Sports, Pets, And A Happy Ending...My Decade With The Observer

Charlie, the former Lakewood Animal Shelter resident I adopted via the Observer. He has spent the last nine years living a spoiled life of comfort. 

Ten years ago I was invited to become part of the Lakewood Observer. I was thrilled with the opportunity. Although I did not choose a journalism career, I always enjoyed writing. In my younger days, I wrote for student newspapers at both St. Edward High School and Northwestern University. I loved telling stories, and I loved the people of Lakewood. I first moved here as a teenager in 1983, and I eventually bought my own Lakewood home in 1997. Previous to joining the Observer, I had been active in numerous community activities…those experiences made me fall in love with Lakewood’s people. Although our city’s population is extremely diverse, the traits of passion, creativity, and intelligence are widespread.

Back in 2005, corporate media consolidation was already well underway. The Internet devastated revenue for major newspapers like the Plain Dealer, reducing the size of newsrooms and adversely impacting news coverage of Lakewood. The Lakewood Sun Post, which for years had been the primary news outlet for local stories, had become an affiliate of the PD and lost much of its local focus. A void existed for news by and about Lakewood, and we were happy to fill that role.

During my time as an Observer writer, I have primarily written about local sports. Most of these articles focused on Lakewood Ranger athletics, which had largely fallen off the PD/Sun Post radar by 2005. It has been a pleasure meeting so many hard-working coaches and students over the years. Some programs and athletes achieved championships, while others struggled. Win or lose, the Rangers have always treated me well. I hope that I have given them many “scrapbook memories” over the years….because that is what high school sports are all about.

I’ve also tried to find other untold Lakewood sports stories. Back in 2007 I wrote a feature about the many Lakewood women in the Burning River Roller Girls, a local roller derby team. I was incredibly impressed with their toughness, passion, and camaraderie. The same goes for my 2012 story on Amber Barrick, a Lakewood woman that played quarterback for the Cleveland Fusion, a pro football team. Perhaps my most unique story was 2006 piece about Nicky Gerome, the Lakewood woman who founded the official Browns Backers Club of Antarctica.

Our schools have always been a great source of stories for the Observer. The commitment of teachers, faculty, and students in this town is amazing. Last year I did a story on LEAF’s “Farm to School” program at Garfield Middle School. LEAF worked with Garfield teachers to teach kids the importance of healthy eating. The LHS Marching Band has also been a popular subject over the years…their hard work and great talent have brightened not just football games, but major events like the Fourth of July parade.

I’ve also enjoyed doing stories about my high school alma mater. We covered some of the high profile sports events they have brought to the city, including the 2007 Ohio State/Northwestern wrestling match held at St. Edward and the 2014 nationally televised ESPN football game at First Federal of Lakewood Stadium. I’ve particularly enjoyed writing about the Eagles’ charity efforts. We spotlighted their monthly community meals, which have helped struggling Lakewood residents since 1994. We also covered their fundraising efforts for causes like Haiti and childhood cancer. St. Edward faculty and students have shown strong commitment to the school’s mission of “servant leadership.”

I’ve had great fun with with pet stories at the Observer. Before 2005, I had already been a volunteer for CCLAS and Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park, so I was already familiar with Lakewood’s love of animals. However, I’ve learned so much more since joining the Observer. In addition to CCLAS and FLDP, I’ve discovered great Lakewood groups like “All Dogs Heaven” and “My Best Friends Bowl.” Lakewood citizens volunteer thousands of hours annually for the betterment of our four-legged friends. It’s no surprise, because Lakewood has always had heart.

Of course, the love of people for their animals is a two-way relationship. I’ve had the pleasure of writing about some heroic pets that have served humans very well. Earlier this year I profiled Madison, the formerly homeless pooch that became a Therapy Dog at Lakewood High School. In 2006 I profiled Stoney, a former shelter dog that rescued his owner from a gas leak.

My all-time favorite Observer item was a pet story. In 2006 we featured an abandoned dog named Charlie that was staying at the Lakewood Animal Shelter. He suffered from heartworm and was badly underweight. We ran his photo in the paper, hoping to find someone to adopt the little fellow. There were no takers after a couple days, but I was very touched by his story. So I decided to bring Charlie home, and haven’t regretted it for a moment since. He fell in love with his new home, and is now leading a charmed Lakewood life (just like his daddy).

I want to thank everyone that has made this project possible. I’m not just an Observer writer, but also an avid Observer reader. I anxiously await each issue, and love reading Lakewood’s stories and seeing its photographs. The “experts” said the Observer would fold within six months….but our talented writers, editors, and photographers have bucked the odds for a decade. I can’t wait to write about the next ten years.

Mike Deneen

Mike Deneen has extensive experience covering sports and community stories for the Lakewood Observer. Mike has been a Senior Industry Analyst for the Freedonia Group in Cleveland, Ohio, since 1998. He has appeared on CNBC’s Closing Bell, NPR’s MarketPlace and has been quoted multiple times in The Wall Street Journal. He has made multiple guest appearances on ESPN Cleveland radio. Mike also writes for Inside Northwestern, a website that covers Northwestern Wildcat Athletics. You can reach him on Twitter at @MikeDeneen1 

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Volume 11, Issue 13, Posted 4:18 PM, 06.23.2015