David Ubben<title> <style media="screen" type="text/css"> /*  */ </style> </head> <body> <div id="header"> <center><img src="banner.jpg"></center> </h2> </div> <div class="colmask threecol"> <div class="colmid"> <div class="colleft"> <div class="col1">  <center><p><h2>On Crimson and Corn...and Writing</h2></center></p> <p>I didn't understand their awe as the towering man in the red blazer parted the sea of wide-eyed faces lining the hallways underneath Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. To me, he was just some guy I had followed off the field as I hurried back up to the press box, probably an usher. But they looked at him as if he was some sort of modern Moses, their faces silently thanking him for leading them to the Promised Land. </p><p> Just minutes before a nationally televised game against No. 4 Missouri, time refused to thaw until he was well past each tiny droplet that would later trickle into The Sea of Red inside the stadium. </p><p> As we neared the elevators, a father stood reverently in full Husker regalia, his two small sons latched to each of his legs, their eyes drifting upward, wondering why their father had frozen without warning.</p><p> The man strolled past them, finally allowing the father to crouch and quietly identify the aged man inside the crimson jacket.</p><p> "Hey boys, that's Coach Osborne."</p><p> All 71 years, 255 wins, and three national championships of him.</p><p> And on that gorgeous October night deep inside the heart of America, I got a glimpse of what I love most about sports writing. There aren't 80,000 people who show up for school board meetings every week. There aren't tens of thousands more discussing the proceedings online at message boards. Sports are special. For as much time as we spend playing, watching and talking about them, they come with little obligation. I consider writing about them a privilege. I'm not foolish enough to think of sports as something of the utmost importance. They're not. But the passion of those who love them is indisputable. <p>Some of life's most memorable moments take place inside living rooms as has-beens and never-weres provide stinging criticisms from their couches while fanatics carefully celebrate inside the stadium, cautious not to tip over that cup of nacho cheese almost forgotten underneath the bleachers. Few writers outside of sports and politics get to write about a subject fueled almost exclusively by enthusiasm. I'm one of the lucky ones. </p><p> When people used to ask me what my dream job in this profession was, I never knew the answer. Now I do. Excuse the vaguery, but I want to write about what people care about. Telling stories about people and issues within the world of sports is more rewarding for me than anything else I've done as a journalist. That said, in today's economic and journalistic environment, I'm more than willing and capable to cover any general assignment or beat necessary. Doing so with a narrative tone provides me with a challenge and an opportunity to entertain readers in innovative ways. The hard part is finding a place to tell those stories. </p><p> But I suppose that's what this Web site is for.</p>  </div> <div class="col2">  <h2><i>The Oklahoman</i></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://newsok.com/prentiss-elliotts-dream-lives-on/article/3382928" target="_blank">Prentiss Elliott keeping the dream</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://newsok.com/adrian-peterson-says-brett-favre-talk-not-a-distraction/article/3381135?custom_click=pod_headline_ou-sports" target="_blank">Adrian Peterson says Brett Favre talk not a distraction</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://newsok.com/former-sooner-adrian-peterson-hosting-happy-campers/article/3380794" target="_blank">Adrian Peterson hosting happy campers</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://newsok.com/si-cover-boy-bryce-harper-says-hes-not-relocating-to-oklahoma/article/3376297?custom_click=lead_story_title" target="_blank">SI cover boy, Bryce Harper, says he's not relocating to Oklahoma</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://newsok.com/sportsmanship-starts-with-the-handshake/article/3381389?custom_click=headlines_widget" target="_blank">Sportsmanship starts with the handshake</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://newsok.com/u.s.-open-its-been-long-road-to-bethpage-for-ryan-spears/article/3376718?custom_click=headlines_widget" target="_blank">It's been a long road to U.S. Open at Bethpage for Del City's Ryan Spears</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://newsok.com/international-hot-rod-association-hot-rods-are-carving-niche-tulsa-fans-noticing/article/3377775" target="_blank">Hot rods are carving niche, Tulsa fans noticing</a></li></ul> <h2><i>Columbia Missourian</i></h2> <ul> <li> <a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/11/13/mystery-punctuates-rivalry-trophys-asterisk" target="_blank">Mystery punctuates rivalry trophy's asterisk - Fifth Place - APSE Explanatory Writing (Under 40K)</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/09/24/special-repect-mus-milligan" target="_blank">Milligan earns a special respect - Second Place - SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards (Region 7)</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/11/07/tiger-kickoff-coulters-looks-back-move-forward" target="_blank">Coulter looks back to move forward</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/10/24/tiger-kickoff-above-rest" target="_blank">Coffman