A decade of memories
Reflecting on 10 years of Hudson County sports highlights
April 5, 1991: A date that will live in Hudson County journalism history. It’s the date that the Hudson Dispatch published its final edition, after more than 100 years of reporting the events that helped to shape northern New Jersey.
At the time of the Dispatch’s demise, I was a sports columnist there. I had spent nearly six years of establishing myself as a respected sportswriter and reporter in my native Hudson County, getting the chance to write for the first paper I used to read growing up as a youngster. There was no bigger thrill than to have people I’ve known all my life plunk down two bits to read what I had created.
After receiving word from the powers-that-be at the Jersey Journal, which engineered the purchase and closing of the Dispatch, that my services would not be wanted as part of the plan (even though several of my colleagues were brought onto their sports staff), I wondered if I would ever get a chance to write about Hudson County sports ever again.
A reporter named Alex Ladd, representing the neighborhood weekly, the Jersey City Reporter, called me to interview me about the demise of the Hudson Dispatch. Executives at the Dispatch instructed other employees not to speak to the media, because the multi-million dollar sale of the paper’s masthead and subscription list was not completed and any comment might jeopardize the sale.
I was out of a job. I didn’t care. I was willing to speak, to talk of my sadness, to tell anyone who cared just how truly upset I was that my voice, my words, were being silenced in the community where I had been born and raised, and where I still proudly resided.
Ladd asked me what I had planned to do. I answered honestly.
"I really don’t know," I told him. "I haven’t had time to think of it."
The week before, I had been at the NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis, writing a column about local boy Bobby Hurley’s brilliance for the national champion Duke Blue Devils. I also wrote about meeting a then 19-year-old manchild who once lived in Jersey City named Shaquille O’Neal and an 80-year-old coaching legend named John Wooden – all in the course of the same afternoon.
Did I ever imagine that a newspaper that had stood the test of time for a full century would be dead and gone in the span of four days? It had never crossed my mind.
Now, I was standing at the crossroads of my young career, with nowhere to go. For the first time I couldn’t even give a fellow reporter a politically correct answer that would aid his article.
About four days later, Ladd called me again, asking me if I would be interested in writing for the Reporter. I was vaguely familiar with the paper, having been featured in articles twice before, as a recreation basketball league director and as an actor. I didn’t know that the Reporter had a sports section.
"It doesn’t," Ladd said. "They’re interested in starting one."
Two weeks later, I met with then-publisher Joe Barry about the possibility of writing a weekly sports column for the Reporter’s chain of newspapers. Barry and I came to an agreement, which began with just a simple one-page column 10 years ago this week.
And the Scoreboard column of The Hudson Reporter chain celebrates its 10th anniversary this week, which makes one truly wonder, "Is it that long already?"
Good sports
After all, it is definitely the longest I’ve held any job anywhere. And I’ve been employed at more New Jersey newspapers than the number of times that Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor have been married – combined.
Ten years after my arrival, the Scoreboard column and subsequent accompanying articles in the Reporter newspapers have blossomed into a true and genuine sports section. There’s a weekly Athlete of the Week feature, culminating in the annual Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Year award, which will be presented for the 10th time this June. There have been other features, stories, columns, all rolled into a decade of excitement.
Without the Reporter, I would not have had the chance to witness the brilliance of the Hoboken football team, which has captured an amazing six NJSIAA state championships during my tenure. I also had the honor to watch talented greats like Rashard Casey, Ravon Anderson, Keeon Walker and Tyrell Dortch before they went on to college football greatness. We will never again see a string of domination like the 57 wins in 58 games that the Red Wings posted over a six-year period, ever in our lifetime.
I also wouldn’t have the opportunity to cover my alma mater, St. Peter’s Prep, as they captured the 1994 Parochial Group 4 title and earned the right to be the state’s No. 1 team.
I wouldn’t have had the chance to watch the amazing run of the Secaucus volleyball team, with the countless state championships, winning streaks and brilliance, under the leadership of coach Maria Nolan.
I would have never seen the brilliance of the St. Anthony basketball program, which has captured six NJSIAA Tournament of Champions titles during my stint at the Reporter, including the mythical national championship in 1996.
And I would never have felt the sense of pride I had when a player I coached in Jersey City Biddy basketball, namely Rashon Burno, went on to lead those fabulous Friars and capture the Most Valuable Player of the T of C, before heading off to become a star point guard at DePaul.
I was given the opportunity to express my feelings and opinions on a variety of topics, some controversial, some from the heart. Sometimes, my opinions sparked outrage and anger from people who disagreed wholeheartedly. Other times, they brought attention to an event that might not have received proper coverage anywhere else.
I was able, too many times for my liking, to eulogize and memorialize local heroes who left us all way too soon.
All in all, it’s been a decade of great memories, 10 years of special moments, all being recorded and remembered in a simply weekly newspaper.
There’s no question the words hit home, even when I’m accosted in public for something I’ve written or congratulated and thanked for the kind and considerate thoughts. Either way, I know that my voice wasn’t silenced 10 years ago, when the Dispatch closed its doors in Union City for the final time.
I can’t believe it’s been 10 years. Time sure does fly when you’re having fun.
With that, I owe a debt of gratitude to the former, current and future administration of The Hudson Reporter Newspapers, namely former publisher Joe Barry for bringing me in, and current owners Lucha Malato and David Unger for putting up with me and allowing me to continue after 10 years.
And there’s thanks to past and current editorial leadership, namely former editors Michael Richardson (who was truly a mentor and a friend) and David Cruz, as well as current editor Caren Lissner, who has read every one of my sports articles, as painful as that may be. Through the years, Lissner has understood who absolutely have been the true "mo-mos" of Hudson County sports.
Then, there’s Pat Spina, the graphic artist par excellence, who puts together the words, pictures and graphics, every single week to make them all fit and make the entire package as presentably as possible. I might provide the words and ideas, but Spina puts them into light.
And there’s thanks to the countless coaches and athletes who have taken the time and effort to return phone calls, to answer questions, to be accommodating at all hours of the day and night, to open their hearts, minds and souls enough to trust me, because without their cooperation, the Scoreboard would constantly remain scoreless.
Ten years. It really is a milestone, especially for a vagabond hack like me. Here’s to hoping that I’m able to write a 20th anniversary column somewhere down the road.