I love writing about sports, covering games, taking photographs, and making all the moms and dads happy as they watch their kids work hard and win big games.
I have been privileged to be in the right place at the right time, covering some incredible student-athletes who went on to achieve great things in professional sports. However, nothing compares to the excitement of the present—reporting on the news of the day and celebrating the team that dared to dream and ultimately won it all.
On Tuesday morning at 7 a.m., the phone rang. “What are you all going to do?” asked the voice on the other end. “About what?” I replied. “The Eagles. They defeated Marlin decisively last night. Did you watch the game?” I admitted that I had not seen the game.
I’m more of a football fan, and most people know that about me. During football season, I write weekly columns on the NFL and college football, and I also cover as many of our high school teams as I can. As for basketball, I prefer to leave that to those who have a better understanding of the game and its terminology. I can do baseball, sort of and I’m really bad at volleyball.
But the days of the local sports journalist, you may remember one or two, the guys and gals that could cover ever sport, take the photos, knew all the coaches, well those days are past now. No one really wants the job anymore and I never really understood that. I love doing football; meeting the kids, who often play all three of the major sports and do weightlifting and track as well. Interacting with the coaches, again, all of which are doing other sports that fit their specialty.
I get that special feeling inside when I see the kids excel, like the Hearne Eagles heading off to fight it out for the first ever Hearne State Championship against the Meyer Ravens on Thursday.
I have a passion for sports history, and I wanted to share an interesting bit of information sent to me by a local sports enthusiast. Hearne has participated in the State Tournament on three occasions: 1969, 1989, and 2019, but unfortunately, they lost each time. In 1989, Fondel Adams, a member of the Hearne Chamber of Commerce, played for the team that faced San Antonio Cole, which featured a young basketball player who would go on to become one of the greatest of all time: Shaquille O’Neal.
For us at the local newspaper it is a time to showcase the achievements for these kids. A real newspaper and not a website only blog will not keep this teams history for the next century, it is what a real newspaper does, keeps the history.
I’m sure you skipped this column to check out all the fantastic work the newspaper staff has done, and it’s not over yet. When the boys defeat the Ravens, you can bet that the Hearne Eagles will be featured prominently throughout this newspaper, from the front page to the very last page. They deserve the recognition—they have earned it. We at the paper are honored to produce these pages, special sections, posters, and whatever else we can dream up to make this memory last forever. We are already planning a sign for the highway.
Who wants to help with that?
Congratulations, Hearne Eagles, on the fantastic job you have done so far and on the effort you are about to put in tonight. You have already made us very proud. Let’s finish strong and bring that trophy back home to Hearne.
Comments