Pick up the phone, give us a call
Time for a small rant.
In Thursday's edition of the Observer-Reporter, you might notice the results of the wrestling matches competed on Wednesday. You also might notice that about half of the scheduled results are not in the paper. That's because we did not get a call, or fax, or e-mail with information. I know which ones, but I will not embarrass the programs by listing them this time.
We have a four-man sports staff and we cover two dozen schools. Most of these schools have at least three winter sports. We have to rely on the teams to call in their results, not because it makes me happy - it does - but because it makes their fans happy. The newspaper is a conduit for information about the teams fans want to follow at their school. When those results are not reported, it hurts the fans.
We also use these results to gather information and form future stories or possibly pick an Athlete of the Week. We can't do that when it's not submitted.
It only takes about 5 minutes to make the call and give the information. Not doing so keeps their performances hidden. Even losing teams have worthy efforts to publicize. But no one gets recognized if the results are not provided.
In Thursday's edition of the Observer-Reporter, you might notice the results of the wrestling matches competed on Wednesday. You also might notice that about half of the scheduled results are not in the paper. That's because we did not get a call, or fax, or e-mail with information. I know which ones, but I will not embarrass the programs by listing them this time.
We have a four-man sports staff and we cover two dozen schools. Most of these schools have at least three winter sports. We have to rely on the teams to call in their results, not because it makes me happy - it does - but because it makes their fans happy. The newspaper is a conduit for information about the teams fans want to follow at their school. When those results are not reported, it hurts the fans.
We also use these results to gather information and form future stories or possibly pick an Athlete of the Week. We can't do that when it's not submitted.
It only takes about 5 minutes to make the call and give the information. Not doing so keeps their performances hidden. Even losing teams have worthy efforts to publicize. But no one gets recognized if the results are not provided.
posted by Joe Tuscano at
12:24 AM
27 Comments:
AMEN
I'm pretty sure the observer reporter is paying your salary not the coaches. It is in my opinion that you need to do your job and cover the games, if you are too understaffed then hire more people. Don't blame it on the coaches they have a thousand things to do and are drastically underpaid. How is that for a rant
The coaches don't have to call, the scorekeeper does. So that's one less thing out of the thousand that coaches don't have to do.
I look forward to reading about the results of wrestling matches, the time and efforts of these boys is tremendous to this sport..they most definitely need recognized for their accomplishments. Take five and get it reported timely, many will appreciate it.
CM never gets left out. who else really matters anyway thanks joe.
The WPIAL requires the coach to report scores to the local paper.
Do your jobs coaches.
I agree people are buying the observer to read the results so then the observer should be responsible for getting the info. Seems pretty reasonable to me
CM never gets left out because they make sure their information gets in. They stay in touch with me and let me know when they are having events. That's why they appear here. Any school can do it and I don't turn anyone away if I'm contacted in a timely manner. Canon-McMillan just understands how to promote itself.
You tell'em joe, dont be pickin on our boys.. this is our house. I really don't think there is any other team worth hearing about anyway. Probably another AA school complaining.
There does not have to be any complaining. Like I said, every school has the same opportunity to get publicity and some take advantage. Where do you think I got the information on Trinity's Hall of Fame? They sent it to me. West Greene did the same last year for their ceremony.
Wow, I find it hard to believe that the school's have not been reporting their results to the point where they need a calling out. Then, I love the nerve of a poster telling you to hire more reporters to fix a simple problem that can be resolved by one five minute phone call from a coach or score keeper after the game/match! I guess these coaches must be on the losing side a lot and are embarassed to make the calls.
I for one can say that our wrestling coach did call in the score of our wrestling match last week on 12/12 and was told to,"call back in an hour". When he did, there was no answer........Therefore our results did not get published.
Yes, not reporting to to Joe Tuscano is devastating. Maybe schools have threw in the towel trying to compete for any behind the holy grail of high school wrestling, besides the other teams read more unbiased wrestling reports where they may get to read about the other 99% of the wrestlers.
Anonymous, I believe someone is not being truthful with you. We would never tell anyone to "Call back in an hour." If the lines were busy - and that happens - we would take a number and return the call in the net 10 minutes.
Wow that comment from of course anonymous said that they didn't think there's any other team worth hearing about anyway! That was totally uncalled for! There was several wrestling scores in the Uniontown Herald on Thursday. So what's the problem with the observer. Try to get along with people or you'll lose subscribers. Parents & fan & players like to look at all the results. How did the Herald get results. They answered their phone.
I think the Observer reports exclusively for Canon Mac, although I quit following that paper
Too bad you don't pick up the paper during wrestling season because you missed:
1. Tanner Sutton feature
2. Trinity's new head coach Mark Powell
3. The Chartiers-Houston Tournament
4. Trinity-McGuffey match
5. Angelo Broglia feature
7. Dave Cook heading to Hall of Fame
8. Charleroi's Nick Gavazzi Athlete of the week
But it's all about Canon-Mac, right?
Wouldn't know, many quit purchasing and subscribing to that particular paper last year..
The O-R is a good paper, for what that's worth. The CM thing is a tricky one because they do deserve the credit they're getting, and most of the other local teams are rebuilding, but the coverage is pretty even handed. And that rebuilding is actually happening, if you look closely, but it takes time. Peters is undefeated, Char Houston is doing pretty well, Trinity & McGuffey are taking steps, and Washington even had a win last week that puts them in contention for an outside shot at the post season.
I would ask if the system for reporting scores needs a reboot, and how we can make it easier for the teams to report. CM envy may make it unpleasant for some to read on Thursday morning, but that can't be the rationale for no call Wednesday night, am I right?
I know that after every match when I was on the team that coach mary made it a point to personally call in the scores as soon as we got on the bus. And if you'd like scores to be called in, how about a phone #?
We run the phone numbers in our Scoreboard section on Page C2 nearly every day of publication.
To Alan: I don't know how much easier we can make it. Cell phone call, five minutes talking to a sportswriter, give some details. Goodbye. Thanks for calling. E-mail it in? fine. Fax it in? fine. Easy.
And with that answer by joe there, gentlemen, we see one reason these old institutions like this paper are dying out today. A suggestion to ask why they didn't call scores in is met by "it can't be our fault.".
So your sugesstion would be . . . what?
Outside of the results from Canon-McMillan there are no wrestling matches out there that are worth spending a measly 5 minute phone call on. If you're wrestling for some team other than C-M you're on a glorified junior high team that probably forfeits a half dozen weight classes. You're of nop interest to anybody.
You have a pretty narrow view of high school sports and one I don't share.
why a small runt? how big a problem is it really?
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