Ice is Nice

Christine McVie, 1943-2022

I'm heading back to the hockey rink tomorrow but hold that thought.

So, Spotify Wrapped is all the rage right now.

You see, I need to know what everyone is streaming. Oh, wait. No, I don't. For me, the process would be simple. First, I don't use Spotify a lot. I have it on my phone and I might use it occasionally but not that much.

So that kind of takes me out of this whole thing, doesn't it? But, let's play along and assume I did. Here's what it would say in all likelihood (and would basically be the same answers since, roughly, 1984 or so):

- The Beatles

- Huey Lewis and the News

- Billy Joel

- A mish-mosh of other stuff.

The end.

For instance, tonight I might be playing some Fleetwood Mac in honor of Christine McVie, who died earlier today at the age of 79. The first thing is how the heck is Christine McVie 79 years old? But, beyond that, as much as people loved Stevie Nicks in the Big Mac Attack of the 70s, I loved the soulful voice of McVie. 

Whether she was singing "You Make Loving Fun," "World Turning," "Songbird," "Little Lies," "Everywhere," "Over My Head" or backup on one of the myriad other Fleetwood Mac songs, McVie brought the sound of a smoky piano bar to records, cassettes, CDs, and 8-tracks of the era.

Maybe it was created via cigarettes and whisky or perhaps that's just an image of that time.

She was, frankly, among my favorite voices in music. I got the fuss over Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham but it McVie who brought brilliant sensibility to the creation of their sound.

Her voice wasn't flashy. It relayed a lot without theatrics or gymnastics. It could melt a heart.

She also seemed to rise above the soap opera of Fleetwood Mac, even though she was smack in the middle of it, as the former Christine Perfect married bassist John McVie -- the "Mac" of the band. They divorced in 1976.

What a wonderful vocalist, writer, and keyboardist. Her passing definitely brought sadness to the music world today.

Oh, hockey. Yeah, I got way off base here.

Tomorrow, I'll call Brunswick and Loomis Chaffee from the Balkind Balcony inside the Hartong Rink. The balcony where I work and others watch the game has been renamed in honor of the late Teddy Balkind, the St. Luke's hockey player who suffered a fatal injury inside the rink last January. It's an extraordinary move by Brunswick to honor Teddy and it will be my profound honor to speak of it moving forward.

"From the Balkind Balcony in the Hartong Rink" will be my approach. 

Starting tomorrow.

When I'm asked about sports that are the toughest to broadcast, hockey is inevitably what people say. 

The correct answer -- many agree -- is baseball. 

Hockey has action right in front of your eyes. So long as you understand the sport it's simply a matter of explaining.

"Smith swoops down into the far corner, feeds Jones behind the net, takes a check and deals into the left corner. Out to the left boards and into the circle, Shot on net -- SAVE! -- rebound..."

And so on. Just describe it. Once you find that rhythm it becomes second nature.

Baseball? Let's face it, there's no secret of my love of calling baseball, but you have to be ready with stories and other things to talk about between pitches. It's a different kind of animal and if you lack the ability to work at that leisurely pace the game will eat you up.

Hockey? Just talk.

The same goes for other sports, such as basketball, which I'll do on Saturday.

I suppose it's the challenge of calling hockey -- perceived or otherwise -- that still fires me up. I still remember getting that first request to do a game.

I didn't want to do it.

John Connelly -- my predecessor as WGCH sports director -- called me to say he was ill. He asked me to step in for him, essentially trading with me as he said he'd handle the board operator duties.

I wasn't ready. I didn't have rosters. I had no time to prepare. Didn't I need 20 hours to study ... something?

He begged. Firmly.

He said Bob Small would be at the site to set up and break down. John Spang would be my analyst and he'd help make me comfortable.

I capitulated.

It was Jan 24, 2000.

Ridgefield played Greenwich at the Dorothy Hamill Rink (yes, really, that Dorothy Hamill).

Was I good? No. Anything but. Yet, as I recall, the game wasn't particularly high leverage so it was a good night to be raw and, frankly, bad.

John Spang made me better. That is absolutely true. If I said anything that was off he'd just shoot me a look that said, "What is he talking about?"

The message was received. Within time I took on more hockey and got adjusted.

I taught myself that when all else failed, I could just say the score. That's always the answer: say the score.

I got better. I got more comfortable. For a time, I'd defer to others to call hockey. Then, eventually, I began to push for the call.

Now I've called conference championships and state championships and even youth world championships.

That doesn't mean I'll go to the Balkind Balcony tomorrow and immediately feel confident. I haven't called a hockey game in nearly nine months. There will be rust. There will be an adjustment.

I just called football. I'll do more football on Sunday.

I'll do basketball on Saturday.

I'm out of practice but I'm ready. I'm not afraid.

And, to be clear, I love doing it despite my distaste for the winter. I have to remember to dress appropriately for the rink.

Brunswick has great hockey and the fans seem to appreciate my call.

I'll be ready.

Drop the puck.

Live.

