Sports lead by Bradley Wilson

WAKEBOARDING, a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques, involves riding a wakeboard over the water’s surface. The rider is usually towed behind a motorboat; typically at speeds of 18–24 miles per hour depending on the water conditions, board size, rider’s weight, and rider’s comfort speed. Wakeboarding is organized by the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation. Photo by Taylor Templeton

SKIING Scoring is in points. Use a basic summary. Example: World Water Skiing Championships Overall – 1. George Jones, Canada, 1,987 points; 2. Phil Brown, Britain, 1,756. Slalom – 1. George Jones, Canada, 73 buoys (two rounds).

WHATEVER THE SPORT, THE LEAD BETTER BE

compelling, appealing and magical A THE SPORTS WRITING HANDBOOK Thomas Fensch

FIELD GUIDE TO COVERING SPORTS Joe Gisondi

s writer/editor Tom Fensch says, “The lead is by far the most important part of the sports story — and by far the hardest to write.” Writer Joe Gisondi, author of Field Guide to Covering Sports, elaborates: “Start with the most interesting story, not always with the winners or leaders. That story might be a key play, a trend, a significant stat, field conditions, post-game observations or how this game affects the future.” Indeed, he gives reporters a practical tip from Doug Ferguson, a golf beat writer for the Associated Press, for writing the lead: What would you tell a friend? Valerie Penton Kibler, adviser at Harrisonburg (Va.) High School and the 2010 National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year, said, “Bottom line, when I read a good lead, it makes me want to read the rest of the story — a great lead makes me read it all the way to the end even if I don’t like the topic. It’s one of the reasons I love reading Sports Illustrated or ESPN Magazine, Rick Reilly or Michael Wilbon. SI writers can be writing about ping pong or horse racing or tiddlywinks, and readers who know nothing about those topics are enthralled.” Gisondi suggests that the lead should be the answer to the “friend” question — practical

advice for figuring out what’s important about any game. Fensch goes on to say that the ideal lead should focus on four objectives: • Introduce the story skillfully and appropriately. • Sieze the reader’s interest. • Tell enough about the story to whet the reader’s appetite. • Entertain or inform. When it comes to length, Fensch suggests that a news-type lead should be one to three paragraphs. A feature lead twice as long. And a magazine feature might have a lead that is up to 15 percent of the entire story. “Key: In all cases, the writer’s material should determine the form the lead should take.” KEEP-READING LEAD By Katelyn Hunter, Rocky Mountain Highlighter, Rocky Mountain High School (Fort Collins, Colo.) It may be somewhat of a stretch to say that moving to Fort Collins saved junior Keenan Smith’s life. But it might not be much of an exaggeration. KENNEDY: A terrific example of a lead that dares readers not to continue. We definitely want to know more about this young athlete. This lead also uses one-sentence paragraphs to good effect, with a nicely varied rhythm. KIBLER: The compare/contrast element is interesting enough to keep me reading, especially if it’s a sports lead. I really want to know this story.

EVALUATORS

Jack Kennedy, JEA president and executive director of the Colorado High School Press Association

Valerie Penton Kibler, adviser at Harrisonburg (Va.) High School and the 2010 National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year

continued on page 12

FENSCH DISCUSSES 25 TYPES OF LEADS: Summary • Descriptive • Mosaic • Narrative • Anecdotal • Paradox • First-person • Second-person • Statement • Parody • Simile/Metaphor • Compare/Contrast • Name-prominent • Diary/Timeline • Quotation • Question • Unorthodox • Classified ad • Future-tense fictional • Shotgun • Historical updating • Historical perspective • Psychological • Literary • Interior monologue WINTER 2010

COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY • 11

Covering GYMNASTICS, says photographer Tom Theobald, certainly means knowing the sport, keeping things simple and watching the light. But it also involves a little bit of luck. “It’s about preparing before finding the magic moment,” Theobald said. “Putting yourself in the best position beforehand. Having the right lens and gear ready ... and all the above factors working (light, line of fire, framing, background). The certain moment (of any kind) will be self-evident only to you.” Photo by Travis Christian

GYMNASTICS Scoring is by points. Identify events by name • Men: floor exercise, vault, pommel horse, still rings, horizontal bar (or high bar), parallel bars. • Women: floor exercise, vault, balance beam, uneven bars.

