Province high school and college sports reporter Howard Tsumura celebrates an anniversary this year. Hell turn 50, for one thing, but 2013 also marks his 30th year on the sports beat. The veteran reflected on his passion for his work in a Jan. 2 column, taking the opportunity as he often does, to recognize B.C.s dedicated high school coaches.
I try to write each day like those guys coach. I cant think of any other way, wrote Tsumura.
Somewhere along the way, you start getting called Mr. Tsumura, or Sir. But you just keep showing up in the gyms and at the fields. Season after season. Decade after decade. And the reason you do is because covering the high schools keeps you and your spirit eternally young.
Thirty years young on the sports beat and hes still a prolific writer with talent and a terrific memory. Tsumura, who in December extended his influence on the community by launching an invitational basketball tournament, can tell you who won the senior boys A (as in, single-A) basketball title for the B.C. North Central region in 1983-84. It was Houston Wolverines.
I cant believe I can still remember that, he wrote. The seniors on that team, I would guess, are turning 47 this year. But that is the most fun part, the remembering.
I know many readers of the Courier sports pages will join me in wishing Tsumura many more years covering and remembering players, coaches and championships.