From the Balkind Balcony.

Greenwich Wins. Film at 11

 The CIAC football quarterfinals were held tonight and Greenwich High School rolled to a 47-7 victory over Hamden.

The Cardinals simply did their thing with a strong run defense and timely plays. They were opportunistic with takeaways and they pounded the ball while their quarterback, Jack Wilson, threw four touchdowns.

Next up is a matchup with Glastonbury Sunday at 12:30. If they win that they're onto the state championship game.

Oh, we were there tonight, calling the game for WGCH. I mean, the radio station has basically been there for every game since 1964. Why should tonight be any different?

It was the 24th time -- I did a quick count -- that I handled the play-by-play for a Connecticut state playoff game for Greenwich. That's not counting my sideline reporting foray in 1999 before I took over as sports director at WGCH.

Dr. Joyce Brothers, Dick Enberg, Mel Allen, Dick Vitale,
Tim McCarver, Jim Palmer, and Curt Gowdy
in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

I tweeted that the booth tonight looked like the scene from the "Naked Gun" movie. I give Chris credit for this because he made a reference to Dr. Joyce Brothers before we went on the air and I couldn't resist it.

The thing is, Greenwich fans -- like any loyal fan -- want to know where to find the game. They prefer their broadcasters on their radio station. For grandparents and the like who aren't tech savvy that ability to just flip on the radio and have Chris and I paint the picture for you is so important. 

They might have options but they're loyal to us.

Alums and fans build a relationship with the broadcaster. It's what they grew up with. It's what they know. They can count on WGCH (except for last year and let's not go there) to produce a professional broadcast. That was basically said to me in a text after the game was over.

It's the standard that we uphold.

We see you. We hear you. We got the texts and messages and felt the love all night. 

After any pregame silliness, the bottom line is to tighten things up and call the game.

That's what we did.

That's what we've done as a duo for a long time now.

Oh, we were silly before the game. That's what we have to do. We were both fired up for the call and I was being especially loose on the field. I realized I was being ridiculous and so did Chris but it helped keep us both ready.

A game like this needs to remain entertaining. Being dry, exaggerating, and robotic causes people to lose interest. You're not getting that with us.

It was a wild night with multiple upsets (some simply appearing so only on paper). We followed along reading comments that were utterly inane online but there was so much good reporting. It's the kind of night I just love.

Eric Scholl kept me posted with texts about the Fairfield Prep/Staples game (one of the best games of the night). Others tweeted info. Prep worked out a tough victory and they'll be tough in the semis. Of course, I can already hear Prep asking Chris and I to call that game but, well, we'll be at Greenwich on Sunday.

Why should it be any different?

Coming Up

 

Hartong Rink

A busy week is upon me so I think I'm just going to set the table and call it a night.

I did both "Doubleheader" and "Poughkeepsie Nissan Monday Night Sports" tonight from the Z-93 iHeart studios. It's a long drive up and back but both shows went well.

Tomorrow will begin with teaching the first of my two classes for the daytime group at CSB Media Arts Center. I'll talk up the radio and biz and try to make them comfortable with the material. Trust me, I've done this for a long time now and I know I'm not an instructor that many (most) students look forward to.

Oh, I don't take it personally. Not everyone is a sports fan so the last thing they want to do is talk about sports or learn to talk about sports. My goal is comfort and the understanding that they don't need to know everything about sports to handle the material. So much of what I teach can be transferred to other disciplines.

Tomorrow night is the first Greenwich playoff game at Cardinal Stadium. Hamden comes to town for a 6:30 kickoff. Chris Erway and I will be on the call on WGCH. Because of the timing, I don't think I'll be able to do "Doubleheader."

If the Cardinals win on Tuesday, well, read on.

However, we should be OK for a show on Wednesday. I'll either go to WGCH on Wednesday for "Doubleheader" or do it from home. Then, I have to go to Mount Kisco for "The Clubhouse." Mark, Dave, Bob, and I will reconvene at that time for the first show in probably six weeks or so.

Thursday will also be busy with my first look at the 2022-2023 Brunswick Bruins hockey team. It was just about nine months ago that the Bruins went all the way to the NEPSAC Large School Championship before falling to Kent. I have no doubt that head coach Mike Kennedy and his staff have assembled another outstanding team. Just as I do with Greenwich football, I keep an eye out for when the hockey playoffs are with an expectation (or hope) of calling those games.

Friday will be a complete chance to catch my breath. No doubt Sean will be here so we can catch up a bit. I'll also do "Doubleheader."

Dann Gymnasium

Saturday will find me back at Brunswick for their first home basketball game. Head coach Steve Juricek has built a program there -- I always say building a culture is so important -- and he was excited when I spoke with him a few months ago. Brunswick sometimes ties me up with hockey and basketball on the same day but, fortunately, there is no conflict this Saturday. 

The Bruins hoops squad made it to the FAA Championship but lost to St. Luke's. Much like the hockey team, they'll look to build on that experience and wrap up a title.

