As the sports editor, I’m not much of a news coverage guy, but I never mind pitching in to help out with a graduation.
So I covered Baker School's graduation last week.
'PUREST FORM' OF COVERAGE
I feel a connection with the student athletes I cover, and it’s always nice to have a small part in their sendoff to the post-high school world.
I was talking to one of the athletes for what might be the last time when they thanked me for being a part of their life. The most rewarding part of the job is I get to be, in some small way, a part of the lives of so many young people.
When I was younger, I dreamed of covering the Super Bowl and the World Series. I longed to be where the action was in professional sports or at least cover a big-time college program.
But I know now writing sports for a community newspaper is the purest form of sports coverage.
People around here know I’m a big University of Tennessee fan. One of my favorite Volunteers of all time is Peyton Manning. I once did a story on Manning at the start of his junior or senior year.
I was one of countless reporters in the room trying to ask him a question and get that morsel nobody else had. Manning, by all accounts, is a wonderful person. He’s donated countless hours and dollars to the University of Tennessee.
Countless stories also have been written about Peyton Manning. And I doubt he’s aware of the fine words I penned about him almost 20 years ago while I was writing for the Loudon County News Herald.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet and do stories on hall of fame athletes in multiple sports. I’ve met national championship coaches, All-Americans and Olympians as well as a few first-round draft picks.
My favorite story was an exclusive I did on a reunion of the 1964 USA Olympic basketball team during the 1996 Olympics.
IN AWE OF LOCALS
I might not have made the big time but I’ve written my share of big-time stories.
And none of those stories compares to the ones I write about our local athletes and coaches every day.
I’m sometimes in awe of the local athletes who have gone on to have success on some of the biggest stages in college sports. And I’m confident that the stories I’ve shared about their careers at the beginning are remembered.
I am proud to call so many of your fine sons and daughters friends.
Thanks to all of you for letting me be a part of your lives.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DICKSON: Sharing the moments