In The Big Inning ...

For someone rarely at a loss for words, I didn't really know where to begin with this blog.

It quite easily could be about the sorry state of journalism — my beloved profession for  too many years. I could lend perspective and wisdom in so many ways; included among them that you can teach an old dog a few important new tricks.

Should it be about local, state, national, international — even universal — issues that dominate what passes as news these days? Don't worry, I'm sure we'll soon get to my thoughts about Fox News and con-artist terrestrial radio.

Maybe I should sit back and pontificate about sports — baseball, basketball, football, hockey and tennis — these and other games I've actively played and the professional leagues I have followed and covered since childhood. Or, perhaps, I should just focus on the best team in the National League — the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.  I've followed the Redbirds passionately since the final playing days of Stan "The Man" Musial.

Maybe is could be about great television, memorable movies, the YouTube generation, my love of Apple products or emerging content delivery methods.

And there's always room on the web for more thoughts about music, food and pop-culture, right?

It likely will touch on each of these, and more, but with a huge share devoted to my family and true friends.

I'm married and the father of two great teen-agers; although my son will be turning the big 2-0 in a few months. He currently is hundreds of miles away — about to enter his third full semester at (The) Florida State University. He is working on a dual major — Physics and Education — and living on his own and learning to cook and fend for himself. My daughter, who is four years younger, is a consistent Dean's List student, talented musician and has aspirations of someday becoming a chef in her own restaurant. Both are smart, clever, funny and first-degree black belts in Taekwondo.

My wife has been the constant thread in their lives and mine, particularly these days while I try to hold down the fort and dare to dream big for the first time in a long while. To her especially — HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, 2012!

I hope you'll drop by now and then to get to know me — and give me an opportunity to learn about you, too.