Some things are hard to let go of, and this is one of those things.
I’ve needed to resign my post as Suburbanite sports columnist for going on 12 weeks now, but I’ve hung on under the false notion that somehow I could do it all.
Please understand, I’ve been self-employed since 2002 and last January had come to the conclusion: Start my own venture or this economy was going to put me out of business. My clients were drying up.
One by one, clients, who had kept SportsInk, LLC, a bustling home-based, sports media and consulting business, were calling to cut back or eliminate my services.
That is all except The Suburbanite and Summer’s Fitness 24/7.
I was at a crossroad.
For several years, WAKR morning show host Ray Horner and I had talked about starting a high school sports Web site.
We stopped and started. It would be hot and then cold.
Finally, last March, I took the plunge, and there was no looking back. I am happy to report I made the right decision. Most of my waking moments are directed toward the betterment of what I now call, “The Site.”
It is an all-consuming venture, which I enjoy.
We have a team of correspondents and a management team that is growing by the day. We have an investor and the future is very bright.
Which brings me back to The Suburbanite. I dreaded having to tell Tammy Proctor I could no longer continue to write about the accomplishments of athletes and coaches at our six area high schools.
There aren’t enough hours in the day.
For nearly five years, it has been a privilege to have at my disposal 1,000 words each week to tell the stories of our kids and coaches. One thousand words is a pretty big chunk of space, but because there is such a passion for high school athletics and so many caring people involved,
I’ve never been at a loss for words.
That is a credit to so many hard-working student-athletes, dedicated coaches, ambitious administrators, and most of all the parents, who encourage, support and finance the athletic endeavors of their sons and daughters.
Thank you for your interest and positive feedback over the years.
Mom & Dad
I believe from the time I opened that first pack of 1966 Topps baseball cards, I’ve been hooked on athletics or maybe I was brainwashed.
Dad was a St. Louis Cardinals fan and he’d hold up Bob Gibson’s card, and say, “Son, he is the best, and he’s on our team!”
Mom would try so hard to keep those Topps checklists, while I would mindlessly flip singles on the playground, always undoing the set.
Dad was a PE teacher, coach, athletic director and guidance counselor. He fostered in me an interest in all sports and largely through his influence I pursued a career in sports media relations. For 19 years, I was a college sports information director, or director of athletic communications as the title goes these days.
Mom went back to college fulltime after her boys had graduated from high school. She graduated summa cum laude and taught grade school. She also started our local Historical Society and instilled in me a love for history.
I was in Florida two months ago to help celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. More than 200 people filled a hall at The Villages to wish them well.
Like every family, we certainly hit our share of speed bumps, but I look back now and realize how fortunate I was and am thankful for the impact my parents had on my life.
Thacker Addendum
In attempting to recap the Green High boys’ soccer run, I left out an important piece. Coach Justin Thacker wanted to express his appreciation to the team parents.
“They were there to make this the best experience for the boys as it possibly could be,” Thacker said. “It’s also having soccer parents who truly love the game that makes the whole atmosphere even that much better.”
The Bulldogs topped Kent Roosevelt 4-2 for the district title and will graduate 16 seniors before the start of next season.
Last Gasp
I never did make it back to Thom Grubb and the Lake High boys’ golf team. They had a memorable season and finished ninth at the OHSAA championship meet, five strokes out of fifth place. Freshman Jake McBride shot a round of 78 and junior Tyler Maranville carded a 79 for the Blue Streaks at the state meet. Congratulations Thom and the boys!
I’ve been sitting on this one as well for too many weeks, and it’s probably old news, but Green senior Ryan Wilson is leaning toward attending Mount Union College and playing soccer for the Purple Raiders. “Wilson” is a terrific all-around athlete and according to GHS soccer coach Justin Thacker, “Ryan’s best soccer is yet to come.”
A radio broadcast team from the Youngstown area proclaimed 17 area football teams in the OHSAA playoffs and declared it a record. Some of those teams obviously made the field at the expense of teams from our area. Summit and Medina Counties produced 11 playoff teams this year and there were four left after Week 11.
I saw Poland Seminary take down St. Vincent-St. Mary in the regional quarterfinal. Poland is as well coached as any team I’ve seen in recent memory. Head coach Mark Brungard played quarterback for Jim Tressel at Youngstown State.
Green Middle School grad Alexis Gable was a starting defender for the Walsh Jesuit girls soccer team (18-1-2), which fell to Medina 1-0 in the OHSAA Division I state semifinal. Gable is a junior and will be one of 10 returning starters for Walsh in 2010.
