Wrestling coverage this week

[jcordova8]

Hello everyone! Hope we are all pumped for this week.

A few things. I’ve been a little MIA just with adjusting to my new day job and such. But, it’s the fun part of the season so I’m fully focused on wrestling. My new boss was super chill when I interviewed and made it clear the dates for Big12/NCAA were non-negotiable.

I just wanted to give y’all a heads up what to expect from me as we ramp up.

As soon as we get more from the conference in terms of seeds/brackets I’ll have a preview and thoughts from me.

Availability is on Wednesday so expect interviews and team updates.

Ben and I will have a podcast on Thursday AM for you to enjoy. We’re also going to be recording with Cody G. So you’ll have a double dose of Ben and I!

Plus, I did a 1:1 with Metcalf for an hour. I’m going to get you guys a fresh column from that!

As always, whatever you guys need let me know! I leave for Tulsa Friday so I’ll have live, on-site coverage. I’m gonna do my best to bring you unique and behind the scenes coverage of ISU.

Cheers!

 

[Mead For My Horses]

Don't know the right way or place to ask this, but I'd really be interested to hear from Cody how the Register will cover the B12s. I think I saw he will be covering B10s in person. I don't recall any B12 coverage last year & I guess I'm a little salty about that.

Not trying to open a can of worms, but think a conference tournament with 2 top Iowa teams deserves some coverage from the paper Iowa supposedly depends on.

 

[jcordova8]

Don't know the right way or place to ask this, but I'd really be interested to hear from Cody how the Register will cover the B12s. I think I saw he will be covering B10s in person. I don't recall any B12 coverage last year & I guess I'm a little salty about that.

Not trying to open a can of worms, but think a conference tournament with 2 top Iowa teams deserves some coverage from the paper Iowa supposedly depends on.

Obviously Cody is his own person and I do not work for the Register so anything I say is just a guess. I don’t think it’s opening a can of worms and if you want a clearer answer you’d have to ask him. My general assumption and guess as a peer and media member is that the Register prioritizes their resources to the team that is better on paper. I’m sure they have a higher business interest covering Iowa than ISU/UNI. I know that’s an aggravating way to look at it as an Iowa State fan because you want coverage to be focused on a program like Iowa State and UNI who have shown immense growth and deserving of that coverage. This where I toot my own horn and say that it’s definitely an advantage for readers to have places dedicate their resources to the team you follow. Which in this case it’s essentially me. I am the only reporter in the media circle that is truly just dedicated to Iowa State Wrestling if we don’t account for the Iowa State Daily who does try and have a student each year dedicated to wrestling. It’s also just hard cause we all know wrestling isn’t this big cash grab so newspapers don’t just have one person per team. Most places in general don’t! It’s rare to have dedicated writers for just one team because as you know Cody doesn’t just cover college wrestling he does high school wrestling. I just happen to be in a unique position with Cyclone Fanatic which I’m grateful for.

 

[jcordova8]

I should say that Rob Gray does also cover some duals for ISU now since he returned to the Gazette but I think that’s more dependent on like the more important duals and I’m sure the post-season.

 

[MnBrPg]

Don't know the right way or place to ask this, but I'd really be interested to hear from Cody how the Register will cover the B12s. I think I saw he will be covering B10s in person. I don't recall any B12 coverage last year & I guess I'm a little salty about that.

Not trying to open a can of worms, but think a conference tournament with 2 top Iowa teams deserves some coverage from the paper Iowa supposedly depends on.

Same question for me, and in no way a dig at the Daily or Cyclone Fanatic. The Register has greater reach, and we're re-growing a brand so getting coverage there would be great. Not to mention how fun the team is this season. None of that is to understate the coverage we get from the previously mentioned outlets. Especially CF - I'll be living here in March and taking up all the content @jcordova and Ben can pump out.

