Welp. Dan Lanning is Dan Lanning - and we (mostly) like that. And for what its worth, those media days are long, man. If I had been doing interviews from early in the morning until late at night I might be a little cranky myself.
I love the first-person stuff, Tyson. Maybe it's just me, but I love the nuts/bolts details of the work.
As a former sports editor/writer at a daily, I have a couple of interview stories I'd rather forget.
1) I was trying to set up an interview with Chi Chi Rodriguez for a charity golf event. Being the SE for a daily meant really long hours, and I was tired when I made the call. Instead of pronouncing Rodriguez's name properly, I accidentally used the WKRP Less Nessman version. (Look it up on YouTube.) My brain immediately recognized what I had said. I did not get a call back.
2) I was a researcher on a contemporary book about the first US Dream Team (I am old). At the time, Charles Barkley was (as always) saying things that caused controversy. I finally got in touch with him and broached the subject in the most assinine way. On the bright side, I can say Barkley tore me a new one and hung up on me. I deserved it.
It pays to know how to ask questions without being a dick. It's so easy to inadvertently piss off a source by saying the right thing the wrong way, etc.
I miss the writing, but I lived in fear of getting something wrong. It's hard to be a reporter who also has social anxiety.
Which is why I switched to design.
People don't understand how hard it is to be a beat writer. Back in my day, I only had to compete with the Boise paper, which had far more resources than I did. We were PM on weekdays, AM on weekends. I often worked until 2-3 AM. My managing editor would call me at the crack of dawn to complain that the Statesman had scooped us on Boise State news. OF COURSE we're getting scooped. We don't have anyone dedicated to the beat. Oh, and my reporters made $14 an hour. I made $20/hour. My desk guy left to become the AGATE CLERK at the Statesman, and he started making twice as much as I did.
Now the news comes from everywhere.
So I have HUGE respect for Tyson for keeping this thing going. It's a job only for the strong-willed, but at least it used to pay OK. Now... The degree of difficulty is off the charts.
Anyway, I've kept my sub here even through two long stints of unemployment (still looking). A person has to have priorities.
Well done Tyson… well done. I enjoy the way you approached this. For the record, I’m glad Dan is trying to stay out of the headlines. I’m not a Raiders fan, but also appreciate what Al Davis said - “Just Win, Baby”
So, back in college I won the Jim Murray sports writing scholarship. As part of the that I got to cover the 2011 Paribas Open at Indian Wells, where I got Fed, Rafa and Joker all on the same day. Was 20 years old. Still hasn’t gotten better.
Excellent! Also, I love your ability to show their humanity and personalities. Thank you for that.
Hey, I'm way better at the human stuff than the football stuff, and I'm OK with that. Thanks for reading, Lisa!
Welp. Dan Lanning is Dan Lanning - and we (mostly) like that. And for what its worth, those media days are long, man. If I had been doing interviews from early in the morning until late at night I might be a little cranky myself.
Love it! About what I expected. Great picture of Dan!
I love the first-person stuff, Tyson. Maybe it's just me, but I love the nuts/bolts details of the work.
As a former sports editor/writer at a daily, I have a couple of interview stories I'd rather forget.
1) I was trying to set up an interview with Chi Chi Rodriguez for a charity golf event. Being the SE for a daily meant really long hours, and I was tired when I made the call. Instead of pronouncing Rodriguez's name properly, I accidentally used the WKRP Less Nessman version. (Look it up on YouTube.) My brain immediately recognized what I had said. I did not get a call back.
2) I was a researcher on a contemporary book about the first US Dream Team (I am old). At the time, Charles Barkley was (as always) saying things that caused controversy. I finally got in touch with him and broached the subject in the most assinine way. On the bright side, I can say Barkley tore me a new one and hung up on me. I deserved it.
It pays to know how to ask questions without being a dick. It's so easy to inadvertently piss off a source by saying the right thing the wrong way, etc.
I miss the writing, but I lived in fear of getting something wrong. It's hard to be a reporter who also has social anxiety.
Which is why I switched to design.
People don't understand how hard it is to be a beat writer. Back in my day, I only had to compete with the Boise paper, which had far more resources than I did. We were PM on weekdays, AM on weekends. I often worked until 2-3 AM. My managing editor would call me at the crack of dawn to complain that the Statesman had scooped us on Boise State news. OF COURSE we're getting scooped. We don't have anyone dedicated to the beat. Oh, and my reporters made $14 an hour. I made $20/hour. My desk guy left to become the AGATE CLERK at the Statesman, and he started making twice as much as I did.
Now the news comes from everywhere.
So I have HUGE respect for Tyson for keeping this thing going. It's a job only for the strong-willed, but at least it used to pay OK. Now... The degree of difficulty is off the charts.
Anyway, I've kept my sub here even through two long stints of unemployment (still looking). A person has to have priorities.
"I miss the writing, but I lived in fear of getting something wrong. It's hard to be a reporter who also has social anxiety."
It sure is.
Appreciate you sharing -- and subscribing -- Paul.
Well done Tyson… well done. I enjoy the way you approached this. For the record, I’m glad Dan is trying to stay out of the headlines. I’m not a Raiders fan, but also appreciate what Al Davis said - “Just Win, Baby”
Loved this format! Can you give a quick backstory on the Federer/Nadal interviews? Ie. how did you get those?
So, back in college I won the Jim Murray sports writing scholarship. As part of the that I got to cover the 2011 Paribas Open at Indian Wells, where I got Fed, Rafa and Joker all on the same day. Was 20 years old. Still hasn’t gotten better.
Man, that's awesome!