GRABEN: Took over as A-D sports editor in 2013
There are several people to thank, too many to list out of fear of leaving someone out. I just have to say how appreciative I am to anyone who let me interview them or write about them. It’s a lot asking someone to let you into their lives like that and I thank the numerous subjects of my stories for their time and honesty.
I could not accomplish anything in my time at this newspaper without the support of several great journalists I had the pleasure of working with, specifically in sports, Todd Hansen, Bryan DeMain, Ryan Klocke, Robert LaHue, Cassie Alvarez, Kirk Barron, Kevin Scannell, and most importantly, my right-hand man, Andy Arrenquin, who has become the older brother I had never had. Andy and I like to joke about how we talk or text each other more than our wives (which really isn’t a joke because we looked at the phone bill).
I also have to give special recognition to the offensive linemen of the newsroom – the copy editors. These are the guys who never get any recognition, but do lot of the dirty work to put a paper out every day. My main man Mr. Off Beat Harold Kruger, recently departed Jeff Nicholson, who is already doing great things at the Auburn Journal as sports editor, the entertainment guru Josh Kendrix and my buddy Andrew Cummins, the hardest working man in journalism.
Additionally, I have to thank my editor, Steve Miller, for giving me a chance to be sports editor of my hometown paper and allowing me the freedom to run my own section. And, yes, he did get annoyed as a kid when people asked him if he was in the Steve Miller Band.
But above all else, I owe the most gratitude to my family. I thank them for their love and support, and understanding of this profession and the sacrifices it requires.
Namely, I have to thank my wife, Aly, who has been dealing with my terrible working hours since I got my start at Fresno State and she never once batted an eyelash. She truly is my hero.
Lastly, thank you to my readers. Over the years I have been bombarded with love and support from many of you and I can’t tell you how much that means to me. My mom likes to say that it takes about 20 compliments to erase a complaint from your mind. Well, I can honestly say the ratio here for me has been even higher than that, so I thank the readers for their support, especially Marilyn and the Jimmy Graben Fan Club.
Though I won’t be writing for the Appeal-Democrat anymore, I am definitely not going anywhere. I plan to be in this community for a long time.
Fortunately, I have been afforded an opportunity to work with our local youth in a new capacity that I am very much looking forward to. Instead of being an unbiased journalist on the sideline, I have the honor of working with kids and helping them reach their goals.
So, feel free to come up and talk sports with me when you see me around. I’ll always love sports and this community. Don’t be surprised to see me around local athletic events still.
For now, I’m following my dad’s lead. It’s time for me to move on to this new, amazing chapter in my life.
For my first column in July 2013, I wrote about how my life goals and desires changed over a span of seven years. At the time, working for my hometown paper was my dream job.
My new dream job? Sitting on a lawn chair, watching my son take his first swing.
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