Comments

Thomas, not to sound like the old geezer that I am, but I think you’re on to something about the levels of dedication. The best quote I ever heard on that was attributed to the inimitable Blackie Sherrod, who mused that ``Sportswriters used to go to games looking for a great story. Now they go looking for a phone and a three-prong outlet.’’—Or something like that.

Dan on 02/24/2010 (12:06 pm)

Chuck T, I’ve wondered the same thing. Of course when the powers that be can’t find the money to put tape on the court to mark the no-charge zone beneath the basket, how could one expect them to spring for sensors. But it’ll come in time, which hopefully is not that far off.

Dan on 02/24/2010 (12:04 pm)

John, I also saw where he’s playing in Charlotte on 3/11 and Greensboro 3/12. Good thing there’s nothing else going on at that time—LIKE THE ACC TOURNAMENT! If WF plays on the afternoon of the 12th, I’m trying to figure if I could make it to the show that night. Now that would be a nice day.

Dan on 02/24/2010 (12:03 pm)

Bobby H, I told L.D. to give me something good to write about. Carolina-Wake games are always great fun to cover.

Dan on 02/24/2010 (12:01 pm)

CMFan, Just checked out Guy Clark’s Analog Girl. Hell of a song, but I’m not surprised, given who wrote it. I suspect it’s about his wife Susanna.
Desperados Waiting For the Train is one of my favorite songs. Thanks for the heads up.

Dan on 02/24/2010 (11:58 am)

Terry, you could eat off my telecopier too, if you were a dog. In fact I think Old Cozmo did exactly that a couple of times. By the way, it’s hard working for anybody when you’ve worked for the best.

Dan on 02/24/2010 (11:55 am)

There is, of course, more to this post than Country could ever have time to write and still cover Wake Forest sports. The telecopier was a hideous invention, but it worked pretty well if it was taken care of. Some writers were good about that, some not so much. You could eat off Bill Cole’s telecopier. Country’s?? Well…  And they required patience, because they were 50-50 when it came to reliablity. Some writers had less patience than others. I was quite often the guy who had to take dictation when Dan’s telecopier failed. Suffice it to say that taking dictation from Country because of a telecopier failure was a test of my managerial skills.
But we all lived through it, our jobs and friendships intact.
Terry Oberle
Sports Editor Ret.

Terry Oberle on 02/24/2010 (11:27 am)

Dan,

Love the blog.  For another musical take on technology that I think you’d like see Guy Clark’s “Analog Girl.”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAmDlmrAIiY

CMFan on 02/24/2010 (10:56 am)

Dan,

One of the most enjoyable by Robert Earl is about the “bucking horse.” He, too, is one of my favorite singers/writers. I’m eager to read your Wake-Carolina columns coming soon!!

bobby h griffin on 02/24/2010 (10:44 am)

I plan on catching REK when he comes up to Asheville in March.  Hopefully I can sing ‘Feels So Good Feelin’ Good Again’ after the game on Saturday!

John on 02/24/2010 (9:57 am)

Speaking of technology… Why can’t “we” put sensors on # point line, so-called arc under basket, and end line?!? Money? With TV $‘s, NCAA should be able to afford to implement this/these at all venues.

Chuck T on 02/23/2010 (8:33 pm)

Dan,

I can’t imagine having to do some of the things you described in that piece.

Do you think the increase in technology, while not only pushing the newspaper to the back burner in terms of medium consumed, has served to diminish the quality of sports writing and or writing in general? Meaning: Have you seen a change in the kind of people and their dedication level, doing the job you started out doing those years ago? Or is it just easier? Personally, I can’t fathom working without the modern prepress and press rig, i.e. having to cut and paste little pieces of paper on to a thing and then take a big picture of it with a giant camera whilst on deadline. Want to hear something stressful, think about returning to an office where you have exactly 1.5 hours to write a girls and boys basketball story from the game you just attended, while also taking call-ins from the other three schools in your area (if they choose to do so) all while finishing the layout of your own pages. It’s a doozy.
So that being said, I think I would have blown my brains out long ago if I had a crappy TRS 80s to work with or God forbid trusting my work with some poor sap on the other end of a phone line. It’s a world few enter, but the stress and fulfillment of a nightly deadline met is a thing of beauty. But I will tell you this, I won’t be complaining quite as much next time I’m pedal to the metal. I’ll just be happy I’ve got what I do.

Thomas on 02/23/2010 (4:47 pm)