Comm 4306 Sports Writing Syllabus

COMM 4306 SYLLABUS
SportsWriting & Reporting
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Communication/Theatre Arts Department
Spring Semester 2009
Required Text: Sportswriting: The Lively Game, Conrad C. Fink, Iowa State University Press,2001. ISBN: 0-8138-2246-7Instructor: Dr. Manuel Flores - Chair, Communications Theatre Arts Dept.
Office: SPEE 172
Office Hours: M-Th: 9-11 a.m., Friday: 2-4 p.m., By Appointment
Office Phone: 361-593-3401
Email: manuel.c.flores@tamuk.edu, or kfmcf00@tamuk.edu
THE SKINNY: This class meets every Tuesday and Thursday (with the exception of the week of Spring Break
March 16-22) over a total of 15 weeks and 28 sessions beginning Thursday Jan. 15 and concluding Thursday
May 7 from 2:30-345 p.m. in Room 121 of the TAMUK Cousins Hall and in the classroom building in SA.
GOOD NEWS: There is no final exam.
BAD NEWS: The emphasis of the course is on your game coverage and prompt completion of assignments.
OUR SPORTS CONTRACT: This syllabus represents an agreement (or contract) between the student and the
instructor. By remaining enrolled in this course, each student is accepting the policies and guidelines covered in
this syllabus.
COURSE PREREQUISITES:• Familiarity with the Internet and general sports knowledge is a MUST.
• Basic keyboard skills; all coursework MUST be typed and double-spaced on a computer.
• Ability to write in Associated Press style, especially sports style.
• Being able to cover events as assigned. No exceptions.
OVERVIEW and EXPECTATIONS: Being a sports journalist is a lot of fun. Professional sports writers love
their jobs and have a passion both for sports and journalism. And, they get paid for working and going to ball
games and sports events of all kinds. But that doesn't mean it's easy. The days of sports as the "toy department"
of the newspaper and television station are long gone. As a former beat reporter for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston
Astros, Dallas Mavericks and our beloved Texas A&M University-Kingsville Javelinas I can attest that covering
sports is tough. To be a sports reporter, editor, columnist, broadcaster or online journalist, you also must
master the skills of a business reporter, a legal reporter, a medical reporter and a metro reporter -- as well as be
comfortable using the Internet as a resource tool and breaking-news medium. Print, broadcast and online journalism
are converging today in ways I never imagined barely a decade ago. I was covering the Javelinas for the
San Antonio Express-News as recent as two years ago and, while it was fun, it was not easy. I was also a awardwinning
sports reporter, columnist at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times for 12 years and started my professional
journalist career as a sports correspondent for the San Antonio Express-News when I was 14 years old.
LOVE OF THE GAME AND JOB: Sports journalists love their job, but they know they must be able to work
across a variety of media. For example, when the Javelinas’ baseball team won the Lone Star Conference
championship last May, we immediately reported the story on line, first, at The South Texan. Next, we put out a
special edition.
We will examine the ethics of what sports journalists do and why they do it. For these reasons, this course, like
sports itself, is equal parts journalism, history and sociology.
SOME EXPECTATIONS:
• Please don't miss class.We meet together only 28 times.We will forge a special bond, just like a team
does. You’ll see.
• Classwork cannot be made up unless previously excused by the professor. If you need to miss class,
clear it with me in advance, preferably by e-mail. If the absence is unexpected, I expect a note of explanation
and I include the notes as part of class participation.
• Class attendance and participation make up 20 percent of your final grade.
• Students must type and double-space all writing assignments, sometimes utilizing e-mail to file a story
on deadline. Hand-written assignments WILL NOT be accepted.
• Because I communicate with many students via e-mail, it is important that you include the course and
your real name (in other words, not beachbunny on your email.) Please try to do this in the SUBJECT LINE,
along with the topic of the specific e-mail. Failure to do so could result in the e-mail getting eaten by my SPAM
filter or just deleted cause I don’t want to open that thing. Also, please don't just hit the reply button without adjusting
the SUBJECT LINE; that's poor e-mail etiquette.
• On Cell Phones and Black, blue or red rasberrys: Put them on vibrate, it’s more fun. Do not leave class
to answer a call, it’s bad manner. Please tell me if your are expecting an important call during class. I will understand
and, at times, I will do the same with you.
• If you bring your laptop or have a computer in front of you, please do not do anything else than take
notes. Don’t email your mom in Petronila, MySpace your buddy or girl/boy pal at College Station, and do not
surf the Internet or shop on e-bay or Craig’s List. It is rude to do so when I'm lecturing or our guest speakers
are talking.
• How to succeed? Write clearly, simply and accurately. Use basic grammar and punctuation rules and
simple sentence structure: craft every sentence. It worked for Hemingway, who was a pretty good sports writer
in his day. It can work for you! Turn in your work on deadline. Late work WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED unless
previously cleared by the instructor. You will be penalized one full grade for every day your work is late. In
other words, on the second class day you missed an assignment, you will start with a 90 and then points will be
taken off from there for grammar, deadline, accuracy, etc. . The third day, it’s an 80, and so on.
•We will review and practice basic editing skills, reporting and interviewing techniques, quoting and
paraphrasing. You will learn how to write a game story in this course.
•Keep your Associated Press Stylebook with you for every class and use it for every
assignment. Also, you may want to the AP Sports Writing Handbook featured here on
the left. Good journalists also carry a dictionary with them. I also used to carryWebster's
NewWorld Speller with me and recommend it to you (how else do you think I
know there is one "c" and two "m's" in recommend?). Another great reference: The
Associated Press Sports Style Book, which is a recommended book. Also, we have a
copy of The Sports Dictionary in our Comm-TA office. You may borrow it but can
not check it out. You are also encouraged to buy The Best American Sports Writing 2007. Look for them online.
. All these books are available at most bookstores in San Antonio and Corpus Christi (like Barnes & Noble and
Half Price Bookstores), in used bookstores, or online at Amazon.com and other sites for a very reasonable fee.
• There will be selected readings. Be ready to make a presentation on a sports book. More on this later.
SUPPLIES: You must bring some kind of portable media (like a flash/jump drive) with you to every class without
exception to save in-class work. You cannot store work on the hard drive of classroom computers. You may
need a laptop computer.
GRADING and CRITERIA:The final grade for this course will be based on the quality of your work and your
classroom participation. You'll be evaluated on each assignment, which will be given the following weights:·
•Writing assignments (4, average) - 20%
• Assigned Game coverage/feature (2, averaged) - 20%
• Book review/movie review (1 of each averaged) - 20%.
• Super Bowl Team Coverage/Special Edition for South Texan - 20%
• Sports Column, Publication Requirement, Class Participation - 20%
NOTE: There are no tests. However, there will be two sports style statistics quizzes and a Sports IQ notation
that will be used as a class participation grade.

