‘Cover the preps like they’re pros’: Projo’s Eric Rueb on covering high school sports

Eric Rueb of The Providence Journal joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” to discuss his experience covering sports in Rhode Island.

For years, Rueb has been reporting on youth and professional sports, and he expressed excitement over this year’s high school football season, which is officially underway.

“I’m going to watch Central Falls and East Greenwich on Thursday, and those are the games I love to see,” Rueb said. “Someone’s going to do something I’ve never seen before and that’s the reason why high school football should exist, and why people should love it.”

Rueb also talked about some of the issue surrounding sports, such as the importance of developing programs, whether private schools have competitive advantages over traditional public schools and the dangers of parents getting angry at referees during games.

“Being a jerk is never part of the game,” Rueb said. “It’s the kids that I feel bad for because [parents] don’t realize how they’re affecting their kids’ lives going forward.”

Rueb also offered a preview of his new new sports show “Blitz Breakdown,” which just launched this week on the 12+ TV app.

Later in the show, Dan and Eli talked about the “Stories We Wish We Wrote.”

Dan’s picks

• Pawtucket school officials delete plagiarized welcome message by Ethan Shorey, The Valley Breeze

Eli’s picks

• City Council to sue and filibuster Mayor Mitchell by Colin Hogan, The New Bedford Light
• TF Green Airport CEO gets new contract, raise. Here’s how much he will be making by Patrick Anderson, The Providence Journal

A special shoutout to 12 News politics editor Ted Nesi, who’s started a new series of digital-explainer reels covering complicated issues for Rhode Island PBS. Watch his first one here, examining the new “Taylor Swift” tax that will affect second-home owners beginning next July.

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.