60 Minutes: The Incredible Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols, Courtesy of: Pro Fantasy Baseball

Being a native of St. Louis, Albert Pujols is an icon. He hits towering homeruns, is the benchmark for consistency, and is a clean-cut, church-going, family man with a true passion for helping people. His efforts are well known in the community, as the Pujols Family Foundations helps thousands each year. For a man who tries to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible, I was glad to see Pujols open up during the 60 Minutes interview. 

His charity work for the underprivileged in the Dominican Republic, as well as with children afflicted with Down Syndrome, is some of the most outstanding humanitarian work any athlete of our generation has done. Pujols' adopted daughter (his wife Deidre had the child with another man) has the disease, and Pujols has done everything in his power to help those in need.

The baseball numbers speak for himself. As Peter Gammons alludes to in the video, Pujols is a top 10 player in history right now, and it's not even arguable. He has dominated the diamond for 10 years, averaging a .300 batting average, 30 HR's and 100 RBI's in each season. No one, not Babe Ruth, not Hank Aaron, not Willy Mays, not Lou Gehrig, has ever done that. He is the best player in the game right now, and at the end of this season, he is going to get paid like one.

From a journalistic standpoint, this piece was another fine work by the people at CBS. Bob Simon is one of my favorite on the show; his voice is easy to listen too and he carries the interview without dominating the dialogue. There are a lot of great shots in this piece; Pujols taking batting practice inside the batting cage is a great shot, not only because you get the natural sounds of the wood bat sticking the baseball, but also it is at a level where you can see the flawless mechanics Pujols has. To make it more impressive, batting cages are tiny and dangerous, further complicating the shots. I liked that Simon traveled to the Dominican Republic to see what Pujols does, and while Simon holds hands with the little girl in the village, you can tell how excited these people are to see a glimmer of hope. There was great writing in the piece, especially in the opening, as the show the shot of Pujols dancing with every kid at the "prom" he holds for Down Syndrome sufferers, and then a tight shot of Pujols' forehead with beads of sweat. Simon then alludes to "Pujols sweating as if he just played a double-header", and then cutting away to Pujols' work on the diamond. Just a great sequence there.

Preview video, courtesy of: YouTube

One thing I didn't like was that the piece didn't really come full circle to me. I would have ended that piece with a final parting shot of guests leaving the Pujols benefit, taking us back to the place we started. It would have enforced the fact that Pujols is a family man, especially if there was a shot of him carrying his daughter out of the ballroom. I think that could have been very powerful and a great way to end the piece.

You can also find the full video on the CBS website--60 Minutes: The Incredible Albert Pujols

Weekly Warrior

This week in journalism:

I have enjoyed my couple of weeks off from the grind of Broadcast, but I am back in full swing, having to complete my five required KOMU shifts in the next three weeks.

Tomorrow I have my first VO Patrol at the station, from 8 AM-1:30 PM. I am excited to get to work and put everything into action that I have learned over the last year. I need to look at some story ideas to get ahead, and hopefully everything will go smoothly. I know everyone has the "sky is falling, everything is going wrong" day to start at KOMU, but I'm hoping to avoid that.

In my next blog entires I will hopefully post some video that I capture and what I have accomplished, but that will have to wait until my shifts get underway.

Sports Report

Observations from the last week or so in sports:

-Startling number of guys returning to the NCAA instead of entering the NBA draft. Perry Jones, Jared Sullinger, John Henson, and Tyler Zeller have all recently announced their intentions to stay in school for another year. These four could and probably would have been drafted inside the first 15 picks, with Jones and Sullinger going in the top 5. This tells me one thing, NBA agents are catching word that the labor situation in the NBA could lead to a lockout. Another tough break for American sports.

-ESPN's Year of the Quarterback should be another fantastic production in the growing line of ESPN films. Last night's "The Brady 6" was a great piece. Six quarterback's, only one of which has experienced success in the NFL (Marc Bulger), were drafted before Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL Draft. What this shows me: Drafting is a crapshoot. Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, and the rest of the bunch project these guys on measureables, game tape, and schemes for NFL teams, but no one knows what can happen. Being a Mizzou fan, I hope Blaine Gabbert turns out more Tom Brady then Gio Carmazzi, Spurgeon Wynn, Tee Martin, and Chris Redman.