Finally, we go to Sunday where, if Greenwich wins in football tomorrow night against Hamden, they'll play either Glastonbury or West Haven at home in the Class LL semifinals. Chris and I intend to be at Cardinal Stadium. If they win that game? It's onto the state championship.

If Greenwich loses tomorrow, there's a plan B. Or I'll watch football. Or both.

I'm hoping the winter season will stay as busy as it appears. Sometimes, I get too wrapped up in the number of games when the goal is always to create a quality broadcast no matter what.

Still, I love being reliable and doing as many games as I can and the season is just getting started.

That's what's up this week.

Hi, 95

Traffic streaks by in the rain on Interstate 95

 

I finished binge-watching Schitt's Creek tonight. What a show. 

Nope. Football didn't inspire me today. We had some lousy games to watch.

Oh, I also did laundry and some long-overdue decorating as well.

Also, with Sean's help, we finally got one of our air conditioners into the attic. I'd be thrilled to leave it up there but we'll deal with that when warm weather comes back.

But it was time to clean up the bookcase in the living room.

Things had been kind of a hodgepodge while I decided what I wanted to do.

In the end, I took two bins of ephemera and put them in the attic for now. I can always revisit it at another time.

Instead, I set up some of the various goodies I've been given and acquired over the years. Plus I did a shelf of pictures.

That includes the 1986 Mahopac Towing baseball team -- a group that still means so much to me. We were also champions for what it's worth. I realize that's very "Uncle Rico" from Napoleon Dynamite or Al Bundy but so be it.

I put a couple of pictures of Sean up dating back to when he was probably five and his smile was absolutely electric.

A picture of our old cat, Fred, is up as well. He crawled inside a bag and was playing in it. His pupils are fully, hysterically, dilated.

The picture of Mom that I named the "Neighborhood Sad Clown" is on the shelf. She was just sitting in a camping chair as we moved my niece's family out of their house. She "supervised," holding balloons that my great-nieces were playing with on a warm April morning in North Carolina. The site struck me and I took the picture.

I'm sure I've written about the picture before but, after she passed, Dave Torromeo gave me a frame to remember her. That picture was the perfect thing to put in there.

Sean and I decided we always needed to keep it displayed. I fixed that today.

Oh, my circa 1955 portable radio is also on that shelf.

Below that is a printer (I have nowhere else for it) and my model of the gate of old Yankee Stadium (it lights up!). A copy of Susan's book of poetry, Skipping Rocks, is there as is a binder with meaningful baseball and football cards.

There's also a shelf of bobbleheads, statues, and other Yankees and Steelers items.

On top of the bookcase, I added an old Holiday Inn sign from a Playskool set that I had when I was seven. The rest of the toy was finally tossed back when we moved as multiple generations had played with it.

Behind that -- near the chiming clock that I still need to get repaired that my father told me I could have when I was probably 16 -- is a picture of my family. Taken in Aug 1987, it was the last time all five of us were photographed together. Dad, of course, would be gone in Mar 1989.

The picture -- and life -- have changed a lot since then. But, regardless of whatever, I decided to display it up there.

I watched traffic slow up on I-95 as Sean made his way back home from this evening. He was up at 5 a.m. and, of course, so was I. It was shocking to hear anyone other than me awake that early but he was out the door by six and came home roughly 12 hours later.

I continue to feel awful that he has to make that kind of trip every weekend but I tell myself to worry about what I can control. I have no impact on that.

Laundry got done.

Floors got washed.

Meals got consumed.

A Sunday ends.

A new week dawns.

This Was Our Day

 

Google Streetview

Writing here for over 1,400 days in a row means coming up with ideas and topics consistently.

That means often repeating things.

That also means sometimes feeling like I overshare.

My greatest concern is about droning on about Sean. Yes, I write about him and our relationship frequently but I see what others do and remind myself to proceed with caution.

For one thing he doesn't often like the attention. For another, I don't want to be that person.

So there are plenty of stories that you don't hear. Haven't heard. Won't hear.

Still, should you invest in this post further, you will learn that we're just "us."

We're simple men. We have our respective jobs, lives, and schedules. We like simple meals and things that many wouldn't go out of their way for.

So we decided to go to New Jersey and get Wawa for lunch.

That, if you don't know, was our "Plan C" for Thanksgiving. When our first options weren't timing out correctly, we decided to do our own thing.

Which, yes, means we were going to a convenience store with gas tanks.

It's one way in which we are simpatico with the denizens of the Garden State as the closest location is in New Jersey.

For those who think that sounds like a sad Thanksgiving, don't. Being "us" is exactly who we are. Embracing differences is exactly what life is supposed to be.

Of course, our Thanksgiving turned out great as we did spend it with family in a more traditional turkey gathering.

Today itself was nothing major. Like many things we do, it was ad-hoc. We jumped in the car, battled traffic across Westchester into Rockland County and headed down to Lodi, NJ.

We each concocted our culinary delights that deli snobs would scoff at. Sean grabbed a fountain drink and I went for coffee.

