Ivan Miller — Immersion Journalist
Beyond Basketball
I approached Larry Doty, Linfield’s men’s basketball coach, in October about using his team as the focus of an immersion journalism project. I explained my love of the sport and Doty agreed to let me join the team in practices and games. I have been sneaking over to Linfield before, after and between meeting the demands of my day job covering prep sports for the News-Register.
This isn’t the first time I have immersed myself with a team. Last winter I joined the Junction City boy’s basketball team while attending graduate school at the University of Oregon. I made the 25-minute trek from Eugene every day for four months. I attended practices, sat in on coach’s meetings and even laced up my sneakers for some live-action scrimmages.
I also shadowed players in their lives off the court, occasionally following them into their homes. At one point, I even went to some classes with a player. Suffice to say, things have changed a lot since I was in high school.
The result of my immersion was a bi-weekly feature column for the Tri-County News titled, “One Team, One season.” For the first time in my young career as a journalist, I felt I was able to capture the true essence of a team and its place in the community.
Three months later, I found myself immersed with the Springfield football team. It turned out to be a life-changing experience. The Millers hadn’t made the playoffs since 1996, and hadn’t won a playoff game since 1957. But I picked up some amazing stories.
One player’s father was serving a 30-year prison sentence for manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine. Though the odds were stacked against him, Donavan Ramsdal enjoyed great success on the football field.
That’s why I spend countless hours watching people interact. There are so many great stories to tell.
This year’s Linfield basketball team has the potential to make the playoffs.
Rise or fall, its efforts will produces stories to tell. And I’ll be in a position to tell them.
Ivan, this is awesome! I’m so happy that you found a channel for your impulse to get personal with your subject! Yay, blogs!
Your enthusiasm is certainly contagious!! Congratulations for taking it to another level!! Nice Work.
Ivan….it’s obvious that you are in a groove. The RIGHT groove. God Bless.