It’s a good week here. Sports on Earth launched on Monday, and I’ll be writing there several times a week for as long as they’ll have me. (My first piece is already up.)
Eventually this blog will be connected to the Sports on Earth site… the idea is that my longer sports features and columns will go to Sports on Earth, and everything else goes here. So I might do some quick-hit sports items here, and this will be where I write if I have some thoughts on music or New York or terrible movies. I’ll post links to any freelance stories that end up online. At some point I intend to stick up a page on the books I’ve read this year. And so on.
I left the Charlotte Observer back in May to start this new job. I’ve been working the whole time — reporting stories, learning the ins and outs of the gig. But the time in between then and this week has been a little weird. People are used to seeing my stuff in the paper or online two or three times a week, so it’s like I’ve gone underground. I’ve been telling people Yeah, the new site is going to be great, but we haven’t launched yet, it’ll be a couple of months… one month… a couple of weeks… a few days…
So it’s a huge relief to be able to point to the site and say, Here it is.
I’ve heard from a lot of folks who miss my work in the paper. I never know quite what to say about that, because I’m grateful that people liked what I did, and some days I miss being in the newsroom — especially now, with the Democratic National Convention almost here. But I’m thrilled at the chance, after 26 years in the business, to try something new. I hope y’all follow along. Our site is about sports, and I know some of you don’t care about sports, but I think you’ll find that writing about sports is just a doorway to all the things really worth writing about: love and conflict, faith and grief, rage and wonder.
So go have a look. Let us know what you think. And until next time, allow me to leave you with Lenny Kravitz, being cool in New Orleans. (Note: This is not a current video. Say a prayer for all those folks on the Gulf Coast today.)