On "passion"

 

Greenwich Skating Club, Dec 28, 2019, 6:30 a.m.
Meaning I've been awake for probably two hours at that point.

passion [ pash-uhn ]

noun

any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.

What is passion? 

"I love your passion," they say.

Passion is showing up every time.

Not bailing out because of some lame answer -- or no answer at all. You fulfill the promises you've made and posted online

Passion is making the commitment and also honoring the commitment, even under the worst of circumstances.

Yes, stuff happens. I've missed broadcasts due to a funeral and a hospital visit. Even then, I considered ways to go.

Passion can often be confused with obsession and some of us in the broadcasting world understand what I'm saying.

Passion means going to the stadium on your off day to sweep the booth out and prepare things.

It means going hours before you're expected to clean the booth for the opposing broadcaster. This falls under the heading of passion because you care about how the team will be viewed and you're dedicated to professionalism.

Passion means you don't give up until you've exhausted every option. You can't get on the air? Keep trying. A piece of equipment isn't working? Find other equipment. That's why I carry an insane amount of stuff. That's why I make adjustments, like carrying a Pelican case or a small tent to keep weather conditions away from the equipment.

Passion is calling the game off a phone because all other options have been attempted.

Passion is also the emotion felt after a good or bad broadcast. It's whatever emotion that you're processing.

It drives you to do as many broadcasts as you can, wherever you can.

It drives you to run to Shelton to help a friend with a broadcast then fly to New Canaan to do the broadcast you're actually getting paid to do.

It drives you to cover youth broadcasts and underclass broadcasts with the same intensity that you'd bring to a varsity or professional game. Because the athletes and their families and fans deserve that.

They don't deserve to have you bail on it because -- essentially -- you think you're too good for it.

A few years ago, I was asked to call the junior varsity hockey game in Greenwich's Winter Classic on Local Live. I wasn't invited to call either varsity game and it would have been easy to let a bruised ego stop me.

So, what did I do? I called the JV game -- alone -- with the same (yep) passion that I did when I called the girls and boys varsity games on Robcasting later in the day.

That's passion. You treat everyone as if they matter.

That's the reason people say, "Your broadcasts sound like they belong on (insert respected network/channel here).

Passion is leaving the house at an ungodly hour, on minimal sleep.

Passion is 19 Thanksgiving Day games in a row, hitting the road before 6:00 a.m.

Passion is often making sacrifices. Sorry, I can't to go whatever social gathering or event because I've committed to a game. Oh, I had tickets to the ALCS. I also have a Greenwich football broadcast. I sold the tickets.

Passion is calling four or five games a day and not making a dime because you're trying to build a brand and a reputation.

Passion is calling games at 8, 10, 2, 5, and 7. Then sleeping. Then doing it again.

Passion is buying your own equipment, trying to acquire equipment where you can, and doing anything to improve. 

Passion is paying it forward.

Passion is not burning bridges. but building them. It's about making sure the crew gets recognition and respect.

Passion is listening to those you could have learned from and respecting them.

Passion is exhaustion and emotion -- good and bad.

Passion is peeling off a suit in the back of the car because of some ridiculous notion that we'd look/sound better. So you change -- in your car -- into shorts when it's over because the suit is soaked.

And, sometimes, you sleep in that car. Or on the floor of a radio station. Or make arrangements to stay at a friends' house.

Passion is driving to Cooperstown to make sure that the game you're planning to broadcast can, indeed, be broadcast. So you go three hours before anyone else to check the facilities and the cell phone signals.

Passion isn't false bragging and goals. It's staying humbled and overwhelmed as you achieve the things that you achieve. It's staying wide-eyed.

Passion is what drives you.

Passion is never being satisfied, even after all of the attention in the world. 

You'll learn. Oh, will you learn.

You think you have passion? 

Buckle up.

You've seen nothing yet.