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News or not news?

Posted by: Craig Lancaster on June 5, 2009 at 3:46PM MT

Let's play a little game, boys and girls.

Here's how it works:

1. I give you a link to what seems to be a work of journalism.

2. You vote in the comments section on whether it's news or not news.

3. I return Monday with a verdict and a deconstruction of the item's language (as this is, purportedly, a language-oriented blog).

Sound like fun?

Here we go:

Favre's agent says quarterback is still retired

By DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS—Brett Favre remains retired, as far as his agent is concerned.

Favre’s longtime representative Bus Cook said Friday afternoon in an interview with The Associated Press that he is unaware of any pending change in Favre’s plans. Cook says he speaks with his friend every day, but not about football.

So, folks: News or not news? Tell me which and why in the comments section.

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(6) Comments

Posted by: Steve Cusumano on June 5, 2009 4:09PM MT

Count me in for a big, fat, stinking no, but only because it didn't mention what Favre had for breakfast.

In all seriousness, it's not news. I'm sure someone finds it interesting (though I have yet to encounter such an individual myself), but there is nothing at all about this that warrants a story. I have wondered if the media just completely stopped reporting on Favre, would he then fully embrace retirement, but that's probably a different discussion.

If there was something along the lines of Favre saying he was coming out of retirement, and his agent was unaware, then you've got a story...until that time comes, please, please, please...let it die.

Posted by: Kirk Dooley on June 6, 2009 10:14AM MT

File this under "filler," since it'll only show up in a space in the sports section that the sales department couldn't sell an ad for. (For the purpose of this posting, my vote can safely be listed as a "no.")

If Brett still has a pigskin itch he needs to scratch before he finally climbs on his tractor for good, then perhaps he should become a volunteer coach at the high school in Mississippi his daddy used to coach (call it giving back). All this waffling is tearing his legacy to shreds.

Posted by: Cicada on June 6, 2009 7:16PM MT

Not news. But what's your take on the death of David Carradine?

Posted by: Eric on June 8, 2009 8:02AM MT

That's one of those cases where a reporter makes some phone calls to do a story, and even though there's no story there he goes ahead and writes something so his boss knows he hasn't been frittering away his time.

Posted by: KFS on June 8, 2009 10:08AM MT

Gossip. Speculation. Not news.

And Francisco Franco is still dead.

Posted by: brian on June 8, 2009 2:49PM MT

News. The Vikings have put up a deadline for him to commit.

About This Blog

Watch Yer Language is a clearinghouse for style and usage tips that emanate from my workaday life as an editor at The Billings Gazette — plus the occasional detour into pop culture and other corners where language is wielded. The material is pulled from all sorts of sources — the Associated Press stylebook, dictionaries, various usage manuals, the kindness of strangers and the keen observations of colleagues and friends. The goofy sense of humor is mine alone.

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