Seven years of memories and counting
December 28th, 2007, 12:15 am · Post a Comment · posted by rdickson
Welcome to my anniversary blog. Yes, ti was seven years ago today, Dec. 28, 2000, that I joined the Daily News sports staff.
All I have to do is look around the department to be reminded of how much things have changed since then. I am now the old guy on staff in more ways than one.
When sports editor Perry Ballard passed away early last month I gained the unwanted distinction as senior sports staff member both in age and time of service.
If my count is correct, and I’m sure it is, I’ve worked with 11 other sports staffers.
Those in the newspaper business tend to be nomads by nature so it isn’t uncommon to see coworkers come and go. But that doesn’t make the departures any easier, especially when two of those coworkers — Perry and Rick Flores — died way too soon.
I miss Perry and Rick, as well as my good friend, the newlywed Cal Powell. And whether I want to admit it or not, thing just haven’t been the same since Ron Seibel left.
Ron, if you are reading this, I’ll let you figure out what I mean by that.
With the changes in staff comes an opportunity to work with new people. I’m happy to be a part of a staff that now includes Jared Macarin, Adam Pruiett ad Chris Chatelain, our page designer extrordinaire.
Although I’ve had the privilege of covering Okaloosa-Walton baseball each spring, the vast majority of my time has been spent covering high school sports.
How does one narrow seven years of memories into a few lines? There have been so many players and games to remember.
I’ve covered Niceville in the 2001 Class 5A volleyball finals, Choctawhatchee in the 2002 Class 5A boys basketball finals, Crestview in the 2002 Class 3A football championship game and on the same day in 2004, covered Laurel Hill in the Class A softball seminfinals and Niceville in the Class 5A softball semifinals.
I went to the state junior college baseball tournament with OWC in 2003. And the Daily News has allowed me to cover such classic college football games as Alabama-Auburn, Tennessee-Florida, Tennessee-Alabama and Florida State-Florida.
I’s a heck of a way to make a buck, and most days there’s no job like it in the world.
I’ve seen some great young athletes and if I try to mention them all I’ll fail miserably. But some that standout are Vernon Jones, DJ Hall, Blake Dean, Brad Reese, Ren Sutton and countless others.
Of course this business would be nothing without the stories, and every kid has a story.
One of my favorites involves former Niceville linebacker Daryl Kelly. I was doing an Athlete of the Week story about him when I found out his nickname was “Daffy.” My curiostity sparked, I asked one of the coaches how he got the nickname.
He told me Kelly once cut practice to go to Disney World and after that they starte calling him Daffy as in Daffy Duck. It didn’t take me long to point out that Donald Duck is Disney and Daffy is a Looney Tune character.
The coach thought for a second before responding, “You know, you’re right.”
Laurel Hill coach Ronnie Smith wears many hats. He’s also one of my favorite people in the world, so I know I can tell this story.
Smith was asked to coach the Hobo baseball team two years ago. He had never coached baseball, and didn’t play high school baseball, so Laurel Hill took some lumps his that first year.
Last spring I asked Smith what the most important thing he learned his first season as a baseball coach.
Without missing a beat, he deadpanned as only Ronnie Smith can, “The rules.”
The stories and memories of seven years are too many to count. In the end, as is often said about this business, it is the people that make the difference.
So to every coach, player and fan, thanks for making the last seven years special and allowing me to be a part of your lives. I’m richer for the experience.