GAME COVERAGE: You will cover four iive sports events. Kingsville students have the Javelina athletics program
to attend. San Antonio students are asked to go online and get schedules for IncarnateWord Academy, St.Mary’s University or Texas-San Antonio. You may also add professional sports such as minor league baseball and hockey and if there is arena football, we will consider that, too.
Also, you may substitute a high school sports even (not middle
school) for all assignments if cleared by me. In other words, if you live in, let’s say Pearsall or Freer and you
can cover a basketball game or baseball game there, it will be okay. You are responsible for securing your own
press credentials and permission to talk to coaches and players before and after the game. You may have to pay
for admission if you don’t have press credentials. I will try to help all of you secure press credentials.
If you participate on a team, you should not write about that team. Let’s say you’re a member of the Javelina
men’s basketball team. If so, you cannot cover a men’s basketball game. You will have to either cover a boys’
high school basketball game or double-up by doing two women’s basketball games.

Great Sports Quotes

I could have been a Rhodes
Scholar, except for my grades.
-- Duffy Daugherty and several
students I know.

On this team, we are all united in a
common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz and me when I address
the staff of The South
Texan

If hockey fights were fake, you
would see me in more of them.
-- Rod Gilbert & CC Ice Rays

The first coverage is a basketball game, one each for men and women.

Below are the scheduled TAMUK
home games.
San Antonio students, please go online and see schedule for the universities I mentioned earlier.

