Final Project

Bridges burned and restrictions: The modern challenge for sports reporters

"I hope they don't f**k you like they f***d us," said UConn head coach Dan Hurley as he walked into the tunnel with his fallen Huskies.

He lost his cool as he warned the Baylor Bears about the refs after the reigning champs lost to Florida 77-75 in the second round of the men's NCAA tournament.

Why did this private moment go viral?

Oh, that's right it wasn't private. Joey Ellis, a sports reporter and anchor for Carolinas' Own Queen City News caught this heated moment on camera and posted it on X. The issue would have blown over a lot faster if UConn's Men's Basketball Director of Communications Bobby Mullen didn't further escalate the situation. The viral clip of Hurley had exceeded 1 million views and Mullen threatened to "ruin his life" if he didn't delete the post.

Mullen felt justified in the moment, as he explains in a statement requested by CSL management.

"The lasting image of coach Hurley leaving the court should have been his talking off the court arm-in-arm with his seniors, overwhelmed emotion," Mullen said. "Instead, a reporter was in an area he should not have been, recorded on his cell phone a private comment made to members of another coaching staff."

uconnhuskies.com

Bobby Mullen apologized but still felt like 

his coach's "private"moment was mistreated.

He apologized to Ellis after the incident. Hurley also apologized for his embarrassing outburst.

"Those are three great officials on that game, so, although I said something in the heat of the moment, in an area of the arena that in pretty much every game I've ever coached in college has been media-free," Hurley said. "Past the tunnel, by the locker rooms, in the hallway where the coaches go, that's for the combatants, that's for the competitors. That's not for camera phones."

Does the reporter have the right to document these intense moments that are typically away from the screaming fans in arenas?

For media members it's a challenging line to walk because many want to show sports fans the truth, while also respecting the privacy of athletes and coaches. However, the digital world has made journalists jobs more challenging because so many people report on the same topics and the fight for audiences' attention becomes more complicated with audience members turning to social media accounts for their news gathering methods along with the more traditional outlets, like publications and news stations.

Journalists having access to athletes and coaches has always been up for debate, especially in the locker room. Ludtke v. Kuhn, 1977 demonstrated the struggle that women have experienced in the sports world. Melissa Ludtke was a reporter for Sports Illustrated. She was denied access to the locker room as she covered the World Series. She filed a civil rights action against Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. He claimed that these players were uncomfortable at the thought of females having the ability to be in the locker room. However, Ludtke won the case because the policy banning female reporters to have access to locker rooms violated Ludtke's fundamental right to pursue a career under the equal protection and due process clauses enforced by the Fourteenth Amendment.

melissaludtke.com

Ludtke's book details the struggles of

women in journalism in the 1970s.

Now, it isn't just an issue for women reporters. Athletic departments at universities control the access that reporters have to athletes and coaches. Then athletes and coaches, like Hurley, are shocked when they are held accountable for bad moments. Limited access leaves journalists to fend for themselves and even become hungry hounds looking for any story that will differentiate themselves from other reporters and get them clicks.

Are sports information directors doing a disservice by hindering the relationships between media members and college athletes and coaches?

I sure as hell think so. These journalists have to make a living in what many view as a crumbling industry and they can't do so without having access to athletes and coaches. Sports journalists are supposed to cover stories that show the humanistic aspects of the athletes and coaches that many of us put on a pedestal.

Pat Forde, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, had the opportunity to cover the Kentucky vs. Utah game in the 1993 NCAA March Madness tournament. The head coach of Utah, Rick Jerus, gave Forde and other reporters full access to the team. Nowadays, this doesn't happen. Coaches and sports information directors hand pick who reporters can talk to.

"I’d say that it’s because the athletic department wants to put the best image of themselves out there, and they don’t want to take the risk in something coming out that is not favorable to them, said Forde. "Of course, these are 18-to 22-year-old kids who are going to slip up at times, but they’re going to find other ways to get their message out. That’s just how it is these days with social media."

dailyiowan.com

Colored Women's basketball players were handpicked

by the athletic department for this press conference,

like many other universities do.

The increase in social media accounts and publications reporting on the same games and stories, and limited time to write stories, has led to reporters rarely getting the opportunity to conduct one-on-one interviews. Reporters can't get the colorful quotes that show the humanistic side of sports anymore, and it is a shame that a gap has been created between reporters, athletes and coaches. Sports information directors also have a better chance of producing new and exciting content for fans on their athletic websites because they can control the stories that reporters are able to produce depending on who they give them access too and what information they allow these individuals to share. Without these relationships stories don't resonate to audiences like they used to. The stories that do formulate from these interactions aren't always positive. Such as when coaches have outbursts when reporters ask questions that coaches see as "gotcha" questions. 

St. Johns men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino had a negative reaction to a reporter who he thought was trying to get him to talk badly about one of his players. This interaction can be seen below. As you can see, many coaches feel attacked, and this reflects poorly on the reputation of media members. Players and coaches are taught by their PR practitioner to be selective with their answers, and they don't always give extensive answers. This is frustrating to the reporters, especially those on deadline.

Reporters ask these tough questions to try to get a reaction out of players and coaches to tell a story with a unique angle that draws readers in, but if they cross the wrong player or coach, they lose a relationship with this team and sometimes the university as a whole.

Is a juicy story worth burning a bridge of connections?

The answer will certainly depend on who you ask. But one thing is for certain: the digital age, the trend of protecting brand image and overstepping for the sake of clicks has destroyed much of the excitement of reporting on college sports and has eliminated the positive connection that reporters used to have with athletes and coaches. 

If we saw both sides and understood each other, maybe the flow of information would happen more freely, and the animosity would decrease.

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Review- The underdogs

How "Little Giants" sets itself apart

"The Mighty Ducks," "Little Giants" and "Kicking & Screaming" have very similar themes of underdog teams that are rallied to victory by an unexpected coach who has felt athletic defeat previously as a child. 

Three different sports, different rivalries, different actors and actresses. 

All the same plot lines. 

Do any of these films draw you in and surprise you? Or do they only appeal to children who are too young to realize the cliches of the coming-of-age childhood victory?

                                                                   IMDb

"Little Giants" can be streamed

for free on Tubi and bought or rented

on Apple TV, Google Play and Fandango.

"Little Giants," which is directed by Duwayne Dunham and released on October 14, 1994, showcases a peewee football underdog story through the rivalry of the O'Shea brothers. Rick Moranis plays Danny O'Shea, the younger, dorky, unathletic brother and Ed O'Neill plays Kevin O'Shea the cocky, obnoxious former football star who has won the Heisman among other accolades. 

After Kevin O'Shea cuts his niece Becky "Icebox" O'Shea, she takes it upon herself to create her own team, the Little Giants, with her dad as the coach. The film demonstrates coming together as a team and a coming-of-age story as a band of rejects come together to compete in a peewee football game for the chance to represent their hometown Urbania, Ohio in Ohio's peewee football playoffs. 

The town isn't big enough for two football teams, and someone must go down. 

Of course, the underdogs win. How could they not?

Critics have expressed that the movie lacks originality because the underdog story is overused. Perhaps it's even a tad unrealistic as NFL legends John Madden, Steve Emtman, Bruce Smith, Emmitt Smith and Tim Brown get lost in town and give the team tips and afterwards they magically can somewhat compete with the best of them. The film also includes the romance between Danny O'Shea and his childhood crush, Junior Floyd's mom. The romance between a dorky coach and beautiful single mom is nothing new in underdog films. 

Nonetheless, the movie is appealing and inspiring to children because of the toddler-like humor of the young characters, the immaturity of the adults and the fact that even the doubted can become champions.

The movie sets itself apart because Becky O'Shea is only cut because she is a girl. She's the most talented athlete but her uncle doesn't believe that girls should play sports. She doesn't mind being "like" a boy, until she develops a crush for Junior Floyd and her cousin flirts with him. She becomes a cheerleader, hoping that she will grab Floyd's attention. 

However, the message that young girls can dominate on any athletic field shines through as Becky O'Shea rejoins the team and saves the day. This film shows that women can do anything as good as men, if not better, and helps push the idea that young girls don't need to prioritize their looks to succeed.

"The Mighty Ducks" and "Kicking & Screaming" share the same childish humor as "Little Giants" that makes kids laugh for hours. Both films also highlight the importance of family, hard work and banding together for a common goal. 

However, they have many underdog cliches that make the films predictable. 

The angle of a father and daughter relationship add a different perspective to "Little Giants," and offer young girls the opportunity to see that girls are tough and don't have to be princesses to do whatever their hearts desire. 

Even if it's geared toward children, as a woman, it never hurts to see a girl come out on top and prove everyone wrong.

Akeana Rootes is an aspiring sports journalist and the oldest of four daughters, whose mom and dad have always taught them that the sky is the limit. She has been an athlete her entire life and her father is the assistant varsity coach for girl's basketball at her high school. He has been teaching his daughters how to be athletes and is proud to be a girl dad.

Obituary

Jolene McHargue (October 5, 1970 - December 14, 2014)

Jolene McHargue died due to a stroke on Sunday, December 14, 2014, at Albany Medical Center Hospital in Albany, N.Y. She was 44. She was the daughter of Linda Rootes and Thomas R. Rootes Sr. Much like her parents, she lived in Green Island, N.Y. her entire life. She had a spunky attitude that was contrasted by her bright smile.

