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Goodbye to one of the best

Posted December 16, 2007

If you didn't see the story in the news section today, sports editor Gary Baines is leaving the Camera after 25 years in the sports department.

Baines was one of the best, giving me the rare privilege of working for two of the best who ever put out a sports section. Gary learned from the master, Dan Creedon, and Gary carried on the tradition of giving Camera readers the best possible product every day.

Above all, Gary cared about you -- that would be you, the readers. He did his best every day to make sure you had the best and most widespread coverage this newspaper could produce. He was a tireless worker, a great leader and he never stopped trying to get better.

Those of us who worked for him will miss his leadership, his skills and his work ethic.

Those of you who read the Camera will miss his influence. I'm confident the Camera administration will name a great replacement -- but whoever it is has some damned big shoes to fill.

Here's wishing Gary the best of luck -- and one more time, a heartfelt thanks for all that he did.