By TOM JOHANNINGMEIER
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

They see themselves as a big-city sports section at a small-town newspaper.

The Gaston (N.C.) Gazette, a 32,000-circulation daily in suburban Charlotte, is at every Panthers game, staffs 36 of 38 NASCAR races, and will be court side when the Bobcats begin play in the NBA.

Derick Moss

Sports editor Derick Moss credits the big-league coverage to the newspaper's weekly syndicated NASCAR page. The revenue it generates allows him to have 10 full-time staffers and four correspondents who cover the pro teams in Charlotte, NASCAR and the ACC.

"I take pride in the fact that we do just as good a job with high schools as we do with NASCAR and the other sports," Moss said.

"I'm interested in prep sports and try to give it the same emphasis."

The Gazette was a 2003 triple crown winner in the under-40,000 circulation category, and has been top 10 in at least one area for eight years. Moss grew up in Fort Smith, Ark., and has been at the Gazette since October 1999.

What advice do you have for editors at other small newspapers?

"It's important to treat every beat like it's the top pro beat around. Don't be afraid to think big. The NASCAR beat — I give the same amount of attention and play to high school sports. Deep down, I'm old school, and think all news is local."

Which sport has the best athletes?

The NFL.

What's your favorite sport?

Baseball.

Most impressive sports record?

Cal Ripken's consecutive game streak.

What's your favorite sports book?

Ball Four

What's your favorite sports movie?

Raging Bull

Who was your favorite athlete when you were a kid?

Muhammad Ali — to this day.

What was your first job?

Delivering cigarettes and tobacco products to convenience stores in rural Oklahoma.

What would we be surprised to learn about Gastonia?

The real Crash Davis from Bull Durham is from Gaston County.

What's something your APSE colleagues would be surprised to learn about you?

I don't really like NASCAR. I'm not a huge fan of it myself. Speaking as a fan, I like baseball and the NFL.

What's the best thing about being a sports editor?

I like the newspaper industry because of the day-to-day action. I like the pressure, the deadline pressure. It's invigorating to come up with ideas and seeing that finished product. There is a certain satisfaction in that.