From the cheap seats

What a strange journey it has been. This, in all likelihood, will be my final column.
The stories and topics that I’ve covered have ranged from hot debates to absolutely meaningless dribble.
A few articles or columns that I’m especially proud of would have to be the football at Georgia College & State University debate (it’ll still never happen), the apathy of the fans (or lack thereof) at our sporting events, the “what is a sport” column, and of course the much disputed and praised 50 greatest sports movies.
More important than the articles or columns are the people that I’ve met and worked with along the way.
Variety editor Jenny Weiss has got to be the most positive person on this planet. Her attitude toward this paper and her section has served as a motivation for the rest of the staff. The coolest thing about her is that she keeps her values and uplifting spirit no matter what goes on around her or in her life.
Our copy editors Victoria Gracia’a and Danielle Wyckoff are very smart, sophisticated and talented women. Unfortunately you don’t see any of that when you meet them. Seriously, they are very smart and they catch like 98.5 percent of all of our screw-ups (and there are quite a few).
Our News Consultant Joy Ashley is also leaving. She has really picked up the slack this year, where a lot of people have either fallen short or just plain quit. If there was an MVP award for The Colonnade, it would go to Ashley. Her hard work and dedication adds to her wonderful and genuine personality. I will miss her and discounted chicken.
To the new Editor of The Colonnade, Bo Shell, congratulations, on getting the job. With congratulations I also wish you my condolences because the job is very hard, tiring and many times thankless. The four editors I’ve worked under would all agree. However, I’m anxious to see the changes you make, and please don’t do away with sports.
Although I haven’t known our Advertising Representative Lindsay Glaser for that long, I’m glad that we’ve become friends. There are not a lot of people who would’ve stood out in a freezing New York morning, in the snow and rain, for Conan O’Brien. Even though we didn’t get in, I hope that you get to tell O’Brien to have your baby.
Our fashion consultant Annie McConnell has to be one of the funniest girls I’ve ever met. Her columns on fashion are so good and entertaining because she adds her personality to her writing. Just for her, I’m going to come to campus one day wearing denim shorts, socks with sandals and my MR. T jewelry collection.
That leaves my successor, Michael Rifenburg. I’m going to give you the advice my last sports editor, Ryan Schomber left me.
“Don’t use too many big words,” said Schomber.
Other than that advice, I’m sure that you’ll do a great job, but you’ll never be as good as me. I’m just kidding, but seriously, you won’t be as good as me.
David Johnson was the first new adviser to The Colonnade since 1996. He brought tons of knowledge and experience to the paper. His stories were always entertaining and funny (sometimes only to him). I wish Johnson the best of luck in the future. He had a very big hand in The Colonnade’s successful year.
Under the past four editors that I’ve worked for, I learned the least from Ryan Schomber. Self admittedly, he may not be the best writer or editor ever, but he was totally dedicated to this paper for the last three years. He worked insane hours for at least four days a week. If anything was wrong with the issue, he was the first to blame. He took all the heat for our screw-ups and never complained (too much).
Schomber went through more mood swings than a pregnant woman, but he was always there for of us, and I absolutely could not imagine working for a better boss or friend.
In what will probably be my last paragraph ever, I leave you with the immortal words of advice from Chris Rock.
“No matter what a stripper tells you, there is no sex in the champagne room … none.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 23 2004. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry