Alright, so I wanted to try my hand at creating some, like, really strong-opinion sports articles. You know, the kind that get people talking, maybe even a little riled up. Not in a bad way, but just… passionate. Here’s how I went about it.
Picking a Topic & Taking a Stand
First, I needed a topic. Something current, something people care about. I thought about just going with a generic “Is LeBron the GOAT?” but that’s been done to death. So, I scrolled through some sports news sites, checked out what was trending on social media, and finally landed on something: the new overtime rules in college football. Seemed like a good starting point.
Then, I had to really have an opinion. Not just “I kinda like it” or “I guess it’s okay.” I had to plant my flag. I decided I was going to argue that the new rules were absolutely terrible and ruining the game.
Building My Argument (and Getting Angry)
Next up, I needed some reasons to back up my fiery stance. I started thinking about all the things I hated about the new rules. I jotted down a bunch of stuff, like:
- “It’s too gimmicky!”
- “Takes away from the strategy of the game!”
- “It’s basically a coin flip!”
- “Now the game depend on the two-point conversion!”
As I wrote, I actually started getting more and more annoyed. That’s good! It meant I was tapping into that “passionate” feeling I wanted.
Writing Like I’m Talking to a Friend (Who Disagrees)
Now, for the actual writing. I didn’t want this to sound like a boring essay. I pictured myself arguing with a buddy at a bar. That’s the vibe I wanted. So I started writing, just letting it all out. I used short sentences. I asked questions. I threw in some, you know, exaggerated language. For example I would say: “Are you kidding me? This is college football, not some weird playground game!”
Revising and Punching It Up
After I had a first draft, I went back and read it. I looked for places where I could make it even more opinionated. I added some stronger verbs, more colorful language, and a few more rhetorical questions. I also looked for places I can add my list I created before
I wanted to make sure I wasn’t just ranting. I tried to at least acknowledge the other side, even if I was just going to tear it down. Like, “I know some people say it’s more exciting, but they’re WRONG!” Stuff like that.
The Finished Product
The end result was definitely opinionated. It was probably a little over-the-top, but that was the goal. I even read my article to one of my friends, and he actually tried to argue with me! Mission accomplished, I guess?
It’s a fun experiment. It’s definitely not objective journalism, but that wasn’t the point. Sometimes it’s fun to just let loose and have a strong opinion, even if it’s about something as silly as sports rules.
