I am a feature writer and blogger, and the majority of my work can be found in the sports section, although I bristle at the traditional definition of "sportswriter." I consider it my job to find interesting stories, especially stories that speak to issues larger than the field, the court or the diamond, and tell them in a memorable way. As a blogger, I try give readers insightful analysis, often peppered with humor, that will encourage a dialog between writer and reader.

I was born and raised in Missoula, Montana, and graduated from the University of Montana in 2000 with an undergraduate degree in journalism. I was hired by the Baltimore Sun upon graduation, and set off on a cross country drive that changed the course of my life.

I spent six months covering crime in Howard County while working on the city desk on Saturday nights. Eventually, I transferred into the sports department, where I dabbled in a little of everything, including prep sports, Navy football, Maryland football and basketball, and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

In 2004, after a story I wrote appeared in the Best American Sports Writing anthology, I became a general assignment feature writer for The Sun, a position I've held since. I've been honored four times by the Associated Press Sports Editors, three times for project reporting and once for feature writing.

From 2005 through 2008, I covered swimmer Michael Phelps during quest to win eight gold medals in a single Olympics.

My wife, Jen, is a former Sun reporter. We live in Baltimore with our daughter, Molly.

I am interested in all forms of storytelling. I am an avid reader with varying tastes, but my favorite book all time is "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien -- a novelistic collection of short stories/essays about the Vietnam war and the power of storytelling.

I am an self-professed television snob, and can quote episodes of "The Wire" at length. I think Arrested Development is my favorite sitcom of all time.