04 | February | 2018 | Lightwalkers Blog

The Life of a Sports Writer

I want to be frank. I lead a pretty glamourous life. As a sports writer I get to see all the action. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I have to attend meetings, stand up and talk about what I have been doing, what articles I want to write, and occasionally I have to push my own point of view. Duke it out in the press room, so to speak. I read a lot of newspaper articles to keep abreast of what’s happening where and who is up against who and when. I cover the gamut from wrestling, acrobatics, Nordic walking events to community and school intramural activities.

I work for a small local newspaper, freelance on the side and have written a couple of books. These jobs keep me busy and I skip all the way to the bank. I can pay my bills and enjoy some of the finer things in life; drive a good foreign car, wear expensive clothes and spend my holidays somewhere hot where the water is warm, the days are long and the nights longer.

On a good day I watch a game, hockey, basketball, lacrosse, from the best seat available or if I’m very lucky, from a VIP suite with the owners and other press reps. These are usually pretty sweet deals as they are catered and I can scarf down some wings and appetizers and enjoy a beer or two, before I head out to the sports bar down the street from my apartment. I enjoy taking in tennis, curling or golf on the tube. I can talk with the armchair critics and get their take on the players, teams and coaches. The word of the man on the street always makes for good copy.

After the bar I take my notes back to my apartment, write up my article and sleep in my king-sized bed. In the morning I email it to my boss. Usually he prints it as it is but once in a while he makes changes, which drives me crazy, it makes be feel like I’ve been burgled, but what’s a guy to do? It’s my boss.

I love my job writing for the newspaper, it gives me the freedom and the action I crave. Sometimes it is a little like jumping off a ledge, not always knowing what the day will bring or what I will say before the article is finished. Writing the books is more like bricklaying. There is a formula, as long as I follow it I’m laughing. All in all, as I said I lead a glamourous life and I love it!

Story Dice for Story No 2 due Feb 4 2018