Then we ate.

In the car.

And we were pretty happy.

To extend the day a bit, we opted for a stop at the Palisades Center, a mall we both realized neither one had been to in several years. As I worked in Rockland County when it opened I was familiar with its multiple floors and stores back in 1997.

Things have obviously changed since then.

But we walked and talked and my son -- ever the Monster -- picked up a couple of baked goods at the cookie store.

Yes. Cookie Monster. That's him.

He also took some pictures as we drove for a school project he's working on. He needed to document something and he decided this trip would do.

We were soon home and gone only a few hours.

We've never had a problem talking. At least I don't think so. Things kind of just cruise between us and I love our adventures, even as simple as they might seem.

I remember being a teenager with my father and struggling for things to talk to him about. That feeling was often palpable. I don't think that exists between Sean and me.

At home, we each went on about doing our thing.

He's playing whatever games he plays and chatting with friends.

I set about lining up my calendar with another barrage of potential games involving multiple schools. I chilled out after that, with nothing to broadcast for the first time in a few days.

The is fleeting and I know that. I often remind myself the day is coming when he'll realize that it's good to set out more on his own.

As a parent that's what I want even if we're talking about a few other potential trips that are both big and small.

But, still, the day is coming when he'll do his thing so I'm content to hold tightly to simple days like this.

As we ate, we laughed about exactly who would do such a thing.

"Two nitwits from Connecticut," I said with a laugh.

"Yes, but we're weird," Sean countered.

Yes. Yes, we are, and I embrace every last bit of it.

The Team Photo

 

From left: Chris Kaelin, Sean Kilkelly, Nick Angotto, me, Chris Erway, Ryan Demaria

I saw that picture this morning in my memories on Timehop. The date says it was 2011.

Oh, what a time it was.

It was taken on the access road at Staples High School where the annual tailgate was taking place before the Thanksgiving Day game.

Back then we had a much bigger crew and, while all six of us might not have been on that broadcast, it wouldn't surprise me if we were.

We used sideline reporters and statisticians who also doubled as spotters in case I missed anything.

It also meant a larger array of equipment, including wireless microphones for the sideline reporters and whatever means we had to communicate with them. You see, I could hear them but they couldn't hear us without some kind of a system.

We tried walkie-talkies and hand signals before, eventually, switching to a small transmitter which allowed them to hear me via radio.

It was quite a production and it was quite a team.

It was Kato and Sean and Nick and Demer and ErJuan and me. But there were others. Nick Fox and Max Barefoot and Paul Silverfarb and Mark Rosen and Matt Hamilton and Tom Kane and Ricky Fritsch and still more.

And that was just on WGCH.

Ian Barto was our last sideline reporter and once he stepped away, we backed down to just the "A-Team" duo of Chris and me. Of course, Sean Kilkelly still anchors us in the studio. I can't stress enough that his role is so important to simply keep us on the air and to handle whatever issues come up on his end. When it flows well, it's a simple babysitting job. 

When it doesn't then it's a hellacious babysitting job.

The big broadcast crews were great. We'd often have three or four and that seemed like the magic number. We'd ride together in the station van (we don't have one any longer) and have meals and really be a team. But, we also ran the risk of egos and simply getting tired of each other.

Still, we even traveled a few times, like Sean, Mark Rosen, and me in a hotel in Syracuse for a New York state championship. Oh yeah, and a lot of snow. 

On the opposite end was Nick Angotto, Jason Intrieri, and me in Naples, FL.

Now, frequently, games just have me on them. That's how life evolves.

But there's also something about the simplicity of just the two broadcasters. Chris Erway and I have had a season to remember with trips to Massachusetts and Wallingford and Cheshire and Pawling, New York.

For all of our "A-Team" goofy bluster, we're a pretty decent broadcast duo.

And the season isn't done yet. That's not the point of this post. There is at least one playoff game -- at Cardinal Stadium on Tuesday night.

In fact, I called the GYFL Graduation Bowl solo at Cardinal Stadium this morning.

But the picture reminded me of those earlier days.

If it was 2011, it was the days of being a single dad to a nine-year-old. It was also in the days of beginning to rediscover myself and that's a process that is still going on. But it was also a season of just 21 game broadcasts. That was the lowest since my first year doing play-by-play, in 1999.

That would only change once I helped start HAN Radio and the HAN Network and, eventually, Robcasting.

Listeners and fans deserve better. They deserve more games. Admittedly, quantity isn't the answer. Quality is, and I sometimes have to remind myself of that. In 2011, we hopefully produced 21 quality broadcasts. In 2022, we hopefully produced well over 120 quality broadcasts with WGCH, LocalLive, Robcasting, NJ.com, WALL, WDLC, WYNY, and Fairfield Prep. I hope I didn't miss anyone.

I suppose that picture stirred memories of laughs. We did plenty of that. I actually think that was the day that MSG Varsity was on-hand for the TV broadcast of that game and they were filming "B roll" of the tailgate for their pregame opening package.

