toledoblade.com -- Sports Editor, Bob Kinney

"You give too much coverage to Bowling Green and not enough to Toledo." "You have way too much on Ohio State and not enough on Michigan." "Your high school coverage is OK, but could you do more on hockey?" "Can you cover cheerleading?" "We want more auto racing." "I couldn't care less about auto racing."
Welcome to the world of Blade sports editor Bob Kinney. If you have similar thoughts, comments or complaints, here's your chance to voice them directly to the person who can do something about them.

Kevin Cesarz: (12:00 P.M. ET ) Welcome to today's chitchat. Bob is ready to take your sports questions. Let's begin. Thanks, Bob.

Bill Krall (Toledo) I would like to see more coverage on Rocket football.

Bob Kinney: (12:04 P.M. ET ) This is a common refrain and concern. I also would like to see us do more with UT football, but we have some restrictions, primarily that we have one reporter, Matt Markey, who covers not only UT but also auto racing. Last week, for instance, he worked in 2 Rocket football stories during his terrific coverage of the NASCAR race at MIS, but that said, it still would have been good to have more. Also, the fact is we cover more football at UT than we do for any other school. It might not seem like it, but it's true.

Adam (Sylvania) How do you choose which games to send photographers to?

Bob Kinney: (12:10 P.M. ET ) ADAM: Typically, we send a photographer to games that we cover, especially if it’s a high school or college game. Once in a while we will send a photographer to a game that we don’t cover, and run an expanded caption with the photo. But for the most part, if we cover it, we’ll photograph it as well.

Clair (Perrysburg) Do you have any women on your sports staff?

Bob Kinney: (12:15 P.M. ET ) CLAIR: If you’re applying, send me a resume (sorry, I’m kidding). No, we do not have a female on the sports staff. I am working to rectify that, and hope to be able to soon.

DK (Toledo) How do you decide what to cover on the sports pages?

Bob Kinney: (12:18 P.M. ET ) DK: I’ll give you a broad answer first, then narrow it down a bit. In general, we ask ourselves, “What do we think most of the people want to read the most about?” Granted, the decisions we make are subjective, but they are based on experience, local knowledge, surveys and sometimes just gut instinct. All that said, we typically give much more coverage to local events than national ones. Why? Results of a national event are much more readily available to sports fans long before the newspaper hits their doorstep each day. But for local events, we can give depth and breadth to events right in our town or area, and we know there is interest.

Doug Hi Bob. Sidelines is a great addition to the sports section. Any expansion of coverage in other areas on your plate?

Bob Kinney: (12:26 P.M. ET ) DOUG: Thanks for the compliment on Sidelines; we like it too. We actually have added a couple of things in the last year or so – Following the Fish and Speed. Since Northwest Ohio is such a great fishing area, we decided last year to focus on fishing every Friday during the primary season. We have great maps and how-to tips each week, and it’s been a big success. With Speed, which also runs on Friday, we have greatly expanded our coverage of auto racing, with stories, notebooks and an entire weekend schedule. That’s it for now, but we’re always open to new packages or displays, depending on interest and our ability to produce them.

Mark (Perrysburg) Do you think the US basketball "dream team" will win the gold medal? Why do we still call them the dream team when they aren't?

Bob Kinney: (12:32P.M. ET ) MARK: From what we’ve seen in the last 10 days or so, there is no evidence to suggest that the U.S. men’s basketball team will win the gold. As for the name “dream team,” that was properly applied when it began 12 years ago, with Jordan, Magic, Bird et. Al. The name has stuck while the team is no where near as good. One more thing: even though so far this year’s team hasn’t shown us much in the ways of defense and the particulars of international play, I still wouldn’t be stunned to see them win. They are professionals, and as such are virtually trained to turn it on and off. Maybe they can turn it back on in the medal round that begins tomorrow.

Brittany (Toledo) How do you think the Buckeyes will be playing this season?

Bob Kinney: (12:38P.M. ET ) BRITTANY: My best guess now is that they will be a talented but inexperienced team. Their strength is in the back seven on defense, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties, and their kicking game with Mike Nugent. Their weaknesses will be inexperience on the defensive line and for much of the offense, including the most key position of quarterback. In all likelihood, this team is a year away. Having said that, that is what they said about the 2002 team as well, and that one turned out OK.

Luke (Perrysburg) How do you feel about the possible allegations of UT Football players getting into a fight at a UT party? Why don't these young men have any control...why don't the coaches show more discipline.

Bob Kinney: (12:44 P.M. ET ) LUKE: First, let’s not jump the gun. The only thing we know for certain so far about this situation is that there was a fight and a few people were hurt. If football players were involved, I think the coach should come down on them pretty hard; that seems to be the only way to get through. Players respond to playing time – or lack of it – more than just about any other factor. A suspension or two, if warranted, might go a long way toward preventing or minimizing these incidents in the future.

Kevin Cesarz: (12:47 P.M. ET ) We're winding down. Last questions for Bob.

Rob (Rossford) How do you pick which HS players to write about? It is great to see you hightlight different ones during the year, but it must be difficult to decide which athlete.

Bob Kinney: (12:49 P.M. ET ) ROB: Typically we look at two things: Whether the athlete is a great performer or whether he/she has a great story to tell. The first ones are obvious—Rogers High football player Fred Davis last year, or St. John’s basketball player B.J. Raymond. The others we have to look harder for, but the stories are very rewarding. Two from last year come to mind – and I apologize in advance for not remembering names – the high school football player who suited up after losing both kidneys to disease, so he played even after receiving a kidney from his mother, and the swimmer from Notre Dame Academy who is going to the para-Olympics. Both were compelling stories, and that’s what made them news.

Jacob (Toledo) Is there one dominating team in the MAC this year?

Bob Kinney: (12:57 P.M. ET ) JACOB: On this one, I’ve got to tell you, I only know what I read in the paper – my own, of course. But my guys, Matt Markey (UT) and John Wagner (BG), tell me that Toledo and Marshall are the class of the league. The Rockets will have to outscore the good teams to win, while Marshall is a little more balanced. And I know that BG lost a lot when Josh Harris left, but they’re going to be better than a lot of people think.

Kevin Cesarz: (1:00 P.M. ET ) Thanks so much for chitchatting with our guest, sports editor Bob Kinney, and thanks Bob for answering questions.

Permanent Link