The Mitchell ReportEverybody has fears, myself included.
While public speaking isn’t one of those, I have to admit I was a little nervous after eating my chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes at Stub’s. For those of you interested, snakes are my biggest fear (they’re creepy and bad news, it says so in the bible).
Thursday during lunch I was the guest speaker at the Yazoo City Lion’s Club. Before things got started and as I had time to think about what I had gotten myself into - or rather my boss got me into - I was nervous about what I’d say and how the audience would respond.
Fortunately, it all went smooth.
Manchester Academy Headmaster Bryan Dendy presented me to the Lion’s Club and did a great job of explaining my background. He didn’t seem nervous and as I sat there listening to my own accomplishments, the nerves slowly began to go away.
Then it was my turn to speak.
Other than my speech class in college, I really haven’t given any speeches. In fact, I can’t think of one. So, Thursday was my first time speaking to a group of people. Fortunately, the topic was something I’m knowledgeable about. Me.
Those of you who have followed The Mitchell Report before it became The Mitchell Report probably know what all I talked about.
I explained to the group how I came to Mississippi back in 2007 and then how I came to be in Yazoo City only four months ago (boy, how time flies). I also talked about the experiences I had and things I learned while working for two newspapers in Cleveland.
Another thing I discussed was the current projects and other adventures we here at The Yazoo Herald are working on. Of course, there’s the MAIS All Star game that took place Friday afternoon, as well as Saturday night’s Yazoo County-Yazoo City basketball games. During the question and answer part, I was asked who I like in those games. That was a pretty easy question for me.
I like the County girls to win their game, while I predict the City boys will win theirs.
One thing I was excited to talk about with the audience, who I assumed are readers of the newspaper, was the upcoming football review magazine and I’d like to say the same thing here because not every reader heard what I had to say.
I’ll be the first to admit the football cover has become mundane. It’s the same thing over and over again. However, in early January, I expect that when you pick up a copy, you’ll look at the cover and say “wow”.
The cover isn’t the only thing that will be different. Sure, there will be the usual MVP, offensive, defensive, special teams, newcomer and coach of the year awards, as well as a 24-player All Herald team. What will be different is the type of stories and the way they look.
I’m not going to go into too much detail on those changes here because I want you, the reader, to be surprised in January.