Christopher Lakos has seen it all in his decades with Georgia athletics – the highs of College World Series runs, the lows of heartbreaking losses and the unpredictable moments in between. As the longtime Sports Information Director for Georgia baseball, he has spent over 30 years telling the stories of Bulldogs athletes. But if there’s one lesson the game has taught him, it’s that nothing stays certain for long.
“Baseball’s very humbling… The minute you think that you’ve got it all figured out, then you’re going to go into a tailspin,” Lakos said.
He’s been a fixture in Georgia athletics since December 1992, working with the school’s media relations team across multiple sports, including football, baseball and women’s tennis. As a SID, Lakos coordinates media events and availability for athletics around campus. But his roots are in baseball, where he has witnessed the full spectrum of success and struggle.
“I’ve seen us be… the good, the bad and the ugly. I’ve seen all three,” Lakos said.
Georgia’s baseball team has been unpredictable over Lakos’ tenure, but new head coach Wes Johnson has put together two top-10 teams in his first two years with the Bulldogs. That makes Lakos’ job harder but more exciting. This year, Georgia is off to a 28-2 start and ranked No. 3 nationally.
“I think they’re having so much fun,” said Lakos, when asked what stands out to him about this team in particular. “Obviously, people say it’s fun when you win and everybody loves a winner, which is true.”
Now that the season has kicked off, Lakos’ days consist of writing press releases, coordinating media events, managing the press box, coordinating game coverage and even acting as the official scorer of Georgia’s home games. But the hectic feel of the game is what entices him to stick around.
In his several decades with UGA athletics, the thought of moving on to something else has only crossed his mind a couple of times that he can remember, once with the Sugar Bowl and once with the Augusta National. But each time something from Athens kept pulling at his heart, bringing him back to the Dawgs.
“So again, I looked at that as saying, you know what? Then it wasn’t meant to be,” he said with no semblance of remorse. “[Then] we started winning in baseball… and I met the lady that I eventually married right after not getting those two opportunities.”
Lakos has made a lasting impact in his time at Georgia. His job led him to managing a 68-member baseball staff for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, serving as the Venue Press Chief for baseball at Fulton County Stadium. His staff also had their part to play in the opening and closing ceremonies of that year’s games.
But Lakos’ most vivid memory of working as a SID came in a time of terrible turmoil. During one year of his career, two different athletes were paralyzed. One of the injuries happened on the baseball field when Johnathan Taylor came on to catch a shallow fly ball. The shocking moment made Lakos better understand his responsibility as a SID.
“That was kind of an eye-opening moment… We have a job because they play sports,” he said. “And so, our job doesn’t end when they can’t play sports anymore.”
Lakos and the UGA Athletic Association stepped up to support the families in every way possible. Beyond the usual press responsibilities, Lakos has found himself doing what he can for all former UGA athletes. To this day, he is still asked about his relationship with those two injured young men from years ago.
Even after decades in the business, Lakos’ role goes far beyond press releases and game recaps. His job is about people – the athletes whose stories he tells, the coaches he works alongside and the fans who hang on every word. Through the wins and challenges, through life-changing moments on and off the field, he’s remained a constant presence in Georgia athletics.
And as long as there’s baseball to be played in Athens, Lakos will be there, documenting the moments that matter, one story at a time.
