In a word: Goodbye
By Michael Ashford (Contact)
Originally published 09:36 a.m., June 21, 2008
Updated 09:36 a.m., June 21, 2008
For a man whose career is all about being good with words, it’s unexplainably hard to find the right ones at the moment.
I’ve been trying to think of a catchy way to say this for two weeks now, but only one way seems appropriate, and it’s about as boring as it gets.
So here it goes: Effective Monday, I will no longer be the sports editor at The Emporia Gazette.
Doesn’t exactly set the world on fire, but it gets the point across, right?
To be quite honest, I didn’t expect to be writing a “goodbye” column this early, and in a way, this is only a half goodbye.
I’ve been at The Gazette for less than two years, and I certainly didn’t think I would be stepping aside this soon. What’s more, I didn’t expect to be doing it in this way. I say this because I’m not actually leaving Emporia; I’m not even leaving The Gazette.
Instead, I’m simply stepping down from being the sports editor and moving into a design position.
But, that’s putting it a little too simple.
My decision isn’t motivated by money, it’s not because I’m burned out with covering sports and it’s not because I’m being forced to make a move.
I’m doing it for my family.
I told myself a long time ago that no job, no matter how much I enjoyed it, would get in the way of me and my family. When I came to the The Gazette in August 2006, there wasn’t a problem to be had. I was single, and the demands that my position extolled on me simply didn’t faze me.
I had time, and lots of it.
It’s funny how getting married and the prospect of having little ones in the near future can flip a man’s world on its end.
I met my wife, Kim, here in Emporia. Our story is a funny one, because we went to high school together, and she is best friends with my younger sister, but Kim and I never met until I moved to Emporia to take the sports editor position at The Gazette.
So I have my job to thank for, in some way, allowing me to meet my forever someone.
But now, it’s time to say goodbye to that job, because the 60-hour (and sometimes more) work weeks are just too much.
It’s a bittersweet feeling.
I am desperately going to miss all the fantastic kids at Emporia High and all the area high schools that made my job so fulfilling. In particular, the relationships I built with many of the young athletes at EHS will be remembered fondly for many years.
The coaches were fantastic to work with as well, and I can’t thank them enough for making me feel so welcome.
It’s not an easy decision to step away from doing something you love to do, but when weighed against spending more time with one’s family, family wins every time.
So thanks for reading. I hope I made things interesting.
Comments
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Posted by wanderer (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good luck, Mike. You've done well. We'll miss seeing your writing, but it's good to see that your priorities are in the right place.
Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen, wanderer. When it comes time to die, none of us will say that we only wish that we had spent more time at work and less with our family. In the end, family is the most important aspect of our lives. It is good to see a young person, like Mike, realize that at an early stage of life. Unfortunately, many of us don't realize it until late in life, when it is too late to attend some of those ball games, school programs, etc. Wanderer hit it on the head - your priorities are where they should be. Good luck to you.
Posted by smith_ron (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think many people appreciate the efforts of a newspaper's sports department. They work hard...all week and all weekend...to provide the sports coverage that people should appreciate. However, it is never enough. People always complain that you didn't cover Johnny's sub-peewee football game or Suzy's tinytots t-ball game.
Mr. Ashford is doing it right. He is putting his family first. That's a lesson we should all be reminded of.
Thanks for the great coverage. And good luck with the new venture.
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you ll never regret spending more time with your family
Posted by gayzettesux (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
THANK GOD!!!!!! I am so sick of the stupid crap on the sports page. And the stupid little videos they try to make for this website. Good riddance!!!
Posted by DJrocksthemic (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 11:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hate to disagree with Mr. Sux, but I think Mike's done a fine job over his time here. Atleast he made a stab at TV, print journalist aren't trained to do that, kudos to him for trying. I'm glad he'll still be in town though, he's a talent and the newspaper industry needs talent.
Posted by lightenup (anonymous) on June 22, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
gayzettesux: your hostile comments say more about you than they say about anything else.
Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on June 22, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, Sux: your comment wasn't clever, or funny, or even acceptable. It was rude, unkind, and showed an incredible lack of class on your part. There are ways to express an opinion, even a complaint, in a civil and articulate manner. Your way is far from civil. More like a mindless verbal assault from a lonely, angry person.
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