The day prior however, I will be in Bloomington, Ind., the old stomping grounds (literally) of the former Hoosier coach, for the wedding of one Paul Ryan Gunterman, my former high school journalism teacher.
Gunterman, a die-hard Hoosier fan will have to watch the General pick up that record-breaking win in another shade of red. While I do get a kick out of anything sports related that displeases my former mentor, this is a sad, sad day for basketball fans everywhere, love him or hate him, Bob Knight shouldn’t be winning that game anywhere but Assembly Hall.
While at the wedding however, Gunterman will have to endure not just one, but two former pupils who love nothing more than to get him all riled up. In my company will be one Jon Webb. The same guy who stole Gunterman’s dancing gopher, only to be chased down a hallway and slammed into a locker after waving it in his window during a class. I can’t say I’ve ever laughed so hard at Jon getting hit and that’s saying something because every time Jon gets hit, it’s a laugh.
I really owe a lot to the mid-20’s teacher of a true art, he taught me more in high school then a lot of people learn in college and for that I can never fully re-pay him. But he is great at what he does. I always wondered why the guy who was the editor of the best college paper in the country, the guy who has been published in such newspapers as the New York Times would let being a journalist slip by when he was so good what he did. But just writing wasn’t good enough, he liked to design too, and teach people how. He’s even better at that and it shows. He helped produce the journalist I am, not that I’m a Pulitzer Prize winner or anything, but last school year at his current high school of Bloomington North, his Editor-in-chief was named the Indiana High School Journalist of The Year. My friend Jon who will be attending the wedding is also an inspiring journalist. Although Jon is still in school, he’s in the process of getting his degree and has a frequent column in the University of Southern Indiana Shield and is quite the screenplay writer. Although all three of us had natural talent, Ryan Gunterman molded at least myself into something I’m proud of today and for that, I thank you my friend.
But as much as I hate to see Bob Knight reach this incredible feat when former UK coach Adolph Rupp once held it, but I’d much rather it be Knight than Smith. So Gunterman, there’s not much a journalist can afford, you gave me a fair warning long before I made it a profession, but the one present I will give you is rooting for the General while I’m in Bloomington in 2007. Now I realize that sounds quite strange giving the time in history I’m doing so, but I’m sorry, that’s the best I can do. Also, I’m traveling 200 miles just to watch you get hitched, and I assure you, it’s not just so I can attend the reception, but having a drink with you while talking about sports will be a nice way to start off the New Year.
