Celebrating 6 months with The O-N-E

June 28, 2011

By Cody Dalton
O-N-E Sports Editor

As I tried to make my schedule for this coming week of sports coverage for the newspaper, I was shocked to see one date in particular on the calendar — June 27.
That was yesterday — a day that marked my six-month anniversary as a member of the editorial staff with The Observer News Enterprise and member of the Catawba County community. My first day of work as the sports editor for the newspaper was Dec. 27.
When I first applied for this job, I never imagined I would even have a chance to interview for it. After an interview and six months, I can proudly say this is the most fun I’ve had in a while doing what I love, and I feel like I’m where I need to be.
When I think about how long I’ve been in Catawba County and working at the newspaper, it doesn’t feel like it has been six months. There are some times when it doesn’t even feel like its been just two or three months.
It’s hard to believe that I moved when it was snowing and now, it’s 80-90 degrees. I’ve transitioned from the winter to the spring and right now, into the summer.
I think one of the biggest adjustments I had to make was moving to a new state and learning to live alone. That’s something I’ve never had to do in my life. I always lived with family growing up, lived with a roommate in college and lived with family during my short few years after college.
I’ve fought through early jitters on the job and relearning some skills I forgot. I’ve learned school locations, mascots, coaches and players (and I’m still doing so heading into the fall sports season).
I’ve also learned how to do a much better job of being a sports editor and picked up on some major grammatical mistakes that I was making. I’m still not perfect, but I’m better than I was.
I’ve had some fun interviews in my first six months here at the paper — from speaking to a Super Bowl winning coach, two NASCAR winning drivers, a NFL player, an owner of a sports network giant, a Harlem Globetrotter and a WWE Hall of Famer.
It only makes me wonder what interviews I will get myself into within the next couple of months. It’s an anxious feeling, but an exciting feeling at the same time.
One of the things I look forward to the most is covering football this fall. I got my first small taste Saturday, when I covered the Catawba County Hornets against the Georgia Xtreme. I look forward to prep football season and maybe even catching an Appalachian State or Carolina Panthers game (depending on if the lockout situation is resolved in time).
I also look forward to the many other teams I haven’t covered yet, from volleyball to cross-country to boys’ soccer to girls’ golf.
I will be here at the newspaper as long as God wants me to be. My life is in his hands, and I will do as he directs me. I’m glad he has directed me to Catawba County because I can truly say I’ve made myself a new home.

Cody Dalton is the sports editor of and a columnist for The Observer News Enterprise. His column appears in the Tuesday edition. Reach Dalton at onesports@observernewsonline.com.