“We could walk with someone to their car … talk to players in a much more casual sense, outside the cafeteria” for example. “In Albany the access was much different.” recalls Paul as related to access… And access is precisely what this mini-series is all about!
Mr. Schwartz (blue shirt) watches Giants practice from the sideline at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
The words above are from the very talented Columnist, Mr. Paul Schwartz. We at Ferro thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to share with the world what an amazing job the press does covering the NY Giants from the vantage point of our #FerroBTS lense. We couldn’t think of ANY BETTER WAY of doing it than asking Paul Schwartz if we could be embedded in his routine throughout his various assignments for the @NYPost as #GIANTSCAMP unfolded over it’s 5 weeks.
*Paul Schwartz has been The Post’s Giants beat writer since 1994. He’s also covered the Nets, Knicks and college basketball. He is the author of two books, “Tales From the New York Giants Sideline” and his recently published “You’re Wrong And You’re Ugly” with Sid Rosenberg. Paul is a SUNY-Albany graduate.
Both books, penned by Mr. Paul Schwartz can be found on Amazon here http://www.amazon.com/Tales-From-York-Giants-Sideline/dp/1582617589 and here http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Wrong-Ugly-Radios-Always/dp/160078321X . Each fascinating reads and we at Ferro especially enjoyed the Foreward in “You’re Wrong and You’re Ugly” written by Artie Lange, Comedian, The Howard Stern Show.
Yesterday we were privileged to spend a few minutes with Paul just before we began our LIVE broadcast segment for MSG+ (follow on Twitter @MSGNetworks). The question and buzz around #GIANTSCAMP in week one was focused on the differences between Albany and New Jersey as base for NY Giants Camp.
+40° 48′ 44.77″, -74° 5′ 6.72″ is pretty darn close to the coordinates of the front door leading to the New York Football Giants HQ, known also as the Quest Diagnostic Training Center.
+42° 40′ 58.93″, -73° 49′ 44.80″ is nearly smack in the middle of the sports fields at SUNY Albany. And outside of the fact that the #4 appears 5 times each, somewhere in the latitude and longitude, that’s where the similarity seems to end!
Paul, surrounded by the rest of the New York media, carefully noting the Giants players comments at the podium.
Paul brought up a very interesting point about how #GIANTSCAMP held at HQ (aka HOME) was for him, much more like going to “work” during the regular season vs packing
his bags for the month of August and literally going AWAY to camp for a good part of the summer. Of course this has to do with where one is physically located for work and residence throughout the rest of the year. Yet, the message seems to be that being AWAY was much more conducive to a relaxed environment for the media to work, as opposed to the more corporate structure that is currently present.
“For the past 16 plus years, I felt like I was going to training camp. I packed like people pack when going to camp. I packed my shorts, my shirts and my sneakers and even a tennis racket, and I went to camp for 3 or 4 weeks and it was CAMP. Kids go to camp and sometimes their Daddy goes to camp or their husband. So I was at camp and it was a whole different mindset. It was a different feel, this is more corporate.” Paul shares with us. Being a local press personality “it’s the same thing as coming to practice during the regular season. It’s much more of a business as usual feel but in the Summer, with no games.” Paul reflects.
Paul watching today’s practice just above #66 Dave Diehl’s elbow
“Journalistically it’s not much different.” being in NJ vs Albany say’s Paul. “Now there are very big differences in how we do our job here… In Albany the access was much different. We were able to talk to players in a much more casual atmosphere such as walking in and out of the cafeteria. Here, we have to request any player we want. In Albany we also requested players, yet we also had the opportunity to get quick answers to smaller questions as we walked them to their cars right outside of the cafeteria.” With change comes opportunity and for the NY Giants as an organization, being in their own backyard naturally lends itself to many many more people across all media having much more favorable geographic access to the team, while being AWAY seems to have given fewer greater access to the players.
Next, we discuss with Paul how his stories always have a unique angle to them and how his creative mind formulates, composes and makes it all happen for his readers. Join us again for our upcoming and really excellent piece as we remain embedded with Paul!
