Hintz: Finding my identity again. What it's like to return to covering live sports

I remember it, too, sitting on my favorite perch at Springs Brooks Stadium covering Coastal Carolina baseball for what I know now would be the last time. [For the record, in my two years in Myrtle Beach I missed just ONE home game and that was due to high school basketball state championships]. Anyways, things shut down and four months later I was on to a new job here in Raleigh.

Speaking of which, on Monday I attended my first real sporting event: Durham Bulls media day. Right-handed pitcher Brent Honeywell Jr. spoke about the journey he has been on which has included not one COVID year away from the game, but FOUR due to several elbow surgeries. When I asked him about that journey and appreciating the game more, what he had to say hit me.

I played that over in my head, 'a lot of people don't like to be identified by the game of baseball, but I do.' Boy did that resonate with me.

All I've ever known are sports. Not only did every week of my childhood go in to being a competitive gymnast and fast-pitch softball player, but my family was on a decade-long streak of never missing a home game of the local WHL team. That doesn't count the times we were on the road to also watch them play.

"Prom? Oh I can't that weekend. I'll be in Kelowna for the Memorial Cup."

Actual story. But that was just one of many times sports have had a hold on my life.

I know this is the same for SO MANY sports fans growing up. However for me, it led me down a path that I knew there was only one thing in this world I ever wanted to do. That was work in sports - in any capacity.

But this week a small part of my identity started to return.

On Tuesday afternoon, I set out to shoot my first live game in 15 months. Destination? Zebulon. My favorite part about being in the field is taking the drive. In my last market in South Carolina, my average drive time one way was an hour and a half. Second-best part of my day, every day. Now, ironically my first sporting event back would be a baseball game. I arrived at Five County Stadium for the first time, but walking through the gates sent a familiar wave over me. There's nothing quite like game day. Especially getting there early and arriving at an empty field.

After a 40-minute rain delay, it was time for first pitch, and it was truly as if nothing had ever changed. It felt so good to see fans filing in to watch the Carolina Mudcats season opener, kids dancing on the Jumbotron and groups of people just enjoying everything America's Favorite Pastime has to offer. And then there I was on a new perch, but indulging in the same things. For me it's observing the scouts, watching the dugouts and how the teams carry themselves throughout the game, the fan reactions to big plays. All of it. All the things you don't see on TV.

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me 'there's a light at the end of the tunnel' or 'hang in there' this last year, well I probably wouldn't have to work again. But here's to hoping we've made it out of the tunnel and the light will shine brighter than it ever has before. In fact, things are already looking up as I'll be out at opening day for the Bulls Tuesday, May 11. Come say hi! That's the other thing that has gone away completely since being absent from live events. Meeting great people. I mean, how else are you supposed to share great sports stories from the community if you don't know anyone?