Ellington

A layoff became an opportunity for Bryan Flynn to do what he loves. Two years ago, Flynn, 33, lost his job as a grocery manager for Walmart. With his wife's encouragement, Flynn started playtowinthegame.com, a website for his musings and analysis of professional and college sports. Since August, Flynn has been a regular freelance contributor to the Jackson Free Press.

Flynn is the JFP "Freelancer of the Month" for his enthusiasm and extensive sports writing. He began freelance work for the JFP in August, contributing heavily to the college football-preview issue. Flynn blogs regularly on the Jackson Free Press website and also contributes sports features.

Flynn, 33, is a native of Florence. He lives in Richland with his wife, Lacey Loftin, who works as the technology director for Mississippi First, a public-policy nonprofit.

Although his father was a staunch Dallas Cowboys fan, Flynn doesn't remember his family as particularly sports-obsessed. Flynn's own interest developed naturally from playing tight end and defensive end for Florence High School's football team.

"We were terrible," Flynn remembers. "We were horrible. We had the state's longest losing streak at one point. It was over two seasons, so it was like 20-something games."

Flynn missed Florence's one winning game because of surgery.

After graduating from high school in 1996, Flynn attended Hinds Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi before entering the work orce.

A self-described "sports junkie," Flynn professes to have given up his allegiances to his favorite teams since starting a sports-writing career."Since I've gotten into this, I've tried to stay away from having favorite teams so I can be objective, as much as I can," he says.

For the sake of a story, he has submitted himself to crash courses in catch wrestling and fencing. Look for more of his writing in the JFP's College Basketball Preview, hitting the streets Dec. 29.

Are you interested in freelancing for the JFP? Send writing samples, and request writing guidelines to [e-mail missing].