I’m trying to get the hang of this blogging thing. Teaching old dogs new tricks isn’t easy. But I’m getting lots of feedback, especially from my lunch pals Lori and Denise, who also work at The Eagle.
They’re, to put it mildly, underwhelmed so far by my blog. They think I need to insert paragraphs, which I’ve done. They think I need to make my blog more interactive, which I’m going to try to do. They think I should include pictures of myself in provocative poses. Never, unless I’m getting paid.
So, what do you all want to see in this blog? I’m willing to try anything. And I’m always open to new ideas. Send them my way. Those who know me will tell you I’m nothing if not eager to please.
Denise wants me to talk more about the radio show I do with Bruce Haertl, called Sports Daily (from 9-11:05 a.m. weekdays on KFH, 1330-AM, 98.7 FM). The best thing I can say about Sports Daily is that Denise listens, even though she hates sports.
I love doing radio. When I was growing up I wanted to be a broadcaster. I saw myself as the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals. Trouble is, nobody else saw me as the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals.
I took my first journalism class when I was a sophomore in high school. By my junior year, I was the sports editor of the Panther’s Tale in Derby, a meteoric rise in newspapers not seen before in southern Sedgwick County. But by my senior year, my journalism teacher had become so sick of occasional misbehaving that she kicked me out of the class. I enrolled in drama. Those who follow the Derby theater scene still talk about my performance in Fiddler on the Roof, in which I played the roof.
Anyway, I soon discovered that I was an exceptional writer. I didn’t say anyone else discovered that, but I did. My first real newspaper job was at the Derby Daily Reporter, where I made _ I’m embarrassed to say what I made. Let’s just put it this way, when I cashed my check at the bank I was asked if I wanted the money in dimes or nickels.
Pizza John’s was and still is directly across the street from the Daily Reporter. At that time, there was a real babe working there at night, which is also when I worked. I spent most of my time at Pizza John’s, putting the sports pages to bed early.
(Do people really care about this?) Write about your life, they tell me. So I am.
I started at The Eagle in 1974 and have been here ever since. I received a job offer from a newspaper in Phoenix way back, but none since. Which should tell me something, I suppose. I’m happy here. I love Wichita and this area. And I’m planning on being here for the duration because losing this job would devastate me (are you reading this, Lou Heldman? He’s the publisher.)
I hope this entry into my blog pleases Lori and Denise. But most of all, it’s important that I’m pleased. And I’m really, really pleased.
As for interaction that deals with sports, here goes: In 1964, the entire starting infield for the St. Louis Cardinals made the National League All-Star team. Can you name them?
Do so and win a prize. OK, not really.