Sakal: Leaving one of the best jobs in the world, saying goodbye to the Tribune

Tim Hacker

Santa's Helper

Tribune reporter Mike Sakal listens in to what Braden Buxton,3, left, and his sister Brianna Buxton,2, ask Santa for at the Superstition Springs Mall are wanting for Christmas, Monday, December 12, 2011. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]

Mike Sakal

Mike Sakal’s column runs on Fridays. Contact him at (480) 898-6533 or msakal@evtrib.com, or write to Mike Sakal, East Valley Tribune, 1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282

Tribune Reporter Mike Sakal

Tribune Reporter Mike Sakal

National Day of Tap Workshop

And all that tap: A group of dancers preparing for the National Day of Tap workshop that will be held in honor of the birthday of legnedary tap dancer “Bill “Mr. Bojangles” Robinson from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday at Rhythmic Expressions Studio, 617 S. McClintock Drive, Suite 3 in Tempe. Pictured left to right: Isabel Sesmas, Regina Pryor, Tribune reporter Mike Sakal, Sharon Moore, Dance instructor Mary Wall, Diane Stevens, Anne Chandler, Kim Heintz, Rachel Sheehan and Gina Hoyt. (Photo courtesy of Jackie Graves, Rhythmic Expressions Studio)

Mike Sakal/Tribune

Grand Canyon

Making it back up the trail: Tribune reporter Mike Sakal coming back up Bright Angel Trail after hiking a 3-mile, 1,000-foot round trip into the Grand Canyon Ñ 1.5 miles down and 1.5 miles back up. [Mike Sakal/Tribune]

Tim Hacker

Beer vendor for a day.

Tribune reporter Mike Sakal gives being a beer vendor a shot during a Cubs Spring Training game, Thursday, March 10, 2011 at HoHoKam Park in Mesa.[Tim Hacker, Tribune]