THANKFUL TO AND FOR THE LADY BEES
MEMORIES OF ANOTHER GREAT SEASON LINGER
By Dom DiPasqua / Staff Writer
Thanksgiving Thursday, November 25, 2009
BRECKSVILLE – Writers should never, ever get attached to the teams that they cover. That is the cardinal rule of sports journalism.
They taught me that in “Reporting 101″ at Edinboro State University that first freshman day of class in September of 1977. I had long hair then and wide eyes too. The mustache was dark brown.
However in the past thirty plus years things have changed. Print journalism and newspapers became like the old passenger trains that used to lumber between cities before President Dwight D. Eisenhower birthed the interstate highway system and then the airlines flew over them.
“People will be reading their newspaper on a computer by the turn of the century.” Some lame brain said to me my first day on the job at what was then Sun Newspapers in 1981. “You’ll never retire from this industry, you better go back to school.”
“Take a hike pal. I’ve got Maple and Bedford to cover Friday night and I can’t wait.” I thought to myself, his comments still stinging in my ears.
So here we are. In the era of blogs and citizen journalism. In a world of pods and gadgets so complex that I haven’t even learned how to work my first cell phone and that was ten years ago.
But maybe this world is better. It’s okay to get involved, to be a part of a team and an extension of it. You can still be objective (I hope) as a writer and show your colors. Things have changed and change is good. It’s okay to love. To be happy with ten match winning streaks and district championships. To cry and lament and go into a shell for weeks after a tough and stunning defeat.
I’ll come clean. The Brecksville-Broadview Heights volleyball team and program has stolen my heart. It took three years, thanks to head coach Rob Cline, but they did it. They changed the way that I write and for that I am grateful.
I am also grateful that the coach, his assistants, the team members and parents that have allowed me the access to cover a team the right way. Teams are personal and close knit. To become a part of that fraternity or in this case sorority is earned and I’m honored.
I’m thankful to have gotten to know outstanding players and young people such as: “Jumpin” Gina Imbrigiotta, Meredith Paskert, Ashley “The Wizard” Sturgeon and the Kristen Towne’s of our community.
And this past season, with it’s sprint to a Southwestern Conference championship, a top ten state ranking and second consecutive district championship was like living another dream for this old hack.
Last season, with its Final Four trip to Dayton, was a dream. It’s never easy to get to a Final Four, but a year ago this program did.
Earlier this month the Lady Bees were coldly and boldly stopped short of continuing that dream – their stated mission. But the end, as hard as it was to swallow, was not nightmarish at all. It was just sports being sports. Sometimes the better team does not win. That’s the subconscious understood beauty of high school athletics.
So on this day of thanks I am most thankful to Rob Cline for letting me come along for the ride. For Coach Kim and her always smiling face on game nights, for Danny Irving and his glib commentary following junior varsity matches.
I’m thankful for four wonderful seniors in: Ari Prinbach, Mel “The Cat” Smith, Jacque Reszler and Lindsey “Remmy” Remington. Quite simply folks they don’t come any better than these young ladies.
I’m thankful for fans, dressed like bumble bees, whose nectar is a Tootsie Pop. And for Londa Latimer, who for years has listened to my incessant banter at the scorer’s table and just smiled.
There will be more great seasons and big wins. Next years team will be talented and more experienced and will thrill us all from Amherst to Solon. And for that I am already thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving!
- Dom DiPasqua
BIG TIME THANKS:
Goes out to all members of this years Lady Bee varsity volleyball team for the gracious gift of a card, signed by all, a framed team photo and a gift card. It means a lot. Thank you all so much for your generosity.
See You At The Bee Hive!
To contact: Ddipa67834@aol.com.
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