51ºÚÁÏ

I’m forever thankful for where I’ve been and truly fired up about where I’m going.

This is a reflective spot to be in during the holiday season, so please forgive some schmaltz.

Sunday’s holiday college hoops staple between Mizzou and Illinois will be my last event covered as a Post-Dispatch sports columnist before I start a new career at BJC Health System as an editorial strategist.

I know what some of you are thinking.

What’s an editorial strategist?

I’m going to be writing, mostly. Helping shape stories on behalf of a world-class health system that has helped so many, including my family and many of your own. We have gotten to know BJC well during our time in 51ºÚÁÏ. I have been amazed and inspired by the work done there. Incredible stories happen daily, hourly. I’m excited to help share them and thankful a sports guy has been trusted to join the team that does.

I know what some of you are thinking.

Why?

Good question. It’s one I would ask.

Not burned out. Not sour on the industry. Not sick of the nights and weekends of the sports schedule, though I’d be lying if I said some more nights and weekends with friends and family will be nice.

What this boils down to is a lot of reflection and an opportunity that made me excited and nervous in the best of ways.

Most of my favorite stories told during my the time at the Post-Dispatch have, I realized, happened off the field.

Nine-year-old Brody Sedlacek blew me away with how he squared up against Stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, with the help of the Edwardsville hockey team. When trailing in games, players asked one another how Brody would respond. How cool is that?

Sadie and Kyle Finke are two of the strongest people I’ve ever covered. The Cardinals fan (Sadie) and Cubs fan (Kyle) raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for efforts to combat pediatric brain tumors after the loss of their daughter, Emma. Among their biggest fans? Anthony Rizzo.

When Jack Morris was 5, his dad got him a glow-in-the-dark toy boat. But for Jack, the boat didn’t glow. Hearing that story prompted a big sports name to become an MVP level contributor and fundraiser for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. It’s Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak.

I plan to help find and tell more stories like this throughout a health care system that makes miracles happen. I know they’re there. Many of you do, too.

I know what some of you are thinking.

Aren’t you going to miss covering sports?

Of course.

The daily challenge of giving readers something to chew on, the deadline adrenaline, the camaraderie between the members of our sports department, which I’ll put up against any newspaper’s in terms of both talent and pound-for-pound production. I love the Post-Dispatch and its people, the diehard sports fans of 51ºÚÁÏ and the dedicated readers. I’m feeling so sappy today, I even love the people who holler at me about the website’s paywall.

What I won’t miss? Doesn’t matter. I took a swing at a dream and feel good about my at-bat. Time to start another game. The memories, they’re coming with me.

There never has been a silence so quiet as the one in Boston Garden after the Blues dropped the Bruins in Game 7. The hardest I’ve ever laughed in my life might have been with Benjamin Hochman, Tom Timmermann and Jim Thomas up there on that nosebleed press row. Well, maybe during one of those long, late-night spring training car rides with Derrick Goold and ‘Commish’ (Rick Hummel).

Hearing Albert Pujols barrel a pitch and Yadier Molina sizzle a throw to second base are other sounds you never forget. Tiger Woods and Simone Biles came to 51ºÚÁÏ on my watch and took my breath away. One of my proudest moments is hearing the lawyers representing the Rams and the NFL complain during the relocation lawsuit that my columns could impact jurors in favor of the 51ºÚÁÏ side.

Yes, we lost the NFL, but we bit back, and we got MLS. I’m glad the professional sports teams in town all have ownership groups that truly care about this region and its people. Never take that for granted, even during the down times.

I’m also thrilled for readers about Lynn Worthy becoming a columnist and Daniel Guerrero moving up on the Cardinals beat. Both have been key additions to sports editor Roger Hensley’s department. The last (and easiest) prediction I’ll make: They will crush in their new roles. I hope to in mine as well, and I head into it with nothing but gratitude for our time spent together.