Opinion Archive

Most of the time my job here involves telling stories about athletic achievement and beyond, and taking photos that capture some of the best moments from a game.


But having this platform as a writer, and having a strong social media presence, sometimes my job responsibilities go beyond what shows up in the newspaper.

If I told you Erik Harris played seven seasons in the NFL, you’d probably ask me what major college he went to.


If I told you he attended NCAA Division II California University of Pennsylvania, you might say, “No way.”

Labels can get you into trouble if you don’t know fully what it is to which they refer. A case in point: I was born and raised in a part of Canada where all Americans, northerners and southerners alike, are called “Yankees.” You can imagine the firestorm that ignited when, after I moved to South Florida, in ignorance, I called a native Floridian a Yankee. His eyes blazed, his body went rigid, his face blossomed red, and his nostrils flared to accommodate the building steam. I was grateful that all I received that day was a short, very intense lesson in American history with extra emphasis on what my friend called, “the war of northern aggression.” The label “Yankee” no longer resides in my vocabulary.

As I was writing this column on Monday (the day we go to print), the intersection of Andorra Street and Lucena Street had a shelter in place order issued due to a gas main break. As I was typing, however, the order was lifted.

In a place where powdery beaches meet vibrant community aspirations, the Navarre Beach Boardwalk proposal was supposed to be a rallying point for growth, tourism and smart public investment. Instead, it’s stirred up an uncomfortable debate: Who exactly should be enjoying the county’s most coveted waterfront real estate?

At first, I wasn’t sure what to think of Teddy Bridgewater’s social media post that ultimately got him into hot water with Miami Northwestern.

I went to the post office last week and they were telling people to buy Forever Stamps because the price was going up in a few days. The price actually went up Monday to 78 cents for an up to 1 oz. letter. I went to the counter with “Priority Mail” and they told me it was expected to be delivered three days later. I asked why it wouldn’t be there in two days, hence, “Priority Mail?” The response was, “Priority Mail isn’t what it used to be, but at least it comes with tracking.”

The following was originally published July 12, 2025, at editorandpublisher.com and is a transcript of a vodcast series hosted by Mike Blinder. This perfectly encompasses how our newspapers and reporters feel about the role of newspapers.

It seems to be a tradition now for me to write about the comments made from people about a newspaper pay wall.


I get the frustration. People love free. And there seems to be this mindset that you shouldn’t have to pay for the news.

I have found that few people object to hearing me say, “I will pray for you.” Most thank me, even those I know who do not believe in God. They understand from my words that I care about them.