Howie: Inspired by Sid Hartman, I'm still chasing hometown excellence

I’ve spent more than 50 years scribbling sports stories across our corner of Minnesota, but if you ask who truly inspired me to keep grinding every day, it begins and ends with the late, great Sid Hartman.

Sid was the gold standard. His daily column in the Star Tribune — later also on StarTribune.com — was the first thing many Minnesotans turned to over their morning coffee. Critics sometimes called him a “homer” for his relentless optimism toward our local pro and college teams, but that was exactly what I loved most about his work. Sid championed Minnesota sports. If a high school athlete or small-college coach landed a mention in his column, it was like striking gold. Being listed among Sid’s “close, personal friends” was a badge of honor few ever achieved.

What impressed me even more was how Sid did the work. He almost always broke the news first. His contacts were unmatched — nurtured over decades of phone calls, handshakes and face-to-face trust-building. He rarely burned a bridge. Sid simply out-hustled the competition, even into his 90s, filing fresh notes, insights and scoops long after most would’ve retired.

Now 70 myself – and with plenty of energy still burning in my belly – I’ve long tried to mirror that approach here in Duluth. My professional approach has been defined by two core principles I learned from Sid: outwork everyone and never betray a source. Like him, I’ve devoted countless hours to building relationships — with coaches, athletes, parents and administrators. If something moves in local sports, I want to be the first to know, and I’ll chase it down relentlessly. It’s not glamorous work. It’s long nights in half-empty gyms, awkward calls to confirm spelling on an obscure transfer, double- and triple-checking stats with someone’s grandma. But it matters, because trust matters.

Being local is everything. Too many fresh-out-of-college TV sports folks land here, eager to punch their ticket to a bigger market. They barely know which side of the field is right or left, and often can’t pronounce names or towns correctly. It’s not their fault — low pay and quick turnarounds guarantee turnover. But it leaves a void. This region deserves veteran storytellers who know the history, who can instantly place a kid’s breakout game into context because they remember when his dad lit up the scoreboard 25 years ago.

We once had that here in spades. Marsh Nelson and Bruce Bennett were local sports media giants. Everyone knew them, trusted them and appreciated how they told our sports stories with warmth, accuracy and professionalism. Like Sid, they were larger-than-life personalities, yet approachable — whether at a rink, a grocery store or a summer festival. They were local stars in the best sense. Marsh and Bruce were dear friends of mine. I still carry their lessons and memories daily.

I once dreamed of writing a regular sports column in the hometown daily newspaper, but internal politics and union rules stacked the deck. So I did what Sid — the ultimate entrepreneur and business and media innovator — might have encouraged: I started my own thing. Twenty-one years ago, I launched an all-online sports and news platform. I began by sending daily email blasts to a growing list of loyal readers. The numbers soared, proving there was still a huge appetite for local sports storytelling done right.

Today, that passion lives on at HowieHanson.com. It’s hyper-local, free from paywalls, and lands right in people’s inboxes where they read it on their phones between errands or in the stands waiting for tipoff. We’ve become the regional leader in breaking local sports and news — no need to wait for the 6 p.m. news or sift through a paper that’s mostly wire copy and obits. It’s Sid-, Marsh- and Bruce-quality coverage, updated constantly, proudly rooted in our local teams, schools and communities.

Most importantly, it honors the trust. Just as Sid did, I want athletes, coaches and readers to know they’ll be treated fairly and accurately. And like Sid, I hope my work helps shine a little more light on the good that’s happening across our fields, rinks and gyms.

In the end, it’s not just about the games. It’s about building a stronger, more connected hometown — one honest story at a time. That’s the real legacy of Sid, Marsh and Bruce. And I’m honored to carry that torch, still chasing it as hard today as ever.

Howie's Note:
If you’ve enjoyed my columns over the years, or if you’re new here and value our hometown-first new and sports coverage, I’d invite you to consider becoming a charter subscriber. We’ve recently lowered the rate to just $2 a month with a 12-month commitment. Candidly, your support will directly help me invest in a new laptop and much-needed additional and upgraded photo equipment — essential tools to keep this project growing and delivering the kind of hyper-local, trusted sports reporting our community deserves. Thank you for reading, and for helping us continue telling the stories that matter most, right here at home. Be a Charter Subscriber.