I’m doing three things in this commentary that I normally despise. One, I’m using the word I in a commentary. Second, I’m starting a story without a lead paragraph for the first time in four years. And three, I’m copying someone else, in this case former sports editor and my best friend, Pete Cerneka.

Please forgive me.

This is my last issue as a member of The University News staff. In June, I’ll be heading down to Natchez, Miss., to take over the sports-editor position at The Natchez Democrat. For four years, I helped bring you the sports (three full years and part of this one) and news (part of this year) of Saint Louis University. Overall, I think I did a good job here. Although many people at SLU may not know me or my face, I think I knew the entire SLU population.

Every week I wrote about SLU sports or news and thought I had a certain connection with you. I had the privilege of putting my thoughts and what I saw on the playing field into writing. That’s pure fun for me, knowing that people get to experience a game or story through my perspective. And I say that I think I did a good job at that because I never received any hate mail or degrading comments, and whenever I saw someone read a U. News in class or in the Quad, it was turned to the sports page. I take pride in that. That may sound like I’m on an ego trip.

But that’s sort of why I like newspaper writing over public relations writing, even though it’s less money-you get recognized.

So whether you liked my writing or not, I enjoyed my time at the U. News and at SLU. And I’m thankful for it.

But I would be remised if I didn’t thank others. (This is where I’m copying Pete Cerneka. Sorry if I miss anyone.

My mom wasn’t excited about the journalism profession when I told her that I wanted to be a writer-one that makes $22,000 per year. But after realizing that I was happy, she supported me. She is the single most important person in my life. My sister has also been supportive. And even though we don’t get along sometimes, I still love her.

Thanks, mom and Em’.

Thanks to the rest of my family. They still think I can get a better job making more money, but, nonetheless, they want what I want.

Thanks to MS. Sorry for all those Wednesday nights when I couldn’t talk long.

Thanks to my U. News family: Lee, Billy, Zack, Patrick, Diana, Eric, Tina, Mary, Cory, Dave, Dan Marshall and all the other staff members I’ve worked with in the past four years.

Special thanks to Pete and to Dan Kozlowski. Our relationships as writers in the beginning grew to be two of the best friendships that I have. You guys are like brothers to me.

Thanks to Dr. Avis Meyer. E.B. White and George Orwell are your heroes. You are one of mine. You’ve made my writing better each week. And now that I have a newspaper job, I can’t thank you enough for that.

Thanks to the staff in the Billiken Media Relations office: Betsy, Doug, Josh, Chris, Chuck and Diana. You guys have been great to work with, even though I was probably a pain sometimes. When I’m in Natchez, I hope the Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Louisiana State and Southern Miss people are as good as all of you guys.

Thanks to Matt W., Andrew, Matt D. and Jason. You guys have helped to make the four years at SLU the most enjoyable time of my life.

Four years ago, I knew a lot about sports and not too much about life. But thanks to college, I know a whole lot about life and a lot less about sports. And a big part of that change is the four years I spent every week in The University News office on Wednesday nights. And to paraphrase Robert Frost, that has made all the difference.