Mrs. McHargue graduated from Heatly High School and graduated with a degree in nursing from Hudson Valley Community College. As a registered nurse, she started out in the emergency room of St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, N.Y. She took great pride in her job and was proud to have the opportunity to help others. She started her family in 1997 and transitioned to being a nurse case manager for Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, so that she could make time for her family. She held this position for 15 years.

She loved her career as a nurse and was happy to make the sacrifice of switching careers for her family. She loved watching sports, especially NASCAR. She was a huge fan of Dale Earnhardt, the New York Giants and the New York Rangers. She also shared a special bond with her niece and Goddaughter Akeana over their love of watching WWE. She held a special place in her heart for furry friends, as she provided a loving home for four rescue huskies.

Mrs. McHargue was preceded in death by her aunts, Sandra Claus and Bernard Rootes; and by her father, Thomas R. Rootes Sr., who passed on October 14, 2013. She is survived by her mother, Linda Rootes; her husband, Victor Scott McHargue; her three sons, Tyler, Josh and Jacob McHargue; her brother, Thomas R. Rootes Jr. (Kerra); her four nieces who knew her as "Aunt JoJo," Akeana, Mahala, Kalana and Zakala; and her aunts and uncles, Margaret and Darryl Leggieri, Barbara and Don McGivern, Susan and Mick Slupski, Charles Claus, Frances Rootes and Ronald and Joanne Rootes. She will be cherished by the rest of her family and friends.

Calling hours will be on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, from 4-7 p.m. at the McNulty Funeral Home, 147 Hudson Ave., Green Island. A funeral will be held on Thursday, December 18, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will succeed at St. Mary's Cemetery in Troy, N.Y. Due to Mrs. McHargue's love for animals, instead of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society, 3 Oakland Ave., Menands, NY 12204.

Abbey Mastracco- opinion piece

                                            Abbey Mastracco: A master at appealing to audiences

LinkedIn

Abbey Mastracco is the New York Daily News' 

New York Mets beat reporter.

Professors have warned me about the death of newspapers. When I was little, one of the first things I touched in my grandparents' house was the newspapers, especially the sports section. I loved the feeling of the gray, light paper in my hands, that seemed dull to many my age, but opened a world to me and showed me how each reporter wrote stories differently. 

I gravitated towards the paper. 

I had no issue getting ink on my hands as I squinted at the tiny columns. 

Now, as a junior, I realize how important it is to look at other reporters' work because I have learned how to create my own voice by borrowing numerous techniques. I had the opportunity to look at Abbey Mastracco's work last year for a career project. I had no idea that a conversation with her would put in a new framework for what I wanted to do in the future. 

Mastracco has worn many hats in the sports media industry from talent producing at Fox Sports to being lead NHL columnist and MLB contributor for Bleacher Report, with numerous other jobs in between. She detailed her duty as the New York Mets beat reporter for the New York Daily News where she does pre- and post-game stories along with feature stories. I liked the idea of being a beat reporter because I could enhance multiple writing skills.

Most importantly, I liked the idea of consistency. If I become a beat reporter, I would build strong relationships with the same people every day, allowing me to tell athletes and coaches stories on a much deeper level. I would be able to complete my goal of demonstrating to readers that our idolized figures go through the exact same trials and tribulations as everyone else. Developing connections with these individuals would help me put into words that we really aren't that different after all.

Instagram

Mastracco and other reporters 

interviewing Brandon Nimmo.

Aside from Mastracco teaching me about a new career path, I look up to her as a writer. Mastracco does a great job at mixing baseball information and humanistic aspects into her work. This helps her appeal to the die-hard Mets fans or someone who has never watched a game in their life. 

For instance, she takes the story of pitcher Sean Manaea meeting his idol Met's legend Johan Santana. She provides background through the use of description and quotes to show how much Santana means to Manaea. Then, she explains how Santana is a father and is involved in baseball in a different way now that his son is playing. Both anecdotes can easily relate to multiple audiences who aren't baseball fans because everyone has role models and understand how family can alter your perspective on passions you once had. She then sprinkles in analyzation of Santana and Manaeas' pitching skills and Santana's potential involvement with the Mets so fans come back for possible updates on this story. 

The balance between the feature and baseball aspects of her stories put her above the rest because of her ability to provide different audiences with information that leave them satisfied.

Athlete Opinion Profile

The glue and the problem

Derrick Story on flickr.com

Draymond Green in a pre-game interview on May 10, 2013.

Wikimedia Commons

Draymond Green

A kid from Michigan with confidence and the grit to become a four-time NBA champion. The glue of the Golden State Warriors' dynasty. However, in recent years has his time as the hothead gotten him involved in too many sticky situations?

Many NBA fans either love or hate Draymond Green. Some fans love his passion for the game. Others think he is selfish and hate his quick temper. 

However, I'm in the middle. 

I appreciate all he has done for the Warriors. Jumping around my living room with my blue and yellow W's hoodie on and high-fiving my dad as we watched them win four titles will always be one of my favorite memories. The chemistry built on those championship teams doesn't happen without Green.

His leadership and intelligence are contagious, and his teammates want to prove themselves to him. He won't put up insane stats every night. He's not that guy. But if there's a loose ball, Green will get it. And he expects his teammates to be alongside him, getting bumps and bruises, diving for the ball.

Keith Allison

Draymond Green contesting a shot 

by Wizard's Marcin Gortat.

Every possession matters to Green.

Arguably the greatest player the game has ever seen, Lebron James, speaks highly of Green on his podcast called Mind the Game. James cohosts this with another NBA legend and current head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers JJ Redick. 

James said, "Draymond Green's biggest asset, offensively for Golden State is his ability to get Steph open, Klay open and then play in the pocket. Where his asset is four-on-three and now his IQ kicks in. That's the threat."

You don't have to be one of the best to realize how critical Green's abilities are for the Warriors. As a former player, Green had a huge part in how I learned how to be role player. I didn't go out and score a lot each game. But I learned from watching Green that playing disciplined defense, making smart passing decisions and knowing your opponent's next move is more valuable than hitting every single shot you ever take.

Even though Green's skills and passion have brought me much joy and success as a fan and player, he certainly has his flaws. He's extremely invested in his success and often gets caught up in his frustration and lashes out, putting his team in jeopardy of losing momentum or even the game. He never backs down. However, one could argue that he should pick his battles and avoid the drama that throws off his team's rhythm.

However, many say that Green will always be Green. 

He's stubborn and stuck in his ways.

In the span of his 12-year career Green has the stats to back up his aggressive personality on the court. As of February 18, 2025, Green has accumulated 16 flagrant fouls, 20 ejections and 161 technical fouls.

I hate when he acts like this, and I've seen the eye rolls and arms flailing in frustration from Green's coaches and fellow players too. It's a bad image for the team. At these pivotal moments, many times Green's outbursts reflect that the coaches have zero control and that the team isn't disciplined.

Even though many believe that there is no such thing as bad publicity, there certainly is as sports shows and social media accounts put Green on blast for his dirty plays. Watch this video and you will see exactly why.

He's a hothead — he's a champion, nonetheless.  

Me in 500 Words

The maddening attempt for perfection

Free Educational Experiences

A "Mad Minutes" worksheet that was a nightmare for me.

My tiny frame begins to shake. I'm only in third grade. Feeling hopeless. 

The paper beneath my left hand begins to bubble as sweat dries over it. I'm stumbling over which basic math equation to do next. My eyes dart from the page filled with symbols and numbers to the clock that clicks with each tick.

"Mad Minutes" began my spiral. Everyone else in class didn't seem to struggle.

I felt stupid. 

Why wasn't I good enough?

Crying became a routine. My tiny blue eyes blurred and burned as my parents sat in front of me attempting to comfort me, but it was hardly any use. 

They didn't understand at first why my brain went to mush because they would practice problems with me over and over again. I couldn't comprehend it either because I knew the answers.

So what was wrong? Welp, I couldn't handle the pressure of time constraints and I learned that the hard way. Pencils returned to the smooth divots on each desk as my friends completed their equations with time to spare. Warmth rushed over me and my cheeks flushed a bright pink as my teacher said, "Times up."

Did I fully overcome it? Not even close. The anxiety over grades and being perfect will always loom over me. However, little me would be extremely proud. Instead of letting my nerves consume me, I've learned to express to my parents that I feel immense pressure to continuously prove my worth.

If I didn't have my parents, I don't know where I would be. They embraced my frail body and told me that they were proud of me and wouldn't let me fail. Relief flooded over me. They weren't ashamed or angry.

Years later, I can happily say that those comforting words have never left me. I passed the third grade, which is a statement many people say with ease. But, for me, it was a huge accomplishment. It's funny now to see how far I've come.

I still despise timed exams. The ticking of the clock never stops in my ears and in my head. But I've learned that strategizing and preparing is how I gain confidence. As long as I've put in my best effort, I have zero regrets. 

I block out the noise. I ignore my beating heart and have laser focus. With my parents' kind words and effort, I don't feel like the odd one out anymore. 

I have embraced the idea of imperfection. I try my best solely for myself, instead of trying to impress others. I want to be successful and I know that with patience I will continue to grow.

As an 8-year-old, I didn't think I would ever be good at school. I thought I had hit rock bottom and wouldn't become anything. Looking back, I know it's dramatic but cut me some slack!

Making a mistake in school isn't the end of the world anymore. I still care, but I can breathe. I've let my internal guard of perfection down.

Me at 8, left, my little sister May at 4

and my dad with our tickets for The Harlem Globetrotters. 

Me having fun outside of school (even though I was probably panicking about math).