Carrying on an RDL tradition

First, I want to say thank you.

The biggest one of all goes to God for allowing me to have this opportunity and to do what I love. Without him, this isn’t possible.

Assuming the title of sports editor at the Ruston Daily Leader is an honor that I’m still grappling with. Not many people can say they’ve been given this position.

And while I often struggle with keeping perspective of what’s come before me, this moment is one I’ll never overlook.

To say I expected to one day hold the same title as O.K. “Buddy” Davis would be a lie. It’s something I never imagined.

Thank you to Celeste Holley and Brian Trahan for trusting me with this responsibility – to maintain the standard of this position and maintain the quality of storytelling in the sports department of this

paper.

I promise I’ll do my best.

Thank you to everyone who has read, commented, and subscribed. In my two years in Ruston, I’ve tried to fairly and comprehensively cover the sports and athletes you care about. It’s a privilege to be trusted as the crafter of those stories and to be the voice for your kids, grandkids, and schools. I look forward to sharing more.

To the coaches, administrators, principals, and parents, thank you. You’ve opened your doors, practices, camps, personal lives, and locker rooms to me and trusted me to tell the stories that shaped your experiences. I can’t thank you enough for pointing me in the direction of amazing stories that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

As the summertime lull sets in for sports coverage, I want you to know my focus will remain sharp. If there’s a worthy story to tell, I’ll do my best to tell it. And if you see me around town enjoying the Louisiana summer, as best an Illinois boy can, say hello. I’m always up for a conversation.

I could go on for days thanking certain individuals, but you know who you are. Thank you for making me look better than I am. Thank you for helping me when I made a mistake.

As I enter year three in Ruston, know that I’m not here because of how good I am. Believe me, that’s not true. I’m only here thanks to those around me.

Matt Belinson is sports editor and covers sports for the Ruston Daily Leader. Email him at sports@rustonleader. com.