I was going to write some about LSU”s big-time (for a second time) win yesterday here in Atlanta; give you all fun tidbits from the Georgia Dome like how my buddy Dave called me right after the game and asked what was up with Big Baby being all pissed off at the end of the game (my reply: “I didn”t see that – but he”s dancing around in a feather boa right now …”).
But then I came across something even more stunning than the Tigers taking down Duke and Texas in a fit of March Madness – possibly the worst sports feature story ever written. The lead story of The Advocate (The Baton Rouge daily, not the national gay newspaper) – the piece I assume is on today”s front page under a big “Tigers off to Final Four” headline – was written by somebody named Emily Kern.
This is the big “celebration” story; the one meant to capture this special moment in LSU history. Why they sent what seems to be a middle-school student to write it is beyond me. Some “highlights” –
The lead:
After LSU’s 10-point overtime victory against Texas in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, Donnie Norad of Houma described the experience as the greatest thing to happen to LSU men’s basketball in 20 years.
The 70-60 win means LSU moves on to the Final Four for the first time since 1986. If LSU wins, the Tigers will play for the national championship.
Wow, how did Emily manage to find a fan with such tremendous insight? Who else but Donnie Norad would pick up on the fact that LSU hasn”t been to the Final Four in 20 years, making yesterday”s win the biggest thing since then? And, oh, the compelling writing.
Some “flavor” of the celebration:
After the win, LSU head coach John Brady walked over to the side of the arena where his wife and daughters were sitting and flashed a thumbs-up in their direction.
“I think John Brady has done a remarkable job with what he had to work with,” Norad said while the LSU band played in celebration and one basketball player saluted the crowd while standing atop the table where radio reporters were working. “He finally put it all together.”
I guess Emily was so taken with Donnie”s fabulous insight that she couldn”t focus on who that “one basketball player” might have been. Hint: those numbers on their shirts are a clue as to who they are.
Emily”s a basketball fan:
At the end of the second period, the game was tied at 52 points. The Tigers commanded the overtime period, making an additional 18 points to win the game.
Who writes like that? I mean, other than a middle-schooler.
After that, the story devolves into canned “fan scene” stuff from before the game. I was as Jocks & Jills where Emily was picking up some fabulous stories, but she didn”t manage to find me.
You can read the whole piece yourself, but I don”t recommend it.
If this load of trash is actually on the front page of the printed paper, The Advocate should be ashamed.
