Letters from an alums about sports coverage in PAW

November 2, 2003

It must be nice for the alumnae of Princeton to be able to read a full page article under Sports in PAW about a retiring field hockey coach and then another full page about her successor. Meanwhile the alumni search almost in vain for football (and baskerball) reports, which in essence indicate little more than the scores. I would like to remind the those who produce PAW that at present and for several decades to come the vast majority of the PAW readers are men, and would like to see better football and basketball coverage.

Lawrence P. Mills Jr. '40
Tryon, N.C.
      

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June 18, 2003

Crew Team? Must every freshman reporter and every editor learn this all over? A crew IS a team.

People who read about crew racing, people who have rowed, people who know about crew ALL AVOID the tautology CREW TEAM. Please let your reporters know and ask them to avoid it as well.

Every time I read the phrase, I wince. Its appearance in an article or column belies the reliability of the writer. It labels the writer (and by inference, the editor and the publication itself) as an outsider to the sport. It gives away their lack of experience. If you have a style manual, I request that you place in it an admonition to strike out "team" every time it is associated with "crew" and perhaps promise a little spanking to the new reporter who has made the mistake so as to drive home the error of his/her phrasing. Or send the reporter to the boat house to face the jeers of the rowers themselves. No, on second thought, that would be too harsh. A mere phone call to listen to their laughter would suffice.

It's a simple request: GREAT CREWS, NO CREW TEAMS.
Other than that, Ms. Lincoln, the play was actually pretty good.

Jim Newcomer '57
Fairview, Ore.
Captain 1957 Lightweight Crew
EARC Champions
Winner Thames Challenge Cup, Henley Royal Regatta

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April 16, 2003

A comment on the Princeton Alumni Weekly, which aside from the fact that class notes are still included therein, should strike the word "Alumni" from it's name:

Why is it that news about athletics in the PAW is almost nonexistent? Does the editor really think some of us in the "senior classes" are interested in reading about these wierd professors?

Come on — give us a break. My class dues bill said that most of our dues goes for the PAW. I responded that I didn't think I was getting value for my money.

It appears to me that Princeton along with the rest of the Ivy League is becoming an irrelevant entity in today's society.

J. W. Wells '46
Boynton Beach, Fla.

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April 1, 2003

I share Ron Wittreich ’50's concern regarding your sparse coverage of Princeton athletics, i.e., one page in each of the last two issues.

Dusting off a few old weeklies I note six, five, and three pages of sports coverage.

Years ago a readership survey was incorporated in an issue and subsequently the results were reported. In part it was stated that: "A vocal minority would get rid of sports entirely although a substantial porportion apparently look forward to them passionately..."

Times have changed, but have the attitudes of the Weekly readers changed that much?

Cameron D. Neulen ’50
Tenafly, N.J.

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February 27, 2003

In regard to your weekly of February 26, I regret that the women’s field hockey team is losing such an outstanding coach to duke as Beth Bozman. May I wish her luck.

However, could you not spare a few inches and report the scores of other Princeton teams? I am retired in Florida and there is nothing ever in the local papers about Princeton scores.

Having played basketball years ago for Princeton, an then, with the New York Knicks, I am interested in Princeton’s progress in the Ivy league.

I was also interested in President Tilghman’s article concerning the Ivy League’s designated rest period for athletes. I guess that terminates the era of the “3 Letter man.”

John “Bud Palmer ’44
West Palm Beach, Fla.

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February 26, 2003

Ivy League sports activity and Princeton sports activity in particular gets little or no coverage outside of the communities they are located or associated with.

Your magazine published game scores and bits of interest involving Princeton teams in the past. Recently your coverage is little or nothing. One short article seems to suffice. Up to date scores won’t take up that much space! Why not reexamine your policy?

William Snyder ’40
Alexandria, Va.

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February 21, 2003

What is going on? The last PAW issue had only one page on athletics. Other issues like the one on Cosmo Iacavazzi was sparse on current activities.

You have to be aware Princeton as well as other Ivy League schools gets minimal coverage in something like the New York Times. You can not really follow the Tigers except through the website. That is excellent and more than adequate BUT with that kind of reporting why does PAW ignore the breadth of items you can reproduce from that source.

Ronald Wittreich '50
Englewood, N.J.

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