In the world of journalism, some days are rather uneventful. Other days are an adventure, whether it’s a million news tidbits breaking at once, or some sort of unique experience during the process of creating a story.

This past Wednesday was more of an adventure for me than usual, albeit not one where anything particularly crazy happened. I typically begin my work day between 2 and 3 p.m., as most of your athletic events, be they practice or games, are usually in the afternoons or evenings. In this case, I had an assignment that would take me to West Lauderdale High School at 1 p.m.

I arrived at the school about 10 minutes early and thought to myself how nice it would be to a spring sports schedule or two to my collection. My drive to West Lauderdale typically takes me across Lake Okatibbee, next to the school’s baseball field, where I turn right and then find a parking space outside the office. Instead, I opted to pull into the gravel lot next to the baseball field, hoping someone would be around the facility who could provide me with a schedule for the baseball team.

Sure enough, assistant baseball coach Jason Smith was just starting to pull out of the complex in his truck when I stepped out of my vehicle. I waived him down, asked him for a schedule and waited as he searched his contacts list in order to text me one. A few seconds later, I had one in my possession.

“Great, this is going well so far,” I thought.

Afterward, I made my way up to the school’s office to check in like the non-creepy, non-intruder that I was, then headed over to the gymnasium to interview the All-Star basketball tandem of girls hoops coach Matt Lum and junior point guard Maggie Wooldridge. As I waited for them both to arrive in the basketball office, I reminisced with boys coach Duran Clark about the worst thing I had ever done in high school (skip class, which resulted in me losing senior exemption for semester exams).

The interviews went smoothly, and I needed an accompanying picture to run with the story, but my two subjects needed time to change into game-day attire. I went out on the basketball court, knowing I would want Lum and Wooldridge to pose at center court for the photo. I also knew I would want to shoot the picture at a downward angle, meaning I needed a chair upon which to stand as I was taking the photo. 

It was then I noticed the girls basketball team, which had mostly made their way to the library at this point, had left a basketball off to the side of the court. After placing my prop right next to the Lady Knights’ logo, that basketball still beckoned to me.

My subjects had not yet made their way onto the court, and probably against my better judgment, I picked it up and began to dribble before making my way to the charity stripe. I might have banked the first free throw attempt — might have. I do remember I hit at least one of the first five shots I took, then proceeded to miss like 20 in a row.

They say those who can’t play, coach. Those who can’t coach usually do one of two things: Sit in the stands and pretend to be an expert, or become sports journalists. If you were ever wondering why I write about sports, me being something along the lines of 2 for 50 from the floor. It was, in the words of President Trump, “Very sad!” I hope Coach Lum wasn’t watching, because whatever respect he may have had for me had surely gone out of the door by that point.

Following the interview/photoshoot at West Lauderdale, I made my way over to the Army Corps of Engineers office in Collinsville. In addition to my regular sports editor duties, I had also been assigned a story for our upcoming Profile section about the economic impact of outdoors and recreation. The story was mostly done, sans an interview with someone from the Corps of Engineers. Having tried to reach them previously by phone, I hoped an in-person appearing my fair better.

As it turned out, the person with whom I needed to speak was out for lunch at the time. They say you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take. Apparently, I miss most of the shots I do take, as well.

Thankfully, that story had a happy ending. I was able to get the person with the Corps of Engineers on the phone the next day, who was incredibly helpful despite the short notice, and the key quotes were added to my Profile piece. As for whether there’s a happy ending to my dream of actually making a basket, well, I’m still a sports journalist.

Of course, I could always look at it this way: get a spring sports schedule — hit; get an interview/photoshoot done — hit; do well on the basketball court — miss; connect with someone at the Corps of Engineers office that day — miss. I batted .500 Wednesday afternoon, which would have gotten me into the hall of fame.

Drew Kerekes is the sports editor at The Meridian Star. He can be reached at dkerekes@themeridianstar.com.