AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > August > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPractice is overrated
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
I went to Georgia’s football practice Wednesday; maybe 10 minutes of it. At Georgia, writers are only allowed to watch the first 20 minutes, most of which consists of stretching. And you know what I say to coaches who close practice to writers?
Thank you.
That’s not what I’m supposed to say, I know. We’re supposed to clamor for access, access, access. (Speaking of which, sort of, the writer Larry Sloman — who was covering the Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1975 — complained to Bob Dylan, whose idea the Rolling Thunder Revue was, that he needed access. Deadpan, Bobby D. said, “You need Ex-Lax? What have you been eating?”)
But here’s a confession from this particular writer: I HATE watching practice. I hate batting practice. I hate basketball practice. I hate football practice most of all.
I hate it because you stand there and watch and you learn almost nothing — at least I learn almost nothing — from watching. You see guys run around and think, “Boy, they look pretty good.” But until you see them running against somebody who plays for a different team, you don’t actually know if they’re any good or not.
My first season as the beat writer for The Lexington Leader — it was 1980 — I went to the first couple weeks of Kentucky’s football practice and became convinced that the Wildcats, who’d been picked to finish ninth or so in the SEC, were so talented that they were going to win a slew of games and show those know-nothing prognosticators the error of their ways. Kentucky finished, you should know, 3-8 and beat only Vanderbilt in SEC play.
Practice is a bigger deal if you’re a beat writer and need to know who’s hurt or who’s been demoted, but that’s not my job anymore. My job is to give pithy little opinions, and it’s my pithy little opinion that watching practice is the most overrated thing in sportswriting. I do it as little as possible, and then only grudgingly.
I know what you’re thinking: That the average fan would love to trade places and stand on the sidelines in the hot sun at Flowery Branch or in Athens or wherever it is that football is being practiced. And the average fan probably would — for three, four, maybe five sessions. But after that the novelty would wear off and you know what the average fan would be?
Exactly the same as jaded ol’ me — hot and bored.
Permalink | Comments (28) | Post your comment | Categories: Mark Bradley, Quick Hit
Comments
By The Man
August 10, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this
WTF?
By Brian Hunt
August 10, 2006 10:21 AM | Link to this
This is a funny blog. Thanks for sharing. LMAO.
By northwestDawg
August 10, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this
Having been there, thanks for a chuckle to start the day and you’re right. People would feel that way.
By Godfrey
August 10, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this
As a former sportswriter I couldn’t agree more. There is nary a shred of insight gained, an always an afternoon wasted.
The Godfrey Show
By Reality
August 10, 2006 12:26 PM | Link to this
Quit glorifying yourself Mark…..The average fan can go watch practice just as you can, its no big deal….
By Mike
August 10, 2006 12:38 PM | Link to this
This is a perfect example of why the AJC could NEVER charge us to read articles as they tied to do before. With the season so close, you would think our sportswriters could actually find something more interesting to write about
By Cutcliffe
August 10, 2006 12:40 PM | Link to this
Godfrey, anyone who read you when you were writing for the DM knows damn well you never went to a practice.
By Mike
August 10, 2006 12:41 PM | Link to this
This is a perfect example of why the AJC could NEVER charge us to read articles as they tied to do before. With the season so close, you would think our sportswriters could actually find something more interesting to write about
By Cutcliffe
August 10, 2006 12:41 PM | Link to this
Godfrey, anyone who read you when you were writing for the DM knows damn well you never went to a practice.
By Jeff Stewart
August 10, 2006 12:57 PM | Link to this
Maybe you need to let somebody that is interested in reporting sports news have your press pass. Then I would thank you because I wouldn’t have to read your sarcastic articles.
By Jay
August 10, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this
If you hate sports so much, go cover fashion or do movie reviews.
Geez, I’ve never seen columnists who just constantly whine about everything. Opinion has to be more than just whining about this and that.
By Paul
August 10, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this
I think the average fan would rather go to a Georgia football practice than a real Braves game.
By Lane4411
August 10, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this
Graduated in 69, have attended 3 games, staying for the entirety of only 1. As for practice, watching the lineman go 1 on 1, would be of interest because of the hitting - but only for and hour or so and of course passing drills.
By Lane4411
August 10, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this
Graduated in 69, have attended 3 games, staying for the entirety of only 1. As for practice, watching the lineman go 1 on 1, would be of interest because of the hitting - but only for and hour or so and of course passing drills.
By Michael
August 10, 2006 02:35 PM | Link to this
I watched a couple of hours of Falcons training camp a few years ago. I have watched high school and college marching bands practice. Guess which one is more entertaining? The only thing gained from watching practices is interviewing the players and coaches afterwards. The only people who enjoy watching practice are the same ones that watch Countdown to Signing Day as if you get a trophy for having the top bunch of 18-year-olds who haven’t even set foot on campus yet.
By honest_abe
August 10, 2006 03:05 PM | Link to this
wow you buffoons need to lighten up!! it’s like if you dont’ know how mathew stafford’s jock strap smells like you guys all get incensed! my goodness, i think the man is only trying to convey some humor in his piece………
By Josh
August 10, 2006 04:43 PM | Link to this
Bradley,
Now you have an idea of what it feels like to read your coluumns!
By steph
August 10, 2006 04:57 PM | Link to this
I know that this is off topic but…I have a friend who is interested in enrolling her high-school aged son into a top notch baseball program at a high school in the Atlanta metro area. Does anyone know what the top 3 or 4 high schools are re: baseball programs or know where I could find this info? Thanks!
By steph
August 10, 2006 04:58 PM | Link to this
I know that this is off topic but…I have a friend who is interested in enrolling her high-school aged son into a top notch baseball program at a high school in the Atlanta metro area. Does anyone know what the top 3 or 4 high schools are re: baseball programs or know where I could find this info? Thanks!
By Mike Fendley
August 10, 2006 05:06 PM | Link to this
Somebody please start a firebradley.com
By Hotrod
August 10, 2006 05:47 PM | Link to this
Thrashers hockey practice is the best kept secret in Atlanta. Its cool indoors, you stand right next to the glass,and have the great experience of their speed and agility. Its not boring at all.
By Connie Lingous
August 10, 2006 10:33 PM | Link to this
Maybe you’d be more welcome at practice if you still had your poofy hair, Bradley!
By Alan Iverson
August 11, 2006 01:42 AM | Link to this
Hey Bratley, I know exactly how you feel.
By mart
August 11, 2006 08:06 AM | Link to this
This space would have been better spent discussing the greatest baseball game ever played. Yes, I’m talking about the classic 1968 matchup between Bob Gibson and his defending world champ Cards against Phil Niekro and the Braves at Atlanta Stadium on a hot summer night. The Cardinals won 1-0 on a Roger Maris rbi. Bullet Bob and Knucksie both pitched complete games of course. Baseball has paled since then.
By Alan Iverson
August 11, 2006 09:23 AM | Link to this
Yeah but we are talking about practice!!!
By Patman
August 11, 2006 03:06 PM | Link to this
Geez Bradley, get a freaking life already! Damn!
By tim
August 11, 2006 03:17 PM | Link to this
I agree with you almost totally. After the first week of the season watching practice is a waste of time. Even as a beat writer it wasn’t all that useful after about two weeks.Except for batting practice, which only served as a cue for the pressroom buffet to open.
By tim
August 11, 2006 03:19 PM | Link to this
I agree with you almost totally. After the first week of the season watching practice is a waste of time. Even as a beat writer it wasn’t all that useful after about two weeks.Except for batting practice, which only served as a cue for the pressroom buffet to open.