It was the best week of my professional life. Here’s why.

What a week. The world set its sights on Arizona as Super Bowl LVII and the WM Phoenix Open were held in the Valley this month.

As a digital producer, I was right in the middle of the action and helped with the local coverage of the events. Ever since I started pursuing a career in journalism at ASU, I dreamed about covering a big sports story like this. And it finally happened.

For seven days, I was in the city that was the center of the sports and pop culture universe. It was easily the highlight of my journalism career.

Every day was a different event. From NFL Opening Night on Monday to the WM Phoenix Open Pro-Am on Wednesday, it was non-stop action.

The entire week from start to finish seemed like a non-stop stream of excitement. Rolling around downtown Phoenix and seeing all the sights and sounds was something I’d never experienced before. I haven’t seen an event of this scale before since I became a journalist. And it was all happening in my hometown.

We prepared for these events months ago and it still felt larger than life. Media from all over the world was in Phoenix and the downtown area felt more like New York or Las Vegas. There was just so much to experience.

Personally, one of the bigger highlights for me happened during opening night. As I was rolling around the Footprint Center and interacting with the players, I actually met a couple of other journalists in wheelchairs. I can’t begin to describe how cool it was to see other journalists like me. I always knew I wasn’t the only disabled journalist around, but seeing them in person was something I never thought I’d see.

Everywhere I went, most of the time I was the only disabled person in the room. But now I actually felt like one of the crew and finally belonged.

After seeing the other disabled journalists, they brought up the point of accessibility to the athletes.

For those in wheelchairs, reaching the podiums of the more prominent athletes like Patrick Mahomes or Jalen Hurts was impossible. The crowds and podium height made access to ask questions an issue. If I had Roger Goodell’s ear I would ask him to try and make these events more friendly and accessible to disabled journalists.

Aside from a couple of accessibility issues here and there, the entire week ran without a hitch. All of the events were exciting to attend and amazing to cover. The entire week is a time I will certainly not forget any time soon and I will always be thankful for the opportunity.

2013 USPSA Premier Cup Recap

If you were to sum up the 2013 USPSA Premier Cup Tournament in two words, they'd be Strike Force.

After jumping on to the scene during the 2012 Premier Cup tournament, the new wheelchair designed by the Power Soccer Shop was on full display in this year's tournament. This was the first full year for teams to compete in the new Strike Force chairs and they are revolutionizing the sport of power soccer.

Several teams now had athletes who were using the new chairs and everyone was eager to see just how much the game had changed.

Held at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, MN, the top nine teams in the United States Power Soccer Association competed against each other for a chance at a National Championship. For three days, the teams from the Premier Conference showcased their skills in pursuit of the 2013 Premier Cup first-place trophy.

If a team was going to emerge victorious with the Premier Cup title, they would undoubtedly have to go through the defending National Champions, the Minnesota Magic or the perennial power house, the Circle City Rollers. It was no easy task, but the teams were up for the challenge.

For two days, the teams competed in pool play before beginning the playoff rounds. As the semi-finals began, the top four teams remaining were the ASU Sun Devils, the Circle City Rollers, the Minnesota Magic and Turnstone Flyers. The Sun Devils and Minnesota Magic played probably the most exciting game of the playoffs. The two teams combined to score 15 goals as Minnesota came away with the 9-6 win. And after defeating Turnstone, Circle City was set for a rematch against Minnesota for the 2013 Championship.

Before the championship match began, the Sun Devils played Turnstone for third place and came away with a 6-1 win. So the stage was set for the 2013 Premier Cup Championship match.

The Minnesota Magic defeated the Circle City Rollers in last year's Premier Cup, so this was going to be an intriguing match-up. From the opening whistle, Circle City played as if they had something to prove. The Rollers dominated the Magic on both ends of the court as they came away with a convincing 5-0 win and the 2013 Premier Cup title.

The new Strike Force chairs have definitely lifted the competition to a whole new level and made the game more exciting for athletes and fans alike. If the games played during this year's Premier Cup are any indication, the future of power soccer is looking very bright, indeed.

Why You're a Roll Model - And the Responsibility that Comes with it

Yes, that pun was definitely intended.

In my last post, I wrote about the Arizona Diamondbacks drafting Cory Hahn.

Many applaud, myself included, the Diamondbacks organization for this incredible gesture. This was an amazing opportunity for Hahn, and I wish him nothing but the best in his pursuits in a career in baseball. But like Uncle Ben always said, "with great power, comes great responsibility."

While Hahn's accident is certainly tragic and unfortunate, the nature of his injury put him in a very unique position. Even though he lost the ability to walk, he also gained another important ability.

The ability to enact change.

Because his injury occurred on the sports field, Hahn and his road to recovery were put in the mainstream media spotlight. People were captivated by his determination and resolve and cheered him on from across the globe. He is a beaming example of the strength of the human spirit and everyone can't help but root for him. Along with Hahn, former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand has also been widely publicized because of a paralyzing injury. During his recovery, LeGrand received well-wishes from celebrities and appeared on numerous television shows. But while these injured athletes received supports from the rich and famous, Hahn and LeGrand also become celebrities in their own right.

