GET USED TO THIS TYPE OF HACK WRITING

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Mar 31, 2008 6:16 PM CDT

Here's the mighty AP, and the marvelous Rick Gano with the game wrap-up:

"The start of the Cubs 100th season since winning a World SerIes ended like so many other seasons at Wrigley Field -- with a loss."

He ends with: (after referring to the Fukedome HR)

"but it wasn't enough for the Cubs who haven't even reached the World Series since 1945."

Couldn't you say this about every game played this season that the team loses? What terrible, uncreative, hack writing......just awful.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Yep.

I am SO tired of the 100 year thing. You won't see me mention it, probably ever.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 31, 2008 6:18 PM CDT reply actions

Ugh.

And so it begins...

Alan Trammell: Assistant (to the) Manager

by northsider on Mar 31, 2008 6:18 PM CDT reply actions

I thought you would be referring to something like this:

unfortunately, besides Zambrano and Dome, everyone looked like utter crap and I'm very discouraged.

Theriot looked horrendous and proved and will prove soon enough, how he's not a regular MLB player and certainly not a lead off hitter. What a relief the Cubs didn't pull off that trade for Roberts. That would've been the stupidest thing they could have ever done.

Soriano apparently will never stop swinging at off speed pitches in the dirt.

Lee look absolutely terrible at the plate today. I'm officially concerned.

Ramirez had some hard hit balls and I'm not concerned with him at all. He will have a big year.

Soto looked the same he did in ST and that is absolutely clueless at the plate.

Pie, well, looked like the overhyped prospect that he is, showing no plate discipline and susceptible to fastball in.

Dome and Zambrano looked great today but other than that, poop (Cedeno!).

I know I know, it's only 1 game and the first of the year and no I'm not giving up, but if I had to change anything about this team, it's Theriot. He's not an everyday MLB player. He will prove it, over and over again this year unfortunately.

by lemon20pie on Mar 31, 2008 6:23 PM CDT reply actions

Geez.

It's one game. Give it at least a couple weeks, before you give up on people.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 31, 2008 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll give 'em 1 more game;)

by lemon20pie on Mar 31, 2008 7:13 PM CDT up reply actions

you left out DeRosa

Who hit two monster almost home-runs. Yes, they weren't actually home-runs, although they were about as close as you can get. He made good contact. He played well on D.

It's the first game. I'm not quite ready to commit seppuku in the corner.

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on Mar 31, 2008 7:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Re:

I'm not quite ready to commit seppuku in the corner.

True, though I did commit Harry Caray at the local watering hole.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 31, 2008 7:30 PM CDT up reply actions

rim shot

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Apr 1, 2008 6:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Try living in Pittsburgh...

Although the Pirates have not been +.500 for 15 yrs, I still hear 100 yrs, or Steve Bartman all game long. I had enough of it as well.

I think we all know what the solution is though..

Bleeding Cubbie Blue since 1985.

by Bricks and Ivy on Mar 31, 2008 6:24 PM CDT reply actions

Sportswriter's dream.

Half of their copy is already written. One more reason why I've sloughed off print media.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 31, 2008 6:42 PM CDT reply actions

C'mon guys

Rick's a good guy. He's just doing his job.
FWIW, the AP treats their sports writers like garbage. If I had a guess, I'd say they work like 60 hours a week and have to cover everything, from college sports to baseball to basketball to hockey to tennis to pga to everything in between and make it seem like they know what they're talking about even if they don't. That's not as rare as you would think since they get hardly any prep time beforehand. They don't get beats like a newspaper reporter and often are put to things at the last minute. I'm giving old Rick a break here.
That said, I'm just as annoyed with this 100-year crap as anybody. But we'd better get accustomed to it.
Also, no I'm not trying to swell sympathy for sports writers. Their job kicks ass; we all know this. Let's just not just bash the guy and call him a hack is all I ask.

rain delay theatre

by rob9802 on Mar 31, 2008 8:00 PM CDT reply actions

Read the post below for a rebuttal, with which I agree.

Write about the game -- which had terrific pitching, a fantastic comeback, meltdowns by closers -- great storylines all.

Using the "history" angle as a crutch is not only a stretch, it IS hack writing.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 31, 2008 9:22 PM CDT up reply actions

I read this article earlier and thought the same thing

Write about the game, not about the team's history it's opening day of the regular season, my god. Maybe if it were a playoff choke or something I could understand it but not from today's game.

by CubsBall2202 on Mar 31, 2008 8:46 PM CDT reply actions

"It was a dark and stormy night...."

Thought I'd start out this post with one of the grand opens of all time! This, essentially is what the AP writer did.

I am currently writing/anchoring radio news as a part of my latest gig. I have many years of such experience on my resume. This is sophmoric writing with an open and close that he must have bought at Wal-Mart in the " cliche," department, next to the cat litter. This wouldn't make the cut at Journalism 101.

As CubsBall has just pointed out -- this is not a story that called for a recital of the team's history. But, perhaps the writer just discovered the Cubs past, for all I know.

I will call them as I see them, and this is journalistic crap, and, sadly -- it's evident all the time, even at the network level.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Apr 1, 2008 12:02 AM CDT reply actions

Why get so down everybody??

After not having seen most of my vendor collegues for months, my vendor neighbor greeted me today with some disparaging mark regarding the Cubs and the whole 100 year thing.

A little background is that he is a Sox fan who hates the Cubs. Guy's been working at wrigley (and comiskey) for forty years, has seen A LOT of Cubs baseball, and still can't get past a very petty disagreement amongst two teams in the same town. I know that sometimes he's sort of friendly, often sort of socially ackward, whatever, but there's definately a bitterness that comes through whenever we talk-- day in day out over the next six months, he would rather take a pot shot at the Cubs than say Hi. I know from years of experience.

My gut reaction to his insult on this festive Opening Day has changed my whole outlook. I got him to high five me, I yelled, "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!" and I kept walking.

EVERYDAY THIS SEASON IS A CELEBRATION OF THE CUBS WINNING THE WORLD SERIES!!

What's the worst that can happen now?? 105 years certainly doesn't have the same ring. I'm not going to live to see 200 years.

And I'm certainly not going to let pot shots at my favorite team affect me.

100 years ago the Cubs won the world series, and that's pretty cool. Enjoy it. We can greet each other with "Happy Anniversary!" and mean it. I had more fun celebrating Y2K than I did fearing Y2K, just as I'm going to enjoy this year and all the reminders of a Cubs world series title, come what may.

Happy New Year, and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

"Trapled moss on your souls; changes all you're a part; seen it all, not at all; can't defend a (Cubs fan)"- pearl jam

by section229beer on Apr 1, 2008 12:54 AM CDT reply actions