I can’t believe it.
I have been so busy since my last blog (Nov. 26). That’s because, as of Dec. 1, I took on a new position here at The Tribune. I went from being a reporter to being the sports editor.
Also, at The Tribune, everyone had a big switch on Dec. 1 when we started printing the paper in Columbus instead of here in the building. That also came with one final change: hours. Our paper comes out earlier now, and that means some people have to be here during the day and others work at night (that would be me). We have different deadlines now, and it’s 1 a.m. every day instead of 10 a.m.

Really, my job has worked out well. That first week was a little shaky. I had to readjust and get used to not getting up in the morning anymore. Now, I can sleep in a little bit, but I practically have somewhere to go every night. Plus, I’ve had to get used to writing sports again.
The first time I ever wrote sports was in February 2007. In January that year, I had gone to a journalism job fair at Franklin College. Among the editors I met there was Dan Davis, editor of The Tribune. He’s the only one I ended up hearing from, and at the job fair, he asked if I was interested in helping with sports. It was nothing full-time, but I thought maybe it would turn into something. So I took him up on the offer and a few weeks later, I was going to my first basketball game. It was a boys game at Brownstown Central.

I did that for about a month, covering different games at different places. At the time, I didn’t have a full-time job. I had quit my previous employer the summer before and had been looking for a job all that time.
But you know what? Getting my foot in the door via the sports writing paid off. That May, I was hired as a reporter at The Tribune. The job I had been looking for for 10 months had arrived.
The next time I did sports was helping former sports editor Arv Koontz during the winter of 2007-2008. When Arv made the decision earlier this year to retire on Dec. 1, Dan Davis had asked me if I would be interested in taking on the job. I thought, well yeah. For one, it would be a new experience. Two, it was something I was interested in. Three, it was a good way to advance and challenge myself.

So here I am. I now have about one month on the new job. And I can tell you, I feel like it’s going to suit me well. So far, I have written nearly 20 game stories, including boys and girls basketball and wrestling and swimming. I have written a few preview stories, highlighting the weekend’s game. I have done two feature stories, and I have covered one awards ceremony.
Plus, there’s the games and events you have to get results for that you can’t get to or one of the stringers (other writers/photographer) can’t get to. Having those extra people helps, and Arv is still around helping out.
I have appreciated all of the help I have received so far, and I know it’s going to continue. It’s a lot for one person to do, covering five county high schools and three winter sports. Plus, you consider all of those schools have boys and girls basketball, but only one has wrestling and swimming. Oh, and that school (Seymour) has a bowling team, too, that is new this year.

It’s a lot of work, I’ve discovered. But it’s something I enjoy and it definitely requires organization. I actually had tonight off (and yes, it’s Friday during winter sports and I have it off!). That won’t happen for another two months, so I thought I would take some time to write a blog. Better late than never, I guess.

While I may not see people I used to see a lot, covering town government in Crothersville or going to the schools or other places to do stories, maybe if you come to a basketball game or other sporting event, you can see me there. I’ll be there somewhere with a pen and notepad in hand watching high school sports as it happens. If you haven’t ever been or it’s been a while, I would recommend it. The games can get exciting at time, and believe me, I’ve been to a couple of those barn-burners this year. It takes me back to my younger days at Austin Schools, going to volleyball and girls and boys basketball games. The environment is really neat, I think.

So, I guess I’ll see you at the game.

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