Editor offers final thoughts
Joe Barker
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Sports
Sorry, Mom, this will be the last time you see me in a tie on the front of sports.
As you read this, my term as editor is up, and I will no longer be filling this space with my tie-wearing mug shot. To my fan out there, I hope this doesn't break your heart too much.
The last page of the columnist playbook says that I should write some fawning farewell column. I should talk about my time doing what I've done and thank all the people who touched me (appropriately) along the way. I'm not going to do that.
It would take far too long to mention everyone who has been good to me, and I know I would leave someone out. So instead I'm just going to say some things I've wanted to say in my three years covering Truman sports but for some reason haven't.
First off, I hate writing columns. I know this doesn't seem important, but it's true. For me there were two types of columns, positive or negative, and neither one appealed to me.
Positive columns always seemed like I was kissing some athletic official's rear end. Negative columns also didn't sound fun because I never liked calling out a college kid who was playing hard - it never really served a purpose outside of getting someone angry.
Instead, I decided to try to make people laugh. I'd make fun of myself in hopes that I wouldn't have to make fun of the athlete who messed up that week or the team that failed to perform. My idea was that even if people didn't care about Truman sports, they might want to read about the Super Bowl and in the process see the headlines about the goings on with the Bulldogs.
Did it work? I'm not sure, but I know that if you are not a fan, dear reader, just wait a week. A different (better looking) face will be in this spot.
Another thing I've been wanting to say is that I think Director of Athletics Jerry Wollmering does a good job.
Jerry gets a bad rap from some people as being all about football, but that's not the case. The guy goes to just about every sports event and genuinely cares about the teams and players - not just the football team. If other people in power at this University cared about improvements like Wollmering does, Truman would be a better place. I don't always agree with everything that has gone down, but I know he's trying to do what's best for the Bulldogs.
As you read this, my term as editor is up, and I will no longer be filling this space with my tie-wearing mug shot. To my fan out there, I hope this doesn't break your heart too much.
The last page of the columnist playbook says that I should write some fawning farewell column. I should talk about my time doing what I've done and thank all the people who touched me (appropriately) along the way. I'm not going to do that.
It would take far too long to mention everyone who has been good to me, and I know I would leave someone out. So instead I'm just going to say some things I've wanted to say in my three years covering Truman sports but for some reason haven't.
First off, I hate writing columns. I know this doesn't seem important, but it's true. For me there were two types of columns, positive or negative, and neither one appealed to me.
Positive columns always seemed like I was kissing some athletic official's rear end. Negative columns also didn't sound fun because I never liked calling out a college kid who was playing hard - it never really served a purpose outside of getting someone angry.
Instead, I decided to try to make people laugh. I'd make fun of myself in hopes that I wouldn't have to make fun of the athlete who messed up that week or the team that failed to perform. My idea was that even if people didn't care about Truman sports, they might want to read about the Super Bowl and in the process see the headlines about the goings on with the Bulldogs.
Did it work? I'm not sure, but I know that if you are not a fan, dear reader, just wait a week. A different (better looking) face will be in this spot.
Another thing I've been wanting to say is that I think Director of Athletics Jerry Wollmering does a good job.
Jerry gets a bad rap from some people as being all about football, but that's not the case. The guy goes to just about every sports event and genuinely cares about the teams and players - not just the football team. If other people in power at this University cared about improvements like Wollmering does, Truman would be a better place. I don't always agree with everything that has gone down, but I know he's trying to do what's best for the Bulldogs.
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