My name is Melissa Sidebotham and I’m a young marketing and public relations professional working in northeast Ohio. I graduated from Kent 
State University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in public relations.
I’m a proud Golden Flashes fan. I will always represent them! Kent State has some great sports history. It’s the home of 2003 British Open Champion Ben Curtis, the 2002 Elite Eight men’s basketball team, 2011 National Champion wrestler Dustin Kilgore and current owners of The Wagon Wheel!
I’ve been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My parents dressed me in boys sports clothes when I was little since, at the time, they didn’t make ones for little girls. I went to my first major league baseball game when I was five years old, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
Thanks to Kent State sports, and the fact that I volunteer for everything, I won an iPod nano for throwing a football 10 yards and running 10 yards, I played around the world in front of a sold out crowd during the George Mason basketball game to win a digital camera and I’ve won multiple t shirts and gift certificates for playing hockey, riding a tricycle, being spirited and finding a sign while I was blindfolded.
Sports are everywhere in my life. I graduated with Josh Cribbs, I won a fantasy football league my first year playing, I touched the “Play Like Champions Today” sign at Notre Dame, I ripped up Romeo Travis’s autograph in front of him at a MAC Tournament game to get the Kent State crowd pumped (he’s 6’7″ and I’m 5’2″), I was interviewed by the news about Ben Curtis at the NEC Championship (now the Bridgestone Invitational), my cousin is the NCAA Horizon League Player of the Year, I wore an Ohio State jersey while standing on the 50 yard line at Notre Dame, I’ve been to the Field of Dreams in Iowa, I snuck into The Shoe in the summer of 2011, and I’ve been on television multiple times during Kent State games.
I met Antonio Gates, I played catch with Steve Karsay, I’ve chatted with James Harrison about the weather and I’ve had Austin Carr say, “Get that weak stuff outta here!” to me.
I love baseball. My favorite baseball player is Casey Blake, I was heartbroken when he left Cleveland. I’m even more heartbroken now that he retired!! I’m the proud owner of a Casey Blake Dodgers shirt; yes, I know he doesn’t play for them anymore. I’m holding out for Casey to come back to Cleveland before I invest in a new shirt!
For a girl who loves to wear heels and has a favorite color of pink, I may surprise you with my passion for sports. I’ve been told I can give people a run for their money with my sports knowledge.
I’m the person who always wears my favorite teams shirt when I’m traveling in a different state. I’m the person who boos an opposing teams fan once I walk by them. I will ALWAYS support my hometown teams: Browns, Cavs, Indians and Buckeyes no matter how bad any of them are and no matter how many chances they blow it to bring home a big title. As you have probably figured out by now, I’m NOT a Steelers, Yankees, or Michigan fan. Booooooo. 
I see your favorite player is Casey Blake. A good solid ballplayer and a true team player. He’s been willing to switch positions to help the team.
Interesting that Casey Blake is your favorite player.
I saw Casey Blake play in Minnesota his last full year with the Indians. I always admired him as a good all around player and a great team player, someone who was willing to change positions for the good of his team.
I didn’t know Casey Blake is your favorite player.
Nice work on the blog! This semester I will probably have to create one as well, so may I contact you if I’m stuck? Kent does a nice job integrating technology. The info I learned in my one credit Ed Tech class rivals what I am learning in my current grad classes.
Do you actually own the buckeye hat? If so where did you find it? My wee artists would get a kick out of it.
Eventually I when I finish “my” website I’ll send out the link. Andrew is working on one as well. Until then I’ll try to check your blog for my sports info.
Peace,
aunt k (:
Love the updates. An apt description of yourself.