Rick Cleveland  1952
Major Works
- It's More Than a Game (2000)
- Vaught: The Man and His Legacy (2000)
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Biography of
Rick Cleveland
By Jacob Farris (SHS)
Photo at right: Rick Cleaveland (l.) with Jim
Fraiser by Nancy Jacobs
Mississippi sports writer Rick Cleveland was born October 7,
1952, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he also grew
up. His father, Ace Cleveland, was also a sports writer and
is in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. His dad encouraged
him to become a writer, but the person who influenced him the
most as a writer was the famous Willie Morris from Yazoo City,
Mississippi.
Cleveland
first became interested in writing in elementary school. Every
day he always read the sports page first, and he also read many sports
books and biographies. He thought writing would be a good way to
make a living, and he loved to play sports as well as read books.
In high school, Rick Cleveland was an average student.
He did well in history and English, but he didn't do as well
in math and science. He did well if he was interested
in a subject, but otherwise he struggled and his grades were
not as good. He worked part time in the sports department
at The Hattiesburg American newspaper throughout
high school and college.
Cleveland
graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi. At USM, he
had a double major in journalism and history with a minor in English.
He has now been writing for over thirty-five years. His advice
for future writers is to read a lot and read the great writers
like Twain, Faulkner, Hemmingway, Welty, and Styron. His
advice for students is to "find something you love and do that."
He has worked at other jobs and made more money but couldn't
find anything he liked more than writing. Now, he looks
forward to going to work, and says in many ways his work is
a hobby. "How many people can say that?"
Cleveland has written two books: It's More Than
a Game and Vaught: The Man and His Legacy.
UPDATE: Rick Cleveland's second book, Vaught
— The Man and His Legacy chronicles the
life of the former Ole Miss head coach. He continues to write
daily for the Jackson Clarion Ledger sports
page.
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A Review
of It's More than a Game
by Jacob Farris (SHS)
It's More Than a Game is an excellent book written by Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger
in Jackson, Mississippi. It is a collection of his articles on
Mississippi sports or on major national sports events . The
articles appeared in the newspaper from 1985 to1999.
 Cleveland
writes about everything from learning from his father how to oil a
baseball glove to watching the great Mississippi college football
players like Steve "Air" McNair from Alcorn, Brett Favre from
USM, Jerry Rice from Mississippi Valley State, Archie Manning
from Ole Miss, and D.D. Lewis from Mississippi State. He also
writes about people who weren't athletes but loved sports like
Melissa Winfield from Starkville, a great Mississippi State baseball
fan who died when she was ten years old and Bob Hartley, the long time
sports information director at Mississippi State.
It's More Than a Game includes
sports articles that range from elementary and middle school, to high
school, college, and professional sports. Also included are a few
articles about his personal life with his family and friends. He
also has written articles about learning to parachute, running
marathons, and fishing, among other subjects. All sixty-five of the
articles are very well written and interesting.
Personally, I really enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend
this book to any sports fan or anybody interested in becoming
involved with sports. Again, this is an excellent book
and a must-read for any sports fan.
RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE
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Interview with Rick Cleveland
by Jacob Farris (SHS)
What is your birth date, and where were you born?
"Jacob, I'm old. I was born October 7, 1952, in Hattiesburg."
Where did you grow up?
"Hattiesburg"
Who is your favorite author?
"Willie Morris" 
What author do you think has influenced you the most?
"My dad was a sports writer and a huge influence on me. I became a sports writer because of him. His name
was Ace Cleveland, and he is in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. But the author who undoubtedly had the
biggest influence on me was Yazoo City's Willie Morris. He was not only my favorite author, but one of my best friends. Willie once told me me, 'Ricky, the English language is marvelous. If you work at it, and search diligently enough, it will always provide you with the right word.' “
When did you become interested in writing? Was there something in particular that got you interested in writing?
"I have been interested in writing since I was in elementary school. When I wasn't playing, I was reading. I read the sports page first every day, but I also read a lot of biographies and sports books. I used to try writing my sports columns when I was a little kid. I think what interested me most about writing, at least at first, it seemed a mighty fine way to make a living. I loved sports and I loved words."
What kind of student were you in high school?
"I was an average high school student. I did well in English and history and not so well in math and sciences. Generally speaking, when I was interested in something, I usually did well, and when I wasn't interested, I struggled. I was working in the sports department of The Hattiesburg American newspaper the entire time I was in high school and then college."
Where did you attend college?
"I went to school at USM in Hattiesburg and double-majored in journalism and history with a minor in English."
Do you have any advice for future writers?
"My primary advice to future writers is, No. 1, read, read and read some more. Read the great writers. Read
Twain and Faulkner and Hemingway and Welty and Styron. If
newspaper writing is what you want to do, also get on the Internet and read columnists from around the country. You can find literally hundreds at sportspages.com."
Do you have any advice for students today?
"My advice to students: Find something you love and do that. I could have worked in other professions and
made considerably more money, but I could not have done anything I
would have enjoyed more than what I do. I look forward to going
to work. My work is in many ways my hobby. How many people
can say that?"
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Related Websites
Read
Rick Cleveland's blog at Clarionledger.com
Read
Cleveland's archive at Clarionledger.com
"A
few words can say so much" by Rick Cleveland tells of Cleveland's
experiences working with Mississippi writer and editor Elliott
Chaze at the Hattiesburg American.
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Bibliography
Cleveland, Rick. E-mail Interview. 12 December 2002
Cleveland, Rick. It's More Than a Game.Vancouver, Washington. Pediment Publishing. 2000.
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