TAMUK Men’s Basketball

01/17/09 Midwestern State University Kingsville, Texas 7 p.m.
01/21/09 Abilene Christian Kingsville, Texas 8 p.m.
01/31/09West Texas A&M University Kingsville, Texas 7 p.m.
02/07/09 Angelo State University Kingsville, Texas 7 p.m.
02/18/09 Eastern New Mexico University Kingsville, Texas 8 p.m.
02/25/09 Tarleton State University Kingsville, Texas 8 p.m.
01/17/09 Midwestern State University Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
01/21/09 Abilene Christian Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
01/28/09 Eastern New Mexico University Portales, New Mexico 6 p.m.
01/31/09 West Texas A&M University Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
02/04/09 Angelo State University San Angelo, Texas 6 p.m.
02/07/09 Angelo State University Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
02/10/09 Abilene Christian Abilene, Texas 6 p.m.
02/18/09 Eastern New Mexico University Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
02/21/09 West Texas A&M University Canyon, Texas 6 p.m.
02/25/09 Tarleton State University Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
02/28/09 Midwestern State UniversityWichita Falls, Texas 6 p.m.
03/05/09 Lone Star Conference Tournament

Women’s Basketball

01/17/09 Midwestern State University Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
01/21/09 Abilene Christian Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
01/31/09West Texas A&M University Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
02/07/09 Angelo State University Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
02/18/09 Eastern New Mexico University Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
02/25/09 Tarleton State University Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
03/05/09 Lone Star Conference Tournament TBA

Good, better, best. Never let it
rest. Until your good is better and
your better is best.
-- Tim Duncan
of the San Antonio Spurs

The second game coverage assignments involves baseball and softball games.
The home schedules for both TAMUK sports are listed
below:

Baseball
02/04/09 UH-Victoria Corpus Christi, TX - CCWhataburger Field 6 p.m.
02/10/09 St. Mary's University Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
02/13/09 East Central University (2) Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
02/14/09 East Central University (2) Kingsville, Texas 1 p.m.
02/17/09 University of the IncarnateWord Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
02/24/09 UH-Victoria Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
03/06/09 Central Oklahoma (2) Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
03/07/09 Central Oklahoma (2) Kingsville, Texas 1 p.m.
03/13/09 Eastern New Mexico University (2) Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
03/14/09 Eastern New Mexico University (2) Kingsville, Texas 1 p.m.
03/17/09 Texas A&M International Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
03/24/09 St. Edwards Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
04/03/09 Tarleton State University (2) Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
04/04/09 Tarleton State University (2) Kingsville, Texas 1 p.m.
04/10/09 Cameron University (2) Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
04/11/09 Cameron University (2) Kingsville, Texas 1 p.m.
04/24/09 Angelo State University (2) Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
04/25/09 Angelo State University (2) Kingsville, Texas 1 p.m.
Softball
02/01/09 Texas A&M International Kingsville, Texas 1 pm
02/01/09 Texas A&M International Kingsville, Texas 3 p.m.
02/04/09 St. Edwards Kingsville, Texas 3 p.m.
02/04/09 St. Edwards Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
02/10/09 St. Mary's University Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
02/10/09 St. Mary's University Kingsville, Texas 7 p.m.
02/27/09 Tarleton State University Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
02/27/09 Tarleton State University Kingsville, Texas 7 p.m.
02/28/09 Tarleton State University Kingsville, Texas 11 a.m.
03/10/09 Lincoln University Kingsville, Texas 4 p.m.
03/10/09 Lincoln University Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
03/13/09West Texas A&M University Kingsville, Texas 6 p.m.
03/14/09West Texas A&M University Kingsville, Texas 11 a.m.
03/14/09West Texas A&M University Kingsville, Texas 1 p.m.
03/16/09 Newman University Kingsville, Texas Noon
03/16/09 Newman University Kingsville, Texas 2 p.m.
04/03/09 TexasWoman's University Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.
04/03/09 TexasWoman's University Kingsville, Texas 7 p.m.
04/04/09 TexasWoman's University Kingsville, Texas Noon
04/14/09 IncarnateWord Kingsville, Texas 3 p.m.
04/14/09 IncarnateWord Kingsville, Texas 5 p.m.

The third coverage is a track and field meet.

We will cover the Cactus Cup at Javelina Stadium and do advances for LSC Championship Meet.
03/21/09 Cactus Cup Kingsville, Javelina Stadium (This is during TAMUK Spring Break - Extra Credit for coverage.

We will try to cover a high school meet to make up for this).

The fourth coverage is a soccer game.
We can also have professional ice hockey.

TAMUK has a club soccer team. However, we will probably cover area
soccer playoffs in March. More on this later.
NOTE: You will have a deadline on all these stories. . More on this later.

BOOK AND MOVIE REVIEWS: You will review a sports-related book and movie of your choice, choosing from
Sports Illustrated lists of the top 100 sports books and the top 20 sports movies of all-time. Also, because there
are few “great” books or movies about women in sports, an auxiliary list has been added. You may choose from
that list, also. The two-page reviews (about 500-700 words) are due April 2 (book) and April 9 (movie). Here
are some suggested titles for books and movies to choose. There can be no duplications. You are expected to secure
the books and movies on your own. You will be making presentations to the class.

