Interested in the USSoccerPlayers.com site pulling back its coverage of MLS, and me spinning that into a long, self-absorbed post about My Opinions?
No? Wow, you’re in the wrong place then. What am I supposed to do, tell the Red Bulls to hurry up and hire a coach so we have something to write about? The Red Bulls are a professional organization that will not be hurried into making panic moves.
Okay, so, here.
Now, read this.
Here’s what jumped out at me from the Through Ball post:
Traditional soccer reporters will always perform their duties in a traditional (and extraordinarily valuable) way and, while the world of soccer journalism is a little different from the other major American sports in terms of chumminess, they simply aren’t going to take on the role of overt cheerleaders.
Because bloggers are not constrained by traditional media ethos, they will see and report the game from a different perspective and, more importantly, reach a different audience. While a reporter writing in Sports Illustrated or on Soccernet will reach the devoted fan, the blogger will perform dual outreach roles, writing for both the devoted fans and the ambivalent observers who make up that all-important, spongy market segment that wants to love soccer but hasn’t been given a reason.
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The worst thing that could happen is that the bloggers write a standard match report.
I think it’s completely the other way round. More traditional media outlets reach the casual observer. Online folk preach to the choir.
I don’t know what someone who hates soccer would get out of this blog, for example. It takes an extremely special writer to get to the “I hate bullfighting but love Hemingway” or “I hate the Raiders but love Hunter S. Thompson” level. Yeah, I know – I’m better than those hacks. But for someone who doesn’t know from soccer, I’d have to be footnoted, indexed and glossaried like a seventh-grade Shakespeare textbook.
As far as the worst thing that could happen – no, the worst thing, from the MLS point of view, is that someone writes that at least two of the league’s jersey sponsors should be indicted, and that one of the teams should be tossed out of the league. Cough cough.
A moot point, perhaps, given that MLS routinely gives out passes to people who believe the entire league is a fraud and should be put out of business so we can all go home and watch the Premiership on pay-per-view the way God intended.
The other thing is that, once again, January 11 changed everything. David Freaking Beckham brought MLS to the attention of press outlets who would have made Gutenberg melt his printing press had he foreseen what his invention would bring. There was a much bigger crush to follow the circus around, and Entertainment Tonight had to come before Junior High School Level Blogger. Ideally, MLS or the Galaxy would have paid closer attention to what was being written and said, so that anyone who made up or repeated a “Beckham to be Loaned to Merthyr Tydfil” story would be met with justice swift and severe. But a new big audience trumps a small loyal audience. Ask any punk band.
I think the dynamic is, someone decides to give soccer a try, they like it, THEN they wander over here. I don’t know if this blog has won over a single fan to the sport. Same with Du Nord, same with Through Ball, same with all the wonderful blogs over to your right. It’s a great and growing community, and I’m happy to be a part of it. But it’s other people – Beckham, ESPN, Jim Rome – who do the actual growing.
So this was probably what the US Soccer Players site bumped into. Either that, or it’s just the imminent labor-management struggle being played out. The USSP site did and does a fantastic job. But who are they reaching? Existing soccer fans.
Here’s the other thing. Don’t get me wrong – the USSP should have access. Except, more than the basics? They’re the union, after all – if they want to interview someone, can’t they just go through the database and pick a guy?
And, predictably, I’m taking “glorified fan sites” the wrong way. But most of those sites to your right are glorified fan sites as well.
I have been given passes to MLS, US Soccer, and FIFA Women’s World Cup games by virtue of being an online columnist. Why? Dunno. Didn’t ask, because I was afraid of the answer “Yeah, why DID we give you pass? Give that back.” But what I wasn’t concerned about was being anything more than a fan. I want to entertain my fellow fans, not educate an ignorant or uncaring public. That’s the job of Real Reporters With Real Deadlines.
Besides, it’s sports. Objectivity is beside the point. You can’t enjoy the game unless you take a side to some extent. Mainstream sports press do take sides – either for the local team, or for whoever’s winning. If you need to look at it from some place besides a cheering interest, you’re missing out on the fun. And if that’s what it takes nowadays to get a press pass, you’re honestly better off without one.
3 Comments
I think it’s completely the other way round. More traditional media outlets reach the casual observer. Online folk preach to the choir.
You know, I actually considered that before I wrote what I did and I don’t think you’re wrong. But, for what it’s worth (and maybe it’s an exception) ThroughBall.com has garnered a fair bit of attention from the non-soccer universe.
Maybe it starts with a friend who isn’t soccer-inclined; they read something and pass it along, etc. etc. Because bloggers are free to write in ways that attract non-soccer people (you exemplify this better than anyone), I believe they’re better-positioned to sell the game.
It certainly isn’t a complete thesis but it’s worth discussing.
I don’t know what someone who hates soccer would get out of this blog, for example.
I don’t know what someone who loves soccer would get out of this blog either.
I’d just like the ability to provide original content to readers that they aren’t getting elsewhere. But in some cases, without the cooperation of MLS or USSF, that is impossible. Sure there are still things to do – sometimes it forces one to dig deeper which could lead to an even better story – but a big (and potentially popular) piece of the editorial pie is out of reach.
Admittedly, I come at this from working as a journalist outside of soccer where getting access is rarely a problem for me. But say the word ‘blog’ and all of a sudden it becomes an issue. I’ve seen the smirks, heard the cackling.
It is sad that the diction brings negativity, but It is not unlike the mainstream need to build basic trust and respect. A new magazine or newspaper for example launches and needs to prove to their subjects that they act professional and reasonable. At first, it may be hard to get access to certain things, but over time that may change. Do a good job with your newspaper, magazine, or blog, prove your worth and the access should come. You could also just call this building contacts. I’m guessing Steve Goff doesn’t wait for MLS to grant him access. He just calls the player on the phone.
I know I have seen this predicament change in the almost three years I’ve written TIAS. It’s still a battle, especially the big corporate battles, but many more people are open to my questions now than in 2005.
Am I allowed to do the fly-on-the-wall features with MLS players and teams that I would love to do? No, but I might with the USL or a college team. And I have with high school teams, whose stories are as worthy of coverage as any.
From my experience USSF does a good job for the most part in this regard. MLS is less focused. The quality of their respective on-line products pretty much paints the picture.
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US Soccer and the SoccerSphere…
Josh at Throughball takes US Soccer to task over their disregard for the many soccer blogs out there covering US Soccer on a daily basis. Clearly US Soccer can do more to leverage the SoccerSphere and expand the reach of US Soccer online.
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