Sports Writing

By: Mark Angelo B. Mañez

International Correspondent, Incheon 2014 Asian Games
Press Liaison, 2011 FIBA Asia Champions Cup
Editor-In-Chief, Educators’ Gazette (Universidad de Manila, 2007-08)
Sports Editor, The Spring / The Torres Torch (2003-2005)
 Differences of News Writing to Sports
Writing
Although similar in form and structure, we can
easily differentiate sports writing to the traditional
news writing:
1. Sports writing is more playful when relating the
scenes, whereas news writing, which sticks to the
basics of writing.
2. It highlights two important news values:
CONFLICT and ACTION.
3. Sports Writing has a structure of an action story
but with greater freedom of style in writing.
4. It is considered a specialized field. Sports writing
uses the sports lingo, a specialized group of
words to be used only to sports articles.
5. The role of Quotes from players, coaches, and
personalities involved.
 Qualities of a Sports writer
• Must know sports: rules, strategy, team, and
player’s records.
• Must attend the games or meets as a reporter,
not as a spectator or cheerer.
• Must know coaches and players as intimately as
possible.
• Must observe accuracy.
• Must be able to take notes quickly without losing
the sequence of play.
• Must be fair and unbiased in reporting, even
though he has a favorite team.
• Must not make comment without supporting
them with facts on which they are based,
although sports writers have more freedom than
any other news writers.
• Must use the specialized language of the
particular sports that he is reporting.
• Must avoid sports slang and trite expressions
which hack writers use today. He should tell
the story in plain, factual terms, that describe
the action.
• Must bear in mind that he writes for his
readers and not for himself.
 Different types of sports articles
• Blow-by-blow account story (Coverage Story)
• Backgrounder story (Sidebar Story)
• Advanced story (Dope or Prognostication)
• Sports Feature
• Sports Editorial
• Sports Cartoon
• Sports Column
 Where can we get sources for our
sports articles?
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Television
• Interviews
• Radio
• Internet
• Table officials
• Pamphlets/posters
 Headline
• The headline of a sports coverage story should
tell right away who or which team won over
whom or whose team (and whenever
appropriate or applicable, by what score).
• Appropriate action words should be used to
indicate who won depending on how the
event unfolded
 Examples of headlines
• English:
Gotze goal leads Germany to WC glory; nips Messi, Argentina

Gin Kings outshoot Hotshots in Christmas day ‘Clasico’

Manila 5 stays unbeaten, pummels Antipolo

Brazil completes Football hardware with Rio gold,

denies Germany on penalties in final thriller
• Filipino:
Gin Kings nabilaukan sa Hotdogs
Pacquaio dinurog si Algieri
Red Lions lusot sa Bombers
NCR sumingkit ng 3 golds sa Nat’l jinfest
Manliguis bagsak kay Manaloto
 Lead
- the frequent questions a lead should answer:
• Who won?
• Against whom?
• By what score?
• What event?
• When?
• Where?
 Types of Leads
• Outstanding player lead
- this lead tells the personality or
personalities who lead the team to victory,
whether he is the top scorer or the player who
made the crucial play to win. It can be applied
to individual or team sport.
 Corpus Christi, Texas (AFP) — Filipino star
Nonito Donaire stopped Australian-based
Armenian southpaw Vic Darchinyan in the ninth
round of a 10-round non-title bout Saturday to
boost his bid to return to boxing’s elite.
- “Donaire rallies to stop foe in dramatic style,”
Manila Bulletin, November 11, 2013.
Nigerian import Bright Akhuetie delivered a game
for the ages yesterday as he produced 44 points
and 19 rebounds to lead University of Perpetual
Help past College of St. Benilde, 77-69, and gain a
share of the lead in the NCAA basketball
tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
- “Bright shines for Altas, scores 44,”
Manila Bulletin, July 4, 2015
 Winalis ni top seed Allan Pason ang huli niyang apat na
laban, kasama rito ang seventh round victory kay solo
leader Albert Diolola Jr., para kunin ang seniors crown,
habang sinikwat ni No. 7 Tristan Ibaoc ang juniors title sa
23rd Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship
Northern Mindanao leg sa SM CDO City Event Center sa
Cagayan de Oro noong Linggo.
- “Pason, Ibaoc kampeon sa Shell - Mindanao Chess fest”
Pilipino Star Ngayon, July 24, 2015.
 PARIS – Napasok ni Roger Federer ang Last 16
ng French Open sa ika-11 sunod na taon nang
kalusin si Damir Dzumhur, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, sa
pagpapatuloy ng aksyon kahapon.

