Randy Dickson: Tell us about the wide world of local summer sports

It’s that time of year when sometimes finding just the right sports story is like plowing through solid rock.

Yes, the youth sports camps are gearing up. Some are now in full swing. And believe me, in the weeks to come there will be stories about the various camps taking place in our area.

I’ll do my best to keep you abreast as to what coaching changes might be lurking on the high school level. As quickly as I find out about any changes I’ll have the information to you.

I’ll be keeping an eye on the different high school camps as well. I enjoy hanging out at football workouts. I plan on taking in some summer baseball and basketball leagues as well.

I hope to catch up with former local prep stars like Crestview’s Anthony Brown who is now with the Class A Sarasota Reds.

Speaking of baseball, Brown’s former CHS teammate Blake Dean is expected to be picked in the Major League Baseball draft this week. I’ll do my best to get his take on things if he’s picked in the draft.

I look forward to talking with Laurel Hill’s Brad Reese as he prepares for his first year playing basketball for Texas Tech.

If I have a chance, I might even take in a night at the races in Holt or Blackman or try to catch a Crestview Thunderbirds football game.

As you are reading this column, I’m starting to plan our 2009 high school football publication.

The school year is dominated by the high school sports scene. This is the time of year I have a window to do more of the stories that might vary from the traditional sports path.

That’s where the eyes and the ears of you the readers can be so valuable. If your son (grandson) or daughter (granddaughter) who happens to be a college athlete is home for the summer, please let me know. I want to talk to them.

I also would love to hear the ideas you have for those stories that are off that beaten path.

If you have a champion water skier or kayaker in your family, now’s the time to let me know about them.

I might not be able to, as the Wide World of Sports claimed, “Span the globe to bring you the constant variety of sports,” but I can offer the variety of sports enjoyed here in north Okaloosa County.

I won’t be able to do all the youth baseball/softball league stories I imagine people would love to see, but I’d be more than happy to run those team photos.

And if you submit a story with a photo, we will do our best to see it makes it into the paper.

I’m giving you your chance to point me in a certain direction for a story.

I’m looking forward to hearing you ideas.

To submit a story idea or a photo, please e-mail me at randyd@crestviewbulletin.com

And thanks in advance for your help.

Randy Dickson is the News Bulletin Sports Editor. Contact him at 682-6524, or e-mail randyd@crestviewbulletin.com