Fordham Ram coverage of fordham Basketball

[LXRF]

Last night, I read an article on our first two games, "Men's Basketball Airballs in First Two Matches," written by Sports Editor, Mark Becker for the November 18th Fordham Ram. I thought the article was knowledgable, informative, analytical and accurately critical. It had some indepth quotes and a number of comparisons of players performances from past years to this year. There were insights in the article that we haven't seen on this Board. And it was straight down the line.  The Sports Editor even took a good accompanying photo, of Chris Gaston under the hoop. Recommend reading future articles.

[Stringer Bell]

I believe that kid was a regular contributor to this board last season, he does a pretty good job.  I believe Frank and Gray turned him down for an interview right around the same time Costello got his 5 part series.    

[high school hoops]

Mark better pay more attention to details if he has any ambition to be a real sports reporter. The article states, "It could mean a return to successful basketball, as in the days of the Billy Packer-led 1971 Rams or the “redeem team” of Bryant Dunston, Marcus Stout and company."

I did not realize that Billy Packer was the coach of the great 1971 Ram team. Perhaps someone should send this article to Digger Phelps, to let him know how well his success at Fordham is remembered by the current students.

Guys, if you intend to promote Mark's articles, that is fine, but please point out any embarassing errors. I also expect better work from the sport's editor for the Ram.

[Bronx Boy]

I did not realize that Billy Packer was the coach of the great 1971 Ram team.  Perhaps someone should send this article to Digger Phelps, to let him know how well his success at Fordham is remembered by the current students.

Packer attended Wake Forest from 1958 to 1962.  He played guard on the school's basketball team for his last three years.  Back then, freshmen were not eligible for varsity sports. He lead Wake to two ACC titles and the 1962 Final Four.

After graduation, he did a brief stint, as an assistant coach for his alma mater.

[high school hoops]

Bronx, I surely know Billy Packer and his accomplishments. My comment was made in a "tongue in cheek" manner as the Ram Sport's editor stated that Billy Packer led the Fordham basketball team in 1971. I believe we all know that Digger Phelps was the coach of that team.

[LXRF]

Mark better pay more attention to details if he has any ambition to be a real sports reporter. The article states, "It could mean a return to successful basketball, as in the days of the Billy Packer-led 1971 Rams or the “redeem team” of Bryant Dunston, Marcus Stout and company."

I did not realize that Billy Packer was the coach of the great 1971 Ram team. Perhaps someone should send this article to Digger Phelps, to let him know how well his success at Fordham is remembered by the current students.

Guys, if you intend to promote Mark's articles, that is fine, but please point out any embarassing errors. I also expect better work from the sport's editor for the Ram.

Clearly that sentence was in error,as most Fordham basketball fans would know. (He might've meant Billy Mainor). My point was that the writing on the currrent Fordham team was good. I think you go overboard when you say I was trying to promote the writing.  I think it's legitimate on a Fordham basketball board to call attention to an intelligently written article, in a Fordham student paper, on a subject that interests everyone on this Board.   

[high school hoops]

LX. I am glad that you let us know about the Ram article, as it is a good venue for us to learn how the students view the problems with our hoops' program. That being said, you went too far in defending the sport's editor. To suggest that he meant Billy Mainor is beyond a stretch ( I do not even think that Mark's father would use that excuse). He made a careless error in confusing Digger with Billy, and it should have been caught in the review process. Journalists are not taken seriously when they make fundamental mistakes in an article. Mark needs to be more careful. I do not think he will use this article as an example of his work if he applies for a job as a sport's journalist job after college.

[rambacker]

Anyone who was around for the great '70-71 season knows that Billy Mainor was an excellent player but could never be described as "leading the team" that year.  He was a part of it, not the leader.  Accuracy and the ability to dig for facts in a story that no else has found are what set the great journalists apart from the also-rans.  This is what this young journalist must learn.

[high school hoops]

I agree with your conclusion Rambacker, but do you really think there was even the slighest possibility that the Ram Sports Editor meant " Billy Mainor", when he said "Billy Packer". No one disagrees that Mainor was an important cog on that team, but please do not accept that Mark meant "Billy Mainor" when he said Billy Packer. It is pretty obvious to me that he meant to say Digger Phelps, but instead inserted another old time announcer Billy Packer. Again, I agree with your conclusion, but do not give this kid a bogus way out for a sloppy error in his piece. I am sure that Mark will learn from his error and will be more careful in his next article.

[txram]

Anyone who was around for the great '70-71 season knows that Billy Mainor was an excellent player but could never be described as "leading the team" that year.  He was a part of it, not the leader. 

Billy was a fine player and housemate of mine.  He threw "darts" at the basket.  Not til I saw Tracy McGrady have I seen a shot as flat as Billy's.

[rambacker]

I agree with your conclusion Rambacker, but do you really think there was even the slighest possibility that the Ram Sports Editor meant " Billy Mainor", when he said "Billy Packer".

No, that's why this statement was part of my comment: 

Accuracy and the ability to dig for facts in a story that no else has found are what set the great journalists apart from the also-rans.  This is what this young journalist must learn.

[LXRF]

You guys are over analyzing this post.  I was trying to call attention to the article as another source of information about the team.  I wasn't recommending the writer for a Pulitzer. I didn't mention the Billy Packer error, or another error re: Lance Brown not playing in the first two games, because I believe in getting information from as many sources as possible and then making my own critical judgments on the writng.  Everybody has their own style; it should come as no surprise to readers of this Board that some people are very judgmental. 

[B2Bomber]

Unintentional errors in journalism occur almost daily, even in the New York Times and Washington Post or WallStreet Journal.  They regularly print 'corrections' and 'apologies'.   Usually on page A19 in some obscure paragraph below the advertisement for shock absorbers or women's lingerie.   

However, this young journalist must remember, even in the frenzied hours and days of undergraduate work, that one must be careful about editing properly and digging for facts.  The Ram represents the University online.    The error should be repaired and apologies made quickly.   

Otherwise, he does good work writing as Sports Editor for the Ram, trying his best to give us some perspective.    The fact that Grank refused him an interview last year is outrageous.    That is tantamount to admission of guilt (for Grank) and very unprofessional behavior.    If they can't take the heat of a reporter, they frankly (pardon the pun) don't deserve to be in their positions.    Really chicken-manure if you ask me.