- “Federer pasok sa Last 16; Sharapova umusad din,”

Pilipino Star Ngayon, May 31, 2015
• Significant play lead
-this tells the crucial play or situation wherein
a team executed to win. It can be game-
winning basket by a seldom-used player or a
crucial block in the final second.
DORTMUND- Substitute Oliver Neuville scored
a stoppage time winner as host Germany
moved to the brink of qualifying for the last 16
of the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Poland.
- “Germany nips Poland, 1-0; Spain scores”
People’s Tonight, 2006
Nelbert Omolon scored four of his 12 points in
overtime as Sta. Lucia outlasted depleted Rain
or Shine, 95-90, for its second straight win in
the eliminations of the KFC Philippine Cup at
the Cuneta Astrodome.
- “Sta. Lucia, TNT jam top; SMB scores, finally”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2009
 Naisalpak ni Rodrigue Ebondo ang banked shot
sa huling 1.2 segundo para ibigay sa Café France
Bakers ang 56-55 panalo laban sa Hapee Fresh
Fighters sa Game Three para angkinin ang korona
ng PBA D-League Foundation Finals kahapon sa
Ynares Sports Arena sa Pasig City.
- “San Beda players ‘di pinalaro sa Fresh Fighters; Bakers inangkin
ang D-League title,” Pilipino Star Ngayon, June 26, 2015
 Nilimitahan ng AMA University Titans ang
MP Hotel Warriors sa walong puntos sa huling
limang minuto ng labanan para sa 99-87
panalo sa PBA D-League Foundation Cup
kahapon sa JCSGO Gym sa Cubao, Quezon
City.
- "Titans buhay pa ang tsansa sa playoffs,”
Pilipino Star Ngayon, May 22, 2015
• Significance of game lead
- it narrates or tells the result of the games for the
winning team, whether it’s a winning or losing
streak. It is also called a Background Info Lead.
WASHINGTON- An unfancied Washington
squad captured its first National Basketball
Association playoff series since 1982 by
beating Chicago, 94-91 here Friday, booking a
second-round date with powerhouse Miami.
- “Wizards end NBA drought”
People’s Tonight, 2006
 The cast list for the 2006 World Cup was
finally completed on Wednesday when the
remaining five of the 32 available places were
snapped up by Australia, Spain, Switzerland,
Trinidad and Tobago, and the Czech Republic.