What they didn't know was a few of the faces that they were filming came from WGCH Radio. You know, as in "the competition." Considering how they often bullied themselves around FCIAC games (while not really knowing the FCIAC that well), we got a good laugh out of it.

Oh, stories. Such stories. I don't mean to hate on MSG. Most of the people there were solid, both on the air and behind the scenes. We all tried to work together.

Consider this growth on my part.

The faces in the picture now are older. More girth. Less hair. More kids. Different responsibilities. Our schedules all got a little crazier. I try to keep in touch with all of them.

Yet, in truth, only Sean Kilkelly, Chris Erway, and I are still in broadcasting.

WGCH still isn't covering enough games. I keep trying to change that.

The HAN Network is long gone.

Pictures say so much.

Time brings understanding and wisdom.

Thanks.

 

The Traffic Light: the 2022 Edition (6:38 a.m.)

I didn't keep stats today. On anything. Not on the passing or the rushing.

Not on the sacks or the tackles.

Not on the hours and miles traveled.

I just know today was ... a day.

It all flashed through my brain as I drove home tonight.

I was awake before my alarm.

I was out the door and on 95 north as daylight was breaking.

The tradition of listening to "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" was achieved as I roared through Stamford and Norwalk.

I was at Westport with a cup of coffee in my hand around 7 a.m., ready to tell the story of Greenwich and Staples.

Internet? What internet? "Good luck with that," I was told.

Yes. I was really told that.

But, cool, we'll set up outside as we've done so many times. The weather was fine, so we'll deal.

We adjust. It's what we do.

And as for "luck," well I have friends in the right places. Thank you, Chris O'Shea (and Ben Talbott) for the assistance as we had perfect sound. We got internet and now I know where it is. Thus my stress was relieved.

Earlier, as Chris Erway and I stood at the great tailgate (thank you, all for the delicious breakfast sandwich and other goodies), I told myself that I simply had to work with what I could control. That is to say that I couldn't control having an internet connection at Staples High School.

But, as always, it all worked out.

And with that, I could concentrate on calling a pretty memorable football game.

Your "A-Team" broadcast crew: Adams, Erway

Fans -- listeners -- were so kind. Chris and I roared for each play that both teams made. We analyzed and strategized. We laughed but focused on the game. We worked in the names of listeners to thank them for the kindness.

When asked what I'm thankful for -- you know, on Thanksgiving -- Greenwich/Staples with a full stadium on a beautiful November day seems like a pretty good answer.

For Greenwich, today will leave a pit in their stomach as they lost by a point, 39-38. The Cardinals had a final chance but ... 

Things happen, friends. Snap the chin strap and buckle up for the playoffs beginning Tuesday at Cardinal Stadium.

Chris and I will be there.

Oh, but I'll there tomorrow morning for the GYFL Graduation Bowl at 10:30 on Robcasting Radio.

I'll do house things after that.

I'll also sleep. Maybe.

I realized that this was my 21st Thanksgiving Day broadcast. I've called three matchups over those years: Greenwich/Danbury, Darien/New Canaan, and Greenwich/Staples.

Lots of games and lots of memories.

But the balance of the day allowed Sean and me to have Thanksgiving dinner with family. On days like this, I wonder if I should still live in the Hudson Valley because I'm so often back in "the homeland."

I have no regrets, of course. I love my place here in Greenwich but I'm back in "the HV" a lot.

Like, today, when we raced across the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge to my cousin's house.

Plates were waiting with our names on them, courtesy of young Mr. Logan, who sprawled "Robby" on a piece of paper for me.

Ah, not the way I spell it, but who's going to argue with such things?

Turkey! Stuffing (minus celery)! Mashed potatoes! Rolls! Pie! Apple pumpkin squares!

Most importantly, a sense of family that I'm happy and comfortable with. A group that I laugh with.

Sean offering "Sean philosophy." It really should be a book.

And the thought of making that blasted drive all the way back home.

So that, friends, is what went through my mind as I made my way home. What exactly had I witnessed today?

Those things, along with a radio documentary I was listening to about the Beatles' studio work, kept me awake and alert enough to get home.

I know I looked utterly wiped out by the time we got to my cousin's house and I know I yawned a lot.

But, now that I'm back home, I can say with certainty that Thanksgiving 2022 turned out just fine.

Turkey Eve

Seniors and loved ones pose following the senior night ceremony

At the beginning of football season, I said three teams wanted me to be their broadcaster.

Of course, Greenwich and Brunswick are the first two. The third is Fairfield Prep, where I did a few games last year (though one was against Greenwich).

We were unable to work out the conflicts until tonight when I called their season finale against the undefeated West Haven Blue Devils, considered the top team in the state.

Final score: Fairfield Prep 21, West Haven 6. 

Knowing it was the day before Thanksgiving (as God is my witness I thought turkeys could fly), I had to get on the road well before Interstate 95 formed its annual parking lot*.

