Distinguishing college sports from pro

Preface: I was criticized by a certain fellow sports writer nicknamed Casper, that I am getting less hits than him. Though this is true and in his defense he has done some more writing lately, I still refuse to write about NASCAR and sports picks. Yes I love hits (who doesn't?), but I don't want to encourage sports gamblers etc. to visit my site. So I am going to continue and write for the general public about general sports and the occasional random musings. So in that light here's a little something to chew on:

One of the more difficult parts of being a college newspaper sports editor is where to draw the line between being a professional (like the NY Times or Boston Globe) and being a collegian. Let me clarify.

In pro sports, it is the duty of the media to ask the tough questions, be cut throat and realize that these are paid athletes who have a job to deal with the media. Win or lose, you have to capture the emotion and do it objectively.

However, in college sports this is a little fuzzier. Some feel that college athletes should be as succeptible and responsible to the media as pro athletes. Others feel that they should not be as responsible since they are kids and are not paid.

This paradox is incredibly difficult to approach when leading a staff. For instance, last year's Mirror Sports Editor Ben Doody felt very strongly that we should act as if they were professional athletes. He certainly has a point and the writing was very strong, objective, and in-depth. This is also why he has been such a successful writer.

I tend to lean the other way. Since these are students , as I am, I don't feel that I should treat them significantly different one way or another. True, we should act as professionals and be able to ask the right questions, but there should be boundaries. These athletes are still kids who are looking to just compete, not being paid.

Though I have a responsibility to the readership and the University, I feel that certain situations don't warrant my prodding and questioning. For instance, last season when Men's Soccer lost to Marist in the finals, I refused to run onto the field and ask questions while students are crying and seniors are realizing that their careers are over.

In defense of the situation, a professional approach would have been to stay and ask those questions. I decided that since my article was not due until the next day, I would catch up with the team the following day. This was obviously a conflict between myself and my editor.

A similar instance occurred following men's soccer's loss this season. During the post game press conference, a fellow writer felt uncomfortable asking questions to Coach Rees and seniors Mike Troy and Alex Cunliffe due to their tears and emotions.

It is obviously a very difficult decision.

Where do the ethics of college writing differ from professional writing?

It is a debatable point, but as we move forward I feel that there is a greater need for understanding the roles of the college athlete in regards to the media and the media in regards to the college athlete. Most of these kids will not play professionally and their commitments year round are for the sake of competing for their University and their teammates.

While they must respect our need to cover them, we must respect what they go through and that ultimately they still are students who are playing a sport for the love of the game.