Sports Illustrated Top Movies That I Recommend

Movie and Student Assigned to Review

"Bull Durham" 1988
"The Natural" 1984 - Jaime Gonzalez, TAMUK
"Jerry Maguire" 1996
"Bad News Bears" I 1976
"Hoosiers" 1988 - Jacque Hutton, TAMUK
"North Dallas Forty" 1979
"Field of Dreams"1989 - J.C. Reyes, TAMUK
"Rocky" 1976
"Fat City" 1972
“Damn Yankees!” 1958
“Slap Shot” 1977
“Raging Bull” 1989
"Bang the Drum Slowly" 1973
"Breaking Away" 1979
"Friday Night Lights"
“Requiem for a Heavyweight”1962
"Tin Cup" 1996 - Joe Hamon, TAMUK
“The Hustler” 1961
“Chariots of Fire” 1981 - Alissa Reynolds, TAMUK-SCSA

Sports Illustrated Top Books That I Recommend
"Paper Lion" (George Plimpton)1965
"Fever Pitch" (Nick Hornby) 1991
"Cosell" (Howard Cosell) 1973
"Season on the Brink" (John Feinstein) 1986
"The Fight"(Norman Mailer) 1975
"When Pride Still Mattered"(David Maraniss) 1999
"Muhammad Ali: Life & Times" (T. Hauser) 1991
“The Boys of Summer” (Roger Kahn) 1971
"The Sweet Science" 1951
"Veeck as in Wreck" (Bill Veeck) 1962
"The Natural" (Bernard Malamud)1952
"Ball Four" (Jim Bouton) 1970
"Everybody’s All American"(Frank DeFord) 1981
"No cheering in the press box" (Holtzman) 1973
"The Glory of Their Times" ( Ritter) 1966
"Friday Night Lights" (H.G. Bissiner) 1990
"Semi-Tough" (Dan Jenkins) 1972
"A season on the brink"(John Feinstein) 1986
“You Know Me Al,” (Ring Lardner) 1914
“The Game” (Ken Dryden) 1983

Auxiliary List of Movies That I recommend

"Rudy" 1993 - Mary Beth Cleavin, TAMUK
"White Men Can't Jump" 1992 - Mark Molina, TAMUK
"Prefontaine"1997
"We Are Marshall" 2006 - Lorraine Rodriguez, TAMUK
“League of Their Own” 1992 - Shaun Springfield, TAMUK-SCSA
“61*” 2006
“Victory” 1981 - Greg Stelfox, TAMUK
“Cool Runnings” 1993
“Grand Prix”1966
“National Velvet” 1944
“Enter the Dragon” 1973
“Lady Bugs” 1992
“Caddyshack” 1980 - Andrew Harper, TAMUK
“MajorLeague” 1989
“HoopDreams” 1994
“The Longest Yard” 1974 - Katrina Alejandro, TAMUK
“Remember the Titans” 2000
“Brian’s Song” 1971
"Invincible" 2006v- David Mendez, TAMUK

Auxiliary List of Books That I recommend

“Always Dream” (Kristi Yamaguchi) 1998
“Amazing Women Athletes” (Jill Bryant) 2002
“Babe Didrikson: Athlete of Century”( Knudson) 1985
“Big Girl in the Middle” (Gabriellle Reece) 1997
“Game Face” (J. Gottseman, Penny Marshall) 1998
“The Girls of Summer” (Jere Longman) 2000
“Go for the Goal!” (Mia Hamm) 2000
“In These Girls, Hope Is a Muscle”(Madeline Blais) 1995
“LetMe Play: The Title IX Story” (Karen Blumenthal) 2005
“Living the Dream” (Dot Richardson) 1997
“Mighty Jackie” (Marissa Moss) 1998
“Still Kicking” (Katie Hinda) 2006
“A Whole New Ball Game” (Sue Macy) 1995
“Raising our Athletic Daughters” Zimmerman & Russell)1998
“Brian’s Song” (William Blinn) 1972
“The Frailty Myth” (Collette Dowling) 2000
“Games Girls Play” (Caroline Silby, Shely Smith) 2000
“Superwomen” (Jodi Buren,Donna Lopiano,Billie Jean King) 2005
"Good Enough to Dream," (Roger Kahn) 1985

