Thank you to the Post

[mellon002]

I think it's time we thank the Washington Post for all the Freddy and DC United coverage recently. Usually whenever we contact these people it's because we're upset or complaining. So I figured this would be a good time for them to hear something positive from us. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/edit/letters/letterform.htm

[onefineesq]

Absolutely something that we should ALL do. The Post has been giving us some wonderful stories and we have to let them know that someone appreciates it. I for you certainly am loving waking up every morning to a major soccer story on D1!

[Dave Brother]

I think it's great that the Post, Times, USA Today et al, is running with the Adu thing, but it's just that, a thing. It's the news of the day. I don't think DC United is getting the press based on their merits. We happen to have a 14 year old that is making half a mil to play a game that most of the papers consider 3rd page stuff. I can't help but think that they are waiting for the kid to fail just to have an excuse to bash the sport here in the states.

Aside from Goff and Haydon, we don't get much press. If anything, they are the one's we should be thanking, not their employers.

Sorry, just the way I see it.

[geordienation]

Originally posted by Dave Brother
I think it's great that the Post, Times, USA Today et al, is running with the Adu thing, but it's just that, a thing. It's the news of the day. I don't think DC United is getting the press based on their merits. We happen to have a 14 year old that is making half a mil to play a game that most of the papers consider 3rd page stuff. I can't help but think that they are waiting for the kid to fail just to have an excuse to bash the sport here in the states.

Aside from Goff and Haydon, we don't get much press. If anything, they are the one's we should be thanking, not their employers.

Sorry, just the way I see it.


Any other gift horses you want to look in the mouth?

The Post's coverage has been, hands down, the best thing out there. Not that this is a surprise.

[Red&Black]

garciaruize@washpost.com

Emilio Garcia-Ruiz who can be reached at the address above is who you should contact. He is the editor there replacing Solomon. I have written to him a few times about United coverage and to praise particular articles.

I'd also mention Steven Goff's continuing excellence to him.

[TCompton]

In responce to DaveBrother,

Soccer is not a mainstream sport. Right now, Freddy Adu is the news. Sure, it kind of sucks for those of us who want to know about the team or the on-goings of the league, but that, once again, would not be appealing to the mainstream.

Obviously we're lucky to have a newspaper that reports on the happenings of the local team, but in many areas of this region, DC United rarely makes Sports page at all.

You have to remember that typically when non-mainstream sport is covered, it's usually covered for the wrong reasons and usually, and usually, those reason are negative. Take for example the US team losing to Mexico. I've read several articles not necessarily about the game, but about the fans chanting "Osama, Osama!" The fans got the coverage, not the game. My guess is that the mainstream wouldn't have reported on this loss just as they didn't report of the US Baseball team being eliminated from the Olympics this year.

It just so happens that right now, Freddy Adu is the news maker. Last pre-season, DC United made the news because of Hristo's AU accident. At least this year, we're in the news because of something positive and exciting.

Besides, we knew going into this that Freddy was going to attract media attention. That's exactly what he's doing. His celebrity is introducing people to the game... some of those people may want to check out their local team when DC United comes to visit so they can see this 14 year old. Others might want to see what a DC United game is like and will visit RFK.

While we would like the coverage to be more focused on DC United, the team just can't compete right now against a 14 year old media darling. But the team can benifit from him.

[MikeLastort2]

Originally posted by Dave Brother
I think it's great that the Post, Times, USA Today et al, is running with the Adu thing, but it's just that, a thing. It's the news of the day. I don't think DC United is getting the press based on their merits. We happen to have a 14 year old that is making half a mil to play a game that most of the papers consider 3rd page stuff. I can't help but think that they are waiting for the kid to fail just to have an excuse to bash the sport here in the states.

Aside from Goff and Haydon, we don't get much press. If anything, they are the one's we should be thanking, not their employers.

Sorry, just the way I see it.

Dave,

I am genuinely baffled on how you could think that the media coverage given to soccer in general and DC United, Washington Freedom and the national teams in particular in the Washington area is anything but incredible.

IMHO, all the local media treat soccer as an important sport, and give good, unbiased coverage of the sport. I've seen segments on the local tv stations, WTOP always announces results of soccer games when the report on sports at :15 and :45 past the hour, the Post and the Times report the results of all games, and each have pre-game articles for most DC United and US national teams (men's and women's) games as well. The Post also reports results of major European games every Monday, and of Champions' League games the day after they occur.

We're innundated with soccer coverage here in the DC area, and we have been for a pretty long time. I don't understand how you missed it.

[IntheNet]

I think all this Post coverage on soccer great, but misguided on Adu. You think the reporters would get a clue that DCU has a new coach ("You don't say?"), that DCU has more than one player ("You mean something else to report on besides Fredy?"), or that soccer is exciting ("But that wouldn't involve Adu?"). Coverage in the media is hard to figure... surprised to see not one word about Mexico/U.S. game or controversy about Mexicans booing U.S. players... but lots on Adu's mind!

It's shaping up to be an all Adu year watching D.C. Adu at Adu Stadium. All Fredy, All The Time!