-The Cardinals record is a little troubling to this point; 4-7 through 11 games in series against the Padres, Diamondbacks, Pirates, and Giants. The Giants are obviously a good team, coming off a World Series win, but the others are not playoff teams, and in the case of the Diamondbacks and Pirates, they could be the worst two teams in the NL at the end of the season. The offense is finally starting to come around, with Lance Berkman, Colby Rasmus, and David Freese catching fire as of late, and that is something I'm not concerned with. Albert Pujols is going to hit; Yadi Molina will drive in some runs. But, is their middle infield good enough to get the job done? Ryan Theriot was brought in to play solid defense and provide an offensive threat at the top of the lineup. He has shown flashes of success at the plate, but his defense leaves much to be desired. He and Skip Schumaker have to be the worst defensive middle infield in baseball. Let's face it: The Skip Schumaker second baseman experiment has not worked. It was a valiant effort to get his bat in the lineup, but Skip is no more than a utility OF. Rookie Bryan Augenstein and newcomer Brian Tallet went down last night in a 13-8 defeat, causing more problems for a bullpen that has been under much scrutiny already this year. If Tallet goes on the DL (Augenstein already is) the most likely call-ups will be Fernando Salas and Eduardo Sanchez, two pitchers with great promise. Mark it down now, Eduardo Sanchez will be the Cardinals closer within the next two years, he has electric stuff. Finally, free Tyler Greene, dude needs to play.

-The NBA playoffs are right around the corner, and I for one, am excited. So many story lines are prevalent this year: Are the Spurs too old? Do the Bulls have a sidekick for Derrick Rose? How do the "Big 3" play in the playoffs? What's up with the Lakers? Are the Thunder ready to be legitimate title contenders? Can the Celtics hold off the Knicks? All will be intriguing. Many of my friends claim that the NBA is boring to watch because no one plays defense; I whole-heartedly disagree with that statement, and encourage anyone who feels the same way to watch these playoffs and enjoy the best teams with the best players in the world.

-If the NBA draft was today, and the lottery went as scheduled, the draft order would be: Minnesota, Cleveland, Toronto, Washington, New Jersey, Sacramento (tie here). Here are my picks, considering that Harrison Barnes enters the draft.

1. Minnesota: Harrison Barnes, G/F, University of North Carolina.
This makes sense for the awful drafting Timberwolves. If a top-flight center was available for this pick, the Wolves would have to take it, but I think that Barnes is the best value for a Timberwolves team that needs scorers and tough-minded players. Backup: Enes Kanter. If this guy impresses after not playing this entire year, he could be a sleeper for this pick.
2. Cleveland: Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke University.
All reports are that Cleveland is ready to rebuild with Irving as their PG. They luck out in this scenario because the Wolves drafted Johnny Flynn and Ricky Rubio just two years ago. Irving brings youth an a strong on-ball presence to a team that just needs playmakers. Backup: Harrison Barnes. Proven scorer who can immediately impact the Cavs.
3. Toronto: Derrick Williams, F, University of Arizona.
Not following "Canada's team" very much hurts my knowledge here, but I know some about the make-up of their roster. Demar DeRozan, Leondro Barboza, and Jerryd Bayless provide a solid backcourt for the Raptors, with Ed Davis an up-and-comer at the 4 slot. Andrea Bargnani needs to be shifted to the 3, but I think unless Kanter impresses, Williams provides a great value. Backup: Enes Kanter.
4. Washington: Jan Vesely, PF, Czech Republic.
I don't take the time to read everything about international players as I probably should, but Vesely has a perimeter game that the Wizards could highly desire. The Wizards have a team full of potential, and Vesely would be another "potential pick", but they need something to go with John Wall. Backup: Trade down, draft Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State University.
T-5. New Jersey: Enes Kanter, F/C, Kentucky.
Brook Lopez is the future for New Jersey as their center, but Kanter could be the missing piece at the PF position for the rebuilding Nets. Kris Humphries had a nice year, but his best accomplishment is dating Kim Kardashian, not being a starter in the NBA. Kanter would be an upgrade offensively, and give them another young player to build around for the future. Backup: Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky. High volume game if he can realize his potential, would be an immediate threat at the 3 for the Nets.
T-5. Sacramento: Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky.
For some, this pick may not make sense. Sacramento's best player is Tyreke Evans, right? Absolutely, but from everything I have seen out of Tyreke, he needs to play off the ball. He may never be a great shooter, but he needs to have the ball taken out of his hands and put into someone's that can give him a chance to score easily. Knight could accomplish that, and he has the second highest upside of any PG in this draft. For a young team, take Knight over Kemba Walker, just based on potential. You can afford to work him along slowly because the Kings are not going to be relevant in the West for a while anyway. Backup: Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania. The 18-year old PF could grow with Demarcus Cousins inside.