MORE LEADS TO ENTERTAIN AND TO INFORM continued from page 11 CLASSIC SPORTS LEAD By George Brown, “Viking football falls to Bellarmine, 34-6, in first round of CCS playoffs,” The Viking, Palo Alto (Calif.) High School After a season full of ups and downs, from losing a star quarterback to going undefeated in the De Anza League, the Palo Alto Vikings football team ultimately could not make it past the first round of the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs. The Vikings worked all season to be the surprise team as they have done in past seasons. On Friday night, however, they came up short to the Bellarmine Bells by a score of 34-6. KENNEDY: In many ways it is a classic sports lead, intended for readers who probably already know what happened but who appreciate some context and some focus on a theme — in this case, life containing both good and bad — that reminds them of why sports are important to so many. DESCRIPTIVE LEAD By Nate Ross, Little Dodger, Fort Dodge (Iowa) Senior High It’s a typical hot summer day. He can hear the kids down the road at Expo pool if he listens closely. But Alex Herrington isn’t listening to the kids; he’s listening to his girlfriend, Morgan, saying, “Can we go yet?” She’s been “returning” punts for him for what seems like hours, probably because it has been. He’s working on his form, practicing what the coaches at premiere punting and kicking camps have taught him. Trying to hit the ball in the exact same spot every time, with as much power as his massive legs can muster. If it were up to Herrington, he’d do this for a living, and in a way, it kind of is up to him. “I just want to punt in college, preferably a school that has a winning tradition. If it goes any further than that I’d be really thankful,” said Herrington, a senior at the high school. KENNEDY: This is an appealing descriptive lead that includes the basic elements of storytelling: setting, characters, conflict (kickers compete for limited scholarships) and even resolution (the hint of one, at least, in the player explaining what reaching his goal might look like). KIBLER: I love the human-interest narrative, especially that the writer has brought the girlfriend into the scene. The writer has obviously gone to some trouble to get the story. REPETITION LEAD By Chris Peters, Rocky Mountain Highlighter, Rocky Mountain High School (Fort Collins, Colo.) Three years. Three chances. Three championships.

12 • COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY

SportS

Granite Bay Gazette

C Section

Friday w November 21, 2008

Football: Nine players suspended

Commentary

Athletes sit out one game; sources say alcohol might be involved lharrison.gazette@gmail.com

Team players are a dying breed today

hey’re the people that we train with, that we sweat with, and with whom we endure the long hours of conditioning. They’re called teammates – and this is what teammates are supposed to be. But, they’ve fallen short. The precious camaraderie that is essential to team sports is under attack. And although that may sound harsh, perhaps even a bit exaggerated, it is the truth. Sure, teammates often become really great friends, and many portray the characteristics of a true teammate. But unfortunately, something else has taken the place of team chemistry, has knocked it off the pedestal. It’s competition to see who’s the best, who will come out on top, get the most playing time, have college recruiters coming to scout them, and who will make the best club team. And it can take friends and pit them together in a battle to see who will get to see game time, court time, field time. The sports world has become one in which the individual is often put before the team and players forget that there are five or ten other people with them on the court or the field, that a win is not the effort of one person. Rather it is the accumulative struggle and work of all – whether they’re the ones making the plays in the game or those cheering on the bench. But there still remains a remnant so to speak of true camaraderie. Last November, at the Olympic Trials for marathon running, Notre Dame alumnus Ryan Shay fell during the race due to heart problems and was later declared dead. And although such an event was no doubt devastating to his friends and family, what happened later brings to light a beautiful thing, or rather, exceptional people. Fifteen of Shay’s former teammates from his alma mater entered in the New York City Marathon to commemorate their fallen teammate. Here is such a pure and simple form of what being a teammate really is. It’s supporting someone, and in this case maybe just Shay’s family, even when that person isn’t there. And if this is such an admired and inspiring story in memory of someone who passed away, how much more should people support their current teammates, the ones that they play with, the ones whose shoulders the game falls. Athletes must not forget that they are working with a team, not by themselves. If one person fails, the whole team fails, that if one person is victorious, the whole team is victorious. The touchdown, the pass, the block, the hit, the point; it’s the combined effort of a group of people, and it transcends any one person. *** Lana Harrison, a senior, is a Gazette sports co-editor.