IntheNet

[monster]

Originally posted by IntheNet
I think all this Post coverage on soccer great, but misguided on Adu. You think the reporters would get a clue that DCU has a new coach ("You don't say?"), that DCU has more than one player ("You mean something else to report on besides Fredy?"), or that soccer is exciting ("But that wouldn't involve Adu?"). Coverage in the media is hard to figure... surprised to see not one word about Mexico/U.S. game or controversy about Mexicans booing U.S. players... but lots on Adu's mind!

It's shaping up to be an all Adu year watching D.C. Adu at Adu Stadium. All Fredy, All The Time!

IntheNet

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30633-2004Feb10.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27314-2004Feb9.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22239-2004Feb7.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6987-2004Feb2.html

http://www.kenn.com/361/threesixone_jan2004.jpg

[mellon002]

Originally posted by IntheNet
I think all this Post coverage on soccer great, but misguided on Adu. You think the reporters would get a clue that DCU has a new coach ("You don't say?")

Um, I'm pretty sure that the Post and Stephen Goff was all over it when it happened I guess a month ago. It's old news. Freddy is now.

that DCU has more than one player ("You mean something else to report on besides Fredy?")

I know where you're coming from. Unfortunately, the general public doesn't care about what color Mike Petke's hair will be this year. Freddy's the big story and the Post is covering it. That's the way the news works.

Coverage in the media is hard to figure... surprised to see not one word about Mexico/U.S. game or controversy about Mexicans booing U.S. players... but lots on Adu's mind!

It's shaping up to be an all Adu year watching D.C. Adu at Adu Stadium. All Fredy, All The Time!

IntheNet

The U.S.'s loss to Mexico was on the front page of the Sports Section with a color picture. Yes, there was nothing about the Mexicans "Osama" chants which is a little surprising.

But I can't understand why you would be angry with the press DC has been getting. Would you rather have a short story on page 12 of the sports section twice a week? Let's be greatful for what we have right now. Otherwise we come off sounding like a bunch of whiners who never get what they want. I appreciate any coverage they can give us. Geez, if you give a mouse a cookie...

[mellon002]

Right on Monster.

[Saltenya94]

While many people may believe otherwise, these letters do count... Especially if they begin to build up.

[mcontento]

OH MY FREAKING GOD!!!! Damn you people, I swear some of you could be given a million dollars and then bitch that it was in $100 bills instead of $20s.

[Sanguine]

I have one question for the naysayers - How much would it cost for DC United to put up ads taking up half of the front of the Post's sports page? These articles are free press for DC United and MLS.

Reporters flock to an interesting story. Sports reports flock to an interesting sports story. Freddy is the biggest story on this team. He has been (and will continue to be) the most discussed player on the team and in the league. If you don't like it, go follow the Richmond Kickers or something.

[TheFarSide]

I sent my letter in.

DaveBrother, come on now, any coverage is better then none.

InTheNet, you better get use to the Freddy stories as he is the star now that you favorite Marco is gone.

The other players will get their press as the season goes on, but people in general are interested in Freddy Adu and what is happening to him. The interest in him should spill over into interest in the team and should get some people in the stands to see him, if they like what they see in the team maybe they will stick around.

he got his money in part because of the interest he will generate in the league, not just for his talent. it seems to be working.

- The Far Side

[TOTC]

Originally posted by monster

http://www.kenn.com/361/threesixone_jan2004.jpg

This is funny!

[DCAustinite]

I like the coverage, I like freddy Adu, I like the new coach, I like where this upcoming season is headed, I like practically everything about what has happened since the whistle blew last November. I'm not alone on this feeling either.

Come on! When's the last time you liked the team and it's future this much?

[Sachin]

Originally posted by DCAustinite
I like the coverage, I like freddy Adu, I like the new coach, I like where this upcoming season is headed, I like practically everything about what has happened since the whistle blew last November. I'm not alone on this feeling either.

Come on! When's the last time you liked the team and it's future this much?

Last year.

Sachin

[revelation]

Originally posted by mcontento
OH MY FREAKING GOD!!!! Damn you people, I swear some of you could be given a million dollars and then bitch that it was in $100 bills instead of $20s.

I wanted mine in $1 coins! IF YOU AREN'T GOING TO GIVE IT THE WAY I WANT IT THEN YOU CAN JUST GO TO HECK!



:D

Yea, I'm on a bit of Freddy Adu overload but I'm glad DC United is getting coverage by default.

The best two words in the English language - DE FAULT!!! - Homer Simpson.

:)

[BudWiser]

Originally posted by revelation
I wanted mine in $1 coins! IF YOU AREN'T GOING TO GIVE IT THE WAY I WANT IT THEN YOU CAN JUST GO TO HECK!

$1 coins??!!! That's CRAZY! There is NO NEED for $1 coins. I went to the post office for some stamps, and what do I get in change? Those $1 coins, they're almost the size of quarters and though they're gold the color is not THAT different-they're still hard to tell apart.

Then you have to put those coins on your wallet and they take up too much room for it. Nobody really wants to get them. I gave them at 7-11 once and had to explain to the foreign cash register guy that it was a $1 coin.

$1 COINS MUST GO

About the subject of this thread-yes thanks to the Post