- “Australia, Trinidad and Tobago enter World Cup

with 3 others,” Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2005
SINGAPORE – Tinumbok ng 16-anyos na si Chezka
Centeno ang gold medal sa women’s 9-ball
singles ng 28th Southeast Asian Games nang
kanyang masilat ang beteranang si Rubilen Amit,
7-5 sa billiards and snooker competition na
idinaraos sa OCBC Arena Hall 4.
- “Gold tinumbok ni Centeno
Pilipino Star Ngayon,June 10, 2015
 SINGAPORE – Nagtala ang Philippine Blu Boys
ng come-from-behind 8-7 win laban sa Indonesia
upang okupahan ang isa sa dalawang slots sa
page system semifinals ng 28th Southeast Asian
Games softball tournament na ginaganap sa
Kallang Diamonds dito.
- “Blu Boys wagi sa Indons, sumampa sa semifinals”
Pilipino Star Ngayon, June 9, 2015
• Novelty Lead
- like what it suggests, this lead is the most
entertaining and playful type of lead. It may
describe the player, the play, or others. This
can be made using figures of speech or
whatever the writer chooses.
 LAS VEGAS – Floyd Mayweather Jr. wasn’t
about to change what he does best in his last fight.
Both dominant and defensive, Mayweather
used all the tricks learned in a 19-year pro career
Saturday night to take a lopsided 12-round decision
over Andre Berto and retain his welterweight title in
what he insists was his final fight.
“Mayweather decisions Berto, retires at 49-0”
Associated Press, September 29, 2015
 CHANGSHA – Tab Baldwin won’t make it twice
against Team Melli – not until today.
Gilas Pilipinas unleashed its most furious
arsenal, led by a combined 49 point effort by 2013
Asia’s best Point Guard Jayson Castro and
naturalized big man Andray Blatche as they finally
exorcised what has been “The West Asian Curse” by
slamming Iran to its knees 87-73 at the 2015 FIBA
Asia Championships here.
Sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay muling nabigo si Milan
Melindo na makamit ang pinapangarap niyang world
boxing crown.
Ito ay matapos siyang talunin ni Mexican Javier Mendoza
via sixth-round technical decision (TKO) para
mapanatiling suot ang International Boxing Federation
(IBF) light flyweight belt sa Campo Nuevo sa Ensenada,
Baja California, Mexico.
- “Melindo nadiskaril kay Mendoza via TKO,”
Pilipino Star Ngayon, June 1, 2015
 CLEVELAND – Lumuhod si LeBron James at hinampas ang sahig
ng kanyang mga kamay.
Pagod na pagod na siya, ngunit isang panalo na lamang ang
kailangan niya para muling makapasok sa NBA Finals.
“I gave everything I have,” sabi ni James.
Nalampasan ni James ang pagbangon ng Hawks, pagkakaroon
niya ng cramps at injuries para itala ang triple-double at akayin ang
Cavaliers sa 114-111 overtime win sa Game 3 ng kanilang Eastern
Conference finals series.
- “Umangat si James sa OT: Cavs inilapit sa finals,”
Pilipino Star Ngayon, May 26, 2015
 Bridge
•A paragraph that connects the lead to the body.
W- W’s and H not answered in the lead
A- Attributes
I- Identifies other personalities involved.
T- Ties up story back to a previous story
S- Secondary facts are given in the bridge.
 Body
- explains and narrates some of the events in
the game to support the lead. It may contain
other significant plays of the game, statistics,
quotes from the personalities involved, or in
the case of composite news, others played. It
relates the other Ws unanswered in the lead.
Has to be 4-6 paragraph long.
 Other Elements in the Body

