Hipster, Latte = One Cool Dude!

A couple of years ago, a guy came wandering into the office where I worked and said he was interested in getting into the athletic communications profession.  As I usually do when people say they want to be a "SID," I chuckled at his choice of career goals.  I mean, jeepers, did he really understand what he was saying?  Not to mention, he was clearly beyond the normal 18-22 college student age.

But, as the conversation progressed, it was clear he was actually very interested.  In fact, he knew a lot more about the profession that most.  He previously served as a journalist and, in that role, was heavily reliant on the communications (or media relations as it is frequently called) staffs around the country to help him do his job.

He offered to volunteer his time in the office (he was still being paid by his former employer as part of a downsizing buyout - too common these days in the newspaper industry) and was eager to get started.  So, we talked and he started work.  Oh, he didn't just start working...  he was in the office more than some of the full-time staffers.  He clearly had a vision and was a man of his word.

We found a few bucks to be able to pay him on a part-time basis (shhh, don't tell the state of Washington - he was working more hours than he was paid for!).  When a position came open a few months later, it was a no-brainer.  He was quickly hired and away he went.

Well, Jeremy (that's the guy's name, in case you hadn't figured it out) is a truly cosmopolitan dude.  He has traveled the world, served as a beat writer covering the New York Mets for the Newark Star-Ledger and has a cool significant other (Lisa).  And, he writes a pretty interesting blog that mostly focuses on food and travel.  There's also some pretty creative photography on the site.

Because of his frequent mention of foods and ingredients most of us have never heard of, Jeremy rightfully catches a little heck from a few of his co-workers and good-natured ribbing from some of the local media.  Tim Booth from the Associated Press frequently writes of some random "Duckfat Latte" reference on his twitter feed.  Jeremy is also quite the connoisseur of various malt-based beverages and uses his team travels to find some of the most obscure eateries throughout the country.

So, if you get a chance, check out Jeremy and Lisa's blog at http://www.hipsterinmylatte.com/ and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremycothran.

Want to be a journalist?

Tiger Pride!

Good luck to the Daingerfield Tigers in their quest to win the school's third-straight Class 2A Texas state football title this weekend.  DHS (Class of '83 rules, by the way!) will face-off against Cameron Yoe at 6 p.m. PT Saturday night at Newsom Stadium in Mansfield. 

Daingerfield is 13-1 on the season and had three players on the AP all-state first team, including Texas-bound LB Steve Edmond who was named the state's defensive player of the year.  The Tigers survived a scare from Littlefield in last weekend's semifinals, scratching out an 18-9 win in Brownfield.  Second-team all-state QB Tyler Boyd led a 15-play, 86-yard drive to keep the clock moving and secure the win.

Seeing the Tigers having such great success is a reminder of the great Daingerfield teams of the early 1980's.  The dominant 1983 team scored 631 points, allowed just 8 points (a safety & an interception return) and posted 14 shutouts.  Here is an interesting YouTube video about the '83 team.

Us Versus Them Makes Sports Fun!

Jim Campbell from The Football Ramble had this accurate observation on how supporting a favorite team or player has a huge impact on a person's enjoyment of sporting events.  He attended the recent Arsenal at Manchester City soccer match (a glorious 3-0 Gunners victory, thankfully!) and shared his thoughts on the experience.

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"This enraged bias when supporting your own team can actually add to the enjoyment of it. When there’s an us against them mentality the energy spent on feeling aggrieved at the perceived injustice of the referee’s display or the opposition’s cheating is transferred into an outpouring of joy if your team scores, a vindication that you’ve defied the odds, even if you’ve exaggerated those odds yourself. Celebrating a goal when you’re at a game is one of the best feelings there is..."

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Well said.