My favorite sportswriter of all time

When I was 17 years old, I took a freelance writing job with my local community newspaper. I got paid $10 per football game to cover the game for the paper. That launched me into a newspaper career that ended only recently, as I transition into a career in education as an English/Language arts teacher.

As I reflect back on my time as a fledgling sportswriter, I'm reminded of my favorite sportswriter of all time: the great Mitch Albom. For years, he was a sports columnist at the Detroit Free Press, and he won best sports columnist multiple years in a row, to the point that one person suggested -- only half jokingly -- to rename the award the Mitch Albom Award (which didn't happen, of course.)

In addition to his work in sports, Albom also wrote a great non-fiction book titled "Tuesday's with  Morrie," which recounted his relationship with a sociology teacher in college. He also wrote "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," a fictional story. Both were turned into TV movies.

After Albom, here's how I would round my top 5 of all-time favorite sportswriters.

No. 5: Jim Murray
No. 4: Frank DeFord
No. 3: Peter King
No. 2: Geoff Calkins
No. 1: Albom

Who are some of you favorite writers? (Sports or non-sports ...)

The reviews are in ....

True to form, I saw the finale installment of the Hunger Games movie franchise on opening day. My initial thoughts: They should have saved on the money they made by splitting the final book into two movies. Here's an excellent review of the final one:

Happy Thanksgiving!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

As for me, I'm spending today with me immediate family at my parents' house in Memphis. I'm thankful for my family, more than anything else. I'm also thankful for my health, my future career as a teacher, and the University of Tennessee and University of Tennessee at Martin! There are many more things, but these are the top ones that come to mind this beautiful day.

So wherever you are, whatever you're doing, stop and take a moment to say thanks for the blessings in your life!

Coates wins National Book Award for non-fiction

Ta-Nehisi Coates won the National Book Award for non-fiction yesterday for Between the World and Me, which has been described as "the searing best seller about being black in America."

He dedicated the book to his friend from Howard University, Prince Jones Jr., who was killed in Fairfax, Va., by a police officer in 2000 "because he was mistaken for a criminal," Coates said. Alluding to shootings of blacks by police this year, Coates said, "At the heart of our country is the notion that we are OK with the presumption that black people have a predisposition toward criminality."

Hunger Games finale only a week away

Julius Caesar: Helpful links for creating unit, lesson plans

I'll be spending the next couple weeks putting together a unit plan on Julius Caesar for 10th grade students. As I began the process, I thought it might be helpful to post links to various sources I find helpful throughout the process -- for my own benefit as well as others who may be taking on the same task. Links will be updated throughout the next couple weeks.

Veterans Day: Students, nation stop to say 'thank you'

I tutor students at a local middle school every Wednesday morning. This morning was unlike any other morning I've had at the school since I began helping students in English Language Arts. There's always a certain energy -- a buzz, if you will -- that greets you when you walk into a middle school classroom. The excitement exuding from the students was obvious from the moment I walked in the door this morning. One student was drawing an American flag on the whiteboard. Another student was writing a patriotic poem on the board. Other students, meanwhile, were talking about the special assembly about to be held on this especially special day.

About 30 minutes into first period, all students were dismissed to the gym. Over the course of the next 30 minutes or so, the students put on a fitting tribute to the men and women, past and present, who have served America in our armed forces. It was a great show.

Students carried our nation's colors into the gym. The school band played an array of patriotic songs. Other students read patriotic poems before a guest speaker -- a local veteran who served combat tours on active duty -- spoke to the students about Veterans Day and offered them a brief glimpse into what it's like serve in the armed forces. In addition to students and teachers, there were also many local veterans -- some old, some young -- in attendance to watch the program. I'm not a mind reader, nor did I interview each of the veterans afterward, but I feel safe in saying that every veteran in attendance appeared to appreciate the students' recognition of their service to our country.

This middle school was not alone. Across the county, state, and nation, many schools were holding similar programs to honor veterans. That's great. It really is. We should also encourage our students not to limit their gratitude and recognition to one day per year. Every day is a great day to pause and say "thank you" to a veteran.