Out of Left Field: Back at the sports desk: After a short hiatus, I am back
By Wil Anderson
Friday, August 1, 2008 10:32 AM PDT
Well, let me be honest here for just a minute. I tried thinking about all the different ways that I could have started this off all nice and sweet with a story, or a life experience, but for those of you out there who have read my work before, you would know something just was not right.
After all, I like to just get to the point.
For those of you who are reading this and wondering who I am and what I am talking about, Well, here you go.
I have spent many hours sitting on the office chairs at the Argus Observer in the early hours of the morning and the late hours of the night.
I have driven many miles to cover games and answered thousands of phone calls, many not the pleasant variety.
Basically, I worked myself from a part-timer at the sports desk to the sports editor, before leaving for higher education.
Now, I am back.
Just so you all know, I did get a school education, or at least a good start on it, but I also was able to get an education in newspapers.
I spent a year working for a much larger paper under a sports editor who taught me more about how a paper is run and the ins and outs of dealing with coaches and athletes and everything else you can imagine, so I feel much more confident in my abilities, or at least I feel I have gained a few now.
I have also worked for a college paper that did not have a clue how a paper should be run, so everything that happened there was with a tremendous amount of energy and work.
Needless to say, I have seen both sides of the spectrum and have figured out a few things.
Unfortunately, I have also spent quite a bit of time only writing term papers and hovering over text books, so the transition will be gradual, but I will strive to do my best.
One of the lessons I have learned, is that many of you out there do not always like to read about my thoughts on me, or on my interests.
You want to read about your interests and about something close to you.
So, what I am planning on doing is giving you the opportunity to select my topic of column, simply by e-mailing me your thoughts.
After I get a few ideas, I will select one, do a little research and then present it to you, so that hopefully you will enjoy it.
And if that doesn’t seem to get any sort of reply, I will simply go back to standing on my soapbox and telling it how I see it.
I have been pondering for the last couple of months what it will be like to return to the Argus Observer?
I decided it will be a lot like it was before: some good experiences and some bad experiences mixed in with a lot of work.
One thing that is for certain is I am extremely excited about having the opportunity to meet up with the coaches that are still around and also to meet the new coaches, to see the athletes turn in their personal bests and see the rivalries in the area in all their glory.
As for the other side of the spectrum, I am not so excited about having to go through a drive-thru for dinner because I was running late to a game or that first angry call from a parent because their child’s name was spelled wrong.
Even through we never do that on purpose, it still does happen.
Regardless of why you decided to read about me today, I know that with your support and guidance, this just could turn out to be the best sports season yet.
