Category Archives: Journalism

My Daily Herald `Call-Up’ Extends to Post-Season Coverage

The Chicago White Sox postseason berth means that my late-season “call-up” by the Daily Herald continued. My first assignment was a roundup of all the regular season games between the Sox and the Houston Astros. A few days later, I went to Guaranteed Rate Field to report on what became a front-page feature for the […]

White Sox Coverage Rekindles Long-Dormant Sportswriting Passion

If you’d told me a month ago that I’d be covering a couple of the White Sox-Red Sox games at Guaranteed Rate Field, I’d have responded, “Yeah…and Leury Garcia will command one of the headlines with a walk-off home run.” Yet, there it is (below), my September 13th story in the Daily Herald on the […]

`Compoundings’ Magazine Story: Inspiration on Top of Information

One of the perks of being a story-teller is the continual education that it provides. Over the past year, that has included writing for publications for trade associations such as the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA). Recent case in point: writing for the June issue of Compoundings, ILMA’s magazine. […]

Journalism, PR & the First Rough Draft of History

One of my favorite aphorisms about journalism is that it’s the first rough draft of history. True enough. Sometimes, though, it proves to be the only history, especially for local news of lesser import. And as for those stories that have follow-ups over time, the term “rough draft” may suggest that debut stories have a […]

‘Go Figure’ Baseball Column is Among 2020 Highlights

Over the past 15 years, my writing has increasingly been outside the journalism realm. At the same time, I have characterized myself not so much as a “former journalist” but as a “recovering” one. Truth is, having begun as a 15-year-old writing for my hometown newspaper over 35 years ago, I may have largely left […]

OTD in 2000: My 20-Year Anniversary Feature on Mike Schmidt in The Philadelphia Inquirer

On this day, 20 years ago: my story on baseball Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies appeared on the front page of The Philadelphia Inquirer sports section. Having just begun my journalism freelancing career the year before, it was a thrill to have scored such a prominent placement. At that […]

In the wake of Kobe Bryant’s death, basketball game is refuge

Kobe Bryant’s shocking death yesterday hit me on an unexpected level. When my son broke the news to me, my heart sank. Horrible, sad, tragic…what are the words? There are no words; there are too many words. It was a moment that smacked me up-side my entire being, soul and body. I realize I am […]

Keeping Up With the State-Bound Oak Park and River Forest Huskies Girls’ Cross Country Team

Two weeks ago, when I sang the praises of Melissa Isaacson’s “State,” I foreshadowed a return to my sports writing roots as I chronicle my daughter’s cross-country team’s postseason efforts. Having transitioned some 13 years ago from a long career in journalism to public relations and other forms of communication, I call these “random acts of […]