Bye, Bye, Goodnight Sports Fans

 Joe Gonzales, sports editor

My career at the South Plains College Plainsman Press has been nothing short of amazing.

The people who I have had the opportunity to work with I will never forget. I have been the sports editor for the past four semesters and have had the opportunity to do so many things I will never forget.

I have had the chance to interview former Texas Tech Lady Raider Sheryl Swoopes, University of Connecticut greats Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, who led their teams to numerous national championships, and former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Drew Pearson. In addition, I even got to meet Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett, also a former Dallas Cowboy, I have had the chance to cover and watch SPC Texan and Lady Texan athletics, which I also enjoyed very much.

Looking back at all these things that I have done and accomplished, the best part was all the people I got the chance to work with.

I met some truly great writers who I will never forget.

First, I have to thank Jacqui Streety. If it was not for her, I would never have gotten the chance to be a part of this great newspaper. She got me a spot on the paper, and I will always be grateful to her for the opportunity. This semester has been really boring without Jacqui in the newsroom. Regardless of what people think of Jacqui and her sometimes over-the-top opinion columns, she is truly a great human being.

Next, I would like to thank former SPC student Ruth Bradley, you were a great person, and I am thankful I can still call you a friend. Marcelino Alcorta, you were great to work with, and always kept me laughing in the newsroom on paper night. Jody Slaughter I only got to work with you for two semesters, but they were fun semesters. Brandon Holland, did the best Napoleon Dynamite impression, and Mandy Langford, you were lots of fun to talk to and a great friend to have.

Now let me think of some more people to thank: Shea Chancey, a very bright, outspoken person who you just love to; listen to. Giovanni Rosendo, another person who you are very lucky to get to know, Gio has to be the coolest and most interesting girl I have ever met, so thank you Gio for being a good friend; and Jarred Owens, the biggest Texas Tech fan I have ever met and a darn good sports writer as well.

Ryan Rigdon is another great sports writer who made my job of being sports editor that much easier. This guy knows his sports. He also taught me all about fantasy football.

Michelle Lojewski is a very fun and cool person to know. I will never forget our trip to Odessa for the Friday Night Lights story I did. It was a fun trip, and she took great shots.

Danielle Gee, is another person who made Publications a great class. Chris Byram, thank you for just being you. You were a great person to work with.

Then there is Jacob Tucker, a great friend and a “Stars Wars” maniac. Tuck, you made class really fun for me this semester. I know when you get out of SPC that you are going to go on to big things, so good luck. Also, thank you Jennifer Moore. I have enjoyed working with you at the Plainsman Press and most of all at the Levelland News-Press. You are a good friend, and I enjoy working with you.

I also would like to thank some professors who I have had in the past. First there is Mrs. Natalie Bryant and her speech class. She helped me get over my fear of public speaking.

Then there is Mr. McCoy, my algebra professor. He helped me a lot, and I thank him. Finally, there is the one professor to who I owe so much, Mr. Charles Ehrenfeld.

Charlie has done so much for me. I have also learned so much from him. I take a lot of pride in the stories that I do and the games that I cover because of him. Whenever I cover games, I always do my best, because I want to make him proud. Only God knows how far I am going to go in my career but however far I go it will be because of all the things this great teacher has taught me.

I know I am leaving the Plainsman Press, Charlie, but I know that I will always have a friend in you and someone I can always look to when I need help. I just want to thank you for all that you have done for me. Without you, I would have never done any of those big interviews or got my Lubbock AJ internship. Just remember boss, you always have a friend in me. If you ever need anything, you can always count on me. I will never forget all the bets we made on the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys games, especially last year when I lost and had to wear that Giants cap you had. It was the ugliest cap I had ever seen. So thank you. Maybe one day, if I get lucky enough and get to cover a Dallas Cowboys football game, I will send you a jersey. So thanks Charlie, for being a friend, not just a professor.

Also, I want to thank my family. I am glad that I made you guys proud of me. I will continue to try my hardest to do big things. So thank you, mom, dad, Lucinda, Corinna and Stephanie. You guys are the greatest. I would like to thank my cousin Javier Lopez as well. Even though you hate any kind of sporting event, you still read my stuff and tell me how much you dislike it. Thanks for always begin there for me when I needed you. You are really the brother I never had.

Thank you to all the coaches here at SPC. Coach Lyndon Hardin, Coach Steve Greene, Coach Michelle Wyatt, Coach Chris Beene and all the other coaches who gave me time to sit down and do some interviews. You helped me a lot, and I had a lot of fun doing it.

So as my career here at the Plainsman Press ends, I look forward to doing something more with my life. I will never forget SPC and what it did for my career. Thank you to anyone and everyone who read my columns, and I hoped you enjoyed them.

Well everyone, it has been fun. Thank you all again very, very, much. Good bye. Peace and Wu-Tang forever!