Comments on Down the Line!: TENNIS mag's October issue scarily thin - what's w...

Those of you who can actually get the mag, did you...

2008-09-30T08:37:57.885-04:00

Those of you who can actually get the mag, did you see that they had a small write-up on p.18 called Miracle on Clay? It's a short preview of the DAVIS CUP SEMIFINAL BETWEEN THE US AND SPAIN!!!! I thought that tie was over.

If that's not outdated, I don't know what is guys...

Don't have that magazine in Austria either. Actual...

2008-09-30T03:52:12.933-04:00

Don't have that magazine in Austria either. Actually we don't have anything tennis, it's all soccer over here... >:-(

BTW, love the expression "mini-ballers". So. Cute.

Got the magazine, but i havent read it yet : (But ...

2008-09-30T01:22:16.219-04:00

Got the magazine, but i havent read it yet : (
But from the others from past month every time I opened I pretty much already read all the articles online, so waste of paper if you ask me.

b2012: LOL - yeah his eyeball was staring straight...

2008-09-29T18:18:14.465-04:00

b2012: LOL - yeah his eyeball was staring straight through me, I felt violated!

tlt: Interesting - what tennis resources do you have available over there, in terms of media, etc.?

I wish I actually SAW the magazine on shelves here...

2008-09-29T18:10:07.877-04:00

I wish I actually SAW the magazine on shelves here in South Africa. Cause then I could buy it...

I thought the same thing! It's so severely lackin...

2008-09-29T18:01:05.127-04:00

I thought the same thing! It's so severely lacking. I wish it would just cover some of what's going on now, instead of pages and pages of useless information. I wish they would look at Ace and take some cues. Plus give us some warning before throwing Davydenko's whole face in my mailbox. yikes.

Erin: Why thanks! How interesting that would be - ...

2008-09-29T17:21:58.868-04:00

Erin: Why thanks! How interesting that would be - but then I might be in the same boat...you know, sinking and all.

Yeah, their coverage particularly front-of-book has seemed really dated especially now that blogs are covering these areas sometimes up-to-the-minute. They can't compete there. They do need to have better in-depth coverage and they can with the access they own: in-depth interviews with the ballers, up-and-comers, behind the scenes action at the tourneys esp. Grand Slams. They can offer us that stuff and own it.

I think it's just a matter of time for the thinking to finally change. Otherwise, it's bedtime for Bonzo!

Van: Exactly. It really did hit me as soon as I picked it out and up, how light it felt. It's not the most robust mag by any means but it did strike me as unusually thin. It's unfortunate but it's the way the industry, the world is moving.

I venture to say online will be the place to search for the latest, most current news while longer-leads will need to revamp and go for truly in-depth, original, all-access coverage. I can't see how these longer leads will be able to compete with the internet - they need to find a niche for themselves.

I think dailies will have the toughest challenge - finding the balance between both current news and in-depth coverage.

Hey Rich. I think their post-U.S. Open issue is ge...

2008-09-29T17:00:49.201-04:00

Hey Rich. I think their post-U.S. Open issue is generally smaller, but I wouldn't doubt it if they're feeling the crunch, too. I think every publication is: Personally, the magazine I work for has gone from a weekly to a biweekly schedule, and there's already rumors that if things don't turn around, we might go down to being a monthly!

I work for a trade magazine, but we've been around almost 90 years! I don't think anyone's safe, but I hope that's not the case with TENNIS.

Seriously, I thought the same thing! They need to...

2008-09-29T16:58:19.981-04:00

Seriously, I thought the same thing! They need to do something about the format of the magazine STAT.

Tt is an antiquated form of reporting. It worked when I had to check the newspaper the next day (or sometimes even 2 if it was an overseas tournament) but not now with online tickers and up to the minute blogs. Lets face it, its Grand Slam previews are dated and bland and its tournament reviews are pointless. I want more player exclusives, coach insight, juicy gossip, behind-the-scenes pictures, fashion reviews, really I just want Down the Line in print, is that too much to ask Tennis?! :)