With WVU’s football team struggling mightily, many Mountaineer fans took a page from the old Simon & Garfunkel “Mrs. Robinson” song. Instead of Joe DiMaggio, however, Mountaineer nation turned its lonely eyes to the WVU basketball team. What it found on Tuesday night, however, was a performance against Oakland that earned this headline in the […]

I had an editor way back when who used to get mad at me. Throughout my writing career I’d go treasure hunting and piece together columns of “nuggets.” He’d get mad because he said I could write an expanded column on each of those nuggets. I knew, though, my readers didn’t always want expansive columns. […]

One of the great thrills of my life happened 10 years ago last Friday. I was asked to introduce Jerry West and Sen. Joe Manchin at the Charleston Civic Center. It was a book-signing event for West’s book. Beforehand, Joni and I were able to spend some quality time with the legend and his wife. […]

You don’t cover a team for, what, 38 years and then not follow them. Although now enjoying life at Wheelhouse Creative LLC, I still watch WVU’s athletic teams. I still get texts, emails, tweets, etc., from the Mountaineer faithful. And lately I’ve been hearing calls for head coach Neal Brown’s removal. I’ve heard the calls […]

Dear Jon, My name is Mitch Vingle. I work in Wheeling, W.Va., for Wheelhouse Creative marketing and advertising. I used to cover sports for a living via newspapers. So, I’ve followed your career closely. I’m not writing this letter to you, however, because of where I’ve worked. It’s because of where I’ve been. I’m moved […]

I’ve always been a big picture guy. That’s the case here at Wheelhouse Creative. It was the case when I was a sports columnist covering the Mountain State. That’s why I feel this is an important time for WVU’s football program. Let’s face it, West Virginia is never going to be the rich kid when […]