From the sidelines
Sports reporters aren't supposed to be biased.
We are supposed to cover the team we are assigned to, good or bad, without any kind of prejudice.
But it's not like we are robots.
Most sports reporters are sports fans as well. If not, why would we be in this business?
That means every unbiased story you read was written by a reporter who has a favorite team.
Sometimes reporters have the luxury of covering their alma mater, or favorite professional sports team from his or her childhood.
Which means even if their writing seems unbiased, their thoughts during the games are not.
Other times, as in my case, reporters kind of adopt a team.
I had no connection to Marion High School before I came here, but after covering each sport for three seasons now, I always find myself rooting for the Warriors.
However, I still must report losses, which means the girls' basketball team's sub-state championship defeat to Southeast of Saline has to show up in the paper just like the victories against Hillsboro and Remington.
I was no doubt rooting for the Warriors, who I will admit impressed a lot during the second half of the season.
I knew the team had talent, but if you told me they would go to the sub-state championship game before the season started, I probably wouldn't have agreed.
That's why it's a good thing my opinion is only that, and not the truth.
After the Warriors defeated Hillsboro in the final varsity game in the current gymnasium, I began to get excited, thinking a trip to state was possible.
I also remembered I had plans to go to Lawrence Saturday to watch KU beat K-State at a local establishment with some friends if the girls were to lose before then.
I didn't know much about Remington, but I figured Marion at least had a shot to beat them.
And I was hoping the girls would.
It would have been great to go to Lawrence, but I found myself not caring if I was able to go or not.
This team had a legitimate chance at heading to state.
And the girls proved it by punishing Remington with fast breaks and in-your-face defense en route to a 10-point victory.
At that point I wasn't even thinking about Lawrence; instead my sights were set on Hutchinson.
With a 14-7 lead against SE of Saline in the championship game, it seemed like a trip out west was possible.
Then the experienced Trojans went into high gear and defeated the Warriors by a hefty margin.
I felt bad for the girls, but also realized that after starting 1-5, they finished 11-6 and should be proud of everything they accomplished.
With the talent that returns next season, and the addition of some junior varsity players from this season, the future can be a bright one for MHS.
But the 2007-08 season, which was the most successful since a trip to state during the 1991-92 campaign, will be remembered by this reporter for a long time.
