Clearing the puck
Another hockey game, another missed opportunity by the Hurricanes to seal the deal. And to climb onto our front page. We've had a low-key debate since the Stanley Cup playoffs began about whether and when to put the story of the rise of the Canes on A1.
Pros: The Canes are "our" team, playing only an hour (exceeding the speed limit) away. They are playing for a national championship, hoping to do what the Panthers failed to do a couple years ago -- bring home the trophy. Their bandwagon of fans has grown in the past few weeks, judging by the decals and flags on cars. Other newspapers, including Winston, put it on their front this morning.
Cons: Like, who cares? ESPN's broadcast of the women's college softball world series attracted more viewers. It's a sport loved by transplanted northerners; how many of them are there out there? Besides, won't everyone who cares know the score? Other newspapers, including Charlotte, left it off their front this morning.
We had a short story prepared for the front today had the Canes won last night in Edmonton. (The article was more of an essay, not a "game" story. There wasn't much competition among news stories yesterday.) We were going to sub it in where the story about the two American soldiers captured in Iraq is. Alas, not to be.
We have another chance on Tuesday. Should we put the Hurricanes' victory -- or loss -- on the front page?
Tuesday update: Here is what we did.
Comments (3)
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If Dudley won the state football title, you wouldn't ask about TV ratings before putting in on the home page, and you wouldn't worry about the people in the Triad (likely a vast majority) who don't care about high school football unless their particular team is involved. You'd put it on the front, and rightly so. It calls attention to an achievement by a local team.
The Hurricanes played in the Coliseum for a couple of years, and they're the only hockey team you've got left. They're a local team on the verge of winning the best trophy in sports. (Not necessarily the best competition, but best trophy. And if your readers don't know why, you need to explain.)
Besides, long after we've forgotten the latest saber-rattling in the diplomatic community, people will remember what the Hurricanes have done.
It's a no-brainer. Canes win -- the front page, that is.
Posted on June 19, 2006 7:13 PM
Two differences in the Canes and the Panthers, Beau. The Canes game is on television so that anyone interested could watch it...and presumably most people interested would watch it. Also, Raleigh isn't local; Dudley is.
All that said, I agree with you in the sense that it's a newsworthy event and should be on the front. And is.
Posted on June 20, 2006 8:50 AM
The definition of "local" stretches when you're talking about a professional team. For a high school, "local" is within a few miles of the school. For a pro team, it's a much larger distance. In parts of the West, the "local" team can be hundreds of miles away. Even in North Carolina, I remember focusing heavily on the Atlanta Braves and Washington Redskins (then later the Carolina Panthers) while I was in Wilmington, and focusing quite heavily on the Panthers while I was at the N&R.
The Hurricanes even played two seasons at the Coliseum not all that long ago. I'd have to think they put down some roots.
All that said, I think 1A looks good. At its heart, it's simply a unique event with a good photo. I'd bet your rack sales are pretty good today.
I'd break out my old Hurricanes jersey to celebrate, but my heart belongs to the Capitals now. Which means it's constantly broken.
Posted on June 20, 2006 9:19 AM