• Team and/or individual standing

-if the event is part of a series of games, the
story must report how the teams or players
stand in relation to their competitions.
• Decisive play
-this is the most crucial part of the game that
gives a certain team the winning margin.
• Best Scorers of the day
-the scores usually appear in the headlines and
in the lead. However, the writer must not
neglect the top scorer of the day.
• Play-by-play
-due to limited space, play-by-play has to be
condensed. In top boxing events, a separate
round-by-round account is provided,
describing the progress of the fight in detail.
• Quotation
- it is customary for the hero of the day to have
his sentiments recorded for posterity.
 Action words used in Sports Writing
• If team A defeats team B by 3 or more points:
thwart, waylay, stump, outlast, demolish, down,
whip, outplay, humble breeze past, cruise past,
ground, rip, tear, overcome, overwhelm, smother,
scrape past, zap, maul, cream, power past,
topple, tame, gore, race past, upend, crush, spill,
annihilated, subdue, overpower, trounce, sink,
shut down, dump, hold off, elude, spoil rout stop,
rally past, repulse, massacre.
• If team A defeats team B by a slim margin:
edge, eke out, nip, nose out, survive, struggle past.
• If team A defeats team B, a favorable tem:
shock, dethrone, stun, upset, pull rug from, turn the
table, oust.
• If team A, favorable team, is eliminated early in the
competition:
get door, get early axe, exit, boot out, eliminate, sent
packing.
• If team A wins championship:
clinch…, snags…, grabs…, snares…, cops…,
claims…, wrest…, steal…
• If team A is still the champion
keep…, retain…,
• If team A held team B scoreless to win:
blank, zero, sweep, whitewash.
• Filipino
Nakamit, Dinurog, Napasakamay, Namayani,
Namayagpag, Nanguna, Nasungkit, Naghari,
Nagreyna, Winalis, Nasulot, Naagaw, Nagkampeon,
Nanalo, Hinagupit, Ginulantang, Nilupig, Hiniya,
Pinaluhod, Pinabagsak, Nagapi, Naungusan, Nilupig,
Dinurog, Pinulbos, Ginapi, Pinatulog, Pinatumba,
Pinataob, Pinadapa.
 Sports terms
• BASKETBALL - quintet, zone defense, five, rebound, rally, man-to-
man, keyhole area, 30- second clock, long tom, tip-in, press, steals,
15-foot line, twinner, follow-up, lemon time, playoff slot, haul
rebounds, dish out assists, inside baskets, point guard, home court
advantage, playmaker, transition defense, floater, game winner
• BASEBALL/SOFTBALL - diamond, pitcher, short stop, southpaw, shut
out, back stop, pegged at third, swatters, pitcher’s mound, hit a
homerun, fails to make the catch, deep center, fielder, strike out,
innings, a double steal off second and third bases, unearned runs,
reaches first base safely, bases loaded, grand slam, stolen base,
walk-off, extra inning, off the wall,
• VOLLEYBALL - booming service, net ball, spikes, change court,
wallop, best attacker/receiver/server/blocker/digger/setter, block,
two out of three, blocked his kill, spiker.
• SOCCER/FOOTBALL - goalkeeper, fullback, corner kick, midfielder,
penalty kick, offside, corner kick, penalty shoot-out, extra time, free
kick, hat trick
• SEPAK - fancy kick, dead ball, single, ball on play, double, hoop, regu
• GYMNASTICS - all-around, cartwheel, dismount, horizontal bar,
pommel horse, uneven bars, rings, clubs, somersault, vault
• ICE HOCKEY – empty net goal, cage, power play, cherry picking,
faceoff, grinder, left wing, line brawl, neutral zone, penalty box,
playoff beard, shutdown
• GOLF - hole-in-one, birdie, bogey, par, fired a 7- under-64, win by two
strokes, second putt, behind the green, one- shot lead, tee-off, four-stroke
lead, match play, hit pivotal shots, hole clutch putts, carded a two-under
par 70, fairway
• TENNIS - straight sets, singles, smash cut, doubles, half volleys, passing
shots, good serving, grass court, backhand volley, double fault, lost serve
• BILLIARDS/SNOOKER – break, blackball, carom, 147, straight pool, cushion,
masse, solids and stripes, scratch, golden break, head string, race-to-17,
bridge
• TRACK EVENTS - breasted the tape, dashes, runs (200, 400 & 800), hurdles,
burned the cinders, relay, clocked a new record, photo finish, middle
distance runner, anchor man, pass the baton, bore down on him, break
the record
• FIELD EVENTS - heaved the shot put, hurled the javelin,
Fosberry flop, threw the discus, broad jump, pole vault,