BY JACOB RUFFMAN

jruffman.gazette@gmail.com

Nine Granite Bay High School football players were suspended for the Nov. 7 game against Sierra Foothill League rival Oakmont for violating team policies. According to multiple sources, the players were at a home where alcohol was present a week before the Oakmont game. This infraction of team rules, while not a district code of conduct

violation, resulted in the one-game suspensions. The Sacramento Bee reported that Coach Ernie Cooper confirmed the suspensions were for violating team policies. All athletes in the Roseville Joint Union High School District sign code-of-conduct statements in which they pledge they will not use drugs or alcohol during their seasons. Violations of this policy result in an automatic six-week suspension from athletic participa-

tion. “There is still an ongoing investigation,” assistant principal Brian McNulty said after the Oakmont game. “But we cannot release information while the investigation is going on.” The incident was reminiscent of last year’s soccer suspensions. In October 2007, eight varsity soccer players were suspended for the rest of the season when school officials learned they had used marijuana on a tournament trip to Illinois. The

soccer players were also suspended from school for five days, because the violation occurred on a schoolsponsored trip. Even if the investigation determines that players consumed alcohol, they would not be subject to school suspensions because the athletes were off campus in a private home. They would, however, see their football seasons come to an end for violating the code of conduct. “I have seen first hand the repercussions of using substances,” said one of last year’s suspended soccer players. “And I know there are pressures, but these guys know the consequences when they sign the code of conduct, and they saw

Students turn to illegal dietary supplements BY CONOR BELL

cbell.gazette@gmail.com

Looking for an edge

Granite Bay High School athletes operate under a great deal of pressure. Roster spots, valuable playing time and college scholarships are at stake for student athletes, and as a result they search for any advantage they can find. The tale of performance-enhancing substances is well-documented. Professional sports like baseball, track and field and cycling have all had to suffer through the trials and tribulations of tainted champions, while ominous dealers like the Bay Area’s BALCO have supplied the substances from the shadows. The case of high school athletes at GBHS isn’t nearly as extreme as that of professional or collegiate sports, but a certain dietary supplement has grown in popularity among students looking to bulk up, a supplement known as Tren. Tren can be purchased at local vitamin and dietary supplement retailer West Coast Nutrition, which is located in Granite Bay near Cavitt Middle School. The side effects of Tren would be comical if they were not so disturbing. Aside from unnatural weight gain, there are also a few unpleasant possible outcomes. “I heard it does weird things to your (nipples) and makes you emotional,” said junior varsity football player Dominic Lucia, who has considered using Tren. Tren causes the body to produce more estrogen, which ultimately leads to lactation of the nipples and a more volatile emotional state because of hormonal imbalances. An employee at West Coast nutrition strongly encouraged users to buy an “estrogen blocker” along with the Tren in order to prevent this unwanted side effect. Tren can also allegedly cause liver damage, although there has yet to be any conclusive scientific evidence to prove such a claim. Still, the West Coast Nutrition employee also encouraged Tren users to buy a drug to protect the user’s liver. The substance for sale at West Coast Nutrition, “Tren 2 Extreme,” is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Agency. It also has a notice on the bottle forbidding its retail sale to minors, but the supplement is legal for anyone over 18. So although the legality of actually using Tren may be questionable for most minors, assistant principal Brian McNulty made clear the school’s policy on the supplement. See TREN, page C7

what happened last year.” This is at least the second suspension of GBHS varsity football players for being in the presence of alcohol off campus. In 2006, more than 20 football players and cheerleaders were suspended by coaches and advisers for a game against Metro League foe Kennedy for being at a home where alcohol was present on the Tuesday night before the district 184th teacher training day. In that situation, administrators could not determine whether any alcohol was consumed by any players or cheerleaders, and so the athletic code guidelines did not apply. See SUSPENSIONS, page C4

