Tiger and today's front page
Discussion around here this morning concerned whether we should have done more on the front page with Tiger's U.S. Open win yesterday. (More? I should say, something, anything.)
Many North Carolina papers played a photo of Tiger raising the trophy at the top of the page in what we call a skybox. A nice photo of Tiger and Rocco Mediate was the centerpiece on the front of the Charlotte Observer. A look at the front pages around the nation shows others played it as the main photo on the front page, too.
We didn't. We originally planned to put it above the nameplate in the skybox, but went instead with the three returning Carolina basketball players. That story broke 45 minutes or so later than the Open and wasn't televised live on NBC. I thought it was more local and might attract more casual newspaper buyers than the Open.
But the Open wasn't just a golf story. It was a compelling spectacle: an injured Tiger gutting it out, a gritty challenger who seems local, given that Rocco won the tournament in Greensboro twice, and drama, drama, drama.
Instead, our A1 centerpiece was about people trying to unload their SUVs in the face of high gas prices. A fine story and photo -- and local, too -- but not necessarily memorable in the way the Open story and art could have been.
I'm thinking I made a mistake. You?
Comments (4)
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JR admitting a mistake??? Whoa! And one of such dire consequence. Nevertheless, could this be a start? Of something big?
Dangerous new ground being tread.
Posted on June 19, 2008 8:56 AM
It's not bad. You should try it.
Posted on June 19, 2008 2:38 PM
As soon as the opportunity presents itself, I'll be there.
Posted on June 19, 2008 3:42 PM
I think it was worthy of A-1, especially given that it was no ordinary finish. And I've heard plenty of non-golfers stopped what they were doing and were drawn into the mesmerizing events unfolding on live TV. Count me -- and my mom -- among them. We may not see another Open finish like that in many years (if ever again). And I loved the picture of Tiger with his very young daughter, who he said gave him the inspiration to tough it out during her first Open appearance. Good stuff.
Posted on June 24, 2008 11:01 PM