2008 Woodie Awards
Different sports should get better, fairer coverage
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Rocket Letters
To the Editor:
I am very disappointed over the past years about the types of sports coverage The Rocket puts out. Why is it that no matter what happens in any university sport that in the fall, football is on the front page, in the winter basketball is on the front page and in the spring baseball consumes the entire front page. I am sorry but other sports deserve recognition as well.
For example, when track set new school records, The Rocket focused on humiliating the Men's Basketball team. Focus on the positives people. Which leads me to my second point, why if teams are getting blown out and having a terrible season does The Rocket like to focus on their downfalls and rip them apart? It's a school newspaper and these are your peers, be supportive. Do you understand the multiple roles these student-athletes play? They are full-time students, first class athletes who practice everyday of the week, who travel to other schools hours away and miss numerous classes, they hold down part time jobs, some are parents, and your going to sit there and rip them apart for everyone to see Friday morning? We do community service, teach camps to children and do our best to win.
Excuse me, because I don't believe any athlete on the campus walks on to a field, court, track, or pool deck and says, "Today is the day, that I am going do the worst I can possibly do and ensure my team a loss." We are out there trying and busting our butts every day of the week and in most cases at 5 a.m. in the morning and again in the afternoon working to improve our skills. I don't think many people on the Rocket staff wake up at 5 a.m. to read the thesaurus to find some vivacious words to improve their writing. We as student athletes also hold it down in the classroom, FYI we have a higher GPA as a unit then the rest of the student body. Also why are their fall previews and winter previews before they begin play but not one word last week about baseball or softball beginning their seasons this week. So my suggestion for The Rocket is don't focus on our negatives. News should be objective, and if a team is having a bad season don't put them on the front page of the paper just because they are a mainstream sport. When another team is setting school records, and winning national championships let them have the spotlight. Have a little humanity and think logically we are your friends and peers.
Nicole Banner
Senior Captain
Softball Team
I am very disappointed over the past years about the types of sports coverage The Rocket puts out. Why is it that no matter what happens in any university sport that in the fall, football is on the front page, in the winter basketball is on the front page and in the spring baseball consumes the entire front page. I am sorry but other sports deserve recognition as well.
For example, when track set new school records, The Rocket focused on humiliating the Men's Basketball team. Focus on the positives people. Which leads me to my second point, why if teams are getting blown out and having a terrible season does The Rocket like to focus on their downfalls and rip them apart? It's a school newspaper and these are your peers, be supportive. Do you understand the multiple roles these student-athletes play? They are full-time students, first class athletes who practice everyday of the week, who travel to other schools hours away and miss numerous classes, they hold down part time jobs, some are parents, and your going to sit there and rip them apart for everyone to see Friday morning? We do community service, teach camps to children and do our best to win.
Excuse me, because I don't believe any athlete on the campus walks on to a field, court, track, or pool deck and says, "Today is the day, that I am going do the worst I can possibly do and ensure my team a loss." We are out there trying and busting our butts every day of the week and in most cases at 5 a.m. in the morning and again in the afternoon working to improve our skills. I don't think many people on the Rocket staff wake up at 5 a.m. to read the thesaurus to find some vivacious words to improve their writing. We as student athletes also hold it down in the classroom, FYI we have a higher GPA as a unit then the rest of the student body. Also why are their fall previews and winter previews before they begin play but not one word last week about baseball or softball beginning their seasons this week. So my suggestion for The Rocket is don't focus on our negatives. News should be objective, and if a team is having a bad season don't put them on the front page of the paper just because they are a mainstream sport. When another team is setting school records, and winning national championships let them have the spotlight. Have a little humanity and think logically we are your friends and peers.
Nicole Banner
Senior Captain
Softball Team
