Editorials - 01/18/01

We're proud of our sports editor's record

Carey Phillips, The Sylva Herald's one-man sports department for the past 18 years, attended his 500th basketball game in a row. Since he began covering the Sylva-Webster Lady Eagles/Smoky Mountain Lady Mustangs back during the 1982-83 season, Carey has never missed a game.

That's dedication - both to the newspaper and to the student-athletes who play their hearts out every Tuesday and Friday. It's Carey's presence at the games that gives our readers the real story of that night's contest. It's his eyewitness accounts that communicate the excitement of a last-minute steal, the joy of a game-winning shot or the importance of clutch free throw shooting.

While game results might be included in box scores of the daily newspaper, it's only through Carey's attendance and reporting that the athletes, their families and friends have play-by-play accounts to save and treasure.

And, as is the case with most of the news in The Sylva Herald, this newspaper is the only place each and every basketball game is reported in depth.

Carey's efforts go well beyond fulfilling job requirements. None of the rest of us in the newsroom can point to any similar streak with regard to attendance at commissioners' meetings or school board sessions.

Carey has won numerous awards and honors for his sports reporting and column writing. When faced with the choice of attending a ceremony to accept a statewide award or covering our local hardwood heroines, he never hesitated. His loyalty is to the athletes.

In his 18 years here, he has only missed two boys' basketball games (tournament conflicts when the girls and boys were playing on the same night in different locations) and has attended 204 consecutive football games. His volleyball attendance streak dates back to the 1985 season.

We're proud of Carey, and we salute him on his achievement. We're glad that SMHS Principal Kenny Nicholson and Coach Cindi Simmons chose to publicly acknowledge Carey's efforts on the school's behalf.

Carey's excellent reporting and consistent coverage gives our local athletes a well-deserved opportunity to shine.

And so, on behalf of the S-W/SMHS athletes of the past, present and future we say, "Thanks, Carey, and keep up the good work."

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