Small-town Texas editors and writers: Get a non-sports life!

A couple of years ago, I was at a photojournalism workshop and conference, and that leads to the header of this post. (And, its value has only increased with the novel coronavirus and the uncertainty of how many high school football games will even be played this year.)

It was specifically about sports photojournalism. And, at non-dailies, the managing editor may be doing it all. And in many cases, may be a sports geek (deliberate use of the word) first, and someone who muddles his way through news or feature stories second. (No political non-correctness intended, per the rest of this post; "he" is the operative word.)

At larger non-dailies and at small dailies, there may be a separate sports writer or editor. That person is still usually a "he."

Anyway, the one presenter was talking about tracking information while shooting photos.

And, this came up.

Not just one, not just two, but at least three attendees said they go to Hudl Saturday mornings and watch complete videos of Friday night's game to make sure their stats are correct.

There is SO MUCH emotional BS to unpack there.

First, UIL, unless the coach of the team you cover asks for your stats, doesn't give a flying fuck about your stats.

Second, the quarterback or tailback or wide receiver (or defensive end if you're so geeked out as to try to track tackles etc. on your own) doesn't care if you're a yard or two different from what his coaches have on numbers.

Third, the people reading your story may not care, and unless they're on either Hudl or MaxPreps (AND MaxPreps has full stats) they don't even know!

Fourth, some of your fellow editors and writers don't give a total flying fuck about our own stats past the final score and who scored what, when, and how.

Fifth, all of the above is, IMO, an ego trip, for the reasons mentioned.

Get a non-sports life.

No, maybe better yet, learn that a non-sports portion of your life can be made larger than it is now.

I know that many publishers say, whether with glee, chagrin or more complex emotions, that sports is the most important part of the community paper to many readers. Well, don't add fuel to that fire by thinking you need to be the omnipotent god of the sports pages. Besides, where down markers are spotted at and many other things is HIGHLY unscientific.