Every day when I wake up, one of the first things that comes to my mind is to buy the newspaper. I have to get the part. I have operated this way for over 40 years. The role puts me in the know. More than the internet, I guess it could be because I can touch it or feel it.
I confess, I have to see the sports pages. It’s outdoors. I admitted it. I’m missing something if I don’t get to see the sports pages.
Who hit home runs? Who got more views the day before?
Which pitchers won? Who promoted the races? Yes, that’s the one I like the most. driven.
If we are out of baseball season, it goes to the transaction part of the newspaper. Who signed and who was released? (I almost always feel bad when I see the name of a player I liked that his team left out.) Any operation that I have missed? People’s lives in motion. While this part of the document advertises transactions, it’s really about how lives change depending on where these players move from. And where are they moving to? Sometimes that’s all it takes as a new city for some players to stand out like Paul O’Neill or Roger Maris, to name two big Yankee deals.
During the season I have to see my boys, how are they?
Yankee Stats – I always watch them. Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Gary Sheffield are the guys whose stats I’m looking at now. In the old days it was Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Don Mattingly, Reggie Jackson, Roger Maris and Thurmon Munson. I know I am omitting some. Please forgive me.
When I’m done with the statistics, I scan the pages for a good story. I don’t have any game plans for this quest. Usually some headline catches me and I go from there. I recently noticed that when I see an article by a writer I don’t care about, I spit on the paper. No, no, I’m just kidding.
I read the newspaper as if I were about to take a test. I read by myself without interruptions, sitting in my car or at my kitchen table. With a cup of coffee or tea next to me I hook the paper. I think about who I might run into who might ask me a question about the Yankees that I should know. better i know
I remember when I traveled Europe in the early 70’s. I had to go to the International Herald for their one or two page sports section. Reggie Jackson was having an amazing first half of the season. He seemed like every day he was hitting another home run for the A’s. I couldn’t wait to see in the paper if he hits another.
The New York Times, The Newark Star Ledger, The Bergen Record, USA Today and in the past The Newark News have been my morning companions. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I hope you enjoy your work as much as I do mine.
I even read the cover and do the crossword. Sometimes.