E:60 Season Premiere

ESPN has grown over the last 15 years into a media empire. As they continue to expand, cranking out daytime shows, multiple channels, and expansive radio coverage, the thing I have enjoyed the most is their commitment to true journalism through the "E:60" series and the documentaries presented in their "30 for 30" line.

E:60 premiered the first episode of its new season last night, and it was phenomenal. The story of Ryan Westmoreland hits home for me; the kid was a baseball player that only wanted to be a pro for his hometown team. Growing up in St. Louis, most kids have that dream and it is hardly ever realized, but for Westmoreland, it was a real possibility. As a fifth round pick of the Boston Red Sox, Westmoreland was quickly rising through their minor league system as an 18-year old, but a strange growth on his brainstem thwarted his dream. He could have died in surgery, but is now working his way back into baseball, albeit battling his fine motor skills. The ultimate story of courage and strength.

Ryan Westmoreland,  courtesy of: Projo

There were a couple of very interesting and redeeming stories of Dwayne Wade and his mother's struggles, as well as the story of Anil Kane, an aspiring golfer from the slums of Mumbai, India. Wade's mother battled through heroin, crack, and alcohol addictions to become a Baptist minister in inner-city Chicago. Kane lives on less than $2 per day, dropped out of high school in the 9th grade to become a caddy at an upscale club, and earns less than $900 a year, but still has dreams of becoming the next great Indian golfer.

Preview of Mumbai Masters

Courtesy of: YouTube

The story that was really outstanding was a piece by Chris Connelly about Christina-Taylor Green, the youngest victim in the Tucson shootings in January. Green was the granddaughter of Dallas Green, a World Series champion manager for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980. Her father also works as an advanced scout for the Dodgers, making this a sports family. However, it was Christina's ambition as a little leaguer that connects this story to our sports world. She was a symbol of courage, hope, and competitive nature. The story is outstanding an I encourage everyone to take a look at it; it will bring you to your knees.

Christina-Taylor Green, courtesy of: CSU Pueblo Today

From a journalistic standpoint, ESPN does a great job with this series. The interviews brings questions from every angle, and most of the stories come full circle. However, there were a couple things in this first episode that I had a problem with. On two separate occasions, interviews were distracting because the camera was moving. It happened during the Ryan Westmoreland piece during an interview with Theo Epsetin (GM of the Boston Red Sox) and also during the interview with Jolinda Wade. The camera was shaky, zooming in and out, and it was very distracting. For such powerful stories, such minor mistakes cannot be made. The soundbites were important to the story, but I couldn't focus on what was being said because of the movement. 

Weekly Warrior

This week's activities in journalism:

Having been cleared almost two weeks ago, I gave myself a much deserved break. I had some other tests and assignments I had been neglecting due to my journalistic responsibilities, and had to catch up.

Tomorrow I have an edit test out at KOMU and clearing that will be the last stop before I start doing some reporting shifts out at the station. I plan on starting my reporting after Spring Break, and having four weeks to do five shifts should not be too much of a problem.

I had to register for Broadcast 3 in the fall of next year, and I requested to either cover Wednesday's nightside or Monday's nightside for my reporting shift each week. Those shifts work with my class schedule for the fall semester, and hopefully news on those days will be plentiful.

60 Minutes: N.Y.'s Archbishop Timothy Dolan

Courtesy of: Archdiocese of New York

In the past decade, the Catholic Church in America has encountered its fair share of problems; with same-sex marriage rising, falling numbers in those entering the priesthood, and sexual abuse scandals, many in the church are losing faith.

Insert New York's Archbishop Timothy Dolan. The charismatic, overweight, staunch conservative is the leader of the biggest Catholic market in the U.S., New York. He resides over 2.2 million Catholics and is trying to change things for the church.

While the story is a good one, religion isn't something I'm particularly fond of talking about. It's a subject that pins people against each other, building barriers and creating tension. But, this story is just another fine example of feature journalism by 60 Minutes.