Slopes ready to open A guide to Tahoe resorts BY NICK ANDERSON

nanderson.gazette@gmail.com

ki season is here and if you feel overwhelmed by the choices of mountain location the Gazette is here to help, if you want a quick survey of the closest places to ride look no further Squaw Valley USA: When it comes to terrain, Squaw Valley USA is the best you can get in the Sierra Nevadas. No other resort can match the size and variation of this mountain. Squaw Valley is also home to some of the most difficult terrain where backcountry riders can enjoy the extreme slopes and cliff drops of all sizes. This mountain attracts a distinct crowd with its unforgiving terrain, and has been built and designed around this aspect. Of the Sierras, Squaw takes least kindly to beginner riders as it has not fully adapted to newer technology. Locals and skillful riders do not seem to mind the prehistoric lifts which are compensated for by the terrain. Squaw doesn’t have the nicest facilities. Its mid mountain dining area is simply adequate. This lack of development can be attributed to its lack of need to cater to its customers, as it is able to bring revenue simply for its unmatched terrain. This is truly the locals’ mountain with its absence of frill and niceties to attract the crowds of tourists. Terrain Parks: Due to Squaw’s founding upon its terrain and appeal to back country riders; it has taken slowly See SNOW GUIDE, page C4

Distance runners in for the long haul Bryant Hom, Lauren Geiger recently ran marathons in S.F. BY LANA HARRISON

lharrison.gazette@gmail.com

Running 26.2 miles was the goal, the ultimate prize, the end result after months of hard work and training. To the average person who struggles to complete a jog around the block, it seems laughable, unbelievable. But two Granite Bay High School students saw the opportunity to run such a distance,

although no small challenge, as one that they embraced. Juniors Bryant Hom and Lauren Geiger recently braved long distance marathon courses in San Francisco – Hom the San Francisco Marathon comparable to more well known running events like the Boston Marathon, and Geiger the Nike Women’s Marathon in which the proceeds went to benefit leukemia and lymphoma research. Aug. 3 was the date set for

Hom, and it was a day filled with hundreds of cheering fans, family support, mental and physical challenges and as Hom is a fan of the city life, a breathtaking perspective of San Francisco. His journey started along Embarcadero Street and runners proceeded along the Golden Gate Bridge, and wound their way through the city to finally end back at their starting place on the Embarcadero. And among the hundreds

of spectators that gathered to watch, were Hom’s sister, aunt, uncle, mom, as well as cross country coach Angela Pozzi and GBHS seniors Shawn Taylor and Fontayne Sisson, who volunteered to help work at the marathon. “In the very beginning they were there for starting line,” Hom said. “And then after that, (they were) at mile 20 because it’s called the wall. That’s where runners are mentally and physically fatigued.” Geiger was also surrounded by

friends and family. In fact, her mother and two of her friends were also runners in the race, and it was because of them that Geiger decided to participate. “I went with my mom and two friends,” Geiger said. “One lady, who we’re really close with, has breast cancer and couldn’t do it. So I did it for her.” Although this was Geiger’s first time running in a full marathon, she has been involved with other See RUNNERS, page C4

inside sports Conor’s Sports Question

athlete of the month

rising star

Boggism of the month

Skateboard Safety

a recent tragedy in the rocklin area has stirred debate about skateboard protection, helmets, and more

At a glance Giving a look at Granite Bay athletic teams’ scores, records, upcoming games and action photos.

SCHOOLS COVER DRUG USE/ABUSE The Granite Bay (Calif.) Gazette, (Karl Grubaugh, adviser) covered what has become almost commonplace in the sports world — drug and alcohol use. Such use has become prevalent among big-time athletes such as baseball great Mark McGwire, track star Marion Jones and World Series-winning pitcher Roger Clemens all being involved in various drugrelated scandals. With the use of performance-enhancing drugs dating back to the early Olympic Games, the use of such artificial enhancements has not escaped the notice of the scholastic governing bodies with many state associations now requiring scholastic athletes to undergo drug testing.

