Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 6 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Can fervor for sports be redirected?
Published Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Sports excite us, anger us, move us to action and unite us like nothing else in the world.
Just check my e-mail account if you want proof.
Our choice of headline for the front-page story about the Saints Super Bowl win was a sin in some minds, and you all have told me so.
“Voodoo victory,” conjured up images of satanic rituals and hexes for some, slandered the people of Haiti for others and cheapened the Saints talent for the rest. Believe me when I say our intent was none of the above. The headline, in our minds, went well with the story below it.
Since our staff wasn’t in Miami or New Orleans, our coverage of the biggest game in these parts in decades was limited.
For us, the story of the Saints was the story of their local fans.
So our sports editor headed out to a few local restaurants where groups of people were gathered to watch the game.
He was responsible for coming back with two stories — one for the front page and one for the front page of the sports section. His goal for the front of the news section was to find a fun, light-hearted tale of a fan watching the game.
He succeeded when he found a woman who jokingly thought her lighter had some type of control over the Saints success.
Coincidentally, each time she’d flick on the lighter, the Saints would excel.
She knew it was a joke, we knew it was a joke, but when it comes to sports fans, I guess you just can’t joke around.
To us, the tale of the magic lighter fit appropriately with the voodoo for which New Orleans is sometimes known.
Combine that with another V word —Victory — and we thought the headline worked.
More than a dozen of our readers e-mailed or called in their disappointment with our headline.
To those, we apologize for cheapening the Saints victory for you.
But the whole situation only furthers the belief that sports rule the world.
In my six years with this newspaper, the only other headline that’s garnered as much feedback was on a story about a few members of a sports team at a local high school that were in some criminal trouble.
I understood the motivations behind those calls; local teens were involved and some people thought our newspaper had treated them unfairly.
Headlines of murder, political corruptness, gangs, suicide, homelessness, child abuse and tragedy, though, never provoke more than a few calls or e-mail if that much.
Often, we hear nothing back from our community.
Until, that is, we mess with sports.
Many of those voicing concern over the headline mentioned that they were Christians and were personally offended that their team had been linked with something like voodoo.
I can understand that concern, however where is the same concern when we report that teenagers are increasingly involved in neighborhood gangs?
Where is the community outrage when we report on a murder or break-in?
Sports are a great pastime that unites us all; I’m as big of a fan as the next person.
But sports aren’t the most important thing.
What would happen if our community rallied around public education the way the area cheers for LSU?
What if we bought T-shirts, car flags, bumper stickers and spent our time cheering on local law enforcement like we did the Saints?
Sports are important, they give us a release from the world; but are they as important as we make them?
Julie Cooper is the managing editor of The Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551.
Comments
Posted by jaquan32 (anonymous) on February 10, 2010 at 1:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you but you just need to relax a little. Everything has its place. I can imagine you being the biggest sarah palin supporter in the miss lou area!!! lol, lol, lol, lol, seriously i agree with you but leave sports alone. that editorial was not worth the money spent on ink to print. i see a creative talent inside you. how about you reach down and come from deep inside sometimes. i am very dissappointed. i have read other editorials from you. and although i rarely agree with you, i know you could have done better. you are young smart and beutiful, and you seem to have alot of compassion. will you please give me something that will make me think or question what? Grade = D-
Posted by dave07deuce07 (anonymous) on February 10, 2010 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I AGREE 100% WITH THE ARTICLE. SPORTS IS NO MORE THAN ENTERTAINMENT; SOME ENJOY IT, SOME DON'T. SOME TAKE IT MORE SERIOUS THAN OTHER. BUT NO MATTER HOW YOU TAKE IT; THE NEXT DAY OR TWO; IT'S BACK TO REAL BUSINESS; WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST AMONG US. IF THESE PROBLEMS WERE SPORTS; THE WORLD WOULD BE ABLE TO LAUGH AND SMILD EVERY DAY.
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on February 10, 2010 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the headline is what gets 'em stirred up, then maybe some brainstorming is in order when it comes to stories/issues that you want to see people more concerned about.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on February 10, 2010 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good piece Julie. I agree with you totally. Sports is just something for entertainment, they are not important in the real life that most people lead.
Posted by Crakalakin (anonymous) on February 11, 2010 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ah yes. People who don't actually play sports telling everyone what sports is all about.
If you ladies can think of anything else that has lifted the spirits of this region as much as the success of the Saints, please point it out. You think this is just the result of watching a couple of "entertainment" shows? Sports are metaphors for life itself. Sports strengthen our minds and bodies, teaches us about teamwork, dedication and work. We see and celebrate individual as well as team achievement.
"Many of those voicing concern over the headline mentioned that they were Christians and were personally offended that their team had been linked with something like voodoo."
Well, that's just stupid, isn't it? At some point you just have to call people on stuff like that.
"I can understand that concern, however where is the same concern when we report that teenagers are increasingly involved in neighborhood gangs?"
Where is the community outrage when we report on a murder or break-in?"
Those stories tend to generate the most posts in the comments section. Kind of difficult to be publicly "outraged" over those topics. It WILL get you branded a racist.
"What would happen if our community rallied around public education the way the area cheers for LSU?
What if we bought T-shirts, car flags, bumper stickers and spent our time cheering on local law enforcement like we did the Saints?"
Those questions are just disturbing. Sounds like something out of North Korea.
Posted by happyreader (anonymous) on February 11, 2010 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a lot of respect for the discipline and hard work that athletes put in to be good at what they do, and certainly the building of teamwork is a great thing. But I have to agree that, at least in this part of the country, sports are pretty much worshipped. It's a bit much. Crak, the reason the Saints' victory raised people's spirits is BECAUSE sports (particularly football) are put up on such a pedestal... not the other way around. Don't get me wrong - I'm glad the Saints won! If somebody had to win the Super Bowl, it might as well be a team from around here. But honestly, when I see grown men -and some women - angrily screaming at the TV, having their entire weekends "ruined" because their team didn't win whatever game, it makes me think of little children fighting over some silly toy. I just don't get it.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)