This story does a couple of great things that have become characteristics of great reporting by CBS' best news show: First, great natural sounds. To prove that someone is charismatic, don't you have to hear that they are just that? Seeing interaction between Dolan and his followers is exactly what you need to prove the true personality behind this mind. To see the relationships he has built with politicians, churchgoers, celebrities, and other high-ranking officials in the church is exactly what the story needed to prove his charm. Next, the overhead shots, as well as the low angled shots provide quality b-roll that helps show the devout nature with which he preaches. Finally, I think that Morley Safer asked some tough questions, and Dolan didn't shy away from them. A lot of people in Dolan's position may beat around the bush when it comes to questions about sex scandals in the church, but by Safer asking them in insightful and respectful ways, the viewers get to hear what Dolan has to say about a very serious issue.

I did have one problem with the story, and this may just be personal preference, but I had a problem listening to Morley Safer throughout the entire piece. His voice at an older age can be tough to listen to in some spots and became, at times, distracting to me. He is obviously a great journalist; no one is debating that. I just thought his voicing could have been better used to keep the focus on the story and not on himself. Maybe by adding more soundbites or staying away from similar sounds back-to-back, Safer could have had a better effect with his voice.

To see this story, check out: 60 Minutes Online

Loyalty in College Sports

Oh Mike, say it ain't so.

Mike Anderson has officially left the University of Missouri's basketball program to become the head coach at the University of Arkansas. Less than a week ago Anderson was quoted as saying, "I've always stated I'm a Missouri Tiger. I'm excited about what is taking place here." Sounds like Mike wasn't going anywhere, anytime soon.

Courtesy of: NewsOne

But here we sit, less than a week after his team was eliminated from the NCAA basketball tournament, and Mike is headed to the place where his coaching career began. The University of Missouri's Board of Curators had approved a bump in salary that would have made Anderson a $2 million per year head coach over the next seven years; apparently Arkansas upped that offer to $2.2.

I understand, at least a little anyway, why Mike wanted to head back to Fayetteville; he spent 17 seasons under coach Nolan Richardson as an assistant, and even two games as a head coach when Richardson was fired before Anderson's last season there.

Mike Anderson and Nolan Richardson

Courtesy of: SW Times

But for the most part, I flat out don't get it. He had recruits in place; the team was in the Top 25 for all but two weeks this season. Why the big rush, Mike? I forgot that Arkansas was a hot bed for basketball... Oh wait, it's not. The SEC is the ultimate football conference; think getting people to watch Big 12 basketball was tough? Try it in the SEC, Mike.

This is where I question the loyalty of Mike Anderson. He recruited his "best friend" Paul Pressey's two sons to come and play for him at Mizzou, and then leaves them out to dry? Now, there is a chance that Phil and Matt could transfer, but why make them sit out a year for your selfish intentions? Reports have stated that guys left Mizzou Arena in tears tonight... Was it worth the extra $200,000, Mike?

This is the ultimately sickening thing about college sports; everyone wants to be the top dog. Coaches recruit kids to come to school, stay four years, get an education, and win basketball games. Who knows if their coach is even going to be there for all four? These kids make decisions that are going to affect the rest of their lives when they sign a National Letter of Intent to play at a university, why doesn't the coach have to do the same?

I hope Anderson has to forfeit some of his new contract to pay for the breach of contract ($1.4 million) the University of Missouri will receive from the University of Arkansas.

"40 Minutes in Hell" may be over at the University of Missouri, but good times are ahead for Mizzou's program, with or without CMA.

Story of the Week

The story of Wes Leonard is one that has been well traveled in the past few weeks. The best player for Fenville High School is Minnesota hit a game winning shot to cap an undefeated regular season for his team, and then tragically passed away on the court from cardiac arrest. Not only has this story brought true emotion to millions, but it has also raised awareness for testing of enlarged hearts.

From a journalistic standpoint, the story of Wes Leonard has hit every major news outlet. It has nothing to do with sports; it is a tragedy that transcends all areas of life. Every major news outlet has picked up the story, but I think ESPN has done the best job.

Bob Holtzman is a terrific live journalist, taking live shots from NFL training camps to federal court cases. In this case, he has been on location in Fenville since Leonard tragically passed. His demeanor is confident; he does a great job conveying information on even the most brutal of information in such a calm manner. He stands tall, is not distracting with his attire, and reports without a script for a minute or longer in most cases. He handles questions from anchors on live TV, which points to his great handle over scripts and scripting.

Also, sending cameras to a little known high school in Minnesota is not what ESPN does; they are a national leader. However, by them covering the games each day, they have added emotion to this story that is unprecedented. The shot of a teammate crying on the bench during a game is one that is so powerful it is hard to imagine. They provide powerful imagery without having to talk over the true point of the story; this was a kid who gave his heart to a community, and his death will leave a last impact.

