Robert Grififn III keep delivering headline-driving news

From Redskins.com

Review by John Sullivan in SRM 334 (section 1)

The article I chose to write on for my current event paper was Griffin III: ‘My Eyes Are Set On Philly’’ from Redskins.com. This article was written on August 22, 2013 by lead writer and editor Brain Tinsman. The article is about the Redskins 2nd year quarterback RGIII (more formally know as Robert Griffin the 3rd. ) It talks about RGIII’s healing process and how the media has used it to write stories for the past couple of months. The article also talks about RGIII’s feelings behind the matter of multimedia twisting his words.

From a media standpoint the purpose for writing this article is to give team fans and newsreaders something to read about the Redskins before their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, September 9th . The article essentially encapsulates RGIII’s responses to his own healing progress throughout his rehabilitation process. Brian Tinsman is trying to show in this article that RGIII always tells the media ‘how it is’. He tries to tell the readers that the media has been taking RGIII’s words and twist them against him since the beginning of his rehabilitation. RGIII goes on to say in the article “Do I stop being who I am, stop being honest with you guys and giving you guys ammunition to turn against this team? Or do I just go into a shell and ‘Bill Belichick it’ all week?” – Griffin III Everything he says gets turned and used against the Redskins as if they would not survive without him on the team.This article is a perfect example of the communication model. It can be more closely related to the modern model of sports media than that of the historic model. This article can easily be seen and reached by the masses but it is targeted at a niche group of people. The article itself is directly from the official site of the Washington Redskins. It is a perfect example of how mass media can target a niche audience. The article contains video and other multi-medias making it easily available through many social medias. The page has built in Twitter and Facebook links so the article can be easily shared with friends and other people. Because this article is so easily accessible by all, it makes the spreading of this twisted information that much more believable by the un-informed reader. This article follows the modern model of sports media because it can literally be sent, read, liked, shared by anyone to anyone.

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Reivew by Tori Lugar in SRM 334 (section 1)

The article we chose talks about the injury that Robert Griffin III suffered last season. It describes the past four months of the off season and each press conference within those months. Each month was a different update: in May, he could run, June he could sprint, July RGIII could practice a little bit, and then finally in August he was cleared to do full practice with the team. With an update every month, all eyes have been on RGIII and his recovery and fans are expecting a lot.

The media has played a huge role in the whole recovery and comeback of RGIII. From documentaries of his rehabilitation of his ACL, to constant coverage on SportsCenter on ESPN, the RGIII story has been the subject of many conversations, not only within the DC area, but nationwide. Besides Gatorade’s documentary, Adidas has also created the “All in for Week 1” campaign that focuses on RGIII’s preparation for week 1 of the regular season. Although RGIII is now cleared to play, when this campaign began, there was no guarantee the Redskins quarterback would be back and ready to go for the first game. The media took a story of his recovery and made it seem like he would for sure be 100% ready for the season opener. After this was created, RGIII tweeted that it was not a given that he would be back, but he would work hard to try and accomplish the goal. The media took this opportunity and stretched it to try and make a story of it. The media has analyzed the road to recovery of Robert Griffin III in every way possible and has blown up a situation that is so common in the NFL. This is relevant to this course because it shows how social media such as Twitter and various TV commercials have blown up such a common situation. Many players have torn ACLs or have experienced many other injuries, and yet the public does not hear about half of them. The media has taken every little detail of RGIII’s recovery in the off-season and made a big deal about it, often twisting the truth and scrutinizing the young quarterback. This situation can also show how the new communication model works, with mass media and the publicity that the Redskins quarterback is getting, because of a torn ACL. From numerous press conferences, to documentaries, to ad campaigns, RGIII’s injury is well known across America.

"Takeaways from how the media covered and reacted to Aaron Hernandez's arrest"

From Awful Announcing and Rolling Stone

Review by Zach Lantz in SRM 334 (section 1)

Today, the public has the ability to know about everything going on in a professional or college athlete’s life. This is because the media has access to everything surrounding the athlete’s life. A good example of this is the Rolling Stone’s article about the murder of Odin Lloyd, Aaron Hernandez has been charged for a few months ago. The article describes every little detail of Aaron, including how Aaron and Lloyd “kicked it” at a club called Rumor and “smoked that super-duper and Aaron dropped 10 G’s like it was nothing.” Rolling Stone went personal with Aaron Hernandez by having exclusive interviews with family friends. Friends revealed that Aaron was not only smoking marijuana, but he was also using the drug “angel dust’, typically known as PCP. The article explains how Hernandez and Lloyd were in the club when Odin talked to people that Hernandez was not fond of. All of this leading to the murder. 

