Kaelin's Corner - 'I am Here'

As a St. Louis native, sports rang throughout the city. The 2011 Cardinals World Series run, the St. Louis Blues fighting back from last place in the central division to win the Stanley Cup in 2019 and even the 1999 St. Louis Rams Suoerbowl win. However, don’t mention the Rams in St. Louis, everyone is still salty about the team going to L.A. Now, St. Louis has the Battlehawks  competing for a championship in the UFL and the new MLS City team, which broke many records as a franchise in its first year. 

In St. Louis, Sports is the rave and I wanted to cover it.

Just a few months ago, I accepted a position to be the sports editor at the Delta Dunklin Democrat. I went from being a big city sports fan to covering small town athletics. In my short time working for the DDD I have learned the sports rave is stronger here.

I was in my last semester at Webster University and I was beyond desperate to find a job within my field of study, sports journalism. I was willing to move anywhere but I would have never predicted the next chapter of my journey would bring me here, to Kennett Missouri.

I lived in this state my entire life, mainly in and around parts of St. Louis. This is my first time living out of the “314” area code and I was scared and nervous beyond belief to be so far from home, 174 miles from my mother’s doorsteps to be precise. 

As a college athlete myself, I would sometimes get just as nervous before competitions. My coach, who studied psychology and neuroscience at Centre College, told me “Nervousness and excitement release the same chemicals in your brain. So whenever you are nervous, just tell yourself you are excited.”

I had a good reason to be nervous, but I had a better reason to be excited.

Upon my visit in March and my arrival a few weeks ago, I have been greeted with nothing but kindness. 

DDD editor Jeff Dorris told me, warned me rather, there is hardly anything to do in town. Yet, the people I meet will make it all worthwhile. This has been very true for me.

 Everyone I have interacted with or interviewed have been extremely kind and accommodating. Most are just as excited to have me as I am to be here. I am here to meet those who can and will make a difference in my life.

On a business note, the more I learn about our sports teams in Dunklin County, the more excited I am to cover this area’s athletes. I am here for the young sport prodigy’s with amazing tales to unfold. 

Tales of championship runs, legendary careers or even a simple regular season win over a rival opponent. I am here to magnify those moments this community is proud of.

 It is evident how much sports means to this SEMO region. There is an undertow culture of success which has been driven for generations and for generations to come. I am here to cover it all.

I am here for the rave.