*Well, it's a daily parking lot but it's extra ugly on Thanksgiving Eve.

So I did what any rational soul would do! I left 6.5 hours before kickoff for a trip that should normally take far less.

My thinking was that I could shop in a few places. I could sit somewhere and eat lunch. I could pull into the Fairfield rest area and sleep! I could also use their wifi.

It took maybe an hour in total, including time to stop at Home Depot in Stamford, where Chris Kaelin suggested I could go to get a long internet cable for tomorrow's festivities at Staples High School (Greenwich/Staples, 10 a.m., WGCH).

I messaged Shawn Sailer (Fairfield's own purveyor of all things #OneTown) and we decided to grab lunch. Ah, that will do quite nicely! A buffalo chicken wrap and fries would do the job to hold me for the game.

We hung out, talked (we never struggle to do that), and soon departed.

As I drove away, I realized something was underneath my wiper blade. Yes, friends, your dumb-dumb writer had parked in a spot for cars with permits at the wrong hour of the day. I received a well-earned ticket for my efforts.

You're welcome, Fairfield.

Following a much-needed coffee purchase, I arrived at Rafferty Stadium, the soccer/lacrosse facility on the campus of Fairfield University. This is where Fairfield Prep plays football and, as such, lighter lines are drawn on the field for football to be played. It makes for a difficult visual but it works.

Dave Houghton -- producer, director, cameraman, and point person for the broadcasts -- had just started setting up. For the record, I arrived at the stadium an incredible three hours before kickoff. But, on the bright side, there was plenty of parking in the lot closest to the field. My friend (and senior football dad) Erick Wuchiski busted my chops for being so early.

For the record, I'll probably be roughly three hours early for kickoff tomorrow at Staples. It's part of being prepared (and also allows us to get to the tailgate).

Dave's setup of the computer and cameras took much longer than mine. In fact, I set up audio, realized I didn't need it and broke it down quickly. I was able to try out the new internet cable (it works fine). Then I could relax. Shawn eventually joined me to hang out for the evening.

Senior night ceremonies kicked things off. It was made more emotional by the acknowledgment of Jimmy McGrath, who died at a gathering in Shelton back in May. McGrath's parents and loved ones were on hand to receive a framed jersey on what should have been his senior night. A standing ovation and tears were parts of this moment.

Eventually, we got down to football between these two Thanksgiving (Eve) rivals. 

For what it's worth (zero) this is the first Thanksgiving Eve game I've called in 22 years. I did Greenwich at Danbury back in 2000. Every year since then (with the obvious exception of 2020) I've done a game on Thanksgiving Day (and, reminder, I'll do so tomorrow).

I called this one solo tonight, aware of the responsibility of being the hired gun brought in for the first time this season. It's a daunting task but one I was ready for. Sitting in the next room, my friend Eric Scholl made the music jump out of the sound system, nailing each particular moment where needed. His first song of the night was a little ditty called "The Power of Love" played for a broadcaster nearby.

In my opinion, that should now be a tradition, given Prep won. Or maybe it should just be when I'm there to call a game.

Prep and West Haven were really playing for just seeding tonight, as neither team needed it to make the playoffs. The playoffs begin Tuesday and, as much as I'd love to call another game for Prep, you know I'll be on Greenwich's call that night.

So it could be "one and done" with Prep this season for football, though I'd say there's a fairly solid chance you'll hear me back there very soon.

It turned out to be a productive, low-stress night.

An early start awaits tomorrow morning.

Year 55 Begins

 

I'm overwhelmed.

Just astounded at the number of people who have texted, called, messaged, and posted about my birthday.

I can't deny the rumor. I turned 54 today and, as a result, began my 55th "trip around the sun" as the cool kids say now.

They don't say that but it sounded like something that would make the cool kids roll their eyes. I'm all for that and, let's face it, have a lengthy history of making cool kids roll their eyes.

As I sit here tonight, jazz is sounding out and I've just finished a fantastic chicken parm dinner.

Granted, I ordered out because I have zero ability to make a chicken parm on my own. I also had spicy tuna sushi for lunch and a secret admirer gave me Junior's cheesecake. I was going to withhold that from Sean if he didn't text me about today but nah.

awwwwwwwwwwwwYEAH!

He texted me so it's all good. Sean is just Sean. He can easily forget such things.

Oh, it's been a wonderful day and while I'd rather not be alone tonight, I'm really not that sad about it. I'll pop the TV on later. I have things I can work on. I also have the music playing.

It's truly been a great day and I'm humbled by the love that has come my way today. I have wonderful friends and family. That's really all there is to it.

You like me! You really like me!

Not everything was perfect, of course. Spending 45 minutes waiting for a virtual court appearance will never be fun and I'll be a happier soul when Sean turns 21 in February but, in the end, there was truly nothing to talk about. Just bureaucratic silliness. But, of course, it had to be today, didn't it?

Still, I could have driven all the way to Poughkeepsie for the appearance. Instead, I was in my apartment. It was all fine.

A small blip in a day of goodness.

