An open invitation …
You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.
It’s a famous quote from Wayne Gretzky.
The “Great One” rewrote the NHL record books by scoring 894 goals in his prolific career with that philosophy.
I’ve been using it as I attempt to check a few goals off the list I wrote five months ago to help pick up the pieces of my heart.
One of them was going out on a limb by starting this website, which has surpassed my goal by averaging 2,542 page views per article so far.
When people ask me how this endeavor is going, I bring up those numbers in my reply because I know that’s what they’re really curious about.
They then ask if I have any advertising.
Up until now, the answer has been no. Although it would be nice to have, I’ve been OK doing this without it because this venture has done much more for me than any financial compensation ever could.
It’s helped me regain my confidence and move forward with trying to become a better person today than I was yesterday.
That’s why I have mustered up enough courage to reveal to you my first ad.
Wanted: One-good hearted woman to forgive imperfections in the man that she loves.
After being married to a job that I loved more than it cared about me, I’m setting out to build a relationship with someone that can stand the test of time.
You have no idea how scary this is for me to be putting this into words for the general public to view. I also apologize to those of you who simply don’t care and just come here for the sports stories I’m known for producing. Your regular programming will return later this week.
But I felt this goal was important to share because I’m not a robot simply providing content for you on your social media feeds.
I feel better about my chances finding the One posting it here than on some dating website.
I’ve always wore my emotions on my sleeve, and I would hope there is a good chunk of you who truly care about the person behind the byline you’ve been reading over the years.
I consider all of you my extended family, and that’s why I’m going out of my comfort zone in asking for help to complete a story I can’t write by myself.
When you get over the big 3-0, and are not married yet, it can feel like you’re past an expiration date.
Maybe I can still find the One I’m looking for, but I also know I may just have to accept the fact that at some point in life I took a misstep that took me away from crossing paths with her.
I fully understand this is a process that you can’t script or put a timeline on. I’m sharing this with you now because I have a proposal to get the ball rolling for myself.
A week before the high school football season started, I received an invitation to a wedding from a friend, who I originally met on the sidelines while covering games when I first started out.
His daughter is getting married, and I thought it was a nice gesture that he would invite me. But my first instinct was to check off the invitation that I will not be attending.
I really won’t know anybody else at the reception and the thought of going alone – because, well, you know – simply scares the hell out of me. Unless I’m conducting an interview with a voice recorder in my hand, meeting and talking to new people really frightens me. No joke.
I went against my natural instinct, though, by returning the invitation and checking off that I will attend. Not only that, but I listed a “2” for the number of people attending.
That’s where I’m turning to you for help. If you know of a single woman, who is around the ages of 27-33 and that would be up for an unconventional first date in Green Bay on Oct. 21, please message me to let me know if they would be interested. Serious inquiries only.
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The best-case scenario for her is she’ll meet a different guy there. Worst-case scenario is she’d be willing to put up with me again and continue a conversation at a Green Bay Gamblers hockey game.
I’m not prince charming or rank that highly in the looks department, but I feel I make up for it with a kind heart.
The one thing I hope to find is someone who shares a love for country music. I listen to it all, from Tanya Tucker to Maren Morris and everything in between. I like to listen to music that tells a story and feel country is just good for the soul.
I’m doing this as a new starting point to finding the One because I’ve come to the realization that I’m not just going to magically cross paths with her like you see in romantic-comedies.
What I do know is I have a wide-ranging audience of people in the area who have been reading my work over the years. Perhaps somewhere out there one of you can provide that link to her, whether directly or indirectly.
I won’t know unless I take this shot.
Although she is probably not reading this now, I want her to know – We are going to be the greatest love story this world has ever seen.
I wish you the best! You really seem to be a great guy…wish I knew someone to suggest for you. Hopefully, some younger followers will come through for you! Good luck! Great fan of your writing…and heart!
Thank you, Jodi
I love reading your articles each week. Its refreshing to read about so many great athletes and behind the scenes stories that you get up in personal in reporting. I’ve been blessed to read your articles for many years. This like many have brought a tear to my eye – the last line did it. Sometimes unless we take chances in life and let people see our story they don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes in someone’s lives. I hope you find that someone special by doing this article but more importantly that she finds you!! Wishing you all the best and cheering for you – I look forward to hearing about the next chapter of this story. Enjoy the wedding 🙂
Thank you, Teresa. I appreciate your support over the years.