What I'm Watching

A new segment to the blog, here is what I'm watching on TV; I try to watch as much TV as possible when I have downtime, so here are my suggestions:

-ESPN 30 for 30: Fab Five
This new documentary in the series profiles the Fab Five of Michigan University in the early 90's. The team made a championship run in the NCAA Basketball tournament, in a time when freshman didn't get heavy minutes. The most well known members are Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, and Chris Weber, who all had very successful NBA careers (Howard is still a member of the Heat). More importantly than their success was the changes they made to the game. The first guys in college to wear black socks with black shoes, the first to really start "posterizing" other players as is popular now, and they set the table for freshman to get heavier minutes for years to come. "30 for 30"is a great series and I haven't watched one I haven't liked yet. It premiers Sunday night on ESPN.

-Bracketology
It's that time of year again, and the brackets are ready to be unveiled. With Championship Week taking place now, every avid basketball fan will be glued to CBS on Sunday to watch the matchups get uncovered. Great analysis from CBS as well as ESPN, can't wait.

-Guilty pleasures:
If you like food at all, a couple of great shows are going on over at the food network. "Chopped" is holding an all-star tournament for charity, with hosts and contestants of the Food Network shows participating. It is on Sundays at 9 PM. Always a big fan of Modern Family (can't get enough of Phil Dunphy) and Criminal Minds is having a great season, with a big episode headed for next Wednesday.

Weekly Warrior

Another week, another struggle, here's what I was working on:

I'm still plugging along the long journey that is Broadcast 2. I knew the last piece of work I turned in was awful; just one of those that you turn in, shake your head, and try to wipe your hands clean. The story was unclear and the video was rushed. I was out of town for the weekend and came back, facing a 1 PM deadline on Monday, and did not finish filming until 10 AM that day. I got it done, but I was disappointed in my work. I try to strive for excellence, but that was definitely subpar. My interviews weren't bad and I just decent bites, I just didn't do enough research to support my script fully and with the recent technology struggles we have had in the broadcast lab, I totally forgot to put runtimes for supers in my script. My score reflected the work I did, but I move on.

The package I just turned was much more reflective of the work I am capable of. Of course there were still problems, but I'm still learning. My audio seemed to be a little hot when I watched it today and I thought I had corrected that problem earlier in the week, but for some reason it still seems hot. When I annunciated on p's and c's you could really hear the rebound in the mic. My interviews weren't framed as well as I would have liked, but I seem to be having that problem every time. I try to make a conscious effort to get the interviews in a nice frame, but with the cameras we have I just can't figure it out; it's frustrating. Besides that, I like my standup and the bites I had, and I thought the overall script was good. It could have been worded a little better into my bites, but overall I was happy with the information I was able to get across in a runtime of 1:17.

In other classes, tests are starting to pop back up and studying will be to the max. Add that with hoping to get cleared for broadcast, finishing shadow shifts, and taking the iNews and Avid tests and the next few weeks heading into Spring Break should be a blast.

Sports Illustrated Report: The Redemption of Mike Danton

Keeping with my theme of sports for the week... Another great sto

Mike Danton's Mugshot

Courtesy of: http://jocksbehindbars.com/mugshots/gallery/

Why do I love sports? Obviously the competition is the main factor. However, in the world of sports journalism, nothing is better than a great redemption story. 

Mike Danton was convicted in 2004 of murder for hire; he was 23-years old and an up and coming player for the St. Louis Blues. He was caught trying to have his agent, David Frost, murdered. 

Mike Danton, as a player for the St. Louis Blues. 

Also, his mug shot, along with the man he tried to have killed, David Frost.

Courtesy of: blogs.bettor.com

Danton served his time, just like many other athletes have along the way. Mike Vick is the most recent example of federal inmates getting a second chance. For Mike Danton, his second chance took him to St. Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. With the blessing of the team and an accepting coach, the hockey team took in an ex-pro and ex-con with open arms. This is what sports can do; they offer redemption in the most unlikely of ways. 

Obviously, no one can condone what Danton did. What he tried to have done is something that will stay with him and tarnish his reputation for the rest of his life. But why not give Danton a second chance? He served his time. Would you deny any parolee the chance to start over? I give Danton credit for getting his life back together and obviously making himself into a rehabilitated and productive person.

