What do You think?
I had a conversation with former Star-News and current Tribune prep editor Fred Robledo Thursday. The conversation got going when I mentioned I was covering Flintridge Prep's boys volleyball match against three-time defending CIF-SS Division V champion Viewpoint (a match that turned out to be an outstanding one). He scoffed at the fact the we've been covering volleyball this season. I mentioned to him that, in some cases, boys volleyball in this area, has actually outdrawn baseball and softball in terms of attendance.
Here's what Fred wrote over on his side of town.
"I was talking with Star-News prep editor Scott Galetti, who is convinced that boys volleyball is just as popular on the West side of the Valley as baseball and softball. He says there are more fans at volleyball games in the Star-News area, but I think there are more fans as a whole in baseball and softball. That's what sports guys do, we disagree. How about on the Tribune side of town? Should I be giving boys volleyball, track and swimming the same coverage we give baseball and softball during the season? We've already started covering track now that the big meets are here, and I usually wait until we get closer to CIF before I start dialing in on volleyball and swimming. What are your thoughts?
I've stated from Day 1, much to the dismay of New York, that I feel it's important to give every sport as much coverage, especially if it's warranted. And, as in the case of the other sports, we cover the top games.
Now I never said I was convinced that boys volleyball is as popular as baseball and softball, I just conveyed that the crowds at the big matches that I've attended have been bigger at times. Case in point, a couple of weeks ago when Crescenta Valley and Arcadia had their big night-time doubleheader with baseball and volleyball at the same time, the crowd in the gym at the volleyball match was larger than the baseball crowd, which large to say the least.
Yes, there wasn't a seat to be had at the baseball game and there were people lining each side in the outfield. But the stands inside are larger than the small stands at a baseball field.
I've mentioned this before on the blog, last season, before they put in the stadium seats, San Marino had a big baseball game with Temple City. The crowd was decent, but I ventured over to the gym to take a quick peak at what was going on in San Marino's boys volleyball match with South Pasadena and the crowd was larger than any basketball game I've seen there.
And, let's face it, baseball generally outdraws softball, although the bloggers will tell you otherwise.
What are your thoughts?
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
I like this info presented and it has given me some sort of commitment to have success for some reason, so thank you.
I apologise for not being so serious today I read this and though:
Never get into fights with ugly people, they have nothing to lose.
I agree with everything you said there, keep up the good writing
wonderful post, thank you!
Don't exceed two sheets, and don't print on both sides. If you have participated as a volunteer in cultural clubs, local religious community, science projects, competitions or any other activities, make sure you include that.
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Scott G,
I appreciate the ink, but you have qualified your statement such that it is impossible to defend...isn't anything that is "warranted" worth doing?
My complaint is not in the articles you write but rather the order in which the stories appear on the blog. This is only for my personal preference because I often check from my blackberry and it's a little annoying having to scroll through myriad threads with so few comments.
As far as PSN coverage, I think it would be wonderful if every player could get his or her name mentioned at some point, but that's not reality either. Scarce resources force you to allocate coverage to where it is "warranted."
As far as attendance at each event, that must be a school-by-school phenomena.
Ummm, Mike, we covered both days of Arcadia and the Pasadena Games, so we've covered the bases on the big meets. You are taking into account that a lot of the people in the seats were many of the contestants themselves. Still it was a good crowd. And Arcadia's different because you had people from all over the country, not just locally.
What are you guys shiffing you can take all the vollyball games this season and the attendance wont even add up to one major track meet the Arcadia Inv.must have had at least 10,000 for the two days.why so little track this season.
What Freddy has to understand is that every volleyball match we've covered this year has been a quality one. I have a good feel for which ones are the top ones.
I really like the philosophy of covering all the sports, especially if its warranted. The sports section has had a good diversity of coverage this season.
This area has some good boys volleyball teams. A small group of area teams in Div 2 thru Div 5 have gone deep into the playoffs over the last years (Arcadia, South Pas, San Gabriel, San Marino, Pas Poly, Flintridge Prep and last season LaSalle). Some of the above have gone all the way to the CIF Finals. Arcadia has to play in the impossible Div 2 playoffs, thats the only reason they havent been to the Finals recently. So there is a quality level of play, even if we arent Mira Costa, Newport Harbor or Loyola. South Pas very nearly beat Mater Dei in the 2000 boys volleyball playoffs, when Allan Vince played for the Tigers. There are not too many sports or teams on the boys team sports side in the Star News area, that can say they were competitive with Mater Dei in a CIF playoff situation. Whether this is newsworthy or not is not my call.
On the attendance issue, there are matches where the crowds are light, but in the key league matches or if there's a game at night or in CIF play, boys volleyball can outdraw any high school sport other than football and basketball. There have been occasions where volleyball has outdrawn basketball and maybe a few where its outdrawn football.
I never scoffed that he was covering volleyball, it was HOW MUCH volleyball.
Is there a difference in what times the games are played, do cheerleaders attend, is there concessions?
There are different factors that influence attendance.
Attendance usually has a lot to do with how the teams are doing as well.