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Five Questions with LaMond Pope

LaMond Pope covers the Fort Wayne TinCaps for the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. He has seen many players, prospects, and suspects come through the Midwest League (check out his TinCaps blog for some of his great work). He was gracious enough to take time out of his busy schedule to answer five questions for PRD.

PadresRunDown: How long have you been writing about sports/baseball and how long have you been covering the Fort Wayne TinCaps/Wizards?

LaMond Pope: I graduated from Indiana University in 2000 and started at a small paper in Ithaca, N.Y. I covered everything from basketball to lacrosse for Cornell University. I moved to Fort Wayne in the fall of 2005 and became the baseball writer late in the 2006 season after the previous reporter, Sarah Trotto, took a job in Arizona.

But I always say that my sports writing started in grade school. We’d play some type of sport (baseball, football, basketball) during recess and then I would come back to class and write a report for my grandpa. This job was really all I’ve ever wanted to do.

PRD: Who has been the most impressive hitter & pitcher you’ve ever seen and what stood out about them (home team only)? Who has been your favorite player(s) to cover/interview?

LM: Will Venable was on the 2006 season. He had a great year in Fort Wayne, setting the team record for RBI. He was just very consistent at the plate. Obviously, I have to mention Mat Latos. He overpowered hitters here this season. Jaff Decker has shown great poise for someone his age.

Since covering the team, all the players have been respectful. This year’s group has been fun to cover. There are a lot of characters on the team.

PRD: A lot of fans think sports writing is easy (and certainly it’s not rocket science) but what would you say to those people who think anyone can do your job?

LM: I think the biggest challenge is the deadline. There was a recent game where I had an 11:15 deadline. The game ended on a wild pitch in the 12th inning at 11:13. That was a close call. It’s also one of my favorite parts of the job. I’m trying to come up with creative ways to tell the story as the game unfolds.

People ask, “Isn’t it the same every day?” Part of the challenge, which I enjoy as well, is advancing the story. Not only telling what happened, but how it plays into the larger picture.

PRD: Do you have an athletic background yourself, or a just a love for sports?

LM: I played baseball for 10 years, including all four years at Waukegan High School (we won a division title my first year on varsity). I was a second baseman who could field, but couldn’t hit or throw.

PRD: What player (any sport) would you most like to interview (past or present) and why?

LM: Waukegan is located about 30 minutes north of Chicago, so I grew up a Cubs, Bears and Bulls fan. Walter Payton was my favorite football player and of course Michael Jordan was my favorite basketball player. One of the first teams I remember following was the 1984 Cubs. Getting the chance to interview Ryne Sandberg while he managed in Peoria was a highlight.

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I can completely respect being Peyton and Jordan fan. And uhhh, sorry about 1984 there, LaMond. Just kidding, and thanks again for doing this.