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| The Golden Ticket |
I started covering the Arizona Coyotes for Examiner.com on January 5, 2012. That season, the best in team
history, culminated with a trip to the Western Conference Finals and I was denied media credentials. Which in hindsight makes total sense. Why would you give a blogger, who had been writing for a few months, credentials to the Stanley Cup Playoffs? No doubt the Coyotes' media relations department was getting bombarded at the time with requests because the team was making a deep playoff run and I was just some punk.
I kept on covering the 'Yotes on Examiner and the following year the team gave me credentials on a game by game basis. I was so stoked to be let in the press box, hell I still am. I think the team's media relation department gave me credentials because I showed I was dedicated to covering the team by the sheer volume of articles I was posting. So for the work stoppage shortened 2012-13 season I got to cover a professional team in the press box. I got to walk wherever I wanted be cause I had a single media pass with my name on it, and once where I was known as "Jason Castro". I went to the locker room for post-game interviews and then the head coach's post game presser. It was a fantasy that even the funky smell of sweaty Canadians in a confined and poorly ventilated room could not take away.
The next season I was upgraded to full season credentials, with my picture on it. The picture is terrible. It was a selfie I took while on break at work and I didn't use any filters, in general it sucks. I've tried to replace it but you only get one credential issued per season. It's a small price to pay to cover the NHL from a great seat.
This season was a bit different.
My family comes first. Then my job as a claims adjuster because I have to bills to pay. Third is writing. My family and my job are a big part of my time and energy. With that said, if I can't dedicate the proper time to anything, then I won't do it. I don't want to sound like a blowhard but if an article has my name on it I want to give it my all and not some half-ass effort. This was in the back of my mind as the 2015-16 NHL season was creeping up.
Hockey is a demanding mistress.
For a weekday game I get to the Gila River Arena at 6ish for a 7 pm start, keep in mind I've been at work since 830 am and up since 6 am. The game ends at 1030 pm (if OT isn't involved). We usually finish player interviews and head coach Dave Tippett's post game presser by 11:15 pm. I'm home by 11:45 pm. My article is refined, finished and posted at home and I am asleep by 1ish. A long day but a hella good one and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
This past season I had a few conversations (they really weren't conversations, more like monologues) with Mrs. DPC that I was done. Retired. Finished. That the long nights were getting to be too much for a DPC that was now in his late 30's. That I didn't have the necessary time and/or energy to do my proper hockey journalistic odyssey. I had a myriad of excuses...
And yet the season crept closer and I was getting drawn in. It was subtle things like lingering on the NHL Network more than usual, when perusing through the stations. My online reading was more NHL driven. Most importantly I was wearing my Montreal Canadiens gear a lot more. In my heart of hearts, I was saying to the sport I love, "I can't quit you."
So this upcoming Friday I will take the 101 to Gila River Arena after work. Make my way to my seat at press row and do what I dig the most.
