Here are some style resources for journalists, online or otherwise.
I just sent (basically) this e-mail to our baseball writer. I'm having a bit of a hard time with this, although right now it's a hypothetical hard time, because as noted below, a lot might still happen:
Here's my thought on Clemens, but I don't know how much more can be said. Although the boss and I just had a spirited discussion about it, so I guess ...
Let's say that he retires, and five years from now, the only person who has ever connected Roger Clemens to steroids is McNamee. No paper, no checks, no admissions (obviously), nobody else says, "Yeah, he did that." Nothing. Just one guy saying it, and a lot of others saying, "Well, look at him. It's obvious."
Clemens goes before Congress and through several civil suits, and every time he testifies, he categorically denies that he did steroids. Not even a hint of a crack in his story. And not another shred of proof.
How can people justify not voting him into the Hall on the first ballot?
Some say, "Well, why would McNamee lie?" I don't know. Why are there serial killers, or why do people streak across football fields or indulge in any other sociopathic behavior? Maybe he wanted 15 minutes of fame, and fingering the most famous guy he was connected with was the way he did it.
Bottom line: People would keep the greatest pitcher of his generation out of the Hall of Fame based on ONE PERSON saying something and a feeling. And that seems wrong to me.
Now, as (my boss) correctly notes, there's five years between now and then, and a lot of time to sort things out. And yes, I believe Clemens did steroids. And just so we're clear, I'm not a Clemens fan, have never been a fan of a single team he has been connected with. So it's not about that.
But if we're sitting here five years from now with exactly the same amount of proof we have today, then that's going to be a hell of a dilemma. Or, more to the point, should be.
It has been quite a hectic year in SWE_Blogger's life, both good things and bad. As a result, this site hasn't been taken care of properly and has therefore been mostly irrelevant.
We're hoping to change that in 2008, so if you happen by here and see this note, check by again soon.
While we'll comment on sports issues, I also want to make this a place where we talk about the things that can make the business fun and interesting -- words and style, photos, display, trends.
So stop by soon, and have a good holiday.
Well, I've obviously been away for a long time. It's my intention to get this thing up and running again and start regular posting. We'll see if I actually follow through.
Posting today about the amazing story of Colleen Bellotti, wife of Oregon football coach Mike, angrily confronting Portland Oregonian columnist John Canzano over a column he wrote about their son. Canzano writes about the whole thing in his blog, and the New York Times chronicles it, too.
Wasn't a well-kept secret, rumored when he took the buyout at the L.A. Times, but J.J. Adande has started writing a column for ESPN. com. David Davis writes about it on SoCalSportsObserved.
Going to be brief today, a busy day.
Actually, brief is better than what I've been doing. This blog has often been neglected, as you can see.
June is a travel/vacation month for me, so I've been looking here even less than usual. But I really intend to use this forum more regularly starting in late June/early July, and not just for passing news.
So keep checking back; hopefully, the links are helpful (and more are always welcome), and we'll start doing something interesting here soon.
Lorraine Ali does an interview/Q&A with L.A. Times reporter Christine Daniels, and it's published here online in Newsweek.
I worked with Christine when she was Mike Penner back at the Times back in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A great colleague and friend -- although like many of us, we lose touch when there are thousands of miles between -- and I wish her nothing but the best.