There was an effort to create a small surprise gathering but people have lives so it didn't work. I'm so pleased to even be thought of and it would have been wonderful to have seen those friends. But all good. I have no complaints about how it turned out.

That's the thing for me. While I'm sure there are things I want (the new Super Deluxe release of The Beatles' Revolver comes to mind), I'm not a gift person. I want love and companionship. I want to see people happy and if that happens because of me, all the better. 

I want to see people just be better. 

These seem like trite ideas but I don't care. It's what I'd like. Shouldn't we all?

Look, I'm horrified by a lot of our world. Colorado Springs makes me sick. It's so unacceptable. I don't care who you are or what you are. Are you a good person? Are you good to me and my son and loved ones? Then you're welcome to join the gathering. I'll accept you regardless.

Nosy people and rude people are the ones I can do without.

So to laugh, have sushi, come home, do a radio show, eat chicken parm and cheesecake all sounds like a birthday gift to me.

That so many people care enough to wish me well today is simply the topping on that cheesecake.

I'd have to say my wish came true today.

At the same time, I toasted my parents, who I miss dearly, and those whom we have lost. May they all be smiling somewhere tonight.

I was asked earlier today what my goals are for this year. I'm not one to really set such marks but I'll say this: I want to continue to discover life. I'd like to be a little healthier (no, I'm not cutting out Waffle House). I'd like my life to calm down a bit more and have more stability.

I'm planning to enjoy this 55th year. That's my goal.

The number means a lot around these parts.

I have to thank all of you individually now! Forgive me if I miss anyone.

This is 54

Thanksgiving Week

Staples Stadium, Westport, CT

So, with little fanfare, Monday smacked us all awake today.

In my case, it was a cat that seems to be nocturnal, thus showing no interest in letting his owner sleep. The humor in this is that Sean was already in the kitchen and Rascal could have nagged him for food.

But, no. It's me who gets that honor.

So begins the Monday before Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving has sort of changed. At least it has for me. 

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'll once again be at a football field early on Thursday morning to set up, gorge at an amazing tailgate, and then call a football game. I've called Greenwich and Staples every year since 2005 save for two exceptions -- 2014 and 2015.

After that? Well, things are a bit up in the air. Sean and I will be together but our plan isn't entirely firm. Part of the problem (and it's a longer story than that) is that the game will likely end by 1 p.m. but my invitations aren't quite timing out right. So, we have a game plan but it's sort of on hold for the moment.

We've also thought about doing what we've done before: our own thing. That began happening probably four years ago when family gatherings got complicated. Oh, and my birthday was on Thanksgiving that year so we just jumped in the car and went to ... yes ... Golden Corral. 

We sure did. In fact, I think we did it twice and it was fantastic. There was no family stress. The food was fine. I called the game, went home, got Mom and Sean, connected with my niece Stephanie, and away we went. No fuss.

Sleep in heavenly peace, indeed.

With Thanksgiving comes the grief of the holiday season. Look, people love the holidays and that's awesome. I wish I could love them. I find these little pockets of moments where I feel joy. 

I always like looking at holiday light displays and I greatly miss the one in Norwalk that we went to for years. There was tradition and happiness in all of it with pizza, ice cream, and laughing. It was one of those things that were "our kind of thing."

Now, going into Post Corner Pizza in Darien -- where we'd always meet for dinner -- is bittersweet at best. Family members are gone or have simply moved on.

For me, the holidays are a time of loneliness. This isn't begging for any invitations. It's not that I lack company. It's just that ...

If I continue down the road, I'll sound like a charter member of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and that's not my intention. It's more a statement about the unsettled nature of my life and the holidays are a manifestation of that. I'm not a fan.

I truly wish I didn't have such a taste in my mouth about this time of year. I do love the fall. But it's tough. So I just grind my way through with my head down until roughly January 2nd.

I do love Thanksgiving morning. It has been such a great joy to do exactly what I said: be at the field, set up, have an egg and cheese sandwich with chili from the tailgate (oh there's plenty more), and call the game with a big crowd on hand. Many alums come back and visit with their friends. Sometimes, they even come to visit us.

It's that sense of community that I've talked about.

US 6 and NY 118/Baldwin Place Road, Thanksgiving 2018 (ish)

Now that I live in Greenwich, it will be strange to not leave Mahopac bright and early -- usually before daylight. The drive to Westport for the game from here is a straight line. I used to leave Mahopac around 6 a.m., always taking a picture of the traffic light in Baldwin Place on my way to either Westport or Greenwich.

We saw some great games. Even classics. Chris Erway and I called the last two FCIAC Championships that were "Turkey Bowls" between Darien and New Canaan. One went to overtime. The other came down to a late touchdown. Each one was at Boyle Stadium in front of a large and delirious crowd. 

I was in heaven.

Greenwich and Staples have also given us classics, such as last year when an overtime touchdown gave the Cardinals the win. I expect a good game again this year.

