Saturday, November 10, 2007

Cobi's big hint

Sometimes in this job, I'm left just kicking myself (unintended soccer writer pun) when I fail to put together some fairly obvious signs.

This latest one is especially depressing because not only did I have a huge hint to help me along, but I also did put most of it together. After the Galaxy/Hollywood United match, I interviewed Cobi Jones for a brief period. I asked him about considering future options and he said that there were some within the next few weeks that he was looking at.
The news about Frank Yallop leaving the team broke around then.
I figured that it couldn't be coincidental, and wondered if Cobi was being interviewed for the head coaching position. Knowing how close he'd been with Mauricio Cienfuegos, another Galaxy legend who has also mentioned that he'd be interested in coaching, I thought maybe the two would team up. Cienfuegos was also at the match, by the way.
Then the rumor mill started heating up with word of Ruud Gullit - so I modified my speculation. I guessed Cobi would be an assistant.
I mentioned this to my editor when I was working on the Gullit piece, but he rightly pointed out that I needed to get confirmation before writing that into the article. Unfortunately, I couldn't get any confirmation, but I regret now that I didn't put a blurb up here at least.
I mean, all year long (until his Vegas trip) Luis has beaten me in predicting the outcome of MLS games, so here I had the chance to salvage some pride by prognosticating a big story, and I blew it.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Unfortunately, I couldn't get any confirmation, but I regret now that I didn't put a blurb up here at least. "

Does that mean it is okay to publish something without confirmation if its just "on your blog"? Not a very high standard for a journalist.

A.C. said...

Yes, I do consider it fine to post a prediction on a blog. It's called an educated guess. How can you be proud of being right about something if there's no proof that you put the pieces together by making your prophecy in advance of the actual event?

Anonymous said...

in her blogging capacity a.c. is not subject to journalism norms but to blogging norms, duh

Anonymous said...

But it still has your name on it and people might take it as being more factual because you are supposed to be a "real journalist".

For example, the Hope Solo saga - you were pretty free and easy with your opinions on that. Much of what you wrote was based on your perception of what happened, not actual confirmed facts. People read that and might think "Andrea Canales said ..." and give it more credence than it deserves because you are a journalist when you are not adhering to journalistic standards.

A.C. said...

I am a journalist, but that doesn't mean my opinions have to be curtailed to some standard of complete objectivity. I have a point of view and I express it - especially when I write columns. I don't have a problem with people referencing my opinions as "Andrea Canales wrote", whether it's in my blog or otherwise. My editor for the espn article didn't have a problem with my guess on Cobi Jones' status, except that he thought that without confirmation, the speculation would distract from Ruud's appointment, which was the main topic of the article. It wasn't because my prediction violated any journalistic standard. It didn't. It was a guess, and I would have identified it as such, just like it should be obvious when I'm expressing an opinion, whether it's in a column or here on the blog.

Anonymous said...

A slippery slope. Afraid your credibility as a journalist takes a hit as a result.

A.C. said...

A writer's opinion is what makes for a unique point of view. People are interested in analysis and assessment and what someone who covers the sport regularly really thinks. Reporting the "just the facts" is what a sports ticker does.

Anonymous said...

True but the analysis and assessment has to be based in fact first, otherwise it's specualation and sometimes slander.

A.C. said...

You're free to get your both your soccer news and opinion elsewhere if you believe my credibility is not up to your standards, anonymous.

Anonymous said...

I do and not trying to be an ass. The lines are blurry. Isn't it worth some discussion?

A.C. said...

I've discussed my rationale and reasoning with you (whoever you are) already. You've expressed your opinion that you still disagree. There's nothing left to say, really. Differences of opinion happen all the time.