A LEAGUE OF YOUR OWN
YOUR CLASSROOM ETHIC: Regular attendance, timeliness, participation and attentiveness are expected.
Progress is important. Classes will begin and end on time. It is rude to your classmates, our guest speakers and
me to come to class late. Active participation in class is worth 5 percent of your final grade and should not be
assumed as automatic.
WRITING STYLE: The Associated Press Stylebook applies for spelling, accuracy, style, attribution, etc. Don't
lose sight of solid, accurate, fair reporting.
DEADLINES: Adherence to deadlines plays an important role in this course. Journalists meet deadlines; their
job is on the line if they don't. Deadlines set for stories in this course are final; assignments turned in late without
an excused absence will not be accepted. You must e-mail or call the instructor if you miss class because of
illness or emergency. I consider this communication class participation.In-class assignments cannot be made up
unless cleared by me. If you think class may be cancelled because of bad weather, check our department, or the
TAMUK website, watch TV, listen to the radio.
JOURNALISM AND ACADEMIC ETHICS: Honesty is a given for those who engage in journalism.When
you violate the trust of your readers or audience, you lose your most important commodity: your credibility.
Please review the TAMUK Student Code of Conduct on the tamuk.edu website.
PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism means using the exact words, opinions or factual information from another person
without giving that person credit. Plagiarism is the equivalent of intellectual robbery and cannot be tolerated in
an academic or journalistic setting. It is cutting and paste from an internet site or a book without giving proper
credit. Don’t do it. You w ill get a Zero
SPECIAL SERVICES: If you have special needs in the classroom, please provide a letter from Disability Support
Services confirming and describing your special needs at the start of the semester. You may have Disability
Support Services contact me directly. This information will be kept in confidence.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
This schedule is subject to change depending on speaker availability during the semester
and class progress. You will receive notice of any schedule changes by e-mail and/or in class.

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS

(Note: The following schedule is subject to change. It is intended as a guide to help the student keep up
with readings and the flow of the class. You are responsible for any reading assignment posted on this syllabus.)

Thursday, Jan. 15 –The Kickoff: Meet and Greet. Discuss concept of class, course descriptions. Some expectations.
Assignments: Read Part 1: The Kickoff – The Writer’s Arena and What You Owe Your Readers. Go online
and see Sports Illustrated’s and other “The Top 100 Sports Books of All Time,” and “The 50 Great Sports
Movies.” Let’s Play Sports Trivia.

Tuesday, Jan. 20 – Meet with TAMUK-SCSA students and review material discussed with TAMUK students
on Thursday, Jan. 15

Thursday, Jan. 24 – Sports Banter. Start the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Game Time: The sports writer and
broadcaster in the arena. What these professionals owe the reader. Review assignments for Super Bowl coverage
special for TAMUK student newspaper, The South Texan. Assignment:What is COSIDA?What is APSE?
What is AWSM? Be ready to discuss on Thursday. Read Part 2: Blocking and Tackling: Strong Reporting.

Tuesday, Jan. 27 –Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Possible Guest Speaker: Fred Neusch,
long-time member of COSIDA speaks about gathering and disseminating sports on info about the Javelinas and
details how sports information is an important part of the sports scene. Assignments:Write a 1-page reporting
three important elements you learned from Mr. Neusch’s presentation. Review data on sports stats.

Thursday, Jan. 29 – Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. How to cover a football game.
The Advance, the game, the AP Style stats, the story. Possible Guest Speaker: Javier Becerra, sports reporter
Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Finalize Assignments for Super Bowl coverage. Assignment:Write a 1-page reporting
three important elements you learned from Mr. Flores’ presentation. Read: Part 3: Making the Writer’s
Muse Work.

Sunday, Feb. 1 - Special Assignment for Super Bowl coverage for special 2-page spread in the next issue of
The South Texan.

Assignments and Students Assigned

(1) Actual Super Bowl Game - Jaime Gonzalez, TAMUK
(2) Winner’s Locker Room - Shaun Springfield, TAMUK-SCSA
(3) Loser’s Locker Room - Jacque Hutton, TAMUK
(4) The Fan Reaction in Kville (cover BHB?)- Noe Longoria and Joe Hamon, TAMUK
(5) The Fan Reaction in SA - Alisa Reynolds & Christina Garza, TAMUK-SCSA
(6) Student Reax at both campuses - David Mendez, TAMUK
(7) Select a Feature (MVP) - Andrew Harper, TAMUK
(8) Photos of people watching game either at backyards or at bars. Get Ids of people. Preferably students - Greg Stelfox, TAMUK
(9) The typical women’s view (a column?) of the Super Bowl - Lorraine Rodriguez & Katrina Alejando, TAMUK(10) The Ads…which ones did people really like.
(11) Other assignments to be developed by class (Halftime Show)- Mary Beth Cleavin, TAMUKWe will assign two leaders, probably from the staff of The South Texan, to coordinate this class effort. NOTE:
(12) Analytical Column - J.C. Reyes, TAMUK
(13) Edgerin James, Kurt Warner or other athlete feataure depending on game - Mark Molina, TAMUK
(14) A Small Town in Texas and the Super Bowl - Lisa Lane, TAMUK
(15) Super Excitement at the Dorms - Emmanuel Dixon, TAMUK

