I love telling the story of when I visited the Cincinnati Bengals training camp. It was two years ago. I was job shadowing the sports director at a local TV station. I was on the field, Chad Ochocinco was short, an orange mouthpiece almost became my souvenir, I was told to stalk a player for an interview, and many other really cool things that I'd love to tell you about later.
But honestly, the most memorable part of that day was a statement made by a cameraman whose name I don't really remember.
He was talking about all his years recording various sporting events, and offered one interesting insight about America's past time: "Baseball is the only sport where the ball doesn't score," he said. "If a batter hits a home run, what do you tape? The ball going out of the park or the batter crossing home plate?"
This was a tiny piece of knowledge that seemed irrelevant to my journalism career. Hellooooo. Writer.
But then I really thought about it. That realization that Mr. Cameraman (because I'm hardly on a first-name basis with him) had was one that could really only come from years of experience. Once you think about it, it becomes obvious. But to come up with the idea to say it- that takes something else.
I want to be that kind of journalist. I want to see the little things. I want to say things that make others stop and think. Part of that will only come with experience. But part of it will come with willingness and being ready.
One out of two isn't bad.
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