Sports Speak Up: Should beat reporters be fans of the teams they cover?

Feb. 15—Sports reporting

Yes, I've been analyzing Mr. Grammer's Top 25 men's basketball ballots for a long time and I'm continually disappointed with the way he consistently treats and votes concerning our UNM Lobos men's team.

It seems to me he looks for every reason to knock the Lobos when he gets a chance or ever gives us the benefit of the doubt. I'd like to remind him that he's a beat writer for our local team. He acts like an East Coast reporter that doesn't even know about the UNM Lobos or the MWC at all. There's always been an obvious anti-MWC bias against our league but it seems to be getting better the last several seasons.

Come on Geoffrey, it's OK to be a little biased for your hometown team. Other writers across the country definitely do it consistently.

You're not a federal judge. Stop acting like an East Coast writer.

Come on sir, you're a very good sports writer but give us a little love once in awhile — very few other writers do.

— Ruben Griego

Editor's note: Mr. Griego correctly assesses that Lobos men's basketball beat writer Geoff Grammer is not the least bit biased toward the team he covers. I suspect that might be one of the reasons why Grammer won the U.S. Basketball Writers Association 2023 Jim O'Connell Award for beat writing excellence. The Albuquerque Journal sports staff will continue to practice journalism, not fandom, when covering local sports.

UNM basketball

I just watched the post game interview of Jamal Mashburn Jr. after the Nevada game. Nothing but class. He has had some tough games but everyone does. With that kind of leadership the Lobos will be fine. Congratulations to coach Pitino on recruiting such a hard working and classy team.

— Robert J. Gherardi

The 15,000 white shirts/blouses in the Pit last Saturday evening were impressive for those of us there, and those watching on TV, but the play of the UNM men was not up to par.

The back-and-forth, competitive game was exciting, however, the performance of some of our first-string players was not. We might expect some of our varsity players to not shoot as well as normal in away games, but this was a home game with a fabulous local crowd to spur our team on in one of the very best college basketball venues in the nation. Coach Pitino should not have had to motivate his team for a game like this one should have been.

We rabid fans know how talented our team is. We all came out in the snow and ice to cheer them on. Our senior guard duo's recent sub-par shooting percentages have been unacceptable and unexplained.

Please help them fix it now, Coach Pitino.

— Ross Perkal

At the risk of sounding redundant, the Lobos lost to a very good UNLV team on Saturday. I don't know what others will admit to, but I saw a UNLV team that has a very strong inside game, a top-notch point guard and athleticism that seemed "freakish" at times.

I also observed that Coach Pitino needs to keep the best combination of players in the game at all times, especially when a player is "hot" and contributing, without question.

The officiating in the game almost made it feel like one of the officials was "asleep at the wheel."

The Lobos have a tough road ahead, but I still have confidence that they will get into a postseason tournament.

— Ricardo Flores

Violent sports

Dan S. makes legitimate points on head injuries in contact/collision sports. However, parents cheer and are proud because fame, fortune and awards is what they seek.

You answered your own rhetorical questions.

— John Krapcha

Submit a Sports Speak Up, 200 words or fewer, via email at sportsspeakup@abqjournal.com. The next Sports Speak Up will publish in print and online Sunday.