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I was scrolling through social media on Wednesday night, my mind numb from the day’s news, when I came across a post from renowned U.S. sportswriter Richard Deitsch.
“Sports remains one of the few areas left where you can escape the daily drumbeat of awful news,” he wrote on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.
“It’s unimportant — except when it isn’t.”
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Those words resonated deeply with me. There are times I feel a sense of guilt writing and talking about sports when there are clearly far more important issues worthy of our time and attention.
I come by that feeling honestly, having spent more than 20 years covering crime and justice. Shifting to the sports beat a decade ago became a much-needed break from the daily doom and gloom that had become all-too-consuming.
But the real world keeps moving, even if I left my life of crime (writing) behind. And I sometimes wonder: am I doing a disservice by focusing my professional efforts on something as trivial as a hockey game?
It’s a complex question, but Deitsch captures it succinctly, noting that sports can serve as an outlet for those who feel overwhelmed by everything happening around them.
No, it’s not life-and-death. But there’s still value and reward in doing work that can bring a bit of joy or excitement to people who are desperately looking for a distraction.
That’s why I’ll continue to pour my heart and soul into this chapter of my career, while also never taking myself or the subject matter too seriously. (I’ve met plenty of sportswriters who do, sadly.)
I’m also grateful that colleagues such as Scott Billeck and Jeff Hamilton — both of whom have done terrific work covering sports — are now turning their efforts toward stories with far greater consequences than which team put more pucks in the net on any given night.
Scotty has been all over the homelessness crisis in this city, leading the way with hard-hitting, thought-provoking journalism on an extraordinarily complicated issue.
I was glad to contribute to our paper’s coverage last summer with my own deep dive, which is part of a conscious effort not to entirely turn the page on that chapter of my career.
Jeff, meanwhile, has been knocking it out of the park with his investigative work, most recently producing a truly shocking exposé on a former Winnipeg teacher who groomed a student for years and was quietly allowed to resign without charges.
I believe the best writers are the most well-rounded, those who have explored a variety of subjects and genres over the years.
I’m lucky to work at an outlet like the Free Press, where so many talented colleagues fit that description and showcase their work in a variety of ways every day.
In the news section, in the sports pages, and beyond.
Whether it’s exposing government corruption or analyzing a 10-game winless streak, the habits you develop along the way will ultimately serve you (and your readers) well.
I’m hoping to put those qualities on full display next month when I head to Italy to cover my first Olympics.
While sports will obviously be the primary focus during my 19 days on the ground, I’ll also keep my eyes open for hot-button stories and topical issues that go beyond the field of competition.
Is there something specific you’d like me to dig into while in Milan? Or, Olympics aside, here in Manitoba? I’d love to hear your ideas.
Have a great week, folks.
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