All a-twitter about sports

THIS NEW AGE media thing has passed me by. Then again, we didn't have running water or electricity when I was a cub sports guy. I actually pounded out stories on a typewriter when I worked for the Central Michigan University newspaper and yearbook in the mid-1980s.

Four years ago, when I quit my full-time reporting gig, I was frustrated by all the new-fangled technology. It used to be I'd go to game or meeting, write a story, and move on. Now it's all about posting on social media and getting video. And you can do everything from your phone. A reporter today with a college education is versed in the visual end of things, not just the written product.

I leave it to younger and better people.

All you need today in sports.

Last night I was working at The Whig, getting information on a bunch of area basketball games. In the olden days, coaches would call in results. Now they text, tweet or Instagram game statistics. This whole twitter thing is beyond me - apparently you can do it from your phone. The only thing I know about my phone is that it's orange, and a half-eaten apple appears when I accidentally hit the on/off switch.

The latest version is called an iPhone 7. I believe I have an iPhone negative-3. Actually it's fairly updated, I just haven't bothered to figure out a lot of stuff.

Last night we were emailed results of a very close game. I wanted to find out how it ended and we were having issues tracking down the coaches. So Whig Sports Writer Mat Mikesell called up a tweet from a fan, who had the end of the game recorded on his cell phone. We were able to watch the final seconds and determine how the game ended, and it made the story a lot better.

I was working with part-timer Sam Douglas. He was literally writing stories from texts on his phone, texts from coaches with a photo of the scorebook. His phone has all these thingies and devices called apps, and the picture quality is staggering.

I understand it, and I am doing my best to adapt, and not pine for the old days while getting sentimental.

After all, even an old sports guy needs to be relevant in this half-eaten apple world.