I don’t know if my interest, or lack thereof, in the World Cup Soccer Championships makes me All American, un-American or a little of both.

At the risk of offending soccer fans, I just don’t get the excitement. Try as I may in my 20 years as a sports writer, I just don’t get soccer, period.

Don’t get me wrong, I admire and respect the men and women who spend their youth finetuning their skills on a soccer field.

In my high school days, when I ran the 2-mile, I might have possessed the endurance to play soccer, but my skill sets would have been completely lacking to make even a high school team. Of course, when I was in high school in the 1970s, soccer had yet to take hold in Northwest Florida.

My lack of enthusiasm for soccer can be directly traced to my lack of exposure to the game growing up.

The closest thing to soccer we ever played in physical education class was a game called speed ball. It was a cross between soccer and dodge ball, with a little more emphasis on putting a ball in a goal. Teams were divided into equal numbers and seven to 11 of the rubbery kick balls were placed in the middle of the field. The first team to score more than half the balls would win.

I would be unfair to blame speed ball for souring me on soccer, Although the action in speed ball made it much more exciting than soccer.

The fact is I didn’t grow up with soccer and I never learned to appreciate the game's finer points. Some people feel toward baseball the way I feel about soccer; they find the game painfully slow, lacking in scoring, and overall boring.

The person who isn’t a baseball fan would have been miserable watching the 18-inning game between Crestview and Navarre this year. They could easily point to the 1-0 outcome and question if anything happened.

As a baseball purist, I found the game exciting. I loved the pitching and defense both the Bulldogs and Raiders displayed as the teams poured their hearts into the game, but I’m not offended if someone finds that game, or any other baseball game, boring.

My job would be a little easier if I understood soccer a little better and enjoyed it a little more. I’ve honestly tried to learn and appreciate the sport, but it’s not to be.

I will be pulling for Team USA throughout the World Cup.  

But they will win or lose without me watching.

Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SIDELINE OBSERVATIONS: I can’t get into the World Cup

I've been covering the Justin Richards Scholarship Baseball Tournament for the past eight or 10 years.

As a baseball junkie, it's fun to spend a couple of days out of the office — soaking up what I hope will be more sunshine than rain — while enjoying the game I love.

Milestone approaches

The tournament, which ended Saturday, quietly celebrated its 19th anniversary. Nineteen consecutive years for any tournament in this day and age is an amazing accomplishment, as is keeping a scholarship going for so long.

I have watched other tournaments come and go. And I’ve seen scholarships in memory of an athlete who died too young fade a year or two after the athlete’s class graduated or family members moved on.

I can’t imagine the loss that Ronnie and Anita Richards experienced when they lost their oldest son, Justin, in a tragic accident 20 years ago. I do know that they keep Justin’s memory alive in a positive way with the annual tournament, which helps provide scholarship money to a graduating senior baseball player.

Ronnie and Anita don’t just put their stamp of approval on the tournament; they work it as well, helping get the field in shape between games and running the concession stand. Anita’s homemade ice cream is worth every penny. They sold 22 gallons of the frozen treat this year.

The tournament hits a milestone next year with the 20th edition of the annual event.

Plans are in the early stages to have a big celebration honoring Justin Richards' legacy and the tournament's history while recognizing past scholarship winners.

Labor of love

A generation of Crestview High School baseball players has grown up with the tournament as a fixture in their Bulldog experience. The tournament has become a part of their high school baseball legacy, although most will not fully understand what the tournament represents in the seasons of life for the Richards family.

For many players and fans, the tournament is just another summer tournament, but I have witnessed that it is a true labor of love, not only for the Richards family, but also for Bulldog baseball coach Tim Gillis and others within the program.

I never had the opportunity to meet Justin Richards or see him play baseball for the Bulldogs, but his story, along with his family's dedication, has touched my life.

Yes, I look forward to the Justin Richards Scholarship Baseball Tournament each year. It’s a fine baseball tournament, but it’s so much more than that.

The tournament is a gift not only to the Bulldog baseball team, but also to the Crestview community that enriches all who see the selfless dedication in honoring Justin's memory.

Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin’s sports editor. Email him at randyd@crestviewbulletin.com, tweet him @BigRandle, or call 682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SIDELINE OBSERVATIONS: More than a baseball tournament

The last 10 ½ months since my dad, Jim Dickson, passed away on July 30 of last year have been filled with firsts for me and my family.

My family has walked that unfamiliar path of first birthdays and anniversaries without Dad as well as the first Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s without him. And through the strength of our shared faith and our love for each other, we have, even through the tears, made it OK.

The summer of 2013 has turned to fall, fall to winter, winter to spring and, in a few days, we will be back to summer. Yes, the seasons of life, including the baseball, football and basketball seasons Dad and I loved to share, have come full circle.

It’s been tough not talking Tennessee football or basketball with Dad. I even miss the way he would pick on me, pretending to be pessimistic about our Volunteers to ruffle my feathers.

Sunday is another of those first days without Dad as we celebrate Father’s Day.

As has been the case with the other big days, this first Father’s Day without Dad will seem strange. As an adult I missed more Father’s Days being with Dad than I spent with him. But we always celebrated the day together even if only with a phone call.

I’m still trying to decide how I will celebrate — yes, celebrate — my first Father’s Day without Dad. Dad was first a Southern Baptist deacon and then preacher, so I know I’ll spend part of the day in church.

He didn’t fish or golf, so I doubt I’ll be fishing or golfing Sunday. Dad was a Philadelphia Phillies fan and the Phillies play the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. If I can get the game on TV or the web, I’ll watch it and pull for the Phillies just for Dad.

Dad loved funny movies — especially ones about crazy dysfunctional fathers — so I’ll see if I can find something with Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold or a Robin Williams or Steve Martin movie to have a laugh for Dad.

