First off, lets remind people of the rules here, this is a blog, this is my opinion, this is not “unbiased sports reporting.”
That being said, I am very sad about the news today that the Spokane Shock have cut the Chainsaw. Kevin McCullough has been a good friend to me for the past three years and I will miss him greatly. I don’t fully understand the decision to let him go as I see him as a leader, and a heck of a football player. Since I don’t know all the reasons behind this decision I will wait to weigh in fully on the decision itself. Instead I wanted to take a minute and salute a player that did so much for his team, and for me.
Three years ago I interviewed Kevin for the first time and I knew immediately that we had someone we could use from a media standpoint. It didn’t take me long to realize, we had someone that we could ask to do anything and he would always come through. From everything I know about Kevin, he has been a model citizen in this community, and I know first-hand, he has been a delight for the media. Kevin has become a media star in this town. He has co-hosted our radio show with me, he has been a guest on our show more times than I can remember, he has been there always for our t.v. demands, and to my knowledge, he’s the only Shock player that has ever had his own weekly t.v. segment in Chattin’ With The Chainsaw.
Since starting Chattin’ With The Chainsaw last year, he has never missed a week. One time, last week, he had to miss because of an unforeseen circumstance. He texted me personally to apologize and re-schedule. We ended up shooting it (and what would turn out to be his last segment) at his apartment that night. In two years of doing this for our station, he never once asked for a dime in return, and never complained that it was a pain. He was always there when we needed him, and was always fun.
On the field, the chainsaw made his presence felt. Those of us that made the trip to Las Vegas for the Arena Cup last year will never forget the domination of the defense that was led by McCullough. I will never forget sitting down that night after the game and talking with Kevin at length about his game, and his future. I was very happy to have him back this year, but I hoped he wouldn’t be, I hoped he would have gotten an opportunity to play at a higher level. Kevin McCullough doesn’t seem to get a chance because he doesn’t light up the stopwatch in the 40, but Kevin McCullough is a football player, and a darn good one.
We as sports reporters are supposed to be non-biased when it comes to covering sports, and for the most part I feel that I have done a good job with that. On a couple of occasions, I have gone over that line with an athlete and they move away from just an athlete, to a friend. Kevin McCullough is a friend. This is why we aren’t supposed to go over that line. Now my job becomes very difficult. I have to report this story as a non-biased observer, and I have a hard time doing that because he is my friend, and it hurts to see him let go. I know Kevin will be ok. He has a bright future ahead of him no matter what path he chooses, and I know I will be able to do my job. But today is a hard day. I will miss the Chainsaw. I will miss my friend. Thank you Kevin, for everything.
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