Is this thing on?
We'll call this the pilot episode. Time to dust off the keyboard.
Growing up, there was nothing that made me feel truly alive as much as being at a sporting event.
My parents have been season ticket holders to University of Minnesota men’s basketball games since the moment I could breathe. Evenings spent at the hollowed grounds of Williams Arena (‘The Barn’ to its devoted disciples) were the highlight of my week.
20 years later, I can still recall the experiences as if it were yesterday. We’d rush into the front doors of the arena and feel the burst of warmth, perfect for escaping the bitter Minnesota winters. Then, we’d grab a Sprite and popcorn on the way up to our seats. Just before tip-off, we’d toss our jackets onto the old school benches to mark our spot and get ready for the show.
M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A. Minnesota. Minnesota. Yaaaaaaaaaay Gophers! Rah!
Even as a kid, I could feel the electricity in the air. I was a mere meteor in the orbit of a massive planet that would continue to pull me closer and closer into its gravitational field. Whether I knew it or not, I was determined to make the sports world a part of my life. The circus was calling.
How time flies. I can safely say that I’m currently living out that dream. I wake up every single day and get to report on the sports stories that matter the most to the community as a sports anchor and reporter for WPTZ-TV in South Burlington Vermont (a Hearst Television-owned, NBC affiliate).
When I first moved to the Green Mountain state after graduating from Syracuse University (go Orange!) in June of 2022, it was a leap into the unknown. Two and a half years later I can safely say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I’ve had the chance to share some of the most incredible stories. From following a Miracle star make a return trip to the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics, to hitting the road for multiple March Madness trips or even reporting on the Boston Marathon. The opportunities I’ve gotten have given me enough stories for a lifetime, which is all a storyteller can ask for.
It’s one of the most interesting times to be in broadcasting, with the business at large trying to identify how to adapt to the TikTok movement. So-called ‘iPad kids’ are running rampant, and the Oxford English Dictionary named brain rot its word of the year in 2024. For the uninitiated:
‘Brain rot’ is defined as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.
In many ways, we’re living in unprecedented times. But if I’ve learned anything in my life, it’s to dive into the unknown abyss headfirst. It’s worked out for me thus far, so it’s time to do it again.
Recently, my mom asked me why I don’t write anymore. After all, it was my first true love that led me into the media landscape. Why abandon it?
Admittedly, I didn’t have a good explanation for prolonged hibernation from tabulating my thoughts. In the past, I’ve written for sports blogs on specific teams. While I thoroughly enjoyed those experiences, my departure from the proverbial feather and ink has given me the time to reassess what a return could look like.
Enter Sideline Soup. A conglomerate of sorts. Just like any good soup, the recipe isn’t precise. A little bit of this, and a dash of that. Bring it to a boil, then let it simmer. Boom! You’ve got liquid gold. That’s the approach I’m taking in this new venture.
Fun fact: I picked up a psychology minor at Syracuse University while on campus. Starting with PSY 205 - Foundations of Human Behavior, I couldn’t get enough of sinking my teeth into the study of the mind. In my downtime, I keep my learning alive by reading social psychology books. If you’re looking to dive into the topic yourself, I’d recommend Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl or Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.
Part of the reason I’m so excited to launch my very own alphabet soup is to explore the crossroads sports have with psychology, pop culture, and everything in between. I’ve long searched for a forum in which to start these sorts of conversations. For me, the 280 characters offered by X just don’t cut past the surface level. All too often, the rapid pacing of social media prefers to see things through a black-and-white lens. In reality, there are a million shades of grey. Nuance seems to be the new Wild West, so giddy up and get ready for an adventure.
Even in a world dominated by TikTok and anything that gives quick hits of dopamine during a doom scroll session, I believe there’s space for long-form writing that forces you to think. Is it a risk? Maybe, but staying authentic to who you are is the only way to use your time on this planet.
As much as possible, this project is meant to establish a community. With that in mind, feel free to let me know what topics you’re burning to hear about. Who would you like to hear from?
After all, soup is meant to be shared amongst good people and even better conversation. Pull up a chair and stay awhile.
I’ve pulled up a chair !
LFG