Boxing journos......

leedswolf · Post by **leedswolf** » 05 Dec 2003, 07:54

It seems it is journo bashing season again.

Sheehan, Bunce and Hart have all taken a pounding on here recently but I feel a little balance is required.

Attendance.......

It is true that most of the "National" writers are only seen at the big promotions.

There are exceptions, Colin Hart springs to mind, but there also reasons for it.

For example Sheehan is a staffer at the Sun. He goes where his Editor sends him. He covers a lot of football and no man can be in two places at the same time. He can't be covering Newcastle v Charlton and then be in the York Hall 2 hours later for a IBO intercont clash.

These guys work the same 5 day a week shift we do. In fact they probably do more hours than most, when you include travel time.

Content.....

Is it their fault that the report/preview/interview is only three paragraphs long?

No.

The Sports Editor decides how much copy is printed.

When Lewis beat Tyson, Sheehan had to produce 6 PAGES of copy.

Knowledge....

Many "National" Boxing writers are general sport journos.

Gone are the days of a "National" full time boxing writer.

So the multi-sports journo must do the best job he can. Sure they will get things wrong from time to time, but thats the way it's going to be.

It's not right, but accept it.

The media has moved on and in truth we have never had it so good. There are some brilliant boxing websites and we can get our information there.

If you are unhappy with a boxing journo, stop reading his work. Don't buy his newspaper.

One final thought.

When was the last time Boxing Monthly editor Glynn Leach was ringside?

Ciao!

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 05 Dec 2003, 08:10

Now Leedswolf, lets get this right!!!

Are you Buncy in disquise?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 05 Dec 2003, 08:16

Fair points, Wolf. It's a pity that Anthony Evans didn't hang Sheenan out to dry in his Boxing Monthly column. Shame. Sheenan's behaviour at the Woods-Johnson show in Sheffield was a sight to behold. Poor Pat looked ready to fight anyone who got in his way - it was pretty funny.

He brought his wife with him and was furious when they couldnt find a seat together in the press row. He then blamed the dotcom writers, harsh when you consider that GITR had travelled all the way from Suffolk to file a report (an excellent one) for British Eastside. Sheenan then proceeded to get involved in an argument with a BBC cameraman who asked him to move because he needed to film the corners inbetween rounds.

Sheenan sat through the undercard without a care in the world and looked like a bloke who just wasn't interested. Matchmaker/Trainer Richard Poxon came over to say hello. "Alright Pat?", "No. It's poor isn't it?" was Sheenan's reply. "Er, thanks Pat" was Poxon's reply. Classic

Admittedly the undercard wasn't great but Sheenan's contempt was beyond belief.

Perhaps if Sheenan covered Boxing shows week in, week out, one could understand his frustrations. But he didn't exactly cover himself in glory in Sheffield. Perhaps he'd had a bad day. I know some people have already read about so if you're one of them apologies for that.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 05 Dec 2003, 08:20

Sheenan writes for the Sun? Oh you mean Lunchtime O'Booze

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 05 Dec 2003, 10:22

Sheehan's a c**t. And you can quote me on that. He's the guy who said Marco Antonio Barrera lost twice to Roy Jones Junior (instead of Junior Jones).

leedswolf · Post by **leedswolf** » 05 Dec 2003, 10:46

Bennie....

Mate.

You are in charge of this UK site....... You CANNOT call people names such as that.

M'learned friends will be involved if you do.

Remember ESB last week???

C'mon mate your points are usually fair......

And no I am not Bunce!

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 05 Dec 2003, 10:47

You obviously don't know Sheehan.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 05 Dec 2003, 10:52

Is he the one that they sometimes have on Ringside?

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 05 Dec 2003, 10:54

Kilburn wrote:Is he the one that they sometimes have on Ringside?

No. That's Garside.

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 05 Dec 2003, 11:00

Are you sure you're not Bunce Leedswolf. Just the tone and the 'Ciao' (I know he also uses adios) just seemed a giveaway, although I was thrown when you said there were some great boxing websites.

leedswolf · Post by **leedswolf** » 05 Dec 2003, 11:03

I have been known to wear a Bunce suit from time to time.

But no I am not Big Daddy.

Or Sheehan

Or Lillis

Or any other journo!

bigfatjourneyman · Post by **bigfatjourneyman** » 05 Dec 2003, 11:04

The problem with the National newspapers is a lack of dedicated boxing jounalists. All the big feature writers come out to play when there is a massive fight in Vegas (e.g. Jones-Ruiz) but they need to be there at Bethnall Green on a Friday night when domestic level fighters are on. You can't expect the public to suddenly become ointerested in boxing if it never features at all in the newspapers!

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 05 Dec 2003, 11:08

Sheehan is also the pillock who printed the hoax story that Naseem was to rejoin Brendan Ingle, and was going to be taking on Barrera in a rematch.

