It’s been awhile since I last wrote about the entertaining feud between Roanoke Times sports writer Mark Berman and Virginia Tech head basketball coach Seth Greenberg. If you need a refresher of the history between these two, click here, here and here.
I’m reading today’s Roanoke Times looking for the local write-up on the Hokies’ beatdown of the UAB Blazers last night. I come across the headline “Va. Tech torches UAB’s Blazers.” OK – great! Although, “Va. Tech” is not the correct reference, but no biggie. Then I get to the first sentence (a.k.a. the lede) and find the following:
“Stephen Curry, the standout guard who has led Davidson into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, is Seth Greenberg’s big recruiting blunder.”
Are you serious? The Hokies just crushed their opponent in the second round of the NIT in front of one of, if not THE most raucous crowd the Cassell has ever seen and you lead with “Greenberg’s big recruiting blunder?” I don’t know Mark Berman, but I’m guessing he loves being Greenberg’s doghouse because I can guarantee that this will make its way back to Seth and I don’t think he’ll look kindly on old Berman after this little stunt.
This was Berman taking a shot at Greenberg. I know this because as a journalist, I’ve taken an indirect shot at a coach before, too, and it looked exactly like this. You throw in a fact or stat about the coach that has nothing to do with the game you are writing about. The fact/stat obviously reflects negatively on the coach, but is still factual, which is the basis for the writer’s argument when confronted.
No matter what Berman’s argument is for throwing out the Stephen Curry lede, it had absolutely nothing to do with last night’s game. This was Berman’s way of taking some of the shine of an amazing evening. Hope life’s good in the doghouse, Mark!
