Brian Out Loud

Interviews before or after a practice, Friday night high school football, Saturday afternoon University of West Florida football, games in the cold if we are talking soccer or the early part of baseball season, and track meets scattered throughout the spring, many of which take place on weekends. Oh, and Blue Wahoos baseball in the summer.

It all consumes a large portion of my time.

And Meighan puts up with it all. Most people go to the beach for a day of enjoyment. We sometimes go there because one of the teams is having a photo day.

And don’t even ask about planning a trip. I always tell her I need to check the sports schedule first.

Meighan is my girlfriend in case you don’t know. She probably wouldn’t mind the time away from me as much if it didn’t mean she was left home alone with Greyson the wonder dog.

He’s a chocolate lab and he can test your patience sometimes. Okay. A lot. He might be a year old, but he is very much still a puppy and acts like one often.

Meighan isn’t always amused with his antics.

It’s why I often quietly peek around the corner before entering the living room after returning home from a sporting event. You know, just to make sure it’s safe to come in. I usually get my answer depending the mood Greyson has put Meighan in. Her facial expression says it all.

If she’s smiling, it’s all good. If she has anything other than a smile, well, it might be best to run.

Sometimes Meighan goes to games with me.

She’s the one you’ll typically see holding up the phone as I do post-game interviews with Navarre head coach Jay Walls or one of the Navarre football players.

Or she is holding the phone and recording the post-game press conferences at UWF football games while I focus on asking questions and taking notes.

She’s also the one holding the phone when I do my Facebook Live posts before a Navarre or UWF game. The Facebook Live pregame video has grown more popular over the last year – I’m guessing you’d think I was kidnapped by aliens if I stopped doing them — and the video interviews have reached the point where fans are looking for those to be posted before the game story.

She is the one who deserves the big thank you for the videos.

Without her, it wouldn’t be possible for me to do everything I do to make Navarre Press’ coverage of sports the best in this area. Those videos enhance the coverage.

On that note, she probably deserves the world for Christmas.

Or at least her own island. Maybe a million dollars.

The least I can do is give her this column as a reminder of how much I appreciate all that she does.

Unless Greyson gets ahold of the column and chews it up.

I hope and pray he doesn’t.

At any rate, Merry Christmas Meighan.

And Merry Christmas to the loyal readers of the Navarre Press. May you all enjoy the day. I know I will.

And for at least that one day, Meighan won’t have to worry about me going off to cover a game.