If you look at my email on a typical day during the sports season, there’s a pretty good chance you will find one of the following questions.
Do you have stats from your game or for the season?
Do you have your schedule for the season?
Do you know if a game has been canceled or postponed because of the rain because those clouds don’t look too friendly?
Can you help me identify the athlete in this photo?
Do you have a roster yet?
Could I get the results from your game the other night?
Has so-and-so filled out his or her athlete of the week form yet?
What time would work best to do an interview with you or one of your players?
Will the credentials be available for pick up at will call Saturday?
Can I talk with this Blue Wahoos player after batting practice or after a game because I want to write a feature on him this week?
Man, I sound demanding. But back to the column.
I basically send out emails as often as Steph Curry launches up 3-pointers in a game. And those just scratch the surface. I didn’t even count the number of times I send messages by text or on Facebook and Twitter.
Your first thought is, Brian sure must drive those coaches crazy. Don’t worry. I’m thinking the same thing.
The good thing is the coaches, athletic directors, sports information directors and even the athletes are beyond helpful. I sometimes even reach out to parents. They all rise to the occasion every time.
Their willingness to help does not go unnoticed. I appreciate it more than words can say because they help me do my job to the best of my ability.
Without their help, I’d be like a hiker lost in the woods or mountains.
Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about that.
Through the help of the coaches I’m able to get the interviews I need, get the stats I am looking for, cover the events that need to be covered and write the stories that need to be written.
I’d like to tell the coaches that they get a break at this point in the year from my tidal wave of emails and other messages, but the sports world never stops. The summer is busy as well and that means no rest for the weary. Teams practice, they play games, they hold camps.
And of course, football season is just around the corner as is the season for the other fall sports. It won’t be long before I’m reaching out for information on all of that.
And the process will start all over again. The madness will resume. The fun will begin.
My guess is those I’m sending messages to can’t wait for it all to start. But just know I appreciate what you do to make my job easier.
And just think, spending the time I did writing this column meant I didn’t have time to send out an email.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an email to write.
