A refreshing reminder

Within the next week or so, my summer series about jobs in sports will officially begin with a piece on Channel 7 weekend sports anchor Vic Faust.

You’ll read about his start in the broadcasting business, his climb to sports producer in Tulsa, Olka., his eventual unemployment and his arrival in Detroit.

You’ll learn about his faith in God, which he said has guided him through the ups and downs that come with the business.

Still, in talking to Faust, learning about his job and his life, there was one refreshing aspect of our conversation that many people sometimes forget.

“One of the things I enjoy most is the fact that professional athletes are really ordinary people," Faust said. "Sure, they are extremely gifted and make a ridiculous amount of money, but what’s cool to watch from my perspective is just how ordinary they really are.”

This came as no surprise to me. While covering prep sports doesn’t often translate to a behind- the-scenes view of the world of pro sports, I’ve had an occasion here and there to see these “celebs” in their ordinary moments.

Take away the cameras, the fancy cars and flashy clothes, and you have ordinary men and women with families, friends and lives outside the world of sports.

“Hockey players are probably the most down to earth,” Faust added. “But they’re all pretty cool people. Pretty ordinary.”