Daniel Popper: Looking forward to making a new life in Southern California as I take over the Chargers beatBy Daniel Popper
This morning, I arrived at the airport with all my worldly possessions tucked neatly into five bags and boarded a flight to Los Angeles. One way. For the second time in less than a year, I’m picking up my life and moving thousands of miles for a new opportunity.
Last August, I accepted a job as a staff writer for The Athletic and left my beloved New York for Jacksonville.
This time feels different, though.
Packing was still miserable. But now I’m heading west and seeking to truly start a life. After spending the last year apart, my girlfriend, a pediatric ICU nurse, is joining me in Los Angeles, and we’re beyond excited to put some roots down — to make Southern California home.
Just as important, I will be taking over the Chargers beat during a time that is fascinating for the team on the field and tumultuous — even messy — off it.
I’m sad to leave Jacksonville. Jaguars fans welcomed me with open arms, and I am so thankful for that. I will always look back fondly on my time in Duval County. But I’m ecstatic to be moving cross-country to cover this franchise at a pivotal moment in its storied history. I hope you’ll join me for this ride, as I carve out a place for myself in Los Angeles right along with the team and the fans.
And yes, we will be on this ride together.
Modern journalism is a two-way street, giving reporters the ability to interact with readers on a daily basis. That dialogue can add so much to the coverage. You are an integral and active part of the process. So I want to hear from you. Tweet at me. Send me emails. Leave comments. I will always respond. I want your experience to be as collaborative as possible, something I hope I was able to bring to Jaguars fans in Jacksonville.
To those fans who felt ostracized by the move from San Diego, I want this page to give you the opportunity to reconnect. All fans are welcome here. Wherever you live, this community is for you.
The key to putting this dynamic in the proper context is not forgetting the past. That requires reporting and writing about all the great moments and players from yesteryear and keeping those memories in the forefront. And it means addressing and analyzing the not-so-comfortable issues that created that feeling in the first place.
The Chargers’ roster is loaded with talent, and team’s first Lombardi Trophy is within reach. My objective is to tell the human stories behind the players and reveal the reasons why they put on the pads every Sunday. Despite their superhuman athletic ability, these players are human beings. And that gets lost sometimes. In finding and pursuing these angles, I hope to provide you all with a fresh perspective on the players you cheer for and devote your time to.
If you have any pointers on navigating the Los Angeles traffic, please leave them in the comments. I’ve heard it’s quite the doozy. I think I’ll finally have time to catch up on all the podcasts I’ve been avoiding for the past year.
Also, I love tacos. Apparently there are some good ones in Southern California. Give me your recommendations! The more adventurous the better.
I can’t wait to get started.
It’s good to be home.
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