triple jump, Grecian disc, long jump.
• CYCLING - wheel by wheel, remate, multi-lap, yellow jersey,
lead pack, peloton, time trial, sprint, breakaway specialist,
criterium, keirin, omnium, road race
• BOXING - round by round, blow by blow, slugfest, flyweight,
welterweight, jab, uppercut, heavyweight, uppercut, ring,
knockout loss, landed a liver blow, lightweight, super-
featherweight, split decision, boxing stable, flurry of
punches, majority decision
• AQUATICS - aquabelle, freestyle, tanker, breaststroke,
naiad, backstroke, diving board, half-pike, somersault
twist
• TAEKWONDO - turning side kick, jins, heavyweight,
finweight, flyweight, spinning hook kick, roundhouse
• CHESS - grandmaster, chess board, zugzwang, plus 47
ELO rating, nine-round tournament, blitzkrieg chess,
king, queen, board one, bishop, knight, opening move,
rook/tower, pawn.
• ARCHERY - bowman, drawing back, compound, recurve
 Sample Articles (English)
Possible All-Filipino Semis in the books
Manila North, West advance to FIBA 3x3 Manila Quarter Finals
MANILA – An All-Filipino Semis heating up? A definite possibility.
Reigning leg kingpins Team Manila West - Philippines continued their
stellar showing proving themselves that they are among the World’s
best as they grittily breezed through familiar roadblock Auckland (New
Zealand) and a young yet promising Team Manila South (PHL) in Day 1
of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters at the Robinsons Place
Manila, August 1st.
Terrence Romeo led all scorers after Day 1 of competition, chipping 20
points in 2 games, in a classic display of pure ankle breaking effort as
they took Auckland in a gritty 20-18 decision before dispatching fellow
ballers Manila South (representing Cebu) 21-14.
Not to be outdone, Team Manila North (PHL) in Pool B, led by Alaska Aces stars Calvin
Abueva and Vic Manuel chartered the tougher route before barging into the KO
Quarterfinal stage with former NU Bulldog enforcer Jeth Troy Rosario and Mahindra
Enforcers’ Karl Dehesa providing extra grit and outside sniping against 2nd seed
Ljubljana (led by 7-foot-1 giant and former World Number 1 BlazCresnar) with the
former winning, 17-16 on a last second tip by Rosario. They also had to endure Beirut
(LIB)’s mean physicality before surviving with a 20-18 thriller courtesy of Vic Manuel’s
sweet shooting from the stripe.
Also making an impressive showing are reigning 3x3 World tour Grand Champions
Novi Sad – Al-Wahda (UAE) and 2013 FIBA 3x3 World Champions Doha (QAT) after
sweeping their respective groups with abbreviated victories. Novi Sad made
mincemeat of Team Medan (INA) and Longshi (CHN) with 21-8 and 21-6 decisions
respectively in Pool A. Doha (QAT), meanwhile in Pool C, made short work of Kobe
(JPN), now reinforced by American Devaughn Washington and Nyika Williams of Saint
Vincent and The Grenadines, 21-11 before sending home Kaohsiung (TPE) with a 21-
12 beat down.
Several highlights made the first day of the 3-month, 7-city tournament sent the full
house Robinsons Manila crowd in wild frenzy, with Romeo (of Global Port in the PBA)
breaking several ankles and hitting long-range missiles despite having defenders all up
in his face. Newly-minted pro-bound SEA Games gold medalist Troy Rosario also flexed
his muscles with some sticky, yet nasty defense against broader counterparts, even
making a put back throw down against Beirut.
The tournament, staged last year at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall is organized by
FIBA and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) with Nike as its founding partner
and Wilson Sporting Goods as global sponsor, providing the official ball of the
tournament. Supporting the tournament are PLDT Home, Smart, Meralco, Maynilad,
and Sky Freight.
The finalists of the Manila Masters will go to Abu Dhabi for the Grand Final on October
15 and 16. After the Manila Leg, it will travel to five other cities namely Prague (Czech
Republic, August 8-9), Beijing (China, August 15-16), Lausanne (Switzerland, August
28-29), Mexico Distrito Federal (Mexico, September 9-10), and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil,
September 26-27). #
 Sample Articles (Filipino)
Pacquiao gustong umukit ng kasaysayan
Bilang unang Senador na naging World Boxing titlist
[Pilipino Star Ngayon, Nob. 3, 2016]

