Every year, I get sucked in to reading articles that make the same tired assertions. This player is ‘dodgy’. That team plays the game the ‘wrong way’.
Despite knowing they cover no new ground, I will inevitably open the article and at least scroll through it. Why? Perhaps it is because some sports coverage lacks detail and depth.
Aside from cricket, my favourite sport to follow is basketball. The breadth of knowledge and understanding of the game on display from some NBA writers is astonishing. Writers like Zach Lowe and Kirk Goldberry – RIP Grantland – have taught me more about basketball than a long run of junior coaches ever did.
A good writer can broaden your perspective and understanding, while challenging your opinions and keeping you on your toes.
The Roar has some great writers. Ronan O’Connell, Glenn Mitchell and Brett McKay frequently offer worthwhile opinions and analysis on cricket (and other sports), while Dan Liebke has been bringing the lolz in sensational fashion.
This site is a great place for aspiring writers too. It provides a platform for young (and not-so-young) people to practice their craft and interact with the public in valuable ways. An Expert may even stop by and offer some feedback on your writing or argument.
With that in mind, I would like to politely ask for an immediate cease and desist on stereotyping and cliched accusations. Being able to build a convincing argument with supporting evidence is the crux of writing an opinion piece, and is frequently on display on The Roar among the Experts and most other writers.
You may not agree with the writer’s position, and feel you can present a counter argument with an equally strong weight of evidence. If so, then great. Bring it. Sites like this one flourish when people take the time to contribute, either by writing articles or commenting on the work of others.
Just don’t rely on tempting readers with clickbait followed by nothing to back up your assertion. If Steve Smith starts spitting in the face of opposing players, perhaps we can talk about ‘ugly Australians’ again, but only if there is a weight of evidence to support your thesis.
Sports analysis and commentary can be great. Writers should take the time to ensure it stays above mundane cliches and stereotypes.
And yes, the title of this article was clickbait. My apologies.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Cheers, Don.
Don Freo
Guest
Daniel, write more. I like your stuff. Like all readable writers, you write with love of cricket as your core value and that's always engaging. Writing with an agenda is our role. When I see that smiling face of Daniel Gray, I know I'm in for a good read.
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
Hi Daniel. I have a slightly different take on Roar articles than yourself, but I accept your point about clichéd clickbait. For me though, I look at the quality of the writing more than the message. For instance, my favourite contributor is Geoff Lemon. He always writes beautiful prose with great style and I love the way he introduces similes for comedic effect...
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Cheers, Andy. Thanks for reading.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Good to hear your story, Ryan. I miss Grantland already.
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
Nice work Daniel. Couldn't agree more.
Ryan Buckland
Expert
Completely agree with this, Ronan. I'd wanted to be sports journalist in primary school, but was counselled out of it in high school. I started doing this for fun when I was off on two months' paternity leave - after discovering Grantland and its whimsical writers, and comparing it to what was on offer by way of Australian sports coverage, I thought to myself that there must be a market for this (funnily enough, my first piece on The Roar was the application of a Bill Barnwell approach to calculate home field advantage in the AFL). [there's a slightly longer, less linear part of the story to tell, but its not particularly interesting] Now, I spend at least two full nights a week, and most mornings, writing because I love it so much. And all it took? I backed myself in.
Ryan Buckland
Expert
Here bloody here. Excellent old-school letter to the editor. This is exactly why I'm involved in this website - it offers so much more than the other, click-frenzied news outlets. I mean, the guys and gals let me write 5,700 words on five Carlton players for crying out loud! We do have to draw a slight distinction here, though. The likes of the News Ltd and Fairfax - the two biggest online media houses in the country I'd think - seem to centre their writing almost exclusively on news type content. What's great about The Roar is that it doesn't have this as its over-riding objective. Its all about the 'feels', and reporting on news (which as you somewhat tongue in cheek point out above can be done by an algorithm these days) becomes a secondary consideration. When they do break into opinion/analysis mode, they fall back on tired clichés. That "The Tackle" is still a thing in this day and age beggars belief I should add that I barely ever go to an actual "news" website any more. Twitter, and my curated follows, fills that brief for me.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
The fact my absurd story is a possibility says it all, doesn't it? :)
Paul D
Roar Guru
I'm not sure if you're sarcastic or serious with the first part of your comment. The "journalism" is so bad there sometimes I wouldn't be surprised if it was true. Between Damian Barrett running flags up any pole he can find, and Slobbo vomiting his feelpinions all over the AFL 360 desk each night, you wonder how these guys get gigs sometimes.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Absolutely, Paul. When the AFL set up their 'media centre' a few years ago, what they didn't tell us is that articles would be generated by an algorithm. It is so sophisticated that it even creates the name of a writer, to give the impression that a human was somehow involved in its creation. Very pleased to hear your experience with Experts on here has been as positive as mine. It's great to have a site employing people capable of going beyond the obvious and providing quality analysis.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I would add that if you want a sport where stereotype and vibe permeates every aspect of journalism in the mass media, look no further than AFL. I don’t even bother reading AFL media anymore – the articles on this sight, particularly from Ryan Buckland have been outstanding, when it comes to in-depth analysis and intellectual writing on the sport. Throw in Cameron Rose, some great work by Josh Elliott and the very readable Jay Croucher, along with a host of informed commentators and I think you have one of the best sources of AFL news and discussion to be found online.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Thanks, Wayne. I appreciate the feedback. Glad to hear your experience on here has been positive, as has mine. That's a great opportunity getting to interview a Matildas' player. I hope you have similar opportunities in the future.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
You're welcome, Brett. I always enjoy your articles, and have appreciated the times, like today, when you have commented on my articles. Writers like yourself, Ronan and others provide great feedback in your comments, and I have certainly taken on board suggestions you have made in the past, including, ironically, a lack of evidence on my part on occasion! You are correct in your observation on what prompted this article, and also that the response was great. I didn't bother adding a comment to the masses, but instead chose to offer what is hopefully seen as an encouragement to all writers on here, especially us folk in 'the crowd' to keep aiming high. Thanks again for taking the time to comment, and all the best.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Fair call, Ronan. Thanks for the advice and encouragement.
Wayne
Roar Guru
Nice article. As a amateur, I love being able to pursue Sports writing as a hobby via The Roar. As a platform, it's enabled me to do a player interview with a Matildas player. Hopefully more when I get back from USA
Brett McKay
Expert
Likewise Dan, very nice of you to single me out in what is a pretty hot field around here. I think I know exactly what's prompted this really timely suggestion of yours, and it was really heartening yesterday to see so many Roarers calling out an author for a) falling into stereotype, and b) not being able to back up his claims. And that, to me, is probably the best thing about The Roar. Stereotype certainly should be avoided, but sometimes stereotype is the best way to get a point across. But even more importantly, if you can't back up your stereotype-based argument, well you're going to be in for a rough day of comments, as we saw yesterday...
Digby
Roar Guru
Hehehehe ;) Cheers Daniel.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Allanthus, that comment was huuuuge. You're a big unit. Turn it up!
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"To answer your question, I suppose I fall into the aspiring journo category at the end of the day." Don't "suppose" Daniel, chase it like your life depends on it, that's the only way. Good luck mate.