those two years, my opinion on Obama has been swayed back and forth. I still know who I'm voting for November 4th, but am I still secure in that decision?

*******************************************************

For fantasy football fans, the art of selecting a team that can dominate its league week-after-week is almost as important a decision as choosing a college or an engagement ring. Each fantasy team owner has different biases that will dictate who he or she will choose. Some are more quarterback friendly, choosing three QBs to shore up the offense. Some try to get back with one running back star and a few no-names. Some go where most never venture into: building a team solely on a strong defense. Each strategy brings about positives and defenses, and at the end of the week, all that will matter is whether your team has a W next to its box score.

ESPN writer Rick Reilly attempts to venture into what a potential United States president would choose. According to Reilly's article, Obama was both hard to get a hold of (I wonder why) and a bit "bossy". The article exposes an interesting factor into Obama's thinking:

Ohhhh, so that's how it's going to be. "Well, I like Carson Palmer," I said. "He's due for a big week, plus he plays in Ohio and I figure that's a state you need, so …"

He looked at me like I'd stuck my elbow in his soup. "Man, this is more important than politics!" he insisted. "This is football!"

Before I hear radical McCain supporters jump on this and add another accusation to the campaign gems of "terrorist!" and "kill him!", let's dissect this. Picking a fantasy team isn't that much off from picking a Cabinet. You want a team that will take care of his or her position while building a collective force that can take care of whatever comes its way. Sure, the consequences are on completely different scales, but the preparation is still there.

Instead of dealing with established bureaucracy limitations on who Obama can choose, the ESPN fantasy game he was playing had a salary cap. According to the article, Obama did his homework and checked in on his fantasy stats, even as he was about to prep for the final debate.

Obama wishes Brandon Marshall was getting to that ball, rather than Jacksonville Jaguars safety Gerald Sensabaugh. -- Mark Reis/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT

However, all the thinking and prepping in the world can not rectify a terrible Secretary of the Treasury, despite the credentials. The same can be said about picking Denver Broncos wide-receiver Brandon Marshall over Minnesota Vikings wide-receiver Bernard Berrian in Week 6. Obama may have believed Marshall had better credentials to bring his team more points, and yet Reilly's pick performed a bit better.

In order to construct the best team, one must be able to view any possible scenarios and choose the best players. Instead of listening to famed sportswriter's Rick Reilly's advice, Obama went with his choosing most of the time.

If Obama can not construct a successful team to perform to its best in fantasy, how could we trust his choosing in the future? Beating 4 out of 5 countries just won't cut it as the President of the United States.