There Ya Go
For those of you who crave being closer to the action at games, be careful what you wish for. Sometimes, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
My career in journalism has allowed me to be as close as anyone to the action, be it a football, baseball, softball or basketball game, or a volleyball or wrestling match. Don’t get me wrong, I love it. I consider myself blessed to be able to cover high school sports and lucky to be the one who gets to stand on the baseline or sideline.
But it’s not all fun and games. Over my years of covering sports, I have been hit by softballs and volleyballs and run over by 250-pound wrestlers, all in the name of journalism. The running joke is, as long as the camera doesn’t get damaged we’re good.
Never mind the bruise on my shin, as long as my Nikon is unscathed, all is well.
Speaking of bruises, back in my early days I got trucked by a Minneota running back as I was covering a Vikings game for the Independent. I was in my early 20s at the time, so I bounced back. That’s back when flexibilty was a thing for me. I hopped up, dusted myself off and went on about my business.
Again, I was young, so I didn’t care. If that happened today at a TMB football game, Dale couldn’t get to me quick enough with a gurney. He might have to call for a chopper.
Bedsides making a mistake in a game story, there is nothing more humbling for a sportswriter than taking a softball off the shin. And you can’t react. You have to be tough and suck it up. You have to let everyone know that it doesn’t really hurt as you’re crying inside wondering why the hell you stood so close to the first base coach.
Even simply sitting in the front row to get good photos has its disadvantages.
Case in point, just check out the photo with this column. I took this shot at a girls’ basketball game a couple weeks ago. There I was, minding my own business trying to capture the action when an errant pass whizzed inches from my camera lens. I could literally hear the ball zip by me.
Another inch or two to the right and that ball would’ve knocked the camera out of my hand, or pushed it into my face. And that’s happened to me before. Believe me, that hurts. But our credo has always been “Protect the camera.” I know, it sounds a bit masochistic.
So why I do accept this occupational hazard? Well, for starters, it’s fun. I’m paying myself to watch sports. Two, I love the responsibility I have to take these photos and cover all these games, and I know how important what I do is for the athletes and their families.
So if doing my job means a bump here and a scratach there, so be it — on me, not my Nikon.
