Wow, it is hard to believe that two weeks have just screamed by since I have been blessed to take over sports and boy has the ride been fun.

I get a lot of ribbing from readers and especially close friends who read the paper about what a hard job that I have with quite a bit of laughter to follow.

The truth of the matter is that covering five local high schools and the middle schools plus individuals that compete in various sports at different levels is a hectic life if one wants to do it right—and I do.

I have been asked what the hardest part of my job is whether it’s taking photos of sporting events or just putting a story together.

In reality, neither one of them is difficult—just time-consuming.

The toughest thing to do as a sports writer, and this may sound absurd in some ways, but the most challenging part is to get coaches to send in their results, call when games get canceled, and to get a roster at the various sporting events that have full names.

In honesty, I think that getting names is like pulling teeth out of a chicken.

I like to be as thorough as possible and make sure that I have a roster of every team that I cover so that I can hold onto it throughout the season.

There isn’t a parent anywhere that doesn’t want their kid mentioned if at all possible and for their name to be spelled right if it is.

Some coaches have it together as they have a scorecard with their team roster and number listed on the scorecards.

Bless you!

Now, I am not fussing mind you, but it would be so awesome to walk into either a baseball or softball game, a basketball game, football game or even a soccer game and have a roster readily available.

I know it’s just the competitive juices flowing in a coach and a roster doesn’t seem like much to those calling the shots, but boy if you are in my line of work a roster is invaluable.

As the next school year gets ready to start, I believe that my number one priority will be to contact as many athletic directors and coaches as possible and make sure to get rosters before their respective season starts.

And while most of this chatter is in good ribbing at many of my coaching friends here in beautiful Carter County, I am sincere about the most challenging part of my job.

That’s why I have brought some young people alongside who may have a desire to write or broadcast sports to give them a taste of what the profession is like.

Just today, one of them texted me and asked what they needed to do to get the first names of the players since they only had the last.

I jokingly told them that this is where you earn your money in tracking down valuable information like that.

In those same regards, I hope you are enjoying reading articles from Nic Miller, Carter Everett, and Austin Alexander. These kids are doing a great job to have never attempted to cover events at this level and their focus and writing are improving every time they go out.

Also, photographer Sydney Goodsell has been impressive in snapping some great photos for our reader’s enjoyment.

These are some of the things that I have been trying to incorporate and if you have a rising senior at the school in your area that has a desire to go into sports journalism or broadcasting—have them give me a call.

I love to share with kids that have a similar passion as myself in covering sports to make sure they are interested in pursuing the profession.

You never know where tracking down names for a roster can lead you.