Covering the Smokies and One Knox is part of childhood dream come true

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Just before starting my senior year of high school, I waited in my red 2009 Ford Mustang outside the Dyersburg State Gazette. My dad had told me that if I was serious about going to college to get a communications degree, I should go to the local paper and ask the sports editor if I could shadow him.

With three deep breaths, a pair of sweaty palms and a thin piece of paper one could generously call a resume, I walked in, asked to see the editor, and made my pitch, expecting the worst.

“Sure kid.” And that’s how my career started.

I was raised in Victoria, Texas, as one of seven adopted siblings. I played football, soccer and basketball for hours on end with my friends and siblings. We were in that last generation of pre-iPhone kids whose parents sent them outside on Saturdays and told them to come back when the street lights came on.

Like other boys my age, I dreamed of becoming a pro athlete, an NBA player if given the choice. At the time I assumed I would have my pick when I was older. It became clear, however, that professional sports wasn’t in the cards for me – I lacked the statuesque height and freakish athleticism of my childhood heroes.

Fortunately, I figured this out earlier than most and immediately thought of how I could stay around the action even if I was never going to play.

My older brother, Caleb, would only watch ESPN when I was little so while my friends were watching the Disney Channel, I was watching “SportsCenter”, “Around the Horn” and “Pardon the Interruption”. That’s what really led me down the path of journalism.

Fast forward to my senior year in Dyersburg. After just a couple of weeks observing my editor, I eventually started writing for the publication on my own. There were only two high schools in the area so we’d often just split responsibilities. We did this for a while before my first big challenge came – or rather an opportunity.

My editor departed abruptly right before the basketball regionals were set to begin. I was thrust into the role of interim sports editor at the State Gazette at the age of 17 while still taking high school and college coursework and captaining my high school soccer team.

The days and nights were frantic. I covered local athletics, including basketball, softball and baseball, and even wrote a couple of articles about my own soccer matches. I remember in particular running from the soccer field, hot and exhausted, grabbing the SD card from my photographer (my mom) and directly going to my laptop to make my own experiences into publishable work.

I’m very thankful for that experience because it opened the doors for me to go to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. I was able to earn a full-ride scholarship and get connected with UT Athletics to be an in-house writer for their website. It has been the greatest privilege of my short career to have covered the Vols during their most historic run in its athletics history. With each piece I wrote, my love for storytelling increased, along with my fondness for the city.

As one open door leads to another, I was given the opportunity to cover the Paralympic Games in Paris, France, reporting for USA TODAY and bringing the stories of often overlooked athletes to a national audience. The experience reaffirmed my commitment to reporting on stories which empower, educate and bring communities together, the kind of reporting I will continue in all my future endeavors.

Which brings me to my next adventure here at Knox News. With their move to downtown, the Smokies and One Knox teams symbolize Knoxville’s vibrant sports culture, and it is a privilege to provide this city with authentic, reflective coverage that transcends scores and highlights.

Just as those initial days at the State Gazette fueled a passion for reporting sports, I apply the same enthusiasm and passion to this new project. Knoxville’s pro sports teams are deserving of thoughtful reporting that truly gets to the heart and soul of their fans.

My goal is no secret: Regularly produce engaging content, honor sincere stories and build a sense of camaraderie within the community through sports.

For the coaches, players and fans, I felt like it was fair to start by telling you my story before I start telling yours. If there is one thing moving to Tennessee has taught me is that it always takes a village, so with the help of subscribers and everyone involved in Knoxville’s pro sports, I’m committed to providing the kind of coverage that you want to see.

This article is a first step, and in part it’s brought to you by readers like you … thank you.

Knox News reporter Gabriel Jackson covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC. Email: [email protected]