In my opinion, the media does a great job at covering events like these days. Is it right, that the media has so much access to the lives of celebrities and athletes? One could feel as though it is not morally right, even in situations like these. News is broadcasted faster than it ever has been before and social media websites such as Twitter makes that possible. People can now get texts to their phone with breaking news or with just a quick Google search they can find thousands of articles with news on what they’re looking for. Today, the media is much more close and personal with athletes and it is making their home life much more public.

This article is related to this class because it is a current event and gives a perfect example on how sporting news can be communicated to people. The Aaron Hernandez story was wrote about on a Rolling Stones website where sports are not usually talked about. It also shows a perfect example on how the New England Patriots dealt with a crisis. As soon as Hernandez was arrested for the murder on Odin Lloyd, the Patriots released him and also allowed their fans to exchange their Hernandez jersey for another Patriots player. This article has related to many aspects of this class and made it very easy for me to relate to things that I will learn about.

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Review by Dustin Taylor in SRM 334 (section 1)

Most people who love sports know just about everything that’s going on in the sports world if they choose to do so. The reason is that content providers in sports media are always working, 24/7, to uncover the next big story. They may even be continuing to cover an ongoing story. This summer, Patriots Tight End, Aaron Hernandez was arrested on murder charges. Many media content providers jumped at the chance to cover this story including rolling stones, ESPN, and NFL Network.

Rolling stones just recently released an article detailing a lot about this whole situation. They gave information on Hernandez’s parents, siblings, uncles, friends, coaches, and anyone else that had an effect on his life. Hernandez was bred to be great. His father put a gym with successful quotes on the walls in their family’s home, and drove his two sons (Aaron and his older brother DJ) to greatness. Aaron, however, far exceeded his father and brother in terms of success. He was the greatest athlete his town had ever produced. He went on to college at Florida University, where it is believe Urban Meyer covered for Hernandez on multiple drug test. Following his father’s death Aaron continued to fall out of control. He threated Patriots Wide Receiver Wes Welker soon after being drafted into the NFL. Then this offseason he became addicted to angel dust, started skipping workouts, and was on screw up away from being cut from the team. Bigger things then skipping practice would come before his departure from the team. Hernandez would be indicted on murder charges of his good friend Odin Lloyd. The sports media world would have plenty of coverage to go along with this story as it progressed.

ESPN had live footage of Hernandez getting arrested, and they covered this story pretty constant as Adam Schefter and other sports writers constantly took to Twitter to give sports gurus the news they were after. This is a huge example of how times have changed. Just 13 years ago Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis was also indicted on charges of murder. While it gained some attention, the coverage was nothing like the Aaron Hernandez case. Twitter, and Facebook were not around. If you go back just a little further in NFL history to the O.J. Simpson case there was an even bigger drop off in regards to media coverage. Newspapers printed the story, and news channels covered it, but no one was there to give real time updates. Hernandez’s case has up to the minute updates as someone in the courtroom with him tweets during his hearing to keep everyone up to speed. In awfulannouncing.com’s article written by Brad Gagnon he criticizes how ESPN left the live coverage of Hernandez’s hearing to speak to their own “experts”. With a story as big as this one there was plenty of time to bring them in once the hearing was done.

NFL Network had a rough job. They had to cover the story since that’s what this day and age calls for. At the same time this story was bad Public Relations for the NFL. They had to walk a fine line, and continue to update the people on what actions the Patriots and NFL would take toward Hernandez to try to help their perception as a league. The NFL, and the Patriots would’ve had plenty of time to come up with a response about 15-20 years ago. Now they have to be on their toes, and immediately taking action to keep the positive model of the league in tack.

This story has many relevant issues that go along with our class. With similar cases in the past this story can show how much times, and technology has changed in regards to sports media. People expect updates, and stories the minute they happen. The next morning paper is out of date. It also displays the pressure put on organizations to have someone good with the media always ready to speak on their behalf.

Get experience with the Turner Ashby High School Boy's Basketball program

The Turner Ashby High School Boy's Basketball program (located in Bridgewater, Virginia) is looking for motivated individuals to fill a variety of coaching positions. Positions include: Varsity Assistant, Junior Varsity Assistant, AAU feeder program coach or assistant, Scout, Statistician, Game DJ, and more. 

Qualified applicants must have a passion for the game of basketball and be very reliable. Applicants should also be detail oriented, able to think quickly on their feet, and have a willingness to follow direction and learn new skills. Experience playing or coaching the sport of basketball is a plus.

You will have a chance to do a variety of tasks such as schedule camps, assist at practice and on game days, help in the weight room, and learn almost every facet of what it takes to run a successful high school program. 

Our main season runs from November through March. We also have opportunity with our AAU program from October through February, and our summer program from June to mid-July.

Interested candidates should contact Chad Seibert at CKSeibert33@gmail.com or 540-908-6394.