Stories are due at 10 a.m. on Monday after The Super Bowl.

Tuesday, Feb. 3 – Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. How to cover a basketball game.
Review AP Style stats, game coverage, etc. Possible speaker: Rolando Flores, sports reported for Alice Publishing
Co. Stats and stuff. Assignment: Read Part 4: Covering the majors – football, baseball, basketball.

Thursday, Feb. 5 – Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Discussion on selecting a basketball
game cover. Make sure we have press credentials. Techniques on covering basketball.

Saturday, Feb. 7 – TAMUK students will staff Javelinas basketball games against Angelo State University. SA
students pick a high school or college game in their areas to staff or cover that weekend. Prefer a college game.

Tuesday, Feb. 10 – No class. Make up for Super Bowl and basketball coverage.

Thursday, Feb. 12 - Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Review list of movies and
books and make final selections. Continue to review covering basketball. Assignment: Read Part 5: Covering
the “Others.” TheWiderWorld of Sports

Tuesday, Feb. 17 - Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Make final assignments on
books and movie review, which will be due in March and April. The student is expected to secure copies of the
books and movies on his or her own. Prepare for Sports IQ Quiz and Test.

Thursday, Feb. 19 – Sports IQ Quiz and Stats Style Test.

Tuesday, Feb. 24 – Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Covering baseball games. The
advance, the AP Style Test, the game. Possible guest speaker to be announced.
Thursday, Feb. 26 – Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. More baseball stats. Baseball
is stats crazy.

Tuesday, March 3 - Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. More baseball stats. Cover a
portion of a taped game. Assignment: Do a story on baseball stats.

Thursday, March 5 - Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. How to cover a track meet.
The stats, the game story. Class in Kingsville can cover a baseball game at Nolan Ryan Field and write a baseball
game story.

Tuesday, March 10 – TAMUK-SCSA spring break* Class in Kingsville can cover TAMUK softball game at and
write a softball game story.

Thursday, March 12 – TAMUK-SCSA spring break.*
Tuesday, March 17 – TAMU-Kingsville spring break.*
Thursday, March 19 – TAMU-Kingsville spring break.*
*Note: Because of the inability to have class together, this two-week period will be used to let students in both
campuses finalize their movie reviews. Format and style of reviews will be available.

Tuesdsay, March 31 - Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Selected students start making
Movie Review presentations. It must be in PowerPoint format and there should also be a class handout.

Thursday, April 2 - Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Selected students start making
Movie Review presentations. It must be in PowerPoint format and there should also be a class handout.

Tuesday, April 7 - Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. The Sports Column. Possible
guest speaker: David Flores, columnist San Antonio Express-News sports staff. This class will be from San Antonio.
Assignment: Bring a print or online sports column to class to discuss. Make handouts for the entire class.

Thursday, April 9 – No Class. TIPA convention.

Tuesday, April 14 – Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Discuss types of sports
columns. Assignment:Write a sports column for the following class.

Thursday, April 16 – Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game Review columns and all writing
assignments.

Tuesday, April 21 – Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Stats Quiz.

Thursday, April 23 – No Class, AAF Convention.

Tuesday, April 28 – Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Stats Quiz. - Football

Thursday, April 30 - Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Stats quiz – basketball.

Tuesday, May 5 - Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Stats quiz – baseball, softball.

Thursday, May 7 - Sports Banter. Continue the Sports IQ Quiz and Test game. Stats quiz – soccer, track, other
sports.

Final Assignment: Portfolio due on day of final. TBA.

Legendary Sports Writers
Grantland Rice
Red Smith
Shirley Povich
Ring Lardner
Jim Murray
Dick Young
Damon Runyon
Frank Deford
Ira Berkow
And remember . . .

Great Sports Quotes
You can observe a lot just by watching.
-- Yogi Berra