By Daniel Paulling, Lubbock (Texas) Avalanche-Journal
John Lowe started preparing 16 years ago for what he calls the second phase of his life.
The former Detroit Free Press sports writer began advising student journalists at the Michigan Daily, the student newspaper at the University of Michigan, in 1999. His love for working with students led him to retire last year after covering the Detroit Tigers for 28 seasons. He’s now a visiting professional at the University of Texas after giving a guest lecture there last year.
“I just found the whole thing very rewarding,” said Lowe, whose position is a volunteer role. “I just have this great desire and obligation to pass on what I’ve learned because I’ve had many, many fantastic teachers in my career. I also had an amazing amount of experiences.”
While a freshman at USC, Lowe befriended the two baseball beat writers at his hometown paper, the Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram: Tracy Ringolsby, who was covering the then-California Angels, and Gordon Verrell, who was covering the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ringolsby invited Lowe, who worked part-time at the paper from 1976-78, to the press box and even on a road trip. Lowe — who decided in fifth grade he wanted to work in sports journalism and then a few years later he wanted to be a sports writer — fell in love with covering baseball.
“Just being around them and listening to their stories about covering baseball, I realized what kind of amazing world it was to be a part of,” Lowe said.
Lowe covered baseball, the NFL and soccer for the Los Angeles Daily News from 1979-1984, spent 1984-86 at the Philadelphia Inquirer and then moved to the Free Press. He’s covered 143 World Series games, including 121 consecutive ones at one point, and 28 All-Star Games.
His replacement on the Tigers beat, Anthony Fenech, learned from Lowe as Lowe learned from the two Independent Press-Telegram reporters. Fenech, then working at the Free Press in his first year of college, asked if he could join Lowe at the ballpark on one of Fenech’s days off.
“John taught me how to treat people,” Fenech said. “I saw the way he’d interact with people on a day-to-day basis. I saw the respect the people treated him with. He could go up to any locker at any time and talk to the guys. It’s something I strive to do on a day-to-day basis.”
Lowe is still a mentor for Fenech, though they’re nearly 1,400 miles apart.
Fenech found himself struggling after not being able to receive confirmation on a signing earlier this year. He reached out to Lowe, who Fenech said eased his mind by telling him not to worry because covering baseball is a day-to-day grind.
“He’s one of the best,” Fenech said. “Very gracious with his knowledge, the things he would pass on to young journalists. He’s one of the true professionals.”
Lowe said he hasn’t thought much about his former career, the many days he spent traveling and writing on tight deadlines. He’s grateful for the flexibility his work at Texas allows him, giving him time to pursue his interests outside of baseball and allowing him to catch up with old friends when the team they cover plays in Houston or Arlington, Texas, short drives away.
He’s also happy for the opportunity to help Texas students but said he’s willing to provide advice for students elsewhere, too. He wants to build upon what Ringolsby and Verrell gave him.
“The way my career began out there (in Long Beach, Calif.) might not have begun now,” Lowe said. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate my entire career. Someone told me several years ago, ‘You don’t pay it back. You pay it forward.’ That’s what I’m doing here.”
Other personnel moves across the country:
NATIONAL
—Comcast Sports Net: Hired Vincent Goodwill as Chicago Bulls insider at CSNChicago
—Fox Sports: Hired former Detroit News reporter Tom Gage to cover the Detroit Tigers for Fox Sports Detroit … hired Matthew DeFranks to cover the Kansas City Royals for Fox Sports Kansas City
—MLB.com: Hired Jeffrey Flanagan as Kansas City Royals beat writer to replace Dick Kaegel, who retired
—Sporting News: Hired Adi Joseph of USA Today Sports as NBA editor … hired Cristina Ledra, Steve Petrella and Cory Collins as digital producers
—Sports Illustrated: Hired DeAntae Prince from Sporting News to be lead NBA producer
—SportsManias: Hired Eric Johnston as senior UX designer … hired Tim Cary as social media editor
GREAT LAKES
—Cincinnati Enquirer: Hired onmilwaukee.com’s Jim Owczarski as a Cincinnati Bengals columnist.
—South Bend Tribune: Hired former Casper Star-Tribune University of Wyoming beat writer Mike Vorel to cover Notre Dame football and recruiting
—Wisconsin State Journal: Promoted Jason Galloway from preps beat to University of Wisconsin football beat
GREAT PLAINS
—Des Moines Register: Hired Zack Creglow as sports content coach
MID-ATLANTIC
—Baltimore Sun: Hired Carroll County Times sports editor Bob Blubaugh as sports content editor
—Philadelphia Daily News: Lost sports editor Chuck Bausman, who retired … promoted Rich Hofmann from columnist to sports editor
Washington Times: Promoted Zac Boyer to sports editor
NORTHEAST
—Boston Herald: Hired former MassLive Boston Red Sox beat writer Jason Mastrodonato to cover the Red Sox
—New York Times: Moved Randy Archibold to deputy sports editor
NORTHWEST
—Casper Star-Tribune: Hired Minot Daily News sports editor Ryan Holmgren as University of Wyoming athletics beat writer
—Tacoma News Tribune: Named T.J. Cotterill as high school sports editor
SOUTHEAST
—Alabama Media Group: Hired Matt Zenitz to cover University of Alabama football … hired USA Today NFL editor Izzy Gould as senior managing producer for news
—Chattanooga Times Free Press: Named Stephen Hargis as sports editor … moved sports editor Jay Greeson to general columnist
—Clarion-Ledger: Promoted Hugh Kellenberger from Ole Miss beat to columnist and enterprise sports writer … moved recruiting and preps writer Riley Blevins to Ole Miss beat
—Courier-Journal: Hired Gentry Estes, formerly of Dawgs247, as sports planning editor
—Opelika-Auburn News: Promoted Tom Green from preps to Auburn beat
—Tennessean: Hired former Washington Capitals reporter Adam Vingan to cover Nashville Predators
—TimesDaily: Hired former Opelika-Auburn News Auburn beat writer Alex Byington to cover University of Alabama
SOUTHWEST
—Dallas Morning News: Hired Beaumont Enterprise sports reporter Avi Zaleon as high school digital sports editor
—Houston Chronicle: Hired former Northeast Ohio Media Group preps writer Stephanie Kuzydym as sports general assignment and enterprise reporter
WEST
—Arizona Republic: Hired former Reno Gazette-Journal innovation content coach Johanna Huybers as college/preps sports content coach
—Bay Area News Group: Hired Andrew Baggarly as San Francisco Giants beat writer
—Los Angeles Times: Hired Angel Rodriguez as sports editor
—Orange County Register: Hired former Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake preps writer Joey Kaufman to cover UCLA
—San Francisco Examiner: Hired Jay Mariotti as sports director
(Daniel Paulling covers Texas Tech athletics and recruiting for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Contact him at @DanielPaulling or daniel.paulling@lubbockonline.com.)
