I have mentioned many times about how I parlay my basic, childish immaturity into what Letterman might call "Stupid Parenting Tricks." And yes, I can be goofy throughout my "professional" life at times as well.
Luckily, somewhere in the deep recesses of my little toy brain, there is a maturity filter that allows me to continue as a seemingly well-grounded adult.
Exhibit A, from my job today: Part of my duties at Dutchess County's Finest Daily Newspaper is laying out pages and writing headlines. Ah headlines. The bastion for bad puns, plays on words and double meanings. Professional immaturity! It has gotten me in trouble on more than one occasion in the past.
To wit:
-- When tennis player Goran Ivanisevic was upset at the US Open or some other major, my headline was: "Goran, Goran, Gone!" This elicited an angry memo from the Powers That Be (although I felt vindicated somewhat the next day when I saw that same headline, screaming at me in 200-point type, in My Favorite New York Tabloid).
-- When baseball pitcher Tim Belcher (oh man, you know what's coming, don't you?) fired a one-hitter, my headline was: "Reds' Belcher limits Phillies to barely a burp" Again, nasty memo ensued.
This afternoon, our esteemed Hiking Columnist Ralph Ferrusi was writing about a hike down in the Hudson Highlands up a small mountain known as Anthony's Nose. Again, you can see where this is going, can't you?
My original headline: "Looking for a steep climb? Pick Anthony's Nose!" Get it? Pick Anthony's Nose? I know. Real mature. My kids would love it. My editors? Not so much.
And so, here's what we'll go with for the Thursday edition of Dutchess County's Finest Daily Newspaper: "Take a sniff at stiff climb up Anthony's Nose"
Still a pun of sorts ("sniff" and "nose" in same headline) but nothing distasteful like "picking a nose."
One of the lessons about being an immature parent is to understand when it is time to act like a grown-up. I guess.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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4 comments:
I liked the titles but I guess they wouldn't go well in the paper.
Kevin
...and as the troops marched up the knoll, the Cedar Knoll, on the slopes and banks of the Whippanong, George Washington said: "Don't shoot until you see-their-noses", and hence a small town was named..."
What in the world is wrong with Goran, Goran, Gone? Too obscure for non-Bob Murphy fans?
Nasty memos to valued and veteran journalists, immature though they may be, are a sign of puckered somethings.
Boy, am I glad I'm my own boss.
Let us never forget the greatest tab hed of all time, from the NY Post in the fall of 1982:
Headless Body Found in Topless Bar.
Goth,
My favorite tabloid headline from that era: "Pistol Packin' Pee Wee" about a grade school kid trying to bring a gun to school. While it's a serious subject, the headline was fantastic!
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