Junior pitcher and outfielder Marco Gonzales has been a part of all three 5A State Baseball Championships at Rocky. Now, however, he can add another award to his résumé: 2009 5A State Playoff MVP. KENNEDY: There’s something magical about a triplet, the rhythm that seems just right time and again. This lead breaks several rules and yet still works as a way to show the significance of this player’s achievements. KIBLER: I love this lead. Great use of repetition, which I feel is only effective if it isn’t used all the time. Even if I’m not a baseball fan, I’m going to keep reading this story because of the strong first sentence and the human-interest angle. BEYOND-THE-GAME LEAD By Christine Bedway, “Senior seeks field of dreams down in Louisiana,” The North Pointe, Grosse Pointe North High School (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) Marc Palazzolo is looking for a used truck. Color doesn’t really matter, but it needs to be able to sustain WINTER 2010

As part of their state fair or in numerous events in almost every state, high-school students, and even junior-high students, can participate in RODEO. Though not a part of most state athletic conferences, the competition comparable to professional rodeos and is governed by the National High School Rodeo Association, a group created in the mid-1900s with rodeos initially in Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Montana and South Dakota. Photo by Alex Benito

MORE LEADS TO ENTERTAIN AND TO INFORM Today, the same six boys stand together on the field for their last season of baseball together. They’ve learned that it’s about the little things. Each strike, each ball that misses the glove of the outfielders, and each minuscule error can drastically turn the tide of the game. And for those seniors, it’s more than their last season of baseball — it’s their last season as best friends, their last season as a family. KENNEDY: A long, in-depth piece deserves a lead that is more expansive than most, one that clues the reader into the theme of the narrative right away. This is a story about something more than baseball. Technically, the lead includes a comparison/ contrast sentence, introduces the theme of paying attention to little things and focusing on a special group of people. Too much for a 10-inch coverage story. Just right for a 2,000-word narrative about the season. KIBLER: I like the play with numbers in the first paragraph, but I’m drawn more to the group of kids who have grown up together, have played together all their lives — and this is going to be it. We can all identify with that whether we are athletes or simply friends graduating and going our separate ways. I also like the direction this could take with the “little things” and their importance.

INJURIES HAVE LONG-LASTING IMPACT The Stagg Line (Stagg High School, Stockton Calif.; Don Bott, adviser) covered the long-lasting impact of athletic injuries. Schools can cover not only the injuries themselves, but how much money schools and companies are spending to make sports, particularly football, safer. As a local news reporter said of this story by Chelsea Scahill, “The reporter tackles a subject that is very much in the public eye and a difficult issue that high schools, colleges and the NFL are struggling with.”

a 17-hour car drive. “My car probably wouldn’t make it down there. I bought it thinking I would just be driving to school. Now I need to drive 17 hours. Driving that far I would need a pick-up truck to pile all of my stuff in the back of the bed.” At the end of August, when the majority of his peers will be packing up to go to college in Michigan, Marc will be driving down to Bossier City, Louisiana. In Bossier City resides Bossier Parish Community College, where Marc has committed to play baseball next year. KENNEDY: This lead focuses on something the casual sports fan would never consider: the mundane details of simply getting to college. I would quibble a bit with the wordiness of the third paragraph, but it functions as the “nut graf” of the story. KIBLER: Kids who don’t know baseball will connect with the buying of a truck, but more importantly, I have a zillion questions in my head about why Marc is going all the way to Louisiana to go to a community college to play baseball. Way to find a great story. MOVING-ON LEAD By Caley Pavillard and Kate Ready, The Rock, Rock Canyon High School (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) Ten years ago, six 8-year-olds on a Little League team learned how to swing a bat and run around bases. WINTER 2010

RODEO EVENTS • bareback riding • steer wresting • saddle bronc riding • • • • • • • •

barrel racing breakaway roping calf roping bull riding goat tying pole bending team roping others determined at the local level.

QUOTATION LEAD By Kyle Fredrickson, Rocky Mountain Highlighter, Rocky Mountain High School (Fort Collins, Colo.) On the corner of senior Andy Burns’s dresser is a letter with a return address from Madison, Ala. It reads: Dear Andy Burns,/Hello. I am an emergency room doctor in Alabama. As a hobby, I have collected baseball autographs since I was 12 years old. Over the years I have gotten autographs from Cal Ripken, Mickey Mantle, Barry Bonds and many others. You have been mentioned as a highly ranked prospect, and I would like to add your autograph to my collection. Would you be so kind as to sign these few enclosed cards for me? Also, do you have a spare photo you could sign and send me? Thanks so much, / Dr. Greg Borucki/Madison, Ala. This is the Burns superstar. It extends beyond the limits of the school and even beyond state lines. KENNEDY: Leads just can’t be this complex. Readers will not sit still for them. I also didn’t really follow “This is the Burns superstar.” A star metaphor? A letter = his fame? KIBLER: Wow, this is a powerful quote lead. Again, I would use them sparingly, but even with the length of this one, it works well. n

COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY • 13

batting flawlessly as lead writers LEADS INVITE READERS. WINNING LEADS SWAY THEM TO STAY CONNECTED FOR NEW ANGLES ABOUT BIG SPORTS MOVES. BY HOWARD SPANOGLE

TIP: Work on Steps 1 and 2 individually. Then discuss as a class or in small groups. For Step 3, use a variety of approaches: individual rewrites, group rewrites and a combination of the two methods. Examples appeared as leads printed in 2009 newspapers that are members of the Ohio Scholastic Media Association. Names have been changed. In a few examples, especially in the Mindset section, students may be frustrated because writers failed to identify the main sport — an important omission that editors must correct.

o matter how great the story idea, publications discover that achieving the colorful and engaging lead for every story is a tough swing. Like teams that have the best records, editors and reporters must take training seriously. When other students read and edit stories, they need to ask, “How could you make this lead more effective?” Of course, alert writers should instantly reply, “Any suggestions?” Practice will help you attain ”ready-to-go” momentum. The Ohio examples — from small schools and large schools, from first timers and experienced writers and from new journalism efforts and established journalism programs — lay the “track” for sports-lead training. Like athletes who want to be quarterbacks, playmakers or homerun sluggers, those who want top staff status must concentrate on training workouts — the key to success. DIRECTIONS For each set of five leads, complete the following evaluations and rewrites: 1. In the space at the left, write the letter of the topic for each story. Factual omissions will become apparent as you make these decisions. 2. On your own paper, first list the detail or details the writer should include to make it easier for readers to recognize the focus/topic immediately. 3. Then, also on your own paper, after discussing answers as a class, rewrite the copy by editing phrases, connections or punctuation to strengthen the lead. MINDSET: LEADS THAT FOCUS ON VIEWPOINTS In the space to the left of each lead, write the letter of the topic for each story. A. A new team motto for the football team, B. How players could learn from losing, C. Changing traditions at an old school, D. Establishing a game mindset that fits previous experience, E. Establishing a team mindset at a new school, F. Mental approach for boys and girls cross-country teams. �� 1. After hours of grueling practice, after months of being pushed to the brink of mental sanity and physical capabilities, after devoting so much time and effort that they think they have broken the law of the conservation of matter and energy, sports players want to win at the end of another season. Yet too often is success just out of reach. Too often is the ball just one inch away from going into the goal. Too often is the person just one foot away from you when they cross the finish line in first. Doesn’t that stink? �� 2. There is a difference between stepping onto a field or court ready to play and stepping onto a field or court as a team ready to win. �� 3. Any athlete who has played sports at a brand new high school knows what it is like to start building a team from the ground up. Junior Rick Wilson said that one of the biggest parts of building a team at a new school is establishing traditions.

