I’ll admit, it’s a strange time to be transitioning to a new role in sports media.
In a world that gets more uncertain every day, it’s an empty feeling right now for athletes and sports fans. Players have lost a way of life and don’t know when they’ll get it back. Fans have lost the sports that so often provide comfort and distraction during tough times like these.
So what can we do? Get through it together.
Much more important stuff is going on in the world right now, but starting today, I’m glad to be overseeing laxjournal.com as part of my new role of managing editor of print and digital properties at Seamans Media.
I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of the Seamans Media team since 2008, first as a freelance writer, then as an editor for three of its publications, including — since 2014 — New England Lacrosse Journal.
Telling the stories of the top players, great teams and biggest issues spanning this six-state region in New England Lacrosse Journal has been a job I’ve been immensely proud to do and one I will continue to do. I’m also excited to translate some of these strategies to continue making laxjournal.com a go-to stop for lacrosse players and fans in New England and beyond.
The mission for myself and the terrific staff at Seamans Media is to inspire and inform amateur athletes and their supporters, through the compelling stories in our magazine and on our websites, with insightful advice to help further their development throughout their careers.
Now, a new challenge.
Lacrosse teams at the college level are still reeling from seeing their seasons ended abruptly due to the coronavirus pandemic. Professional sports have ground to a halt. Nobody knows what the next few weeks, even months, will bring. It’s a scary time for everyone, starting with the heroic doctors, nurses and medical professionals fighting the disease on the front lines.
Athletes and teams are frustrated being on the sidelines, likely longer than any of them ever have been on the sidelines before. We’re frustrated along with them.
But we will keep reporting, more than ever before. At laxjournal.com, we’ll keep visitors up to speed on the top prospects and their college commitments. We’ll post the latest developments on the region’s high school and prep school seasons, and address what comes next for New England’s college and professional teams, and clubs.
We’ll debut a new series — “My Story” — a forum for college athletes who lost their senior lacrosse seasons to talk about the impact it’s had on their lives, and how it’s affected their plans for next year and beyond.
And we want to hear from you. Who should be on our radar? What are the stories we should be telling but haven’t told? Who deserves a spotlight shining on them for their achievements, both on and off the field?
These are hard times right now, in life but also in sports. Like any good team, we’ll get through it together and come out stronger on the other side.
Mike Zhe is the managing editor for print and digital properties at Seamans Media. Contact him at mzhe@laxjournal.com.
