Yandle's note in his blog entry- making note of the importance of a short, pointed headline: As many of you know, I don't like the term 'SID' because I believe it is outdated and a misnomer. I'm only using it for the title of this post to save on words.
Chris Yandle, writing on his blog Yandlepedia: Life and TImes of an Athletics Communicator, recently wrote on changing up his duties on the road as the main athletic communications contact for Baylor's nationally-ranked men's basketball team. He has given up a traditional duty of the basketball sports information director - sitting courtside and keeping the book - for many important communications/pr reasons.
You also can follow Yandle on Twitter (@ChrisYandle)
Between tweeting, live in-game blogging (for some of us), preparing post-game notes, answering media questions, et al., do we really have time to keep a scorebook on the road? It's a serious question. And for being the visiting team, it's not official, so why do it? With assistant coaches and other staff on the bench keeping track of everything possible, my time (and yours) is better served in other arenas.
Like tweeting updates and fan engagement.
Compiling accurate and in-depth post-game notes.
All things that media, fans and casual observers will use or reference.
So, why keep a book? If you can read between the lines, I decided to do away with keeping a scorebook on the road. That would just be another thing for me to track during a game. ESPN, writers and every other media member don't care if I can keep a mean scorebook on the road or that I would bring four, finely sharpened No. 2 pencils and set them in a certain pattern. DO. NOT. CARE. What they care about it is the information we, as a profession, can provide them. In the simplest of definitions, our job is to make the media's easier. I know that last sentence may shake some of your worlds at the core. But, alas, it is the truth. So, the question I ask: Why?
I know my talents, energy and efforts are better suited elsewhere.
I get to be creative with my pre-, in- and post-game tweets for Baylor men's basketball. Yes, sometimes, it can be tedious. But, we have the chance to offer insight and commentary that may not be available to those not at the game.
Life on the road doesn't have to be that stressful. Much like Saturday Night Live's hilarious "More Cowbell" skit, think of it this way: More tweeting, less scorebooking. While we are busy providing information to the masses, we need to think about making our jobs on the road a little easier.