Living the Dream in the Alabama Press Box, I Urge Bleacher Creatures to Write

Last night was a realization of a dream. I was sitting being pampered, fed, and waited on while watching my beloved Alabama team from a seat at midfield in the press box.

The magazine I work for, Touchdown Alabama, not only paid me, but arranged to have me credentialed for the games and all the work I had done for years had finally paid off.

I share the press box with television, newspaper, and other media professionals and live the good life in the press box with free meals, drinks, snacks, and all the trimmings. I roam the sidelines during the game and question Nick Saban afterward in press conferences.

I interview the players and share a joke and a story or two with them. For me, I am living a dream.

What started as swapping emails on a fan site with friends turned to helping moderate a site at www.rollcrimsontide.com, where the site owner Joe encouraged me as well as my friends there and elsewhere.

Then I found Bleacher Report, just as you have, and started posting articles. The staff here was also encouraging and you the readers bolstered my confidence with your comments and feedback.

I was soon asked for articles by CBS Sports and others, and found that many other sites and magazines were reprinting my work the same as many of you.

Because of my work here, a friend of mine, Morgan Moore, suggested to the people at Touchdown Alabama that they look at me for an opening they had for a writer. They reviewed my work here and offered me the job.

A year ago, I would not have thought that this could or would happen.

You may be in that boat too right now.

I was encouraged when Bleacher Report's own Lisa Horne was picked up for bigger and better things and I thought if I kept up the work, that I might be as well.

I am now encouraging each of you to continue writing, to practice getting better, and to enjoy it. Only through enjoying it will you realize your goal.

Thank you, Bleacher Report, for helping me meet my goal. I can't wait to see what they next year brings, but if nothing more comes, I've sure enjoyed the ride so far.

My sincerest thanks go to every person who helped and encouraged me, whoever read one of my articles or commented.

Who will be next? It could be you.