Devendorf!!! or Devendorf!
Devendorf!!!
Now we remember what we missed last year! Devo was brilliant today against Richmond. Midway through the 2nd half he hit two threes and a two on a nice drive to the hoop keying the run that put the Orange up permanently. His emotions really got going a couple times, whipping the smallish crowd (16,000+) into a frenzy. I love his borderline insanity, which is a perfect complement to Flynn's grin-on-his-face coolness. Both guards are fantastic at taking the ball to the hoop, AND they both shoot free throws well, which is so useful down the stretch in close games.
On the other hand...
Devendorf!
He's accused of punching a woman in the face, and the matter has been turned over to the Syracuse Judicial Affairs Office. The story is a bit odd, but if its true, Devo deserves to be suspended and prosecuted. (I won't try to suggest a duration of suspension.) No friend to the basketball program, Judicial Affairs tends to put the burden of proof on the defendent. Expect some sort of draconian punishment for Devo sometime soon. We'll talk about what that means for the team when it hits.
P.S. I think it's inappropriate for syracuse.com to allow web users to post their comments anonymously at the bottom of the page that the news story is on. Its fine to host a web forum for people to react, and even link to it off the news item itself. (For that matter, I think it's fine that blogs like this one can speculate beyond the usual ethics of journalism.) However, placing the reaction of random people on the same page as the news story blurs the line between news and rumor, drawing the reader from the news facts directly into the realm of rumor, speculation, and personal attacks. Meanwhile, the anonymity of the comments frees the users from any repercussions for their extreme comments. This is particularly troubling when the subject in question by the story is a member of the local community. With guilt not yet established, the commentary might cause more damage to Devo's image than the story itself.
Fyall? Thoughts?
Now we remember what we missed last year! Devo was brilliant today against Richmond. Midway through the 2nd half he hit two threes and a two on a nice drive to the hoop keying the run that put the Orange up permanently. His emotions really got going a couple times, whipping the smallish crowd (16,000+) into a frenzy. I love his borderline insanity, which is a perfect complement to Flynn's grin-on-his-face coolness. Both guards are fantastic at taking the ball to the hoop, AND they both shoot free throws well, which is so useful down the stretch in close games.
On the other hand...
Devendorf!
He's accused of punching a woman in the face, and the matter has been turned over to the Syracuse Judicial Affairs Office. The story is a bit odd, but if its true, Devo deserves to be suspended and prosecuted. (I won't try to suggest a duration of suspension.) No friend to the basketball program, Judicial Affairs tends to put the burden of proof on the defendent. Expect some sort of draconian punishment for Devo sometime soon. We'll talk about what that means for the team when it hits.
P.S. I think it's inappropriate for syracuse.com to allow web users to post their comments anonymously at the bottom of the page that the news story is on. Its fine to host a web forum for people to react, and even link to it off the news item itself. (For that matter, I think it's fine that blogs like this one can speculate beyond the usual ethics of journalism.) However, placing the reaction of random people on the same page as the news story blurs the line between news and rumor, drawing the reader from the news facts directly into the realm of rumor, speculation, and personal attacks. Meanwhile, the anonymity of the comments frees the users from any repercussions for their extreme comments. This is particularly troubling when the subject in question by the story is a member of the local community. With guilt not yet established, the commentary might cause more damage to Devo's image than the story itself.
Fyall? Thoughts?
Labels: Eric Devendorf, Syracuse Orange basketball
posted by Prof. A at 9:43 PM
2 Comments:
The paper I work for allows comments on news stories in the same way Syracuse.com does. Editors at the paper read all comments, though, and shut down commenting on story topics that get too unruly. We instituted this rule after a high school boy randomly posted the names, and histories, of "loose" girls at his school. His post was up for 18 minutes.
Many newspapers set comments off somehow, so readers have to seek the comments out. The Seattle Times highlights three comments, and forces readers to click through to the others. The NYTimes doesn't allow them. The Washington Post just provides a "comments" link.
It's clearly a emerging issue for papers.
I believe comments can provide value both for reporters and readers. For readers, they can provide context to situations that need it. For reporters, comments can ask probing questions the reporter didn't immediately answer, provide information to verify, and help locate new witnesses.
When the reporter gets help, the stories get stronger, and everybody wins.
Of course, there are things I'd prefer not to see attached to news stories -- hate, speculation, jibber-jabber.
I think every Web site is a community, though. I don't think the problem at Syracuse.com is the comments, exactly. Comments can be great. The problem is the site's (the community's) ethic.
The site's voice is very unregulated. I sometimes go to Syracuse.com to find a news story on a topic I know is in the news, but I can locate only blog posts on the topic. A few times, I've linked directly into forums. That's crazy. The site has totally blurred the lines between professionally produced, vetted product, and blog/comment drivel. I've sent multiple e-mail complaints. I've never heard one word back.
I fully believe Syracuse.com intends at some point to become an online-only Web site. They are trying to figure out how to phase out any real news coverage at all. That leads them to encourage the zaniness.
Finally, a small point: Anybody who posts on Syracuse.com has to register for an account. So the company has some idea who you are, and has the ability to ban you if you go overboard. The paper I work for also can track IP addresses of commentors, so it can make bans stick.
That's good.
Also, IDs allow other users to find what else you've said, on what, and where. It helps establish your credibility.
That's also good.
i heard chris was in prison for molesting small children
-anonymous
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