In terms of the journalistic aspect of this story, SI did a great job. Loved a couple of the shots: the video of the St. Mary's hockey coach walking past the university's sign with the snow covered ground. The white background with the red sign and single silhouette of the coach made for a great shot. Also, I really enjoyed putting Danton behind a black background; it shows the darkness in his past, but also allows the audience to look straight into Danton as he tells his story of redemption. I also really enjoyed the skate sharpening B-Roll, the setting of the interview with the team's captain, and seeing Danton as a member of regular university classes. The VO did not take over the entire story, the story let Danton do the talking, and I think that makes for a great piece.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/video/si_video/2011/02/23/022311.danton.SportsIllustrated/index.html

60 Minutes Report - Sports Betting: Billy Walters

Sports Betting Legend Billy Walters

Courtesy of: worldgolf.com

Lara Logan leads this "60 Minutes" profile of the most dangerous gambling man in Vegas. Billy Walters has never had a losing season in sports betting, somewhat of an amazing feat in the world gambling. In this piece, you see Billy Walters betting hundreds of thousands of dollars, sometimes millions, in a single weekend on professional and collegiate sports. Instead of dabbling into what he does and doesn't do, as the piece can do that for itself, I would like to look at this from a journalistic standpoint.

After seeing the story, the first thing I noticed was a full circle story. It starts by making a hero out of Billy Walters; he is winning money, all his historic feats are chronicled, and we see everything good that comes with this man who is making his money playing the odds. He is spending more money in a weekend (and putting it at complete chance at that) than most people make in their lifetimes. Yet somehow, in the beginning of the story, you find yourself in amazement and even rooting for this guy to succeed.

As every good journalistic story goes, there comes a sense of objectivity. You learn that Billy Walters has been indicted on felony charges four times, that he loses a lot, and he runs a pretty secretive operation that makes you uneasy. The Vegas casino owners come in to offer their point of views and describe Billy as "dangerous" and you find that most won't take his bets. He makes prop bets to get lines to go his way, and all of a sudden you can't seem to figure out what to make of this guy.

The way that the profile examines his entire background makes an audience feel secure; they know that the reporter has done their research and that they aren't picking and choosing information to make the story they want.

They have some great B-Roll of Vegas gamblers, nice cutaways in Billy's house, and they also get close enough to telling you how Billy does it, without stepping over the line and revealing his operation.

All in all, a great story.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7253011n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

Weekly Warrior

Another week, another package, here's what I'm working on in Broadcast 2:

This week I turned another package focusing on increased parking fines in the downtown Columbia area. I definitely wanted to angle it toward the impact on local business, as increased fines could, and I believe will, take a hit on local businesses in the area. I got to talk to Francisco Guillen, owner of La Siesta Mexican Restaurant, and he was genuinely concerned, especially for people during lunch hours. Overall, I thought the package turned out great, I really liked my work. I had a good opening shot with natural sounds; it was a parking meter in a tight shot with :01 minutes left. As it turned to :00, the sounds came up and the colors went from green to red. I definitely still need to work on my framing during interviews, as both of my interviews looked much wider than they did when I shot them. The LED on the cameras we use makes it tough to actually determine what will show up on the big screen during critiques. Overall, I was happy and proud of what I turned it.

A week ago I turned in a package I wasn't proud of. The story was okay, pretty fluffy, and I just tried to make the best out of it that I could. I know I can do better work than what I turned in, so I don't even want to dwell on it.

A lecture last week really opened my eyes to writing for news stories. The lecture made us focus on keeping short, direct sentences with simple language and bring the story full circle.

I am continuing to learn at an amazing rate, and hope to be cleared soon for KOMU. Hopefully by my next blog I will have some good news to share.

My Take

My take on sports for the week:

-Devastating news out of Cardinals camp today, perennial Cy Young contender Adam Wainwright has a serious arm injury. John Mozeliak, or any GM in MLB do not go out of their way to speculate on a serious injury, so this has all the makings of being terrible. So, who steps up? Lance Lynn, Kyle McClellan, and journeyman like Miguel Batista and Ian Snell will battle it out. My guess? Tony and Dunc like their bullpen depth and start with McClellan. He is given a starter's workload every spring anyway, so why not try? Lance Lynn is the emergency 6th starting in AAA, and he is coming off an impressive playoff run last year with Memphis, striking out 16 in his final start. It's definitely bad, but it could always be worse (please stay healthy Albert and Matt).

