There I was in the UConn locker room, holding the NCAA men’s basketball championship trophy at 12 years old. Let me explain how I got there.
The year before, I wrote a fictional story about Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander. My dad, a former sportswriter, sent the story to an editor at Sports Illustrated Kids. Although she didn’t publish it, she recommended that I apply for their Kid Reporter program. I ended up among ten kids who were chosen.
My timing couldn’t have been better. I live in Dallas, and the Cowboys had just opened a new mega-stadium that drew many significant events — and I would have a press pass for most of them. My first assignment was the Final Four. When I arrived for Media Day, other reporters considered me a novelty act. Then they saw me ask legitimate questions, write stories, and do TV-style video updates. I earned their respect by showing I wasn’t there to play; I was there to work. Of course, the work was fun. I went into the locker rooms of all four teams, sat near the court for every game, and interviewed Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson and Alonzo Mourning.
