Miazga, Volleyball Magazine
Vicki Michaelis, USA Today
Gary Mihoces, USA Today
Bryce Miller, San Diego Union Tribune
Jason Mucher, USATriathlon.com
Manny Navarro, Miami Herald
Rob Neyer, The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers
Jim O’Connell, Associated Press
J.R. Ogden, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
John Patton, The Gainesville Sun (Florida)
Maurice Patton, MoPattonSports.com
Kim Pendery, The Tampa Tribune
Brian Poulter, Eastern Illinois University
Jon Rascon, FantasyFootballTrader.com
Karl Ravech, ESPN
Jim Rossow, The News-Gazette (Champaign, Illinois)
Jim Ruppert, The State-Journal Register (Springfield, Illinois)
Michael Russo, Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Bob Ryan, The Boston Globe
Nate Ryan, USA Today
Ron Shandler, BaseballHQ.com
Dave Sheinin, Washington Post
Mike Sielski, Philadelphia Inquirer
Drew Silva, RotoWorld.com
Craig Smith, The Seattle Times
Tim Stephens, @Sportsmanias
Matt Stevens, Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser
Jason Sobel, ESPN.com
Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times
Glenn Stout, The Best American Sports Writing series
Wright Thompson, ESPN
Jared Turner, SceneDaily.com (NASCAR)
L. Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated
Michael Wallace, ESPN
Rachel Whittaker, (New Orleans) Times-Picayune/NOLA.com
Andy Wilson, The Guardian (London)
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times
Lynn Zinser, The New York Times
Coaches
John Barnes, Excel Aquatics (Gallatin, Tennessee)
Bebe Bryans, University of Wisconsin (rowing)
Donald Fritsch, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (cross country)
John Fuchs, Western Washington University (rowing)
Frank Graziano, Eastern Illinois University (rugby)
Kelley Green, Loch Haven University (softball)
Mick Haley, University of Southern California (volleyball)
Kevin Hambly, University of Illinois (volleyball)
Rich Luenemann, Washington University in St. Louis (volleyball)
Geoff Masanet, Eastern Illinois University (cross country)
Missy Meharg, University of Maryland (field hockey)
Lynn Oberbillig, Smith College (chair of NCAA Softball Rules Committee)
Leslie Pfeil, Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Association
Becky Robinson, Ithaca College (rowing)
Brady Sallee, Eastern Illinois University (basketball)
Jim Schmitz, Eastern Illinois University (baseball)
Kim Schuette, Eastern Illinois University (softball)
Paul Stranz, Charleston High School (soccer)
Greg Strobel, Lehigh University (wrestling)
Richard Sutton, Kent State University (field hockey)
Bob Warming, Creighton University (soccer)
Mark Wetmore, University of Colorado (cross country)
Claus Wolter, Franklin & Marshall College (rowing)
Part I Getting Started
Chapter 1 From Sports Fan to Sports Reporter
You’re a lifelong football fan who can recite the names of every single Super Bowl champion. You also know the intricacies of baseball’s infield fly rule and the difference between major and minor penalties in hockey. Ty Cobb’s lifetime batting average? Please. You can even name the Maple Leafs player in 1951 who scored in overtime to hand Toronto the Stanley Cup.
And now you’ve landed your dream job, covering sports. First assignment: field hockey. Suddenly, you don’t have a clue. Can’t tell the difference between a penalty shot and a penalty corner. You’ll have to do some reporting, relying on your skills to learn more about this sport, these teams and the key players. Nobody, no matter how big a sports fan, is a born journalist. The transformation from fan requires training and education.
You don’t need a license—or even a degree in the field—to be a journalist. But you do need to act like one. And journalism is a profession that requires reporters to seek truth and report it; to provide a fair, comprehensive account of events; and to verify information, act independently and be accountable for mistakes. In addition, sports journalists research, interview, and observe thoroughly.
There’s No Cheering in the Press Box
So how do fans and sports journalists differ? In more ways than most people realize.
For example, fans can make unsubstantiated comments without consequences, the kind that can be unjustifiably critical of those who coach and play. A sports fan can say the goalie sucks. But a sports
