It’s that ping of a metal bat when it connects with the ball and the sound of family and friends in the stands as they scream and cheer.  It’s that strange smell of dirt and fresh cut grass mixed with the aroma of bubble gum and the odor of a well-oiled leather glove.  To a young boy, these were the sights and sounds that announced the arrival of spring, much more so than any chirping bird or bloom of flowers.
In the fall there was the clank and crack of helmets meeting shoulder pads and the grunts and groans of linemen pushing and being pushed.  There was the yell of the coach echoing across the field as he barked out orders.  There was the scent of mud and sweat, and again the sounds of moms and dads cheering in the grandstands.
As fall turned to winter we found ourselves on the court, hearing the thump of the ball as it met the wooden floor.  There was the squeak of tennis shoes and that swoosh when someone got that "nothing but net."  The crowd noise was always amplified within the confines of the gymnasium, echoing every root and shout as the cheerleaders roused the fans.
When I was a kid baseball, football and basketball were the big three of youth sports, but today there are many more options available.  As I grew older and had children of my own, I was introduced to the world of soccer and track, as well as competitive cheerleading. As a kid the only time I was exposed to soccer, or football as it’s called in Europe, was on television or in the movies.  It was that sport they played over there, not here.  Now it’s one of the fastest growing sports in the United States as more and more schools add soccer programs to their schedules.
Sports teach us cooperation and teamwork, all while celebrating individual achievement and accomplishments.  They teach us not only how to succeed, but how to fail, how to win, and how to lose.  We hail a team or individual’s triumphs and find ourselves inspired by an underdog that gives its all during a game.  As the old saying goes, "It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game."
Sports are an important part of the community and as the Smithville Review’s new sports editor, I want to try to cover as many sporting events as I can.  Whether it’s golf or softball, track or soccer, even equestrian and automotive sports in the area.  All deserve recognition and coverage but, for obvious reasons, I can’t be everywhere.  It’s spring sports time and there are many games in many different parts of the region.  There may be several games happening at the same time in different parts of thecounty.  That’s where I need your help.
If you know of a sporting event that needs covering in the newspaper, send me an email at srsports@dtccom.net and let me know.  I’ll be more than happy to come out and take some pictures, but I need your help obtaining the schedules, scores and stats.  I believe all sports are significant and deserve reporting and with your help we can recognize all of our local athletes.