14 • COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY

WINTER 2010

�� 4. As a running back, Rob Graf has always been taught to go north and south. Always run on a line, forward or backward, not side to side. Off the football field, Graf stayed true to that rule when he moved south from Michigan to Ohio Central. �� 5. “If you have talent, you stand alone. If you have talent-plus, you stand out.” Author John C. Maxwell used this idea as the crux of his book, Talent Is Never Enough, and the Tiger football team has also taken on this mantra when playing Friday nights under the lights on Lakeside Field, every day on the practice field and in the weight room. AWARENESS: LEADS THAT FOCUS ON INSIGHTS In the space to the left of each lead, write the letter of the topic for each story. G. Runners performing as urban cowboys, H. Spirit of the marching band, I. Football players dealing with injuries, J. Athletes competing in multiple sports, K. Experienced team member switching to soccer, L. Human interest view of spirit support. �� 6. A crack, a pop, a snap. These sounds have been heard quite often on the football field this season as player after player sustains injuries. �� 7. Senior Jared Pearson has been running cross-country since seventh grade, the first year one could join the team. But for his senior year Pearson has decided not to run. �� 8. For most people, the seasons are winter, spring, summer and fall. But for some, they are basketball, baseball, preseason and football. Who are these people? They are the three-sport athletes at the high school. �� 9. Four figures decked in blue and gold lead the students in cheers that make many opponents freeze. Four figures carry on the tradition of the Southside Spirit Boys, who have helped support South High School athletes through their victories and losses. Four figures who have become an integral part of South athletics. �� 10. Some assume that brothers Brady and Bradley Morton’s favorite sport is running track or cross-country. In reality, it’s riding horses, roping cattle and winning national competitions year round. PROFILES: LEADS THAT FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALS In the space to the left of each lead, write the letter of the topic for each story. M. Profile of female skateboarder, N. Honor for female coach, O. Profile of a freshman tennis wonder, P. Background of premier running back, Q. Intro of new athletic director, R. Key basketball player facing diagnosis of lupus �� 11. Her passion for bowling has brought math teacher Dixie Fritz into the spotlight. But it was her coaching skills that have earned her the 2009 County Bowling Coach of the Year. �� 12. Senior starting point guard Kevin Martin went up against adversity at its worst and is now left standing with a chance that he may never play basketball again. All players face setbacks in their careers, but Martin never imagined his would be this large. He also never thought he would feel blessed when it was all said and done. �� 13. Even before the legal name was printed on his birth certificate, Christian Towson was known as Pedro. His nickname originated at Lee University, where his father, Mike Towson, majored in music. Mike spent numerous hours perusing the local music store with his friends and future wife, where the owner constantly called customers “Pee-dro.” Uncertain as to why this was, Mike asked where this unusual name came from. “Well, you know it’s like the Mexican name,” the owner responded. The thick southern drawl he possessed prohibited “Pedro” from being pronounced “Pay-dro.” continued on page 16 WINTER 2010

COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY • 15

continued from page 15

The mispronunciation of the common name became an inside joke among Mike’s circle of friends. When Pedro was in the womb, Curt began to call him “Pee-dro,” and the name stuck.

�� 14. It is extremely easy to miss — a nondescript, gray warehouse in Buckeye City, Ohio, complete with beaten up doors and an odd rumbling from inside the building. A barely marked side entrance leads to a cumbersome door, which opens to a dark, steep, wooden staircase on the right. A climb up the stairs reveals the source of the rumbling heard from outside the building — 15 or so teenagers with an assortment of skateboards, scooters and roller blades. “All right, move.” A red-haired boy on a skateboard throws his thumb to his client and raises his eyebrows in question to the speaker. “Yeah, you.” The lone girl skating at Savvy Skatepark, where the air is marginally warmer than the outside temperature on a snowy February afternoon, answers the boy’s question with a wave of her hand motioning him to move to the side. The boy moves out of her way. As soon as she begins to fly past, it is evident why she needed her fellow skater to clear the way as well as why the boy respected her enough to move. �� 15. First singles is the top position achievable on a tennis team. After graduating their first singles player from the year before, the girls tennis team looked for a new face to step up and take the position. However, no one, including herself, expected it to be Marty Grant. TEAMS: LEADS THAT FOCUS ON GROUPS ANSWERS/Teams: S. Honoring senior females on team, T. Preparation for league competition, U. Player’s signal for team attitude, V. Heavy-duty practice for team (wrestling), W. Swim team growth, Y. Golfers working together. �� 16. This year’s huge swim team is making waves. With the returning swimmers and the addition of freshmen, the team’s participation has skyrocketed. The swim team’s participation numbers went from 40 members last season to a whopping 55 this season. Although swimming has up to three hours of practice a day, it has drawn in huge participation this year. This is probably because the swim team proved to be such a great experience last year for those who participated. �� 17. With the opening kick-off minutes away, captain Stephen McNeil passes through the locker-room door and gives the River Junction football sign a traditional tap. As the adrenaline kicks in, beads of sweat slowly drip from his brow. He has mentally prepared himself and his teammates for the next 48 minutes of football. �� 18. The Central Lions boys basketball team is more than ready to win this season. While the players are looking forward to playing Lincoln at home, Coach Ramsey has his mind set simply on the next game. �� 19. Parents huddled in groups against the October wind, and classmates set out blankets to watch the tennis team face off on Senior Night against Rocky Falls. This year Senior Night honored four seniors: Laurey Ickes, Elaine Larson, Juanita Perez and Terry Fiore. �� 20. It’s five after three on a weekday, and 30 high-school students are making their way down to the fitness room. It’s time for wrestling practice and walking into the room, the team’s anticipation of the work ahead of them becomes apparent.