Since losing Dad I’ve had numerous friends tell me how he impacted their lives. Jim Dickson was my dad, but he was a coach and mentor to many young men he coached or taught in Sunday School.

I always thought of him as a great man, but others have said they thought of him that way, too. Jim Dickson was a common man with a rare grace and uncommon greatness that allowed him to touch many people's lives.

I challenge each son and daughter reading this column to — if possible — reach out to your dad this weekend and celebrate a relationship worth keeping or saving.

Make memories that are pure gold so that with each passing year you will have treasured memories to hold to long after “Dad, Pop, Paw or Father” is gone.

I know bittersweet tears will flow Sunday, and each will serve as a reminder of how blessed I am to have such a special Dad.

Happy Father’s Day.

Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin’s sports editor. Email him at randyd@crestviewbulletin.com, tweet him @BigRandle, or call 682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SIDELINE OBSERVATIONS: Make memories with Dad now

I doubt anyone would ever mistake me for a morning person.

To be perfectly honest with you, I’d rather roll out of bed closer to the noon hour than sunrise. Give me the sun high in the sky and then I’ll watch it set, later in the day, when I’m wide awake.

Yes, I much prefer 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., but sometimes life happens at 6 a.m. and, when it does, I go with the flow.

A few weeks ago I met with Ron Hale, the general manager at WTKE radio 100.3 FM, aka “The Ticket” Sports Network. Ron said they were interested in me joining the rotation of guest co-hosts on the Morning Wrap show that airs 6-9 a.m.

Daily News sports editor Brandon Walker and radio personality Rob Brown usually share the set in that time slot. But Ron wanted to know if I would be available to help out as needed. I quickly agreed.

I got a call from Brandon last Wednesday asking if I would be available Friday morning. Even with my fear of the pre-dawn hour, I jumped at the opportunity.

When the alarm clock went off just before 5 a.m., I only hit the snooze button once. My dog didn’t seem impressed; he found his favorite spot to sleep on the couch as I dressed before heading out the door. I was on my way to Destin to do the show by 5:15.

The sun had yet to reach the horizon as I made my way east from my house in Fort Walton Beach. I knew it was early, but I didn’t realize how early until I passed Krispy Kreme in Destin.

Not only had they yet to turn on the hot doughnut light, the lights in the store were still off as well.

I got to the Destin Commons studio a little before 5:45. Brandon arrived a couple of minutes later and we were on the air by 6 a.m. when we were joined by Chris “The Sports Babe,” who produces the show and screens calls.

Once on the air, things went smoothly. Brandon and I have known each other a couple of years and the ebb and flow of the conversation seemed natural and unforced. It might have been early in the morning, but we were just a couple of guys chewing the fat about sports.

In my 20 or so years in the newspaper business I’ve written thousands of stories, many of which were written on deadline as press time approached. Writing on deadline isn’t easy, and not everyone can do it, but it’s second nature to those of us who write for a living.

Experiencing another medium is always exciting. It’s nice to see how the other guys do it. And a seat in the radio booth, talking sports, isn’t a bad place to be as sun rises on another beautiful day in Okaloosa County.

Even if it means getting out of bed at 5 a.m.

Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin’s sports editor. Email him at randyd@crestviewbulletin.com, tweet him @BigRandle, or call 682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SIDELINE OBSERVATIONS: A walk on the radio side

It's no secret that, despite what I want to sometimes think is a tough exterior, I'm really a bit of a softy and sentimental slob.

I get choked up over weddings, graduation ceremonies and even reruns of "The Waltons" and other television shows I have seen countless times.

Graduations are something dear to my heart as the memories pour back from my own high school graduation day, which on May 29 will be 38 years ago.

It's hard to believe that I have now lived more than twice as long since graduation as I had up to my graduation day. In some ways, the last 38 years have passed more quickly than my four years at Gulf Breeze High School.

I still remember a lot of the big games and big plays that marked my time in high school. But many of the games and plays I once so easily recalled have been lost in the clutter of years. I've learned that time has a way of doing that to most of us, and there's no need to fight it.

Gulf Breeze played Crestview several times in multiple sports during my days as a Dolphin, but I'd be lying if I said I remember one Bulldog athlete from that time. I have learned that Dale Rice Jr. and Dexter Day likely played against Gulf Breeze when I was in school.

I know Gulf Breeze beat Crestview in football my junior year in the fall of 1974. The Bulldogs returned the favor the last game of my senior year in the fall of 1975. I still haven't recovered from that loss, and I don't think I ever will or want to.

My memories of Laurel Hill School are nonexistent. I don't think I had even heard of Laurel Hill prior to arriving to work for the Northwest Florida Daily News in December of 2000.

I could tell you about Walnut Hill in North Escambia County and the old Ernest Ward High School, an early rival of Gulf Breeze; we beat the Ernest Ward Eagles in football 48-0 my senior year.

But there are no Hobo memories to share.

I probably remember more about the Baker Gators than any school from way back then, and it's because of one man, track legend Houston McTear. No high school sprinter ever covered 100 yards faster than McTear. In the 1975 state track meet, McTear tied the world record in the 100-yard dash with a time of nine seconds flat.

McTear also was a force in the 200, long jump and high jump. As a senior, in 1976, he won state titles in the 100, 200 and long jump. McTear was a four-time champion in the 100 and 200, and he is one of three track and field athletes in the history of Florida to win nine individual championships.

As graduations are again upon us, I look back almost 40 years and treasure my time as a high school athlete during a very special time here in the Panhandle.

Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin’s sports editor. Email him at randyd@crestviewbulletin.com, tweet him @BigRandle or call 682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SIDELINE OBSERVATIONS: Special memories from days gone by