My (fake) green thumb

I’m not much of a gardener, but I do have a “green” thumb when it comes to high school football stadiums.

I have worked at three papers in my career as a journalist and each coverage area now has – or soon will have – an artificial field and all-weather track.

While working at the Union Democrat in Tuolumne County, Sonora High School spruced up their stadium with the help of a now-cancelled TV show called Three Wishes. The show granted wishes to a family in need of a new home, a man who wanted to adopt his stepson and a school in need of a new football field.

I covered the filming of the show, but had already taken a job at the Turlock Journal by the time the field was finished.

But turf followed me down to the valley, where it wasn’t long before Turlock High was talking about replacing their beat up grass with the fake stuff.

I covered their initial plans as well, but made my way to Merced before I could see a game played there.

Now, the Merced Union High School District is planning to replace the grass field and dirt track at Atwater High with similar stuff. Administrators say the Falcons could be playing on the new, improved field by football season.

So, as you can see, I’m three for three.

Maybe I’ll stay around here long enough to see this one to the end.