16 • COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY

WINTER 2010

ANSWER KEY

batting flawlessly as lead writers KEY: MINDSET 1–B “Sports players” suggest multiple sports so use diverse teams in graph 2 examples. 2–F Vague because of two omissions: Name the sport (cross-country, not mentined in lead) and refer to both boys and girls (about both teams). 3–E Clearly connect both sentences. Perhaps use “traditions” in each sentence. 4–D Modify “Off the football field,” such as “On his new football field,” 5–A To accent effect of quote, begin new paragraph with “Author.” Sample Rewrite/No. 2: Both male and female runners pace themselves to be part of a team ready to win rather than simply to compete. Crossing the finish line first is what counts — for the team as well as for individuals. KEY: AWARENESS 6–I Change passive verb as follows: These sounds reverberated frequently on ….” Use stats — as ??? (number) offensive players and ??? (number) defensive teammates sustained injuries. 7–K Two essentials: Change vague pronoun “one” to “he.” Be sure to identify the new sport: soccer (not mentioned). Better: Highlight running involved in both sports. 8–J Use sports terminology — For most fans, the …. Avoid “but” and “they” — For three-sport athletes, however, the seasons are …. What drives these players? 9–L Tighten copy: “students” (not “the students”), supported (not “helped support”), “have become” (not “who have become”). 10–G Strengthen contrast. Use term “cowboy” or “rodeo” to clearly emphasize activity that will be highlighted in the story. Sample Rewrite/No. 10: Panther sports fans may assume Brady and Bradley Morton’s favorite sport is running track or cross-country. Year round, though, the “urban cowboys” prefer riding horses, roping cattle and winning national competitions.

KEY: PROFILES 11–N Add pizzazz such as follows: Change “has brought” to “rolled” and “have earned” to “her coaching skills lifted her on stage as the 2009….” 12–R It is essential to mention lupus and its seriousness. Omit the “All players” clause (distracts). 13–P Though interesting, it is important to highlight Pedro as the star running back. Consider these additions. Graph 1 at end: “… Pedro, known as the fleetfooted scoring threat on the football field. Or at end of the last graph: “No matter how his name is pronounced, at City High fans are more likely to shout, “Run, Pedro, run.” 14–M Dramatic approach, but emphasize the skater rather than the building. Also, include the name of the skater. 15–O Delete first sentence — point is obvious. Stress her class rank as follows: “expected it to be freshman Marty Grant, the newest team member.” Sample Rewrite/No. 11: In the classroom, math teacher Dixie Fritz instills confidence for students solving complex algebra problems. In April, at the bowling alley, her coaching skills have lifted her to a new status: the 2009 County Bowling Coach of the Year. KEY: TEAMS 16–W “Making waves” fits swimming sport. Maintain water terms in other sentences (not “skyrocketed” nor “whopping”). Work on vague pronouns and terms in graph 2. 17–U Sentence 1 is effective. Rewrite sentence 2 to show how the tap affects the attitude of teammates. 18–T Clarify facts, such as “Lincoln” status and when game happens. Limit the scope as lead focuses on effect of coach’s leadership. 19–S Make students primary and parents secondary. How does wind affect tennis seniors? 20–V Use more specifics: location of room, how team walks, kind of work anticipated, wrestlers (not students). Suggest positive attitude. Sample Rewrite/No. 16: The 55-member swim team is making a big splash. Up from 40 members last year, the team is awash with 35 returning swimmers and 20 freshmen. Despite up to three hours of practice daily, swimmers are energized by their numbers as they practice dives and strokes for competition.

WINTER 2010

COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY • 17