 

[Mead For My Horses]

Obviously Cody is his own person and I do not work for the Register so anything I say is just a guess. I don’t think it’s opening a can of worms and if you want a clearer answer you’d have to ask him. My general assumption and guess as a peer and media member is that the Register prioritizes their resources to the team that is better on paper. I’m sure they have a higher business interest covering Iowa than ISU/UNI. I know that’s an aggravating way to look at it as an Iowa State fan because you want coverage to be focused on a program like Iowa State and UNI who have shown immense growth and deserving of that coverage. This where I toot my own horn and say that it’s definitely an advantage for readers to have places dedicate their resources to the team you follow. Which in this case it’s essentially me. I am the only reporter in the media circle that is truly just dedicated to Iowa State Wrestling if we don’t account for the Iowa State Daily who does try and have a student each year dedicated to wrestling. It’s also just hard cause we all know wrestling isn’t this big cash grab so newspapers don’t just have one person per team. Most places in general don’t! It’s rare to have dedicated writers for just one team because as you know Cody doesn’t just cover college wrestling he does high school wrestling. I just happen to be in a unique position with Cyclone Fanatic which I’m grateful for.

I agree with all this J and thank you as always for your great coverage as well as Ben's. What floors me is the DMR can have multiple people on the bigger sports beats and lots of cross coverage, while no one else on staff does any wrestling coverage as far as I know. I'd love to have Alyssa Hertel, Tommy B, or literally anyone on staff in Tulsa.

 

[jcordova8]

I agree with all this J and thank you as always for your great coverage as well as Ben's. What floors me is the DMR can have multiple people on the bigger sports beats and lots of cross coverage, while no one else on staff does any wrestling coverage as far as I know. I'd love to have Alyssa Hertel, Tommy B, or literally anyone on staff in Tulsa.

Wrestling definitely deserves more coverage in general. It just sucks that the bigger people at the top tend to be so corporate it’s just numbers on a paper sometimes and sadly wrestling has to work extra hard to justify the costs you put into it. Which again, when we’re so deep into it in our heads it’s a no-brainer to invest the money. For people who aren’t, it’s just business. A crap reality.

 

[Mead For My Horses]

Wrestling definitely deserves more coverage in general. It just sucks that the bigger people at the top tend to be so corporate it’s just numbers on a paper sometimes and sadly wrestling has to work extra hard to justify the costs you put into it. Which again, when we’re so deep into it in our heads it’s a no-brainer to invest the money. For people who aren’t, it’s just business. A crap reality.

Agree and my original comment wasn't a shot at all at Cody. He's one of the top wrestling writers around and I've told him that personally.

 

[jcordova8]

Agree and my original comment wasn't a shot at all at Cody. He's one of the top wrestling writers around and I've told him that personally.

Of course! If it helps I didn’t think it was a shot at him at all Haha I understand frustrations are with those above him.

 

[crablegs]

It doesn’t help that Cody is a huge Hawk homer.

 

[DantheFan]

Obviously Cody is his own person and I do not work for the Register so anything I say is just a guess. I don’t think it’s opening a can of worms and if you want a clearer answer you’d have to ask him. My general assumption and guess as a peer and media member is that the Register prioritizes their resources to the team that is better on paper. I’m sure they have a higher business interest covering Iowa than ISU/UNI. I know that’s an aggravating way to look at it as an Iowa State fan because you want coverage to be focused on a program like Iowa State and UNI who have shown immense growth and deserving of that coverage. This where I toot my own horn and say that it’s definitely an advantage for readers to have places dedicate their resources to the team you follow. Which in this case it’s essentially me. I am the only reporter in the media circle that is truly just dedicated to Iowa State Wrestling if we don’t account for the Iowa State Daily who does try and have a student each year dedicated to wrestling. It’s also just hard cause we all know wrestling isn’t this big cash grab so newspapers don’t just have one person per team. Most places in general don’t! It’s rare to have dedicated writers for just one team because as you know Cody doesn’t just cover college wrestling he does high school wrestling. I just happen to be in a unique position with Cyclone Fanatic which I’m grateful for.