I happened to be nobbing a girl who worked on the Sun sportsdesk at the time, and I found out from someone who knew John Shep, that the story was complete and utter shite, I telephoned her at the sun, and told her to get on to their sports desk, and let them know that they had printed a story which was complete and utter bollocks. Their reply to her apparently was 'Well, that's pat for you'

As for the dotcom writers (of which I am one) being some sort of menace, I can tell you now that I put a fornicate load of work in, and spent 2 whole years working for free and building up my skills and profile to get to the point where I am just beginning to earn a meagre living from it, in addition to working a 9-5 job to pay the rent and bills. Anyone who wants to call me out at a boxing show about being a pretend journalist can sit and talk boxing with me at a show, and find out whether or not I'm some sort of blagger.

I went to a press conference recently, attended by a senior member of the sports press, who I had to educate as to where Ben Tackie was from, what his record was, the fact he had never been stopped, and who his last two opponents were.

In my opinion, within a couple of years, the quality of online boxing magazines will be rivalling the likes of boxing news, partly because a lot of the people who write for boxing news, will also be writing on various columns. You only have to look at maxboxing, which has the likes of Jason Probst and Michael Katz, both well established figures, and seconds out which has Thomas Hauser, a prominent author and journalist in the field.

If Sheehan wants to play up, then he should try doing some bloody research into the sport, instead of printing a spurious story like the one he printed in the sun. I've got far more respect for Steve Bunce than I do for Sheehan, at least Bunce is a genuine boxing fan.

Anyway, what the fornicate was Pat Sheehan's wife doing in the press section, if he was such a big swinging dick, he should have been able to get seats elsewhere, rather than taking up a seat so he can show off to his missus.

bigfatjourneyman · Post by **bigfatjourneyman** » 05 Dec 2003, 11:12

Well said James, most of the dot.com journos at least have a passion for the sport whereas most of the writers in the Newspapers wouldn't recognize Brodie/Nelson/Scott Harrison/Eastman if they walked straight passed them on the street!

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 05 Dec 2003, 11:21

Incidentally, have a look in Boxing News today. I've given Get in the Ring a plug.

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 05 Dec 2003, 11:31

Plugged a cap in his young arse I hope. The dirty little weasle - how dare he not let Mrs Sheehan have a seat next to her esteemed hubby!

Loynesy · Post by **Loynesy** » 05 Dec 2003, 12:03

I don't have an axe to grind with any boxing journalists - given that I watch and read about the sport to enjoy myself, I want to find good journalism on the sport.

Regardless of whether you like/dislike Bunce's personality (he reminds me of boxing's answer to Jeremy Clarkson), he simply can't write for toffee - I would hate to be his sub-editor.

Colin Hart can at least write but comes across as a slight embittered old man, which is sad given the undoubted love he must have had for the sport in the 60's and 70's.

Not trying to a.lick Bennie et al, but the standard of journalism in Boxing News is good (Although Bennie, Jim Brady has to go - if you like, I'll sit in front of a TV screen, watch boxing with a bottle of whisky and write a piece using any nationalist stereotypes I can if one of the fighters isn't American) and clearly written by knowledgeable people.

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 05 Dec 2003, 12:08

Yeah, I'm not keen on Brady and he's a bit of a nightmare allegedly.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 05 Dec 2003, 12:13

Yes, it saddens me that Brady is so awful. But BN has been unsuccessful in finding someone else to cover the boxing scene out in the States. Anybody here emigrating there?

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 05 Dec 2003, 12:15

Have to agree with you both there, Brady is a f******* joke! Gives me a headache just reading his stuff.

Have a word with Claude will you bennie

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 05 Dec 2003, 12:21

bennie wrote:Sheehan's a c**t. And you can quote me on that. He's the guy who said Marco Antonio Barrera lost twice to Roy Jones Junior (instead of Junior Jones).

Spot on, Bennie.

I was ringside at Woods - Johnson, but I didnt see Sheehan acting up, but if I did (or if I do in the future) I'd knock him out.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 05 Dec 2003, 12:22

The trouble with Brady is, he has to draw a critical conclusion to the end of each round! Most reporters will reserve judgement till the end of the fight, but not Brady. If a fighter has a bad round, he concludes. "He's finished!" Then if the same fighter has a good round, or comes back to win, "He managed to find something, but he's still finished!" It's exasperating.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 05 Dec 2003, 12:22

leedswolf wrote:Bennie....

Mate.

You are in charge of this UK site....... You CANNOT call people names such as that.

M'learned friends will be involved if you do.

Remember ESB last week???

C'mon mate your points are usually fair......

And no I am not Bunce!

Bennie called Sheehan "a clot", so what :P

Loynesy · Post by **Loynesy** » 05 Dec 2003, 12:27

Saying that Barrera lost to Roy Jones Junior is such a terrible mistake its funny.

Bennie - I almost emigrated to Japan earlier in the year, but I wouldn't want to take away the job of your Japanese correspondnet (Jo somebody?) who writes a very good column, but if BN wants to pay for a big enough satelitte dish for me to receive all the US channels I'll do the job at a bargain rate!!

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 05 Dec 2003, 12:27

bennie wrote:Yes, it saddens me that Brady is so awful. But BN has been unsuccessful in finding someone else to cover the boxing scene out in the States. Anybody here emigrating there?

I was speaking to Claude Abrams at at the Greenberg - McCafferty show last year in Reading.

I told Claude that Brady had no idea. Claude laughed and replied "He's got his own idea"

I wonder what he meant?