When you've been doing the sportswriting thing for as long as I have (I'm well into Year 23 of this grand experiment), it's hard to come across many firsts.
In fact, it's pretty darn hard to remember a lot of those firsts.
The first bylined story that appeared in this publication? No idea.
The first team I covered that made it to the Final Four? Not sure.
The first state-championship run I chronicled? Couldn't tell you.
Heck, I probably would have forgotten my first day of work at the News Tribune, except for the fact that it was notable for a few reasons.
First, I was covering a team from nowhere near here (the Hannibal Pirates), for a paper not this one (the Hannibal Courier-Post), as part of a favor to that paper (it's known in the newspaper parlance as stringing) because their team was playing in the Great 8 Classic.
Second, that day was memorable for a bigger reason. On the day I was to debut my services for the first time in the Capital City, I found myself laid low by the flu. So I spent the first day of work alternating between chills and a fever while shaking and shivering in the upper reaches of Fleming Fieldhouse. Quite a way to start things off.
So you can see why that would be an easy first to remember. But the rest of them? There's a series of standout moments, but most of the firsts are a little fuzzy.
That's why it was nice to record another first Saturday, and one I'm pretty sure I won't soon forget.
The Class 3 District 9 championship game matching the Fatima Comets and Blair Oaks Falcons was a compelling one, made even better by one simple fact - I got to watch it in the company of my two favorite people on the planet.
While covering the game as part of a capacity crowd at Fatima, I was flanked by my son, Eli, and my daughter, Miranda. You wouldn't think this would be a notable occasion for someone who's been doing this for as many years as I have (with Eli being around for 11 of those years and Miranda for 10), but this marked the first time they've accompanied me to a basketball game I've been covering.
Most of the time I spend with my kids is doing what they like to do, and going to games isn't high on that list. They're kids with varied interests, and having to sit still and pay attention to sports while Dad keeps watch isn't high on their list of priorities.
But on this day, they accompanied me, and I'm happy to say it was a rousing success. The energetic crowd and the intimate venue provided a terrific atmosphere, the teams provided a high level of play, and the outcome was in doubt for the majority of the time. More than once on the drive home I was told, "That was fun, Dad!"
So here's to a fantastic first. I can't wait for the second.