That was the bulletin headline I read on myspace yesterday, which required that I click in and read.The post read as follows: ----------------- Bulletin Message -----------------
From: Oly Rollers
Date: Nov 18, 2008 11:54 AM
according to the Oregonian that is.
Apparently a friend called the paper to ask why the WFTDA Nationals were not covered and she was told "because roller derby is not a sport."
How insulting to every skater, fan, volunteer out there.
PLEASE call and/or email the Oregonian and voice your displeasure and maybe even challenge the douche bags to a bout:
503-221-8548
sports@news.oregonian.com
I put in a call this morning to the sports editor to get answers for myself. No word yet...
Please repost this and spread the word.
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Now rarely do I trust a story that includes "a friend" in the set up but given my personal loathing of the Oregonian I bought in and launched my email to the editor.
This morning the response to my email salvo arrived.
----------------------------------------------------------------
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sports MailBox [mailto:sports@news.oregonian.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 10:18 AM
> Subject: Roller derby
>
> Roller derby players, supporters and enthusiasts,
>
> Thank you for your concern regarding The Oregonian's coverage of roller
> derby. In what appears to have been a misunderstanding, here is a
> statement from our Sports Editor, Mark Hester:
>
> "What I said is that 'roller derby is not a sport The Oregonian covers.'
> There are a lot of sports we don't cover. We cover those with the most
> interest with the most emphasis - by far - on football, basketball,
> baseball, soccer, track and cycling. The last three don't receive much
> coverage in most newspapers, but we cover them because interest in Oregon
> is much higher than in most parts of the U.S."
>
> - Mark Hester, Sports Editor
>
> Sincerely,
> Marshall Mills
> Sports Editorial Assistant
> The Oregonian
> p: 503-221-8161
> f: 503-221-8168
> e: sports@news.oregonian.com
------------------------------
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So now we know...
Our lack of interest is why the sport section is not covering Roller Derby. It's our fault. Of course my thought is maybe they don't know how many people DO have interest in the sport.
So, I leave it to you, Heartless ones...Let the Oregonian know there are Oregonians that love this sport and would like a simple mention, especially when the local league is hosting a MAJOR event like Nationals.