By Scottie Bricker
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 22, 1998

A dream day in a writer's life

Since most of you out there aren't aware of the rigors of being a sports writer here at the Daily Wildcat, I thought it best to give you a day in the life of my tour of duty as a writer.

With graduation just around the corner, it's fun to reflect on the multitude of tasks a writer can accomplish from day to day.

6:33 a.m.-Wake up to Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On." Can't think of any possible worse way to be awoken on a Monday, except maybe with a call from an adviser telling you that you still have a year of school left.

6:42 a.m. -Stumble to bathroom, take one look in the mirror and realize I would be better served by enjoying one more hour of slumber. Also realize waking up to myself is almost as bad as that damn song.

6:43 a.m.-Climb back into still-lukewarm bed.

8:10 a.m.-Stirred from peaceful dreaming again by Dion's "Titanic" love song. The joys of Tucson radio stations are endless. Are they ever going to stop playing that song? Thank God they went ahead and made a dance mix out of it also.

8:22 a.m.-Throw on Nike windpants and head out the door.

8:27 a.m.-Arrive at gym to work on routine for upcoming NCAA Gymnastics Championships. Record perfect 10 on rings, pommel horse and parallel bars. Scores will qualify me as only entrant from UA.

9:12 a.m.-Jog across campus to Robson Tennis Center, where I lose a practice match 6-1. I score only seven points in the entire set but my efforts still allow me to play in the Pacific 10 Conference Championships for UA men's team.

9:53 a.m.-Arrive at Physics 570A, Quantum Mechanics, with enough time to delve into the highly-enjoyable Daily Wildcat. Turn to sports page to find my article didn't run because I didn't get any quotes from the players or coaches.

10:12 a.m.-After listening to first 10 minutes or so of lecture I realize I don't give two electrons about it all. I write letter to professor telling him to have a nice day and head back to the newsroom.

10:23 a.m.-Stop at McDonald's and grab two Egg McMuffins and a lemonade. The day is off to a great start.

10:26 a.m.-Walk into work and promptly get ripped a new you-know-what by my editor for not quoting anyone.

10:46 a.m.-Get back at my editor by writing 5,000-word piece about the demise of college athletics in the '90s.

10:56 a.m.-Piece wins Pulitzer Prize for sports writing.

11:03 a.m.-President Clinton takes time out of his time with Monica and Jennifer to give me a call and commend me on my work. We make plans to meet at the McDonald's in Little Rock next Tuesday for Big Macs.

11:23 a.m.-Get to my Engineering 435 class, Corrosion and Degradation, just in time to fill out scantron for test and finish 250-question exam before the bell rings. Professor grades test while I wait. My score: 61 percent. "D" is for diploma.

12:37 p.m.-Drive to Raven Golf Club at Sabino Springs, play a round and fire a six-under par 66. Score qualifies me for NCAA Championships at the end of May. "Titanic" song is blaring from my car speakers.

3:15 p.m.-Return to Wildcat newsroom to find out I am late turning in my article previewing the softball team's upcoming homestand. Editor tells me I am fired.

3:17 p.m.-Newsroom phone rings. It's the sports line. Sports editor of the Los Angeles Times has heard about the Pulitzer and wants to hire me as the new syndicated columnist.

3:19 p.m.-I call him back to tell him I can be there in a month. After all, who would leave school early to pursue a career?

4:22 p.m.-Sprint over to Sancet Field in time to catch the end of UA's game against top-ranked Stanford. With score tied at 18 in the bottom of the ninth, coach calls me out of the stands to pinch hit with bases loaded. I strikeout looking on three pitches and the Cardinal goes on to win in extra innings.

5:28 p.m.-Enjoy relaxing dinner at the house of UA's head football coach to discuss the future of the program and the possibilities of me taking over at the helm when he is fired - or retires.

6:42 p.m.-Meet with Mr. Livengood to discuss terms of contract.

7:15 p.m.-Catch flight from Davis-Monthan in SR-71. Jump to Los Angeles, cover Lakers game and write a column for next day's edition as to why they will win the NBA Championship over the Bulls in six games.

11:03 p.m.-Return home to shower while "My Heart Will Go On" plays on my stereo. Finish shower, change station to Mix-FM 94.9 for some relaxing music to snore by. Serenaded to la-la land by none other than Miss Dion and her severely-underplayed masterpiece.

Scottie Bricker is a senior majoring in journalism and covers the Arizona softball team for the Daily Wildcat. He passed up big bucks in the Professional League of Journalists to return to school for his second senior year and write for your reading pleasure.