Las Vegas – Masarap sa pandinig ni Manny Pacquiao ang katawagang

“world champion senator”.
Sinabi ni Pacquiao na ang bagay na nagpaplakas sa kanyang loob na
talunin si Jessie Vargas dito sa Linggo ay ang makapagsulat ng
kasaysayan bilang unang Senador na nagwagi ng korona.
“I’m so interested to win convincingly and get the belt because this is
my first fight since being elected as senator,” wika ng 37-anyos na si
Pacquiao sa mga reporters sa isang sesyon kahapon sa Wynn Las
Vegas, kung saan niya ginawa ang kanyang grand arrival.
Nakatatak na ang pangalan ng Filipino sa boxing history
matapos magkampeon sa walong weight classes.
At tila hindi pa siya tapos magsulat ng kasaysayan.
Para kay Pacquiao, ang suot na WBO welterweight belt ni
Vargas ay parang isang kumikinang na ginto.
At gusto niya itong iuwi sa Pilipinas matapos ang kanyang
laban sa Thomas & Mack Center.
“For me this is going to be a historic fight, another record in
boxing history,” wika ni Pacquiao.
Ngunit tiniyak ni Vargas na hindi ito basta-basta magaw sa
kanya ni Pacquiao.
“We’re here to keep the belt,” wika ni Danny Cooper, ang
chief trainer ni Vargas.
Bagama’t gutom si Pacquiao sa panalo ay mas determinado
naman si Vargas na mapanatiling suot ang kanyang korona.
“Never underestimate the young, lion champion,” sabi ni
Cooper sa kanyang American kick boxer at boxer.
Ito ang magiging comeback fight ni Pacquiao matapos
magretiro noong Abril kung saan niya tinalo si Timothy
Bradley, Jr. via unanimous decision sa kanilang ikatlong
paghaharap. [Dino Maragay]
 The SPORTS Style of Writing
• S - Score
• P - Personalities
• O - Opinion of players, coaches, and others
involved (Quotations)
• R - Rules and regulations
• T - Terminologies/ Time
• S - Spectator
 The ACES style of checking article
• After you have written your article, check the
following:
A - action
C- conflict / contest / competition
E - emotions
S - score
 Tips:
• Check for spelling, subject-verb agreement, correct use
of verb tense, grammar, unity, and coherence.
• Never use articles in the lead (a, an, the).
• Use a lead which gets the reader’s attention. Try to
make it answer as many of the 5 W’s and an H as
possible.
• Put the final score high in the story. Never wait to
reveal the final score in the middle or the final
paragraph.
• When writing, try to use the active voice
(instead of, “The shot was made by Bryant,”
we say “Bryant made the shot.)
• Make sure to put the most important
information on top, and the least important at
the bottom. As well, have no more than one
though per sentence. Aim for clarity than
flowery language.
• Do not editorialize. Keep it balanced. Get both
sides. Don’t be too overcritical, but don’t be a
wallflower.
• In team sports, a team is an “it”, not a “they”.
• Make sure you have reported the score correctly
and precisely as the final buzzer sounds.
• A lead of more than 25 words can be made
shorter and snappier. Be concise.
• Never compare a sporting event to a war or
disaster, even as quotes.
• When talking about your high school team or
college team, don’t refer them as “we” or “our
team”. You might be covering a game from the
school’s angle, but you must remain objective.
• Avoid beginning a sentence, particularly a lead,
with “there are” or ‘there is”.
• Know the basics and rules of the sports you are
covering. Know to look up to rules you don’t know.
• Be original and develop your writing style. Keep your
writing style early and expand your style as you mature
as a writer and as a person.
• When you read a game story, look at HOW it is written
as well as the contents. Make mental notes (or even
real notes) on how the reporter uses transition, quotes,
and attribution.
• Have a rulebook of any game you are covering in
handy.
• Avoid holiday and question leads.
• For prep games, call each coach before a game.
Gather a few quotes for an advanced story. Try to
get an understanding for the team’s strategy
heading into the game (but don’t share it with
others.)
• Have an understanding for the world around you.
Understanding pop culture, race issues and public
affairs gives you perspective that can make you a well-
rounded writer and person.
• Keep an eye on the game clock. A game may run long,
goes to overtime or starts late. Also, go to the venue
early, for some sports end quickly than expected. Know
what time the story is due.
• Highlight a few key turning points and stats and
develop the story.
• Don’t over glorify your subjects. Sports aren’t
life or death.
• Look for great moments in the game, ironics,
outstanding players, interesting tidbits,
descriptions, crown reaction, crowd numbers,
venue condition, breaks in the norm.
• Get specific, meaningful quotes. Use the summary-
quote approach (paraphrase-quote) to get more into
the story.
• Get high scorers and other superlatives. Look for
extremes. Keep your observation powers churning. But
drop these interesting tidbits into an otherwise
predictable scenario.
• Always have a notebook of sports terms so you will not
get confused on what term you will be using.
• Some headlines indicate the score. Put the
score for emphasis.
• Enter a newsroom as though you have much
to learn. You just have to be humble enough
to listen.
• Always enjoy what you are doing.
 Some Last Thoughts
“You can’t be common. The common
man goes nowhere. You have to be
uncommon.”

- Herb Brooks
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Thank you for Listening!
Enjoy Writing!