Dream Job

My dream sports reporting job would be to cover National Hockey League games for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Although that is my go-to team, I am also fine with covering teams like the Las Vegas Golden Knights or the Nashville Predators. 

 As someone who used to play hockey and still enjoys watching the sport, it would be a fitting role in my eyes. It would also keep me close to the ice, which is something I still think about from time to time and miss being around. 

I also know my way around the Nationwide Arena and what is going on there during games, like the live cannon that is shot when Columbus scores during home games. The cannon is not loaded with a live round, but with fakes that only let out the loud bang. There is also the mascot, named Stinger, that I am familiar with. The last game I attended the man beside me asked what the mascot was supposed to be. I told him it was a bug called stinger because it was supposed to represent a mad yellow jacket. Those bugs stay in packs, and the fans are also considered part of the team, referred to as the 5th line, so the idea is we are like the mascot, altogether part of the team, as a pack. 

Vegas would be the second place I would pick because it just seems like a new place and a change of scenery and possibly pace. I also have really liked the Golden Knights since they have formed and keep up with their team and how they are doing each season. In their first season they were a very good team making it about halfway through the Stanely Cup Playoffs before getting knocked out. Although since then they have fallen off the top charts, they are still a very intriguing team to me.  

One more NHL team I would like to report for is the Nashville Predators. My affection for this team comes from just watching them and seeing how they play. I also like the area, team colors and mascot.  

Although my love for hockey is strong, I also would gladly take a job covering college lacrosse. While in high school I played the sport and really enjoyed it, so I believe that returning to it as a reporter will bring new appreciation to it, especially to see other teams and how they work together. 

From my experience, lacrosse is very interesting to see how players work with each other on the field. Depending who is on the field at the time, the goalie might move more out of their net for a more offensive approach. This was how my time as a lacrosse goalie was spent. If the defense on my end of the field was solid and extremely reliable, I would play more aggressively with them on the field with me. Goalies see much more of the field at once than other players, so we pick up on the choices our teammates would make. 

I think that talking to the goalies during interviews for lacrosse would bring more interesting conversations. Asking the goalie why they threw the ball to this person instead of the other one will bring out better quotes than someone playing midfield or offense. Even when I would talk to the opposing team's goalie, they would talk about why they chose to give the ball to this person instead of the closest, open person. Although they are referred to as “a brick wall,” goalies to me are very exciting to talk to.