proves he's a good catch</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/12/30/tigers-last-feeling-victory/" target="_blank">Final feeling is victory for Tigers</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/10/09/tigers-touchdown-celebration-has-complex-history" target="_blank">Touchdown celebration has complex history</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/04/17/walk-getting-his-chance-mu-football-team" target="_blank">Wonsey finally getting chance</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/12/07/tigers-deal-disappointment" target="_blank">Tigers deal with Big 12 Championship loss</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/12/03/tigers-defense-examines-struggles" target="_blank">Tiger defense examines struggles</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/09/12/saunders-continues-mentoring-tradition" target="_blank">Saunders continues mentoring tradition</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/12/28/2008-tigers-look-back-unfufilled-expectations" target="_blank">Tigers look back on unfulfilled expectations</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/09/11/former-missourian-reporters-recall-mu-football-programs-darker-days" target="_blank"> Former Missourian reporters recall program's darker days</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/08/10/mu-football-players-take-time-fans" target="_blank">MU players take time out for fans </a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/02/13/cougars-shave-heads-celebrate-20th-win" target="_blank"> Cougars shave to Mohawks after 20th win</a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/03/17/mu-football-player-arrested/" target="_blank">MU football player arrested</a></li><p> <b><li><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/accounts/profiles/David_Ubben" target="_blank"> <i>Columbia Missourian</i> full archive</a></li><p></b> </ul> <h2>Freelance</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/alamo_bowl/Missouri_never_planned_on_SA.html" target="_blank"> <i>San Antonio Express-News</i></a></li><p> <li><a href="http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/02/25/0225texfem.html" target="_blank"> <i>Austin American-Statesman</i></a></li><p> </ul> <h2>Radio Interviews</h2> <br> <div style="width:300px;"><object width="300" height="110"><param 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Web</h2> <ul> <li>Contact: <a href="mailto:ubbend@gmail.com">ubbend@gmail.com</a></li><p> <li>Sports Journalism Institute<br> <a href="http://sportsjournalisminstitute.org/blog/2009/06/05/sji-touts-four-apse-winners/" target="_blank">SJI touts four APSE winners</a></li><p> <a href="http://apse.dallasnews.com/sji/021309sjiclass.html" target="_blank">SJI announces class of 2009</a></li><p> <li>APSE<br> <a href="http://apse.dallasnews.com/contest/2008/writing/writing_over250.html" target="_blank">2008 Writing Contest Results</a></li><p> <li>UWIRE<br> <a href="http://www.uwire.com/content/UWIRE100/davidubben.html" target="_blank">UWIRE 100 Profile Page</a></li><p> <li>SPJ<br> <a href="http://spj.org/blog/blogs/region7/archive/2009/04/25/22082.aspx" target="_blank">2008 Region 7 Mark of Excellence Awards</a></li><p> <li>SportsJournalists.com<br> <a href="http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/index.php/topic,67165.msg2344272.html#msg2344272" target="_blank"> APSE results thread</a><br></li><p> <li><i>Columbia Missourian:</i><br> <a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/02/26/thoughts-basketball-asterisks-and-other-sports" target="_blank">Dear Reader: Thoughts on basketball, asterisks and other sports</a></li><p> <li>University of Missouri<br> <a href="http://www.journalism.missouri.edu/news/2009/03-12-apse-top10.html" target="_blank"> Journalism senior named in national Top 10 by Associated Press Sports Editors</a></li><p> <a href="http://www.journalism.missouri.edu/news/2009/04-28-mark-of-excellence.html" target="_blank"> 13 Students Honored with SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards</a></li><p> <a href="http://www.journalism.missouri.edu/news/2005/11-02-aol-blogger.html" target="_blank"> Walter Williams Scholar blogs for AOL</a></li><p> <li>ESPN.com<br> <a href="http://myespn.go.com/blogs/big12/0-5-179/Read-these-lunchtime-Big-12-links-before-you-shop-today.html" target="_blank"> Tim Griffin's Big 12 Lunchtime Links</a></li><p> <li>United Press International (UPI)<br> <a href="http://www.physorg.com/news6681.html" target="_blank"> AOL goes for reality programming</a></li><p> <li>Personal Profiles<p> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Ubben/15918942" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li><p> <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidubben" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li><p> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/davidubben" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li><p> <li>Note:<br> Here's a hello to my namesake, Swiss artist David Ubben, and the reason for the hyphen in my domain name. In case you hadn't figured it out by now, this is not him. And davidubben.com is not me. To David: Keep the fire burning. (And let me know when davidubben.com is available.)</li><p>  </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p> <center><a href=�mailto:ubbend@gmail.com�>email</a></center> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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