Comments on: How one sports columnist approaches the sports column

By: Bill Hunt

Bill Hunt — Sat, 15 May 2010 23:44:49 +0000

All great advice, Dave. I’ve always believed a columnist’s mandate is to entertain, to make them WANT to read you, to feel like they’ve missed something if they haven’t read you.
Sometimes you do that by being funny.
Sometimes you do it by provoking thought, or promoting change or defending or advancing a controversial position. Depends on the day and the issue.
I believe too that, with rare exceptions, the column should be local. Exceptions are rare. (In recent cases for me, Tiger Woods and the Montreal Canadiens), but for the most part, it should come from your readership area.
Thanks for a great read. There are a lot of them here, as I’m finding out.

By: Southern Reader

Southern Reader — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:34:33 +0000

(If anyone found this tip sheet too long, you could always go back and read Dave’s work in the Atlanta Constitution. Three or four year’s worth. Best J school in America.)

By: Steve Simmons

Steve Simmons — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:33:10 +0000

Dave, I wish you were my editor …

By: Arthur Plotnik

Arthur Plotnik — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:26:52 +0000

Dave, I was so pleased that you recommended my book (Spunk & Bite) to sports columnists that I put you in my swing thoughts yesterday as I hacked my way through a Chicago city golf course: “Left arm straight; hold the hands back; be as true to yourself as Dave Kindred.” Unfortunately I was using a moronic ball that paid no attention. Best wishes to you and your readers!
—Art Plotnik

By: Ed Batista

Ed Batista — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:44:00 +0000

Outstanding stuff, Dave. I fully agree with Colin that your advice transcends sportswriting. I’m an executive coach who blogs on coaching and change management, and I came away from this piece inspired, with a lot of ideas percolating. Thank you. (BTW, if Art Spander’s reading your stuff, you’re reaching the right audience.)

By: Tim Sullivan

Tim Sullivan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:49:18 +0000

Now you tell me! But glad you did.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:37:05 +0000

Wouldn’t a more relevant essay be about how to write a quality blog post or how to write for search engines?

Insightful story, but sports columns have become irrelevant over the last 10 years, especially those written by men.

By: Jason Demko

Jason Demko — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:26:05 +0000

It's really important to know how to approach rightly in an interview... BallGames

By: Josh Lewis

Josh Lewis — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:02:06 +0000

Great advise. For a person, like myself, that is just beginning my sports journalism minor its great to read an article like this and know that I will be keeping it somewhere to read every so often, just to pick up different tips that I may have missed the time before. I already wrote down the books you’ve suggested and began to see if my library carries them.

…..I read part 3 (lol).

By: Art Spander

Art Spander — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:01:19 +0000

If you had told me this 40 years ago I might have a real job now. Great work