Bobcats Coverage

[Proudiddy]

A blurb I found on via Hoopshype from The Oklahoman:


The Charlotte Observer’s Bobcats beat writer only travels with the team on occasion. Says a lot about how bad the Bobcats are.

Thoughts? Comments?

[JR4P]

I think it says more on how bad the beat writer is...

[Felton for Prez]

I think it says more about the Charlotte Obeserver than the Bobcats.

[MadBOBCATfanUK]

A blurb I found on via Hoopshype from The Oklahoman:



Thoughts? Comments?
ye i saw that aswell posted it on the b'sing trolling thread just shows how little the observer cares and this is Rick Bonell it's talking about right?

[Proudiddy]

Yeah, my thing is, if I'm not mistaken, he has always selectively traveled with the team, even when we weren't this bad. But, I don't understand why he's done that.

It's been a running joke here about when he says something will or won't happen regarding personnel, then believe the opposite... It's a reflection on how disconnected people feel he is. I think he does fine with interviews, but I don't trust how connected he is regarding personnel and insider info. I wonder if that is because of his lack of interest or the team doesn't really like him around?

[Brad]

Considering how the newspaper industry is going, I'm surprised he even travels to some games. Many papers have cut out beat writers altogether and just use AP. Much cheaper.

It's not Bonnell's fault. I think he does a decent job, all things considered. He's not a fan, so naturally he's not going to care about the things that fans pick up on or want to know about.

For example, the Panthers beat writers spend more time talking to one another and showing up late than actually watching practice.

[Mustachio]

Considering how the newspaper industry is going, I'm surprised he even travels to some games. Many papers have cut out beat writers altogether and just use AP. Much cheaper.

It's not Bonnell's fault. I think he does a decent job, all things considered. He's not a fan, so naturally he's not going to care about the things that fans pick up on or want to know about.

For example, the Panthers beat writers spend more time talking to one another and showing up late than actually watching practice.


I agree with this. Its 2012. Beat writers are a dying breed with Twitter, and the myriad of different ways people can get news and info. Gone are the days where fans get their info from a dedicated beat writer from the local rag.

As far as the Oklahoman talking shit... they can blow me. OK isn't exactly a basketball hotbed, nor is it a sportswriters hotbed. Steve Martin said during the OKC game that the Thunder although the #1 team in the Western Division, weren't even mentioned until page 7 of the sports section behind 4 pages of OK State pro day. They get lucky with Kevin Durant after they steal the Sonics out of their rightful home, and then wanna talk junk. yawn.

[ammofan]

Yeah it says a lot more about our shitty newspaper and beat writer thn our team.

[cltblkhscoach]

I remember Rick profiled something about this last year with the budget cuts the Observer has had to make he isn't allowed to travel with the team all the time. Hell, I think Rick does a pretty decent job and he's been around Charlotte since the Hornets days. This has nothing to do with Rick and is all about the death of the newspaper industry.

As for OKC making fun of it? Well that just tells you how bush league they are because I never heard any other city's media pick on the coverage of a sports team, lol

[ND22]

Beat writers still have value when covering smaller teams, say like my school's basketball team at UNCW. When road games are typically only available online a beat writer is a main source of coverage. NBA beat writer's aren't as needed. All jokes aside about Bonnell, I don't blame the Charlotte Observer for not sending him on some trips, the travel expenses must add up, and he can still cover the game watching on TV.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Lol Bonnell talks shit on Twitter about the Bobcats

[QC Thundercats]

Bonnell isn't the worst beat writer, as I think the Observer is very limiting in what they can let him do. My issue is the insight we actually get into the team, things that we otherwise wouldn't know about if not for an inside source.

I guess I assumed that his Inside the NBA blog was his own vehicle to express anything he wanted about the team, and wasn't limited as to content or length, since it was only online and not in print. Anybody know any different? The problem is though, it seems that the blog is more just observations, musings, and fun facts. I would rather it be used to get to know the players, their personalities, things that can connect the fan base to our players. Every now and then, the Observer has something I think is great, such as the story on Mullens playing pickup at a local prison to get tougher, and the journey Bismack made to get to here. But there hasn't been any follow ups, like how Biz is adjusting to life now, the things he's learning, his goals, perspectives, etc.

I'm sure Kemba has many amazing stories too, but I hadn't caught any by the Observer folks that are memorable. On a recent broadcast, they showed him spending time with special needs children, and how he was helping out - why can't the Observer let the fan base get to know more about this, expand on it some more.

Another example - I don't know anything about DJ Augustin, and he's been here for four years!! Through general knowledge, I know he was affected by Katrina and had to go to Houston, but I don't know the stories behind it. Who are his mentors, what does he do in the offseason, what are some other things about his personality? I follow the team religiously, and I don't feel like I know him at all, don't feel any connection.

I also don't know anything about DJ White, Derrick Brown, Reggie Williams, Najera, Carroll, etc. I know a lot of this isn't pertinent to basketball, but to me, its all about making the connection to the players, to give fans more reasons to pull for somebody. I'm not sure if anybody outside bobcatsplanet was even aware that Tyrus received a national humanitarian award. After a google search -


"Tyrus Thomas, has been awarded the Jefferson Award, one of the nation's top honors for community service and volunteerism. Past recipients of the 38-year-old award include General Colin Powell, television personality Oprah Winfrey and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor."Seems like a pretty big deal to me, and shows a positive influence a player makes. I don't recall anything more than a throwaway sentence or two mentioned anywhere in the Observer. Maybe its just me, but I loved these kinds of personal stories about the Hornets players when I was growing up, and I don't ever see this being written about the Bobcats.

[Pepperz]

Bonnell isn't the worst beat writer, as I think the Observer is very limiting in what they can let him do. My issue is the insight we actually get into the team, things that we otherwise wouldn't know about if not for an inside source.

I guess I assumed that his Inside the NBA blog was his own vehicle to express anything he wanted about the team, and wasn't limited as to content or length, since it was only online and not in print. Anybody know any different? The problem is though, it seems that the blog is more just observations, musings, and fun facts. I would rather it be used to get to know the players, their personalities, things that can connect the fan base to our players. Every now and then, the Observer has something I think is great, such as the story on Mullens playing pickup at a local prison to get tougher, and the journey Bismack made to get to here. But there hasn't been any follow ups, like how Biz is adjusting to life now, the things he's learning, his goals, perspectives, etc.

I'm sure Kemba has many amazing stories too, but I hadn't caught any by the Observer folks that are memorable. On a recent broadcast, they showed him spending time with special needs children, and how he was helping out - why can't the Observer let the fan base get to know more about this, expand on it some more.

Another example - I don't know anything about DJ Augustin, and he's been here for four years!! Through general knowledge, I know he was affected by Katrina and had to go to Houston, but I don't know the stories behind it. Who are his mentors, what does he do in the offseason, what are some other things about his personality? I follow the team religiously, and I don't feel like I know him at all, don't feel any connection.

I also don't know anything about DJ White, Derrick Brown, Reggie Williams, Najera, Carroll, etc. I know a lot of this isn't pertinent to basketball, but to me, its all about making the connection to the players, to give fans more reasons to pull for somebody. I'm not sure if anybody outside bobcatsplanet was even aware that Tyrus received a national humanitarian award. After a google search -

Seems like a pretty big deal to me, and shows a positive influence a player makes. I don't recall anything more than a throwaway sentence or two mentioned anywhere in the Observer. Maybe its just me, but I loved these kinds of personal stories about the Hornets players when I was growing up, and I don't ever see this being written about the Bobcats.

This.

I never really thought about it as a NBA fan. I just looked at what can they do for us as a team and thats it. Now im intrigued to find out who some of these guys really are off the court.

[teej]

Bonnell hasn't traveled with the team on the longer road trips for about two years now, due to Observer budget cuts. He still writes up a game story by watching it from his living room and getting quotes from the AP, I guess.

As for the Observer in general, before the budget cuts started, they had three Panthers writers, and Bonnell was the only one assigned to the NBA, period. Not to mention he also does other sports. That should explain their focus.