Just Playin' sport® Magazine begins a second exciting high school sport year as captured in photo journalistic format all over Rhode Island. Yes, it is a monstrous job and yes, I am still running from
Westerly to Woonsocket; but it is all worth it when I see teens, parents, and grandparents studying the pages looking for familiar faces. At the end of a tiring day photographing girls tennis, a teen
tennis player (who appeared in the 06' spring boys tennis section) asked me who I was taking pictures for. When I answered "Just Playin' sport Magazine" he said to me, "Oh, that magazine! I love
that magazine." Well, that was all I needed to keep me going ... and so I present to you the fourth edition of Just Playin' sport Magazine - Fall 2006.
What's new in this issue? Equestrian and Alumni sections. My last recollection of Equestrian activity was during my teenage high school years. A high school friend, who was an accomplished rider, (or at
least she looked and acted like she knew what she was doing), encouraged me to jump up on a horse without a saddle. I think that the Equestrian term is "bareback." Always up for an adventure, and a
teen frontal lobe not yet fully fused, I climbed up on the horse and proceeded to go for a "trot," or should I say stampede, around the ring. Due to this harrowing experience I appreciate the confident,
talented athletes in the Equestrian section in this issue even more! Thank you to Carol Costa for providing beautiful photos and Equestrian expertise.
One of the biggest thrills in creating this fall publication was talking to Rhode Island student athlete alumni. Yes, I saw a few warnings exhibited by people waving arms in the background as if to say,
"Don't go there!" But I ignored them and asked a few former athletes out on the fields about their "glory days." Before I knew it I was sitting on my living room floor scouring through musty yearbooks and
scrapbooks. I am thankful to Joe and Theresa Bucci (Toll Gate 1980), Bobby Doyle (Hope 1967), David Ellingwood (Scituate 1960) and George Gallagher (Scituate 1961) who offered their treasured stories,
photos, scrapbooks, and yearbooks to me. It was fascinating hearing and reading about the events and athletic milestones that they reached as high school student athletes. All of these accomplished
student athlete alumni speak highly of their experiences and are now giving back to their sports as mentors, coaches, supporters, and advisors. High school stories are relived and retold over and over
again at reunions and family events ... high school memories are forever.
I encourage students interested in writing and photography to share your photos and stories with us. This is a perfect opportunity to
write your college essays and get published. These are your "Glory Days!"
Sincerely yours,
Gail Barbone Miller
Founder and Editor
Just Playin' sport ™
