Local sports lifeblood of community

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Sports is the lifeblood of any community, especially in the South. Nothing gets a good conversation going faster than debate on the latest sports topic, whether it be how the local football team is shaping up for the new season, which SEC coach might be on the hot seat or which players have a chance to make it big.

During a time where newspapers in general appear to be struggling to survive, local sports coverage is a way for the newspaper to remain a viable part of the community.

Anyone can log into ESPN.com or do a Google search to learn about the latest national sports stories, but only the local newspaper will be able to tell you the score of Friday night’s football games around the county or which player is taking part in the latest all-star tournament.

Sports has always been my first love, and local sports is where I have always had the most interest. It is an interest I am excited to bring to Athens and Limestone County as I start my career at the News-Courier.

Having spent the last three years covering news events in Lawrence County, I am very excited to get back to my first love of sports in Athens.

Athens and Limestone County has a rich sporting history, full of state championship teams and legendary coaches and players.

There are plenty of stories to tell about the sporting life in this area and I look forward to telling as many of them as I can.

I take over this position at an exciting time of the year, as high school football season is right around the corner. My first major undertaking will be working on the News Courier’s annual football magazine. We are working on the theme for this year’s magazine and we think it will be something everyone will really enjoy.

I look forward to meeting all the local coaches and athletes who make the athletics in this city and county some of the best in north Alabama.

I am always looking for story ideas, and not necessarily from “major” sports either. If you know of a local youth team or someone who participates in a sport that might not get a lot of coverage, please contact me at 256-232-2720 ext. 119 or jeff@athensnews-courier.com.

I am excited about starting a new journey here at the News Courier and look forward to giving the local athletes all the coverage they deserve.