A Legend Leaves

My interest in high school sports really developed as I hit high school myself. Watching old Friday Football Extra's with Mike Stevens and his very colorful sweaters was a Friday night ritual. Then, when I became a student manager at Jefferson Forest High School, on nights I was there late I would pop in the coaches office and watch Friday Football Extra with coaches Christmas, Landis, Butler and Trent. Friday Football Extra was always a show that provided the best in high school football highlights.

To me when I think of WDBJ-7, I think Mike Stevens. I never thought Mike would leave the "Big 7". A saying has been used that a lot of the times when you meet your heroes or people you look up to, they dissappoint you and let you down. Not the case with Mike. Mike always took time to talk about what you wanted to talk about and he broke things down so in-depth, tat it was simply jawdropping. Even though Roanoke is the home base for WDBJ, Mike could talk Amherst, Giles, Bath County, or any other school that wasn't in the immediate Roanoke area. Every time I talked to Mike I counted it as a privledge and a honor. Mike Stevens is a class act all the way.

This year, I sat on press row at the state tournament, and Mike Stevens was there shooting highlights. If Mike had to leave to get a drink or to go get some press notes, he would ask me "Do you mind watching this (camera) for me?" It was a total 100 % pleasure, to feel in just a little way I helped Mike Stevens, because I felt like I could never help Mike the way he helped me.

The bottom line is Mike Stevens=class, dignity and a super human being. He was good on the air, giving scores, introducing highlights and many other things he did. But, he's a better person then he is sports anchor.

Travis Wells has some big shoes to fill, but I think Travis is up for the task. After all, he's learned from one of the best and he exhibits many qualities that Mike did, such as passion, dignity, class and being a super human being.

But today, it's all about Mike. This is not farewell, it's just "see you later". The city of Salem gets another champion to add to the City of Champions.