They became the face of the disability community in mainstream media and gained a global audience as they go through their recovery. And because of this, they have an incredible opportunity to enact some real and important change regarding issues for people with disabilities.

From accessibility to transportation, health care to employment opportunities, there is no shortage of issues that need to be addressed and discussed. Here are just a few statistics:

• The jobless rate for people with disabilities is at 13.6% (http://bit.ly/16oovJC)
• The median income is $23,532 for people aged 21 to 64 with a disability, compared to $32,688 for those with no disability. (http://bit.ly/16oqf5E)
• One third of the employers surveyed said that persons with disabilities cannot effectively perform the required job tasks. The second most common reason given for not hiring persons with disabilities was the fear of costly special facilities. (http://bit.ly/17MU3My)

When it comes to improving the lives and opportunities for people with disabilities, there is much to be done. Many of those with disabilities still aren't afforded the opportunities and services needed to live to their full potential, but with people like Hahn and LeGrand, things can change.

I am urging Hahn, LeGrand and other people with disabilities to become more boisterous advocates for the less fortunate who live with a disability. They have been given a platform where they can help bring important awareness to disability issues and become vehicles of change; for the better. Whether they know it or not, they've become important role models to those with disabilities and with that, comes a responsibility to be greater, to achieve more. Not just for themselves, but for those in similar situations.

So I challenge them to become leaders, instigators, advocates and mentors. Be more than just an inspiring human interest story and show others what people with disabilities are truly capable of. While their bodies may be weak, they still have the power to make a difference.

With their help, anything is possible.

People with Disabilities in Professional Sports

When I first heard about the Arizona Diamondbacks drafting Cory Hahn in the 34th round of the 2013 MLB draft, I thought it was, and still is, an incredible gesture from a classy organization. 

Hahn was a freshman standout at Arizona State University before he became paralyzed after injuring himself during a head-first slide into second base. With this move, he has a real shot at having a career in baseball.

I've gone back and forth a bunch of times about writing this, but I decided that this topic was too important to ignore. 

As many of you read this, I'm sure you are saying to yourself, "This is just some jealous journalist wannabe spouting nonsense." So before I continue, yes, there are some jealous feelings on my part as I heard about the opportunity given to Hahn. But this issue goes way beyond me and my personal feelings. 

Over the past few years, we have seen injured athletes like Hahn and former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand in the media spotlight. 

The world was captivated as they watched their injuries occur and followed them along their road to recovery. During their rehabilitation, these athletes gained support from celebrities and everyday people alike and even became celebrities in their own right. In LeGrand's case, he's given a speech at the ESPYs, been in commercials and even was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. 

But for every Cory Hahn or Eric LeGrand, there are millions of people with disabilities who fight the same struggles, but will never be in the spotlight. Like Hahn or LeGrand, they have dreams about becoming a part of the sports world, but that notion is closer to being a dream than becoming a reality. 

My power soccer teammate, Jordan Dickey, is a huge sports fan. His sports knowledge can possibly rival that of many of the general managers in the sports world. Because of his incredible passion for sports, he is pursuing a degree that will hopefully land him a job in a professional sports industry. Even though he spends his days in an electric wheelchair and has never had the opportunity to play in a traditional able-bodied sport, if given the opportunity to contribute to a sports organization, there's no doubt he would have as good a chance to succeed as his able-bodied counterparts. 

So what does Jordan have to do with Hahn and LeGrand? 

When I see them presented with these amazing opportunities, I can't help but think of all those people with disabilities who weren't put in the spotlight because of their injuries or illnesses. Because of their unfortunate injuries on the field, athletes like Hahn and LeGrand were given a global support system and introduced to opportunities many others will never see. 

Now it's not their fault that they were injured in the public spotlight, and I don't blame them for taking advantage of every opportunity they can. But when I saw Hahn given the opportunity to have a job with the Dbacks after being drafted, it felt like he was given an unfair advantage. 

There are plenty of people with disabilities, myself included, who never had the opportunity to play in the higher levels of sports competition, who have the knowledge and skills needed to be a part of a professional sports industry. But since our injuries or illnesses didn't occur on a baseball diamond or football field, our opportunities will have to be obtained the old-fashioned way, through hard work and perseverance. 

That being said, the Dbacks 34th-round draft choice brings up a great opportunity for a serious dialogue about the role of people with disabilities in professional sports. If an organization is going to make this kind of gesture and give an athlete with a disability the chance to make a living in a sport outside of being an athlete, I ask them to remember those who are still fighting and hoping for that one chance to make it to the show. If they are truly interested in making this more than just a noble gesture, I urge the Dbacks, and every other sports organization, to take a serious look at the hiring of people with disabilities. When given the opportunity, we can be valuable and contributing members to any organization, even at the higher levels.