After gathering observations and information directly from the sidelines in Rock County in cold and rainy weather, the News-Sun gave me the opportunity to convert to the news side of reporting.
It led to many big breaks and highlights within my career including continuing coverage of former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson.
Recall the day the story hit the newsroom in Waukegan when the News Editor came out and asked what was on my agenda for the day.
Prior to my arrival to the newsroom, was at the Lake County Courthouse reporting on an arraignment of a homicide suspect and immediately went to work on the story.
It all changed that moment when I suddenly was en route to Gurnee alongside a News-Sun photographer, only thing I was told is it involved Tank Johnson. Nothing further than that. Did not know Johnson resided in Lake County until I was near his doorstep as the SWAT team was raiding his home.
The defensive tackle was at practice in Lake Forest with the Bears at the time. Police had no comment and the neighborhood was blocked off. Curious neighbors were wondering what was going on next door as I approached them. All knew who lived there and most did not feel comfortable enough to comment.
After receiving no information from the police on scene, the photographer and I made the decision to camp out at the Gurnee Police Station for up to two hours. No word from the Public Information Officer at the station so we returned to the newsroom.
Then news choppers and news vans from all major Chicago media markets began to arrive near the scene. After gathering my thoughts, made the startling discovery:
I was the first regional media member to be on the scene of what became a national sports story.
With assistance from full-time reporters and contributing reports from the Sun-Times Bears' beat writer, received all details and the press conference time later in the evening.
It was not over yet on this story. A night later after Johnson was released, him and another man involved in the raid were at a trendy Chicago nightstop.
The nightstop became the last time Johnson's friend would ever be alive. A gunman shot and killed Willie B. Posey and further added to Johnson's turmoil.
As the beleaguered and downtrodden Johnson was declared inactive the following Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I was the sole reporter in the newsroom and was called upon by the News Editor to do something with the story.
It was then I made the decision to check out the Johnson house on a quiet Sunday afternoon and received an answer. The answer came from Johnson's father, arriving from Arizona. No sign of Johnson at the moment but after getting some information from the older Johnson, nearly gave up pursuing the subject of the story.
Then a black BMW pulled up through the driveway and out came Johnson along with his mother. Hesitant for a split second, made the decision to approach him for a comment or two.
It became an exclusive.
No other Chicago media member was able to secure a comment from Johnson.
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