I don't know how the world of journalism works, but it seems to me the DMR could get some great coverage on a big event by paying you a freelance rate for your content regarding Big 12s. That said, considering your position with CF, I don't know if that's a conflict of interest.

 

[TheJackWePack5]

It doesn’t help that Cody is a huge Hawk homer.

I didn’t think he was until they had him in that CyHawk documentary.

I like his work and sure part of it is the DMR coverage catering to the Hawks but I tend to agree with you here.

 

[matclone]

I'm pleased as punch to have J. Cordova on the Iowa State beat. She does a great job keeping us informed. Can't get DMR coverage (I live out of state) without a subscription, which I don't have and don't plan to get.

 

[ChrisMWilliams]

Hate to tell you guys but in today's media landscape, niche sports like wrestling are going to keep being squashed. Cody does a great job but is only one man.

Locally owned media is the way to go. We can invest in things that are important to our audience.

I write this as a passionate auto racing fan. I get it. We get no coverage anymore either when there used to be two guys on the Iowa racing beat.

It isn't the local people at the Register's fault. They are essentially owned by a hedge fund now. Our industry is in a sad place right now.

 

[ChrisMWilliams]

One last thing .... I wish more people talked about this.

Fans/the public look back at the glory days of these legacy media types and long for it. It will NEVER be that way again as long as hedge funds own these entities. Ever. The money isn't there to cover and support sports like wrestling, auto racing, even women's basketball. We're lucky to have Tommy here covering Iowa State but it isn't like they are sending him to road games.

Hell, when I was cutting my teeth, the Ames Tribune sent beat reporters to every road game. They had a guy dedicated to the wrestling beat.

It's never going to be that way again. It doesn't matter how many subs get added, the corporate model will just reallocate resources elsewhere.

It sucks, but I guess my message is to try to appreciate what JC is doing here and a sponsor like Fareway for providing great coverage for a niche sport.

Again, do not blame the local folks in Des Moines. This goes waaaaaay over their heads.

 

[GoldCy]

Same question for me, and in no way a dig at the Daily or Cyclone Fanatic. The Register has greater reach, and we're re-growing a brand so getting coverage there would be great. Not to mention how fun the team is this season. None of that is to understate the coverage we get from the previously mentioned outlets. Especially CF - I'll be living here in March and taking up all the content @jcordova and Ben can pump out.

I wouldn't claim register has a bigger reach. Those with even a passing interest would probably come to sites like this for better coverage. Look at circulation decline.

 

[wxman1]

This is absolutely not a dig at JC but especially at duals it would be nice to have someone dedicated to posting/tweeting analysis and opinions much like CW and JS do during basketball and football. JC is great but it is clear that taking the pictures is the main priority and that can significantly delay any updates.

 

[HGoat1]

@ChrisMWilliams Just wanted to chime in and say I really appreciate the wrestling coverage! Thank you @jcordova8 !

 

[jcordova8]

This is absolutely not a dig at JC but especially at duals it would be nice to have someone dedicated to posting/tweeting analysis and opinions much like CW and JS do during basketball and football. JC is great but it is clear that taking the pictures is the main priority and that can significantly delay any updates.

I am in no way mad you say this. I want feedback of what’s working and what isn’t! I totally understand that. I try my best to tweet as much as I can off my personal and CF during duals and if I’m not doing it enough I can definitely try and change it up so that it doesn’t feel like one is more priority than the other. It’s all important. I want there to be a balance. Big 12s/NCAAs is a little different since it’s all moving rapidly. But, it’s just funny cause I had someone tell me this season I’m on my phone too much mat side once. Haha Which I’m on my phone obviously to keep live updates. But again, I always want the feedback from you guys.

 

[MnBrPg]

I wouldn't claim register has a bigger reach. Those with even a passing interest would probably come to sites like this for better coverage. Look at circulation decline.

I suppose I meant more in the sense of folks not necessarily looking for the content. New eyeballs to the sport, getting the attention of people with a passing interest who wouldn't have otherwise went looking for the results, photos, etc.