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Gianni Brera’s empirical approach: data and stats impose themselves in the world of sports journalism

U niversità degli S tudi di P avia Facoltà di E conomia, G iurisprudenza, I ngegneria, L ettere e F ilosofia, S cienze politiche Corso di laurea specialistica interfacoltà in Comunicazione Professionale e Multimedialità.

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Gianni Brera’s empirical approach: data and stats impose themselves in the world of sports journalism

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  1. Università degli Studi di Pavia Facoltà di Economia, Giurisprudenza, Ingegneria, Lettere e Filosofia, Scienze politiche Corso di laurea specialistica interfacoltà in Comunicazione Professionale e Multimedialità Gianni Brera’s empirical approach: data and stats impose themselves in the world of sports journalism Tesi di laurea di Cesare Rizzi Relatore: Chiar.mo Prof. Guido Legnante Correlatore: Chiar.mo Prof. Mirko Volpi

  2. Whowas Gianni Brera? The mostpopularsportsjournalist in Italy in XX century • Born in San Zenone al Po, near Pavia, on September 8, 1919 • Wrotefor “La Gazzetta dello Sport”, “Il Giorno”, “Guerin Sportivo”, “Il Giornale”, “La Repubblica” and manyothernewspapers • Dealtwith football and cycling, twopopularsports in Italy • Died in a caraccident in Codogno on December 19, 1992

  3. Hewasalso… • a writerwhofeltverycloseto the landwherehewasborn: Hehad a sortofvenerationfor the Po, the Po Valley and the Olona… …andveryoftenusedwordscomingfrom Pavia’s and Milan’s dialects

  4. Hewasalso… • the creator of a newsportslanguage A lotofwordsfrequentlyusedbysportsfans (especiallyby football ones) havebeeninventedby Gianni Brera: • Libero: a defenderwhodoesn’t haveto man mark and can help histeammatestocontrolopponentstrikers • Centrocampista: athletewhoplays in the middle of the field, irrespectiveofhisshirtnumber • Contropiede: fast action in which a team startsanattackattemptfrom a defensive situation • Palla-gol: a clear chance to score a goal

  5. Hewasalso… • a reporter whocreatedunforgettablenicknamesforsportscelebrities: • “Abatino” Gianni Rivera or Livio Berruti • “Rombo di Tuono” Gigi Riva • “il Rosso Volante” Eugenio Monti • “Nuvola Rossa” Felice Gimondi

  6. Hewasalso… • a journalistwholovedsportsbutalsowritingas “parolibero”, dealingwith • Literature • History • Foreigncultures • Food and wine • “Humanbehaviours”

  7. Thiswas Gianni Brera… …buthemustberememberedalsofor a clear and faithful way of “studying” sports

  8. Everyeventwas “vivisectioned” in Brera’s notebook. How? …byData and Stats

  9. Brera’s empiricalapproach What are numbersusedfor? • Faithfulreports • Sharp analysis Thankto Brera statsimposedthemselves in sportsjournalismaccordingtothesetwoimportantpointsofview

  10. Brera’s empiricalapproach Whataboutathletics? Empiricalapproachwasbasictowrite down reports… ...butnumbersbecame the mostimportantcuesfor the analysis

  11. Brera’s empiricalapproach • NielsHolst-Soerensen was a 800 m competitor who could also run 100 metres in 10.8 secs… THEREFORE hehadtobeconsidered a champion • In the final of 110 m hurdles the bronze medal was won with the mark of 15.0secs…THEREFOREithadn’t been a great race (reportsfrom 1946 EuropeanChampionships in Oslo)

  12. Brera’s empiricalapproach Whatabout cycling? Cycling is a sport based on a simpleaction (pedalling)… …thus Gianni Brera usedhis notes tobuildaccurate reports

  13. Brera’s empiricalapproach From Tour de France 1949 (the first onewonby Fausto Coppi) Gianni Brera wroteunforgettablereports In the 12 mainarticles he used • 73 referencestokilometresraced or kilometresremaining • 69 notes aboutgapsbetweenriders or groupsofriders • 21 accurate data abouttime

  14. Brera’s empiricalapproach His reportage from Tour de France 1949 was a real success… …aftersixmonthshewasappointeddirectorof “La Gazzetta dello Sport”

  15. Brera’s empiricalapproach Whatabout football? Football was the mainbattlefieldof Brera’s journalistic career

  16. Brera’s empiricalapproach Gianni Brera’s “creed” (fromInterpretazione critica di una partita di calcio) I live the match I have to review writing down every moment with fussy application up to…the begging: I am often obliged to ask colleagues for help to fully understand who has done the last shoot or the last final touch. After filling up my notebook I go back to the editorial office, I decipher every page, I reconstruct the decisive moments and I start cataloguing every technical gesture

  17. Brera’s empiricalapproach Thanksto Brera shots, saves and cornershavebecome, since the Sixties, importantdetailstoread football matches in a proper way

  18. Brera’s empiricalapproach Forexample… Milan-Juventus 5-1 (1961/62) Shots: 33for Milan 28for Juventus Theyprovedthatrain and muddy field were big problems for defenders

  19. Brera’s empiricalapproach Gianni Brera oftenreportedstatsonly on the first half and not on the wholematch… …achoiceforbeginningin a more attractive way the report of the secondhalf

  20. Brera’s empiricalapproach Forexample: Inter-Napoli (1970/71) Shots in the first half: 0for Inter 14for Napoli (1 goal) …but… …in the secondhalf Inter overturned the match (2-1)

  21. Brera’s empiricalapproach In the Eightiesstatsbecame the realobjectivityholdersin “La Repubblica” In Brera’s opinion the mostimportant match of the daywas the onewith the highest sum ofpointsbetweenboth the teamsinvolved An examplefrom 1985/86 Serie A tournament: Roma-Sampdoria (pointsamount: 62) deserved more attentionthanInter-Milan (pointsamount: 57)

  22. Stats and sportsjournalism Whatabouttoday? Sports federations and online journals can offer a wide-ranging set of data and stats about a single event or about the history of a sport

  23. Stats and sportsjournalism Statssources on paper Traditionaloneslikeyearbooks… …orcontemporaryoneslike media guides

  24. Stats and sportsjournalism Statssources on the Web Fromfederationswebsites… …orfromwebzines and online journals

  25. Stats and sportsjournalism Nowjournalists can find out data and stats in a simpleway… …alltheyneedis a desk, a pc and some clics…

  26. Stats and sportsjournalism …but the Internet isnotenough: a reporter’s notes and hispresence on the competitionfield are essentialtounderstandwhatnumbers are notabletotellus Thisis Gianni Brera’s lesson

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