When I ended my state football broadcast Saturday morning from the press box area at US Bank Stadium I quickly packed up my radio equipment and took the elevator down to field level to the designated press conference room. I wanted to catch Minneota Coach Johnston’s post-game press conference.  I entered the room and saw Coach Johnston and a few of the Viking players at the podium.  However, they were ending their press conference.  I was late. I missed it.  Everyone was leaving the press room.

The other media people were leaving as well. I was visiting with Reba and Emma Lipinski from Minneota, they are mother and daughter photographers for Viking sports. The last media person to leave the room was my friend from the Minnesota High School League, John Millea. John writes the popular Johns Journal for the league. We have known each other for years. We meet at state tournaments every year and follow each other on our social media platforms.

John is a great guy and has announced his retirement when the school year is over. John has had an amazing career. He worked for the Star Tribune for many years covering the Twins and Vikings. He worked with the legendary Sid Hartmann. He knows everyone. John and I are much alike. He covers high school sports and loves his job. He told me Saturday that he has never worked a day in his life.

A few years ago John was in Montevideo doing a story on a Montevideo Gold Duster during the section dance tournament.  He sat with me in the press box and we visited for a long time about our jobs and life. John told me something that day I will always remember, he said “Every sporting event has a story. Look for the story.” That’s what John does he looks for the story and writes about it. That’s why he was in Montevideo that day for section dance. One of the Montevideo Gold Duster dancers had a prosthetic leg. That was the story.

John and I are the same age and have been married a long time to great and understanding wives. We both cover high school sports, John on a bigger level than me. We both love our jobs. He’s a good guy and I’m glad to know him and call him my friend.

My other blog about John from 2018

https://raymosramblings.com/2018/02/11/john/