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Commentary by Bruce Bourquin
Herald/Review
When I arrived in Sierra Vista in Halloween of 2003 for my job interview here, people actually dressed in costumes.
Nothing too peculiar. But I thought to myself, Damn, this is one fun-loving bunch.
It still is, although some faces have changed.
 Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review Sports Reporter Bruce Bourquin is leaving the paper today for greener pastures in Southern California. (Ted Morris-Herald/Review) |
As of today, I am leaving this lovely area as the Sports Reporter of the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review. It’s been a pretty pleasant four-and-a-half years, since the day before Thanksgiving of ‘03. I thank you for your hospitality.
I am returning to Southern California, where I spent 18 years before coming to Arizona. On June 3, I will begin to work as the Sports Editor at The Signal, a similiar-size newspaper in Santa Clarita. It’s a few football throws away from Magic Mountain, nearly 40 miles north of Los Angeles. It’s my first S.E. job, so it’ll be pretty challenging but fun.
I want to thank the readers in this beautiful community, where the rabbits and roadrunners roam freely when they’re not roadkill waiting to happen, the sunsets are breathtaking and the mountain hikes are satisfying.
We used to work in what I lovingly referred to as the Owl Museum, a Sedona red, burlap sack-looking deal with decaying, ‘60s-style paneling along the walls.
Our publisher, Phil Vega, worked right in an office over my right shoulder, both bathrooms were over my left shoulder. I could hear 2,000 flushes nearly every month, so that was lovely.
Nowadays, our little building on Fab Avenue right across the Wick Communications building looks pretty polished. It’s a little sterile and clean, so sometimes I miss that ol’ Owl Museum. But we’re better now, we’ve caught up with the rest of the 21st Century. We have better equipment and of course, pretty solid people working for us.
The city has changed as well, but not too much. There have been new businesses taking over where old ones left or closed down.
A new skate park, or bowl, has been nice to see.
Perhaps a sorely needed bigger youth center is next.
I say it’s the people that make a city. Not the fancy tourist attractions, not the natural beauty, not even the restaurants or the malls.
The people of Sierra Vista have been friendlier and more honest than they ever had to be, especially to us media types. I thank you for that.
Thank you for your help and kindness, and try to show our new sports reporter the same courtesy, whomever that person may be. I am sure he or she will be much better.
Buena High School, with Loveless Stadium, Ensign Gymnasium and the baseball and softball fields, is pretty impressive for a 5A school outside of the big city areas.
During my time here, everyone kept asking me what it was like working with our Sports Editor Matt Hickman. And let me tell you ... it was pretty damn fun, actually.
I know some of you have your differences with him or both of us and I often heard from a few people that I was a better writer than him. Perhaps they meant I was occasionally more positive — of course, I wasn’t trying to be either positive or negative, just accurate. I have always disagreed with those opinions, and his awards and creative stories the past several years have proven it.
Matt has always given me quite a bit of creative freedom to explore my potential to the fullest, taught me how to be more creative than the norm, to go outside the boundaries as much as possible.
Not every person does that, and I hope to do the same as a Sports Editor in the near future.
I would like to thank our Managing Editor Keith J. Allen, for all his help and lessons he’s taught me over the years.
City Editor Ted Morris, photographers Ed Honda, Mark Levy and Suzanne Cronn, Lifestlye Editor Lynanne Gelinas, Copy Editor/Page Designer Pat Tuerff and our veteran reporters, Bill Hess and Dana Cole have all been very helpful and wise.
I hope to carry with me things I’ve learned from all of them.
Legendary former Sports Editor Kevin Carolan has always made sure I have everything set, my p’s and q’s are good, my i’s are dotted and my t’s are crossed. And that I knew what was going on.
He’s been an invaluable asset to this paper during the past 30-plus years and he’s a master with readers. He’s the kind of guy who remembers everyone’s names, a skill I have yet to become an expert in.
Here’s hoping I can do the Herald proud at The Signal and beyond. I will miss you.
THANK YOU..... wrote on May 30, 2008 7:29 AM: