Ozarks Profile: Tom Mast

Please tell us about Big Sports.

Big Sports Magazine is published monthly and distributed in the Greater Springfield metro market (Greene, Christian, Webster and Polk counties). Twelve thousand copies are distributed free each month at more than 100 locations, including McDonald's restaurants and Price Cutter Supermarkets. Big Sports first published in September of 1997. Each month we focus on a timely sports topic. Our entire focus each month is on local and area sports. "All-Ozarks, All the Time" is the guideline we follow. The goals of Big Sports from the beginning were to try and expose our local and area athletes, teams and events to the sports-reading market. We're advertising driven but do offer monthly subscriptions. We work with a small staff of seven to eight people.

What sports do you personally enjoy?

I've spent the past 30 years of my life reporting sports, so it's never easy saying which sport you enjoy the most. I'm a seasonal kind of guy when it comes to sports, and deep down I suppose playing and following golf is one thing I like to do the most.

What prepared you for your career?

I lucked into a sports reporting career while still in college, and things just sort of took off from there. For the better part of my life I've been affiliated in some way with sports.

What do you most enjoy about your job?

It's sports! Attending games, following teams and athletes. What's not to like? I've always considered it a privilege to be involved.

What are the best things the local sports scene has going for it?

Springfield and the Ozarks have a great mix of sports. If we were talking about a major city or metropolitan area of the country, we'd probably only focus on the professional team sports. The college, university and high school teams would get little attention. It's just the opposite for us here.

We have the opportunity to follow the prep teams and the various levels of college sports in this area, and now with the Mountain Ducks, a future minor league team and junior hockey being played, we get a taste of the professionals as well.

What challenges exist for sports-related businesses?

Trying to satisfy the needs of every sports team and program that comes along. Sports interest among the masses is growing at an incredible rate, but local sports-related businesses have to be careful when they're asked for their support for these teams and programs. We do need those businesses to be involved, but most can only go so far with their support dollars. The sports teams and programs need to realize that.

Tell us about your family.

My wife Tammy is director of development for Council of Churches of the Ozarks. My son Kellen is on the golf staff at Highland Springs Country Club, and my other son Jacoby will be playing his first year of Little League baseball in 2010.

It you could choose another career, what would it be?

If you could make a living at volunteering, I guess that would be it. I enjoy being a part of programs and situations to help others.