Posted by basketballmom (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Does the Emporia Gazette not realize that there are other schools in Lyon County League besides Olpe and Madison?????

Basketball season started November 29th and already Olpe has been on the front page of the Sports page twice. What does it take for the other schools in this league to get this recognition????

This it not the first year this has happen!!! This has been going on for years and years. We are sick of it and want to know when the Emporia Gazette is going to change! The Emporia Gazette has received numberous phone calls on this subject and we listen to the excuses and still nothing has changed.

This is the reason why I DO NOT subscribe to the Emporia Gazette. These little schools get better publicity from The Republican Paper out of Burlington, Kansas.

Posted by cwalker (Chris Walker) on December 7, 2007 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What schools would you like us to cover better?

Chris Walker
Editor & Publisher

Posted by mashford (Michael Ashford) on December 7, 2007 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

basketball mom,

I have not received one phone call concerning our basketball coverage this season. I am curious to know which team you would like better coverage of? We try our best to get every school in the Lyon County League covered for every one of their games in addition to Northern Heights and Emporia High. I am drawing a blank on who we have failed to cover this season with our game recaps, but perhaps you can refresh my memory.

My phone number at the office is (620) 342-4841 ext. 207. If you have a problem, call me.

Michael Ashford
Sports Editor

Posted by eldiablo (anonymous) on December 8, 2007 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, it is the *Emporia* Gazette.

Posted by gtntired30 (anonymous) on December 8, 2007 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I sure think there are a lot of negative people around looking to pick at somebody elses performance. I have grown up in this area and been involved in sports all my life and a fan of area athletics. Even throughout the changing of staff I have always admired the coverage of athletics in this area. To try to cover all of the area schools and give special coverage to Emporia teams must be exhausting for a small limited staff.
I think the coverage of local schools is more than adequate. Because of a limited staff at the gazette I know that they are often dependent on coaches and school personnel to relay information about games. If your area is not getting good coverage (I would first like to know what school that is?) and then if you have checked to see if your coqaches are sending the information to the papers. To gather that information and try to accurately report, making sure the little darlings have the right stats and name spelled correctly etc must take a tremendous effort. I say the Sports department deserves some praise for a very difficult job well done. Their job is not unlike that of a coach or an official......everyone is looking for whats wrong with it so hard they can't see whats right. From a area small schools perspective.......Thanks Michael Ashford and staff for the job that you do.

Posted by DJrocksthemic (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As a former sports journalist I understand the frustrations of the fan but know this. The Emporia Gazette has two sports reporters, who do a great job, writing stories that for the most part contain interviews. But realize that these guys on game nights are going to be able to get two four games at best, and have to highlight the best match-ups and try to hit them. They do a great job, and Olpe is the closest of the Lyon County League teams to Emporia. I say thanks to the Gazette Staff for doing a great job getting to everyone and covering so many games.

Lastly realize these guys have to pull big duty to get stories from some of the games. I worked at a paper in the Lyon County League and getting stats and quotes from coaches was like pulling teeth.

Great Job Jesse and Mike.

Posted by gtntired30 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

basketballmom makes one quick negative post and gets out of the forum. When asked to be more specific she fails. Its easy on here to jab and run especially if you are whining about something that you can't back up or failed to get enough information about. She seems to be carrying her own scorecard as to who gets the publicity. When asked to provide the editor with the names of the schools that need more publicity she remained silent. Perhaps she should include the name of her (basketballkid) so that they are sure to get that name in the paper as well. The gazette writers need to follow the "no player left behind" rules. I am sure hoping they cover your team soon.