7. Why we gotta know how to cover sports

9.  Sports are the typically the most-viewed events on television: 111 million tuned for 2011 Super Bowl

10.  Second most-popular section of newspapers

11.  Sports are the typically the most-viewed events on television: 111 million tuned for 2011 Super Bowl  Second most-popular section of newspapers  What are the five most popular spectator sports in the U.S.?

12.  Sports are the typically the most-viewed events on television: 111 million tuned for 2011 Super Bowl  Second most-popular section of newspapers  What are the five most popular spectator sports in the U.S.? Football, NASCAR, baseball, basketball, hockey

13.  Sports are the typically the most-viewed events on television: 111 million tuned for 2011 Super Bowl  Second most-popular section of newspapers  What are the five most popular spectator sports in the U.S.? Football, NASCAR, baseball, basketball, hockey  Most popular internationally?

14.  Sports are the typically the most-viewed events on television: 111 million tuned for 2011 Super Bowl  Second most-popular section of newspapers  What are the five most popular spectator sports in the U.S.? Football, NASCAR, baseball, basketball, hockey  Most popular internationally? Soccer, cricket, field hockey, tennis, volleyball

15.  Most popular participant sport in U.S.?

16.  Most popular participant sport in U.S.? Bowling, fitness walking, tennis, golf, aerobics

17.  It’s big business: consumer spending on sports likely tops $50 billion in U.S.

18.  Most popular participant sport in U.S.? Bowling, fitness walking, tennis, golf, aerobics  It’s big business: consumer spending on sports likely tops $50 billion in U.S.  Most valuable sports team in world?

19.  Most popular participant sport in U.S.? Bowling, fitness walking, tennis, golf, aerobics  It’s big business: consumer spending on sports likely tops $50 billion in U.S.  Most valuable sports team in world? Manchester United, worth $1.8 billion

27.  Most of what you’ll write are game stories: West Florida Christian vs Miami Heat, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Riverview, Sarasota Scullers regatta, Eddie Herr tennis tournament, FHSAA golf tournament, spring training games

28.  Game stories are news reports about who won and how the action unfolded

29.  Most of what you’ll write are game stories: West Florida Christian vs Miami Heat, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Riverview, Sarasota Scullers regatta, Eddie Herr tennis tournament, FHSAA golf tournament, spring training games  Game stories are news reports about who won and how the action unfolded  Ideally, the reporter is on hand

30.  You’ll witness game, interview participants, note crowd reactions, compile statistics

31.  Typically use a summary, inverted pyramid lede

32.  You’ll witness game, interview participants, note crowd reactions, compile statistics  Typically use a summary, inverted pyramid lede  “West Florida Christian, led by the Irvin brothers, thumped the Orlando Magic on Monday night 107-49.”

33.  You’ll witness game, interview participants, note crowd reactions, compile statistics  Typically use a summary, inverted pyramid lede  “West Florida Christian, led by the Irvin brothers, thumped the Orlando Magic on Monday night 107-49.”  Thousands of variations of game day stories... from simple IP to more feature like

36.  Final score

37.  Team names and type of sport if not obvious

38.  Final score  Team names and type of sport if not obvious  Where and when

39.  Final score  Team names and type of sport if not obvious  Where and when  Key players and plays

40.  Final score  Team names and type of sport if not obvious  Where and when  Key players and plays  Quotes

41.  Final score  Team names and type of sport if not obvious  Where and when  Key players and plays  Quotes  Strategies that affected outcome

42.  Final score  Team names and type of sport if not obvious  Where and when  Key players and plays  Quotes  Strategies that affected outcome  Stats

43.  Injuries

44.  Records

45.  Injuries  Records  What game means

46.  Injuries  Records  What game means  Color: weather, crowd size and demeanor, celebs in attendance

48.  Story written in advance of a big game... e.g., Super Bowl

49.  Significance of game, history, key players, records and momentum, quotes, strategies, injuries, who’s favored, time and tix info

51.  Can write features on just about any aspect of sports

52.  Most common are personality profiles

55.  You are paid to be opinionated... and to get fans riled up

57.  Read and study pages 111-125 of Inside Reporting