Every Monday brings a chance for change

Monday brings change. Every single week.

As much as we may dread Monday mornings, change isn’t always bad.

It’s a chance at a fresh start, something we get about 52 Mondays a year or 53 in a leap year, I’m not sure how that works but anyway.

Did you not like how last week went at work? Then change it this week. Did you eat a little worse and not go the gym like you wanted to? Make a plan and set a time go to the gym. Whatever it is, Monday is the day to right the ship.

This past Monday brought a couple of changes. One, and easily the most important of the two, high school sports started again in the state of Missouri. Practices and tryouts started bright and early Monday morning with teams from around the Show-Me State getting an official first look at what they’ll have to take into battle this season.

This is always an interesting time for athletes.

For some, they’re returning to a team, or in some cases a family, that they’ve been a part of for the last few years. There’s a sense of calm and rightness in the world. What could be better than hitting the field with your best friends.

But for others, it’s a time of unknown.

Maybe it’s a freshman that’s trying to make their mark on a new team or a transfer who’s trying to get noticed by their new coach. For these players, starting a new season could make them uneasy but that’s the beauty of sport.

The more time is given to your craft, the more you’ll get out of it. While that may not be getting better at the sport itself, it could mean being a better teammate or being the person others look to for advice.

With fall sports now underway, action will soon hit the field, court, course, diamond and whatever other playing surface comes into effect this time of the year.

As I said on The Scoop last week…brief segue into The Scoop.

The Scoop is the new podcast from the staff of the Daily American Republic. Every Friday we bring you news and sports from the past week and a look ahead at what’s coming up next week. Last Friday, DAR Assistant Sports Editor D’Courtland Christian and I did our best at breaking down the news from Butler County but we agreed out talents were better suited for sports.

Now…a continuation…on The Scoop, I asked for the community of Poplar Bluff and the surrounding areas to support your high school athletes. I said they worked hard and deserved to be seen. D’Courtland quickly informed me that in his time in Butler County since January, the people here do show up…in bunches.

To the other about what changes Monday brought. After a few months of commuting to Poplar Bluff, I can officially say I finally don’t have more than an hour to drive each day.

I’ve already gotten to experience a little it of what this area has to offer but I’m excited to see more in the coming months. For this week and the next couple, you can find D’Courtland and myself at random practices throughout the area. Friday night football starts on Aug. 25 with the rest of the fall sports starting soon after. If you see us out and about this season, give us a shout. We’d love to hear your story.

Tyler Dixon is the sports editor at the Daily American Republic and can be reached at tdixon@darnews.com.