FYI stands “forgot your intelligence”
Posted by sagsy on January 21, 2008
Just to piggyback on Mr. Kiiffner’s post about the numbskulled Citizen editorial that followed their numbskulled article about the Jays moving a Triple-A team here: One really has to wonder if there is some ulterior motive here among the powers-that-be to undermine Miles Wolff and everyone else’s efforts to build a following for our new team.That almost has to be it, right? Someone or someones, possibly including those among the unelected legislators down at 10 Laurier Ave., must want to plant this seed with the meek and gullible in hope it will hurt Wolff’s efforts to build a following for the new ballclub. It almost has to be. The Citizen couldn’t really be that dumb on its own that their op-ed people could not understand something as rudimentary as the fact the Blue Jays do not own their Triple-A team? Or that there’s a perfectly good Triple-A market in Buffalo available for the Jays to move into for the 2009 season?FYI, again, for the people who apparently didn’t listen the first time: There is already a way to “properly use” the ballpark in 2008. It’s the Can-Am League. No one expects cheerleading from the media, but coverage should be fair. Stretching the truth for a s non-story and following it up with an editorial that skips over facts an 11-year-old baseball nut would understand, that’s not fair … more on this is over at Out of Left Field.
January 21, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Is that an article appearing today in the sports section or a reader letter? Who wrote it?
This certainly won’t help the new team.
Why don’t one (or more) of us write to the editor about this? Let’s make sure the public at large knows and understands what’s going on. It could only help our Can-Am team.
January 21, 2008 at 2:16 pm
FYI, I called the Ottawa Sun sports department.
I really wanted to know if the free 24 Hours paper would cover the Can-Am team. Turns out they are owned by the Sun.
I talked to Tim Baines and he said he is thinking about covering the team. He’s taking a wait-and-see attitude, if people are actually going to show up to the games. If they do cover the team, it will be just as they did with the Lynx. They won’t send someone on the road.
I suggested writing pre-season articles to create awareness and such. They might as he was thinking about it but concerned that people won’t go to the games. If so, the team won’t be covered in the Sun.
He also agreed that the Citizen doesn’t seem interested in covering the team. Don’t know if I should call them too.
January 21, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Thank goodness for the internet and blogs and a democratic opportunity for anyone and everyone to do reporting and commentary and all that stuff. It’s hard to imagine that only a few years ago, cities were dependent on two or three media sources. Some probably still are….
I can’t believe a topic was brought up relating to AAA baseball and Ottawa! I hope it is ignored by the majority. Who needs the newspaper to promote Indy baseball anyway? It’s not affiliated with MLB so why should affiliate with major media? It survives and thrives on something longer lasting than cheap advertising.
January 21, 2008 at 3:11 pm
There’s nothing to be lost by calling any of the papers or TV stations. The worst is you get peace of mind over where they stand, and maybe you give them a notion to consider their editorial stance.
(Full disclosure: I do work at the Sun, but don’t hold much sway there.)
January 21, 2008 at 4:25 pm
It’s not a fait d’accompli that Buffalo will be changing affiliates. It wouldn’t be surprising though, given that Columbus is trying to lure the Indians. If that happens, yes Buffalo appears the likely AAA home of the Jays.
January 21, 2008 at 4:34 pm
No, nothing is certain with Buffalo, or Rochester, but there’s going to be at least five affilations changing come this fall… I would still say Jays in Buffalo is a million times more likely than Ottawa at this point!
January 21, 2008 at 4:45 pm
As for lack/nil media coverage, that was a part of the problem with the Lynx..except when there was something negative and then the media was all over whatever was going on. It just disgusts me that the media doesn’t put any effort into local baseball. It’s not rocket science!
January 21, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I have a few simple questions?
1. Why hasn’t a press conference been called to officially introduce the team?
2. Why hasn’t the Can Am League Web Site entered more info. on the Ottawa team?
3. Is there something being witheld from the general public, hitches, etc.?
4. Will the new team have a media relations person?
5. Is the relationship with the league/team & Baseball Canada being pursued?
6. If yes, why isn’t this being publicised?
January 21, 2008 at 5:23 pm
#6, yes.
#8, some salient questions there.
January 21, 2008 at 7:09 pm
#1 Probably because there is not much to introduce at this point. Maybe when the team gets a name, likely by end of month, some staff like Mike K. will be introduced. I’m guessing that Mr. Wolff is waiting for a logo to be made and that the name, logo and some personnel will be introduced at that time.
#2 Again, nothing more to say about the team. There probably isn’t a big staff either for the league, especially in the winter.
#3 I don’t think so.
#4 I would be shocked if there wasn’t. That person will likely wear many hats, not just media relations.
#5 No idea. I’ve tought of that myself. I think Mr. Wolff has enough on his plate right now. This is not high priority at this time in my opinion. But don’t be surprised to see tournaments at Lynx Stadium in the next two years.
#6 I figure it will be, all in due time.
January 21, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I suggest everyone add a comment to the “Let’s play ball” editorial to ensure the Citizen realizes how much of a mistake this was. Just go to
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html?id=48b19585-98dd-4d3d-b598-0bfe7be99b60
then scroll down to the bottom and add your comment. I doubt the Citizen people read these blogs, but they should certainly read the comments left on their own site.
January 21, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Thanks Pierre
January 21, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Post #8
I think Wolff is waiting for the lease to be official for calling a press conference. And i would be very surprise if they announce everything the same day. Expect the name to come out first with the web site, then the manager, then the logo and uniforms with the first couple of players signings. They would have more chances to have people reading news about the new team if they strech it over a few weeks.
January 22, 2008 at 8:31 am
Yes, Antoine, you’re right. Best to stretch it out. The name and web site will likely be announced first.
February 18, 2008 at 10:19 am
[...] on you - in a classic “chicken and egg” Catch-22, the media has in some instances flat out told us that “if people show up, they’ll cover the team”. Considering these are [...]