Parting is such sweet sorrow

I’ve been with the Grizzlies in some form or fashion for 7 years. I didn’t fathom all this back in the summer of 2003 when I sat in the Toyota Center interviewing to be a team attendant (ball boy). It’s almost impossible to explain how much fun this has all been, but I’ll try.

The fond memories that Grizzlies fans have about the 50 win 2003-04 team doesn’t come close to the experience I had that year being around NBA players for the first time for 40+ nights. I can safely say that being a ball boy is truly one of the best jobs around. You get to be a fly on the wall and courtside for every minute of the season. When I win the lottery, I’m hoping the Grizzlies will take me back in that capacity. I do have some experience.

Interning in the Media Relations department was an adventure, to say the least. The glamor of working for an NBA team loses its luster when you the grind of the season and long hours seemingly never end. For every minute that a fan spends enjoying an NBA game, there’s someone behind the scenes working their tail off to make that happen. Interning made me realize that as much as I love the NBA, I’m probably not cut out to make it my career. I’d rather be watching the game rather than working it.

My two seasons as a Media Relations internship ended and I left the Grizzlies to begin a different career path. It seemed like I was moving on. A few Grizzlies.com people decided they wanted to add another writer to the site to provide a view from the stands, and given my past with the team, I got the gig. Who knew I’d spend another 3 years in this capacity? I got the best of both worlds being able to toe the line between media member and fan whenever I wanted.

The Grizzlies.com staff, and specifically Lesley Torrell, gave me the freedom to feel my way out and write without pressure or expectations. It was new experience that was give and take on both sides and I can say for certain that both my writing and ability to understand basketball improved over these last 3 years. I’ve also learned that knowing basketball and writing basketball are sometimes vastly different things and the ability to bridge that gap is truly a talent that I’m still trying to harness. Covering the same team for 82 games a year and over multiple seasons isn’t as simple as one would think. Props to all those media members that do it so well.

This isn’t the case of someone with the 7-year itch. I don’t have a wandering eye for another NBA team and I’ll always be a fan. I’ll continue to watch the Grizzlies and write about them from time-to-time on my catch-all blog. As I’ve gotten older and my priorities have begun to shift, I’ve felt compelled to let a new fan blogger step in and help Grizzlies.com continue to grow.

As I wind down my final post, I need to offer thanks to the people that have helped me along the way. As mentioned above, Lesley Torrell was a patient and forgiving ally. She let me loose on her baby, Grizzlies.com, and helped offer me advice and support along the way. Also a big thanks to Jorge Pinon, who taught me the in-and-outs of blogging, including giving me the gift of twitter long before “tweet” was part of everyday vernacular. Ryan Deady was a godsend when I was a media relations intern and one of the best cubicle-mates a guy could find. The current Media Relations staff, Dustin Krugel and Ross Wooden, hooked me up with information and game day assistance whenever I needed it even though I was just a fan, and hopefully they’ll allow me to continue playing in the media basketball game each year as some sort of grandfather clause. And last but not least, to Charles Sweeney and Vince Ford, there’s not much else to say other than “V4L.”

It’s been a good run. Go Grizzlies!

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