Look Who's Back

Greetings, all. Previously known as Sock Puppet on SJ.com, I’m returning as myself. After leaving Fort Worth Star-Telegram in summer of 2008, was let go by Big 12 Conference in October 2015. Spent the next four years freelancing. Been fully retired for over a year. More attuned to what’s going on in our country politically than sports journalism. My angry old man act on Twitter will likely appear here, but interactions with SJ.com members will not include personal attacks. Happy to engage in discussions about the biz (what’s left of it) and help young writers with advice on writing and their stories. My 40 years of experience qualifies as “old school” and might not apply today, but I’m willing to help and share.

 

Welcome back. I post under my own name, too. I had 44 years in the biz. Retired in June 2014.

 

Sportswriters in their 60s at this time either retire or are forced to retire (buyouts).

 

Younger than that.

 

Huzzah!

(Is that old-school enough?)

Welcome back.

 

Make sure you talk to Frederick.

 

Glad you survived that icy pileup in your hometown. That shiz was nuts.

 

Actually, despite working for the FWST, have lived in Dallas since getting married in 1988.
Grew up in Midwest so I know something about winter driving. As folks in cities like Atlanta and Dallas can tell you, the Sun Belt drivers are clueless. Have no idea about what's ice and what's just wet. They drive fast, think they see ice, slam on brakes; if there is ice, like what happened today in FW, it's bumper car time. (Also, in Texas, it seems like the concrete used for the roads gets slicker when it rains, so precip is always dangerous.) But living here since 1981, I've always chuckled at the mass hysteria created by winter conditions. My first winter in Dallas, they closed schools one day BECAUSE IT WAS TOO COLD. No sleet, no ice, no show. Completely dry roads. But there was concern too many kids didn't have winter coats.
Thanks for attending my Weather Ted Talk.

 

That’s me. It’s coming soon.

 

I'm closing on that big 6-0 as well, but I have no intentions of retiring ... the tropical weather here is keeping me going ...

 

It's me, a big Wendell Barnhouse fan. Can confirm he's one of the nicest folks I've come across in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

 

You’re in a great spot.