-Don't overlook the loss of Nick Punto as well. Punto signed for $750,000 and would be LaRussa's ideal super-utility guy (a la Aaron Miles). With his return date not expected for 2-3 months, Daniel Descalso could be the lucky recipient of a roster spot. Earlier this spring I guessed that with the rotation healthy, the Cards would break camp with 13 position players and 12 pitchers; with this news, I think it flip flops. My roster, as it sits today, expecting Wainwright to miss opening day (if not the entire season):

12 Position Players: Molina, Pujols, Schumaker, Freese, Theriot, Holliday, Rasmus, Berkman, Laird, Greene, Craig, Jay. (Still no Descalso, but could be an early call-up).

13 Pitchers: Carpenter, Garcia, Westbrook, Lohse, McClellan, Boggs, Motte, Franklin, Miller, Tallet, Salas, Walters, and Batista as a long reliever.

-In college basketball, crazy weekend. This season has a ton of parity, which I don't think is necessarily good or bad for the sport. When the NBA put in the 1-year post high school graduation rule, what we are seeing today was bound to happen. With young players with tons of potential leaving school early (7 of the top 18 picks in the 2010 NBA draft were college freshman) and even more scheduled to do so this year (6 of the projected top 10 picks are college freshman), the game was bound to slip. There are few teams that are truly senior laden in college basketball (Duke) and therefore talent is more spread across the board, and anyone can truly beat anyone. My number 1 seeds as of today: Duke, Pittsburgh, Ohio State, Texas.

-Two weeks ago I listed my NCAA All-American Team, I will update that now:

Jimmer Fredette, G, BYU
Nolan Smith, G, Duke
Derrick Williams, F, Arizona
Jared Sullinger, F, Ohio State
Marcus Morris, F, Kansas

-Like the trades the St. Louis Blues have made. Eric Brewer seemed to be an expendable piece, but they should have gotten more for him than what they did. A 3rd round pick and a project prospect seems a little cheap for a proven defender and captain, but I still call the trade a wash. The Erik Johnson trade shocked many, including myself. The Blues followed the old rule that "you have to give to get" and definitely hit it big with Stewart and Shattenkirk. If Stewart can return to the form of last year, this deal would have been a good one straight up for EJ. Shattenkirk is a prospect and definitely has skill as an offensive D-man. Overall, big win for the Blues.

-Mizzou has a big test tonight with a talented Baylor Bears squad. Perry Jones is a freak, Lace Dunn can really score, and their height is something that Mizzou will definitely struggle with. The point guard spot is something Mizzou should take advantage of, as Pressey and Dixon are much better than what Baylor has to offer. Calling Kim English... please show up!

My Take

My take on sports for the week:

-Mizzou needs to rebound. They get killed on the boards and playing three guards under 6'2" really hurts them (F. Pressey, Denmon, Dixon or M. Pressey). Where is Kim English? This was supposed to be his breakout year and I can't find him on the court. Of course, when Nebraska or Colorado come to town he will step up, but Mizzou needs him in the big games too. I think part of his struggles come from not being able to create his own shot.

-North Carolina is back. Duke is a great team with a ton of experience. North Carolina starts two freshmen, two sophomores, and one junior (T. Zeller, who has really played one year of college basketball due to injury). That game Wednesday night was an instant classic and just shows me one thing: Carolina is dangerous and I love it.

-Pitchers and catchers are starting to report for spring training, and I am glad to see that Cardinals baseball will be back in full swing soon. The Cardinals have a ton of question marks; Berkman's ability in the OF, Freese's health, Kyle Loshe's true value, and who will play 2B? I don't think the Cardinals will have enough offense or defense out of the middle infield. Schumaker is a solid hitter, but he doesn't walk and has no speed. Theriot is a max-effort guy, decent average and some quickness. Neither have pop and neither are great defensively. Would have loved to see Brendan Ryan stick around, hope that move doesn't come back to haunt the cards.

-On Pujols: Get it done. Everyone knows he isn't walking. The Cards can't handicap themselves by giving him 10 years, and if anyone else wants to do that, it is a death sentence. My proposal: 7 years with a club option for an 8th, $33 million per year for the first 4 years, $25 million the last 3 with the club option at $22. Puts the total value at 7/207, or 29.6 million per year.

-My picks for first team All-America NCAAB as of right now:
Jimmer Fredette, G, BYU
Nolan Smith, G, Duke (this one pains me)
Kemba Walker, G, UConn
Jared Sulinger, F, Ohio State
Marcus Morris, F, Kansas (this one as well)

-The St. Louis Blues have big games this week with a back-to-back, home-and-home with the Minnesota Wild. Five points out of the 8th spot and getting healthier, I like their chances going forward.

60 Minutes Presents: Gotti

Courtesy of newyork.cbslocal.com

Having never followed the Gotti's, this piece was eye opening. The Mob and Mafia are gangs of these sort of folk heroes that play it close to the vest and, in most cases, seem to end up dead or completely off the map.

From a journalistic standpoint, who does it better than "60 Minutes"? They get the best interviews and ask the tough questions. Steve Kroft held a great interview, and I thought the piece followed a great form. It started with his childhood and worked us up to the point where he left the family. It is the true journey of a dangerous man. The only thing I didn't like was the framing of the interview with Gotti; for some reason the top of his forehead being cut off bothered me. I feel like that led to some unnecessary pans and movement of the camera that distracted me from what was being said. However, the effect it gave was the chance to look right in the eye of John Gotti Jr., a true gangster of his time.

I was absolutely captivated for all 42 minutes of the piece. Gotti comes off as slick, street smart, and ruthless; a calculated man with a plan. How he has escaped all of these cases is beyond me. His family has run the streets of New York for years and it makes them all the more interesting. I grew up with my dad on baseball diamonds and football fields; he ran around a social club full of murderers and traffickers. He stole, fought, and climbed his way to the top of a very powerful and dangerous family gang. 

Honestly, there is not too much to say. The fact that there are people who can live this life and think it is normal is beyond me. I encourage everyone to take the time and watch this video.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7324109n&tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel

Weekly Warrior

In my "Weekly Warrior" section I will be taking a look at what I am currently doing as a broadcast journalism student at the University of Missouri.

I am currently working on a package right now covering Black History Month at the university. Mizzou does a great job of recognizing the month by hosting 40 events to help celebrate. This year, the theme of the event is "African Americans and the Civil War." Tonight I am going to see an English professor at the university play a traditional African instrument and hoping to ask him some questions about Black History Month, what he does, and why this is so important to him.

I think the thing that has been toughest for me so far is getting reacquainted with the technology. Anyone familiar with resources like Avid and iNews knows that taking a month layoff and getting thrown back into the fire is a pretty tough thing to do.

As always, I'm learning more in lecture every week. I think one thing that really hit home was the "pregnant eye" story structure. The "sell-tell-tag" technique is a great way to think about proposing a story. Hopefully this can not only improve my writing, but also improve my capturing and editing processes.

"Future of Football": Outside the Lines Report

AP Photo/Scott Audette

The story of Tom McHale is a tragic one, one that seems to be happening far too often in recent years. Concussions are at the forefront of NFL football and rightly so; suspensions, heavy fines, upgraded testing, and even the collective bargaining agreement negotiations are all constant reminders of what seems to be an epidemic in football.

For what it is worth, I feel that football players have an inherent risk of injury, serious injury, when they lace up their cleats and strap up their helmets to take the field. Players are bigger, faster, stronger, and more vicious now than they have ever been. James Harrison, Terrell Suggs, Bob Sanders, and Brandon Merriweather are just some of the names we associate with explosive hits on the field at the professional level. But as we see in this story, that is traveling down the ranks into youth leagues.

I can remember my first practice in sixth grade; we spent the whole practice going over proper tackling form to help prevent injuries as well as make sound plays on the field. I had played in a Junior Football League some five years before that, but it was still a good lesson. What I wonder now is simple: Does the style of play in the NFL dictate how kids are playing the game today?

The video above shows a pretty stark example of a helmet to helmet hit and the kids are young, too young, to be hitting that way. From a journalistic standpoint, this is a great piece. It is investigative and insightful; it shows a torn family to draw somber emotions from its viewers. The imported video pieces are great and the early shots are sequenced together for a great effect. I think it shows both sides of the equation with the Lavar Arrington interview, seeing as he is a guy who played football at a high level at both Penn State and with the Washington Redskins as a linebacker. It is captivating and informative; everything you want from a sports piece.

In the end, I wonder how long the shelf lives of players are going to be heading into the future. If an 18 game schedule is approved by the NFL, players may see their careers cut by 2 or 3 years, that's how serious this concussion problem can be. For fans and players alike, I hope this does not continue; seeing a player stabilized during a game is nothing we wish to see.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6091106&categoryid=3286128