Jennifer Patrice

Sports have been a part of me for as long as I can remember. With seven cousins, my surrogate "big brothers", involved in football, baseball, hockey, and wrestling, I grew up on the fields, rinks, and mats. I spent most of my time at Spring Training, High School State Championships, and College World Series. In between, I managed to play a little softball and basketball myself. I could have been resentful of the time I lost, having to tag along, but instead, it instilled a passion for sports in me I dream of sharing with others. Sports teach us so many valuable things we carry with us for life: teamwork, character building, time management, accountability, and effective communication. Sports can be shared with others, virtual strangers, and they can build a common ground between the unlikeliest of people. The most unremarkable-seeming games can become a defining moment in history. Any given day, the underdog can triumph over Goliath. The Twins could beat the Yankees in the playoffs. Hey, it could happen! I can't imagine my life without sports, which is why I chose to make them my life. Whether I'm writing recaps, interviewing athletes, or interacting with fans, I'm working as hard as I can to give the sport back as much as it has given me.