Column: Closing Out My Final Inning with The Phoenix

When I first learned of intramural sports at Loyola — specifically the soccer sessions — one of my first purchases as a first-year was the cheapest pair of Nike cleats I could find. 

They’re an eyesore. You’ve likely seen me streaking down Sean Earl Field in a flash of bright neon yellow.

It’s a strange, and probably scary sight, coming from someone whose third choice of self-describing adjectives is consistently “unathletic.” But it’s a sight that’s been a staple on campus for the past four years.

They also happen to be only one year older than my Phoenix tenure. In my second year, former Assistant Sports Editor Jack Barron asked if I was interested in helping produce some articles.

Between him and my other two editors, Fernando Molina Bier and Gabbi Lumma, sports at The Phoenix was in a difficult spot. There simply wasn’t enough manpower to cover every single athletic event happening on campus, and I offered support here and there when I could.

At the time, I quantified my sports knowledge between “surface-level” and “decently knowledgeable.” My primary focus at The Phoenix was women’s basketball — a beat I’ve been lucky enough to claim as my own for the past three years — with dabblings in soccer and track and field. 

I didn’t know every rule in the book or play call — I still don’t, honestly — but being able to sit courtside in Gentile Arena or talk to the incredible student-athletes and coaches post-game was something I never imagined I’d be doing when I first stepped foot on Rogers Park soil.

Back in my room in my tiny garden apartment hangs several items. Firstly, my keys, which I’m often prone to losing, but also all of the media passes I’ve collected, copies of The Phoenix and more than a fair amount of sports jerseys highlighting my East Coast background. 

I’ve come to greatly appreciate what those items are built on — the emotional connection I have to the play on the field, even while maintaining a neutral stance and how engaged the wonderfully wide world of sports is. Most importantly, like players on the field, I’ve come to recognize how important my teammates are.

Now as I wrap up my final issue with The Phoenix, full of resume-friendly soft skills such as “communication” and “proficient in Adobe InDesign,” there’s been a lot of support driven into my 45+ articles covering athletics around Loyola. 

First shoutout goes to my parents, who are constantly harassing me to bring home any copy of The Phoenix I’ve even remotely had a hand in crafting. Their major impact on my work was making sure my author’s name in print read “Alexander,” not “Alex.” 

In that vein, another shoutout to my siblings — Christopher for making my sports takes seem rational, and Isabel for stealing every ounce of athleticism in the Sciarra family.

Secondly, thanks to my boss and Editor-in-Chief Griffin Krueger, who introduced me to The Phoenix during the first week on campus when, in my tier one theology class, he harassed me for a question about how I felt about Loyola’s shuttle system. Many shuttle rides later, I’m happy he’s the last man standing to cross-check my inevitable spelling mistakes or questionable use of a verb when describing a play.

Thirdly, Sports Editor Andi Revesz, who happened to start writing for The Phoenix only a little later than me but has deservedly risen to take the reins of the sports section while simultaneously keeping me in check.

Frankly, when I imagine who I’m standing with in section meetings, losing my mind with in the newsroom at the fine hour of 2 a.m. and most recently, whose car I’m helping retrieve from the bowels of impound lots on the scariest stretch of Lower Wacker Drive, the list of alternatives draws a considerably blank.

And of course, I’ve got to express major gratitude for both former and current members of the staff and writers. Many thanks for dealing with my absurdly high late-night energy, ignoring my increasingly concerning addiction to Arizona Ice Teas and all else that you do. For The Phoenix to remain as “Free as a Bird” since 1969, takes nothing less than a village.

I don’t have much of a claim to any special connection to sports — I’m just an average guy who found a new way to engage with sports media beyond arguing with others in sports forums. I doubt this’ll be a full-time career path with so much competitive talent out there, but it’ll be cool to show my kids copies of my work one day.

So, if you’re someone who just decided to pick up this weekly edition of The Phoenix and have no idea why this random person is pouring emotion out to you, or a writer whose work I’ve been lucky enough to sneak a peek at on Trello, I love you. You guys are awesome and I hope every shot you take in life falls in the net. Keep dribbling!