One and a half pages for soccer in the Daily News yesterday, and a whole page today about the US loss. Of course, if Filip Bondy wasn't on the continent for Wimbledon we might all be relegated to AP wire reports. But he took the time, didn't he?
ACtually, half his copy WAS the AP wire report. And he seriously misrepresented the way Liverpool supporters treat visiting goalkeepers, too.
He also doesnt have the power to dictate how much content goes on so you really should be thanking his editors.
If they gave one page to a loss against Turkey, how many do you think the loss to Brazil will receive?
Bondy is a great soccer guy. But he is there to cover tennis. Sometimes when you read something really, really dumb, you remember it. The mention of Wimbledon and soccer reminds me such an article in CNN/SI and similar one's elsewhere. The writer claimed that "Henmania" at Wimbledon 1998 would heal the wounds of England losing to Argentina in WC 98. Henman is an Englishman who made it to the semis at Wimbledon. The article stated: "Henman has enjoyed relatively restrained media coverage this tournament because of the focus on the World Cup. But with England out of the Cup following Tuesday's penalty shootout defeat to Argentina, the hopes of a nation are now turned on Henman." Here is the link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/1998/wimbledon/news/1998/07/02/sampras_henmania/
I remember that piece. Mike Barnard rebutted it in his NY Post column. Although I thought that piece was overdone, I would not condemn Bondy to the spice mines of Kessel. He's done well writing soccer since then. Speaking of Barnard, does anyone know what he is doing nowadays?
I generally agree. But how much pull do veteran writers have when it comes to allocating space as such? Maybe Bondy has some. Who knows?
Onion Bag, Before you get on Bondy's case about the 'Harlem' article,.....there were several similar pieces being published in London papers at the time. I remember one in which the writer, who had been senselessly beaten by hooligans, was wishing that the hoolies would end up in LA facing the working end of an AK-47 toated by a merciless gang member. And yes,....Carlton Palmer, Nigel Clough, Andy Sinton, etc. did not qualify.