I have always been a closet fan

Thirty-seven years ago I sat in the stands at Reno H. Sales Stadium and watched the Montana State Bobcats beat Rhode Island to advance to the NCAA Division I-AA title game.

It was the last time I cheered in public for the Bobcats.

A few weeks later I got a part-time job at the Bozeman Chronicle as a sportswriter and began my newspaper career. Being objective in my reporting was of the upmost importance. I was no longer a fan, but I now got paid to go to games, sit in the best seat in the house, and write about the outcome.

I eventually became features editor at the Chronicle and wore a lot of...