Allow me to introduce myself
April 1, 2008 @ 1:09 p.m. by jlongBy J LongÂ
Greetings Wichita. My name is Jonathan Long and I’m the new high school sports reporter brought in to play Pau Gasol to Joanna’s Kobe Bryant.
I come to you from the beautiful state of Tennessee known for Pat Summit and her Lady Vols, Graceland, and Adam “Pacman” Jones. Well, I guess two out of three ain’t bad.
While reporting on and writing about sports is my job, my interest in them is more vested than that. At the age of five sports became my life. I remember it like it was yesterday, a baseball bat replaced my He-Man sword as my favorite toy/tool of destruction and a star was born.
Through my many years of playing sports I saw how they transcended beyond playing surfaces. Sports often mean more than scores and that insight has helped guide me to a better understanding of the effects that sports have on a community.
Well that’s enough on me, from me. I’m more interesting in learning about you, the readers, and the lovely city of Wichita and its high school sports scene. However, I’ll give you guys the chance to flip the script and play reporter. In the comments section leave me your questions and I’ll reply with answers. Also feel free to email me at jlong@wichitaeagle.com. My inbox is always open.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Collegiate is the best sports school in the area!
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April 1st, 2008 at 7:36 pm
let me hit ya with the lo-lo. Bishop Carroll is at least average at every single sport ever invented and are above average at most sports. West High is at the bottom of the barrell in all sports. Football Reigns supreme mostly here in kansas but Basketball comes in a close second. Steve Eck is the best coach to ever coach in Kansas. Barry Sanders was the best athlete. Spring baseball is actually “Mildly-winter” ball until the middle of April or so. The Titan Classic is the “Big” tourny for boys and girls soccer.
Questions for you:
Will you be covering some baseball this season or are you laying low till next year?
What have you heard about the sports scene in Wichita and Kansas?
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April 1st, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Collegiate and Independent are 2 of the most stuck-up schools in Kansas. I’m sure their mommy’s and daddy’s can pay you a lot of money to write a good article or 2 about them.
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April 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 am
Wow, people, is it that hard to welcome the new guy? Welcome to Wichita. If you step out of line, we’ll kill ya! Be at every sport, write only positive stuff, and mention every person’s kid in the city by name, and you’ll be fine.
otherwise, do the best you can, do it with valour, and you’ll find lots of love and success in Wichita.
Good luck, and welcome.
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April 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 am
Please know we are not all like Roger, Jack and Austin.
Welcome to Wichita! I have no doubt that you will be able to form your own opinion on the many talented athletes, coaches and great schools in this city by their character and talent.
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April 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 am
haha, sports gal is funny. I guess somebody forgot to send her the memo that Wichita isn’t the best place for athletics in the world. We have to make new people believe we are better then we really are.
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April 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 am
Well I appreciate everyone’s kind words thus far.
To answer the questions.
Yes sir, I’ll be covering baseball. Actually covered last nights game between Heights and Northwest. I love baseball, so please believe I’ll be out on the diamond quite a bit.
As far as being filled in on the sports scene here, I’m learning as I go. So please forgive me if I say something that generates that “where have you been” face.
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April 2nd, 2008 at 10:30 am
Don’t worry J Long, everybody in Wichita is a sports expert… and i mean EVERYBODY.
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April 2nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Welcome to Wichita. I understand you love baseball and will be covering HS Baseball.
One topic I would like for you to explore is what happened to the black high school baseball player. There seems to be less than a handful playing in the GWAL. Basketball and football have overtaken baseball as the primary sports for minority athletics. The question is why? Maybe you can shed some light on that subject
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April 2nd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I didnt think mine was mean or rude
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April 2nd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
You have to remember Austin… it was a gal saying it so anything that wasn’t “welcome” or “have a lovely day” or “did you smell the pretty flowers” would be mean or rude.
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April 3rd, 2008 at 11:05 am
I’ll be praying for you. Good Luck
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April 3rd, 2008 at 4:34 pm
My thoughts: Encourage some HS youngsters to come along and write WITH you at baseball games. Teach them some things, and perhaps we can get to a point where they are turned loose on baseball and SB to cover all the games and get some valuable education out of it too. Hey, a bad article from a HS student in the Eagle Beacon is better than no article at all.
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