Being a sports writer has its advantages.
We get front-row seats to all the action, get in to all the games for free, and every so often, we get a nice, hot (if we’re lucky) meal provided to us.
We also get the pleasure of talking to a lot of interesting characters in the form of the coaches and athletes we cover.
Since Jesse Newell and I began working at The Gazette last July, we’ve gotten to know the local athletes and coaches pretty well. In fact, it’s gotten to the point where they have started to open up to us a little more, which makes our jobs even more fun.
Some of the things that have come out of the coaches’ and players’ mouths have made us laugh, and some have made us scratch our heads.
We can’t always use the best quotes in our stories, because sometimes they just don’t fit in the context of what we’re trying to report. However, you can bet we save them for a rainy — or snowy — day.
Seeing as how it’s snowing in April, the time is right to reveal some of those priceless gems.
Here are some of my favorites from covering Emporia High sports over the past several months:
• “Boys just whine. Girls don’t whine. They can take the hard training day after day. But boys just whine all the time.”
EHS boys swimming coach Bob Yevak, letting his feelings be known about how boys take to his training routine.
Tell us how you really feel, Coach.
• “Run as fast as I can, as hard as I can and get a touchdown.”
Emporia High running back Edd Noonan, on what goes through his mind when he carries the football.
Noonan scored 12 rushing touchdowns and rushed for 1,001 yards in 2006.
After the season Noonan had in last fall he should stick to that plan. If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it.
• “I taught Taylor that shot. We’ve worked hours and hours and hours on that shot. I finally told him, ‘You can use that shot anytime you want.’ That is one of the fine moves I used to have, and I had to pass it on to somebody. I sure as (heck) didn’t want Cayd (Bloomquist) to shoot it.”
EHS boys basketball coach Rick Bloomquist, on sophomore guard Taylor Euler’s dipsy-do, over-the-back, no-look basket during a home game this season.
Some call it luck, some call it good coaching. Toe-mae-to, to-mah-to.
• “I absolutely love track and kind of absolutely hate cross country.”
Emporia High track star Layne Moore, who placed 8th at the State cross country meet last fall.
Imagine the possibilities.