And, if people aren't there, they're tuned to WGCH or watching LocalLive. Or even Robcasting. Or the HAN Network in those "Turkey Bowl" days. We feel a certain level of being the "voice" of the event.

Then it's over. Everyone packs up and goes to their destination. One year, I left Greenwich and drove to Pennsylvania when my niece was living there. I didn't have Sean with me so this was the best answer and I loved it. I told everyone to just leave me a plate that I could microwave. Instead, they waited for me as I fought traffic.

There were other family gatherings that were honestly quite nice. One year, Mom got a hotel room, and Sean and I crashed with her. It had a pool and a water slide in it and, you bet, the two kids -- father and son -- went careening down.

So, while alone, there are some good Thanksgiving moments. Once again, I'm holding onto that this year.

Remember to check on everyone's mental health, especially at the holidays. It's a rough time.

More often than not, I also find myself struggling to stay awake after the early rising and the three hours on the air. I've fallen asleep in a chair or two, especially after a glass of wine has settled me down.

Somewhere along the line, I'll find eighteen minutes to listen to "Alice's Restaurant Massacree." The song is "about Alice ... and the restaurant."

Then begins the slog to Christmas.

That's a bridge decorated with holiday lights to cross when we get there.

I'm Not Waiting for Sunday Night

My view

 

There was football on Friday. Roughly five hours at the game site along with approximately 2.5 hours in the car.

There was more football yesterday. A long drive, the stress of finding a place to set up, break down, call the game, and so on.

It's more mentally taxing than physically taxing. Oh, sure, there's walking to and from, the car, standing and gesticulating during the broadcast, etc. But it's the mental side that is probably more exhausting. Still, my back and feet hurt when it was all over.

So, fortunately, I've had a low-key day today. We could have gone to the grocery store but we have enough in the apartment to be fine.

Basically, I've had a restful day of TV and doing laundry. It was a day of house stuff.

For as much as I love football (and I do) I simply don't have the fire for the NFL that I used to have. Oh, sure, I'm still a Steelers fan but I don't have the same passion for the league. That's been building for a few years, to be honest.

Oh, don't overanalyze that. What I'm saying is that I don't watch every game with the same intensity that I probably did as a teenager. Instead, I'm also reading or doing something else.

Our choices here in Greenwich didn't help fuel me. We had Lions/Giants and Jets/Patriots in the early window. Blech.

Then we had a godawful Cowboys/Vikings game on and it did nothing for me. For one thing, I'm among the many who see the Cowboys on national TV and yawn. Don't misunderstand me, I get why the Cowboys are on (same reason the Yankees are often on national TV). They're a national brand. They draw eyeballs. That doesn't minimize being tired of it.

But once that game was out of hand, CBS switched to their other game: Bengals/Steelers.

My head immediately popped up and I was engaged.

So, what's going on? Have I changed? Has the NFL changed?

Yes and yes and that's OK.

I've been mostly all-in on high school football since I started calling a game every week on WVIP Radio in 1999. So my college football intake has been minimized a lot. My NFL energy has just changed.

But, hey, the NFL itself has changed. But they laugh all the way to the bank every week.

And I still have the TV on here.

I also just muttered something about blanking bull bleep holding calls, so yeah, I still have the fire for it.

The Bengals just scored to go up 11 points and I heaved a big sigh. I repeat, so yeah.

Also, the Bengals' white uniforms are an atrocity.

PS, the Steelers lost. 

Anyway, now I move on to getting ready for three game broadcasts this week. First up, I'm heading to Fairfield on Wednesday night for West Haven/Fairfield Prep in an excellent matchup. Prep's broadcasts have featured a couple of alums but they're apparently unavailable this week. Since it's likely Chris Erway won't be at this one, they might have to roll with just me.

In the meantime, I'll be hoping someone from Staples High School responds to me to help with the abysmal internet situation at their school. 

As with many other places, I know Chris and I will be standing outside. I think we've done one or two broadcasts inside their booth. The internet is the bigger issue. Don't be surprised if that game is brought through via a cell phone connection. Chris and I have had rather epic issues there in the past, including having to pass a cell phone between us back in 2019.

I'm confident we won't have to do that this time but, barring an improvement in the internet there, I don't see it being smooth sailing otherwise.

That game is on Thanksgiving. I've been promised there is a pregame tailgate gathering.

We'll need it.

(Oh, and Carrie Underwood and that dopey Sunday Night Football song are so lame.)

Wick Wins

 

Maybe we can just move the light pole?

The scoreboard was ominous. 

It had almost been too easy.

It was midway through the second quarter and it read: VISITOR 20 CHOATE 0.

This wasn't just any old game either. It was the Mike Silipo Bowl, to decide the king of prep school football in New England.

Brunswick was 8-1 coming into the game. Choate Rosemary Hall was 8-0.

Choate also felt like they were steamrolling opponents. Maybe they weren't but it felt like it.

The Bruins were very good. Excellent even.

But then, after a stalled opening drive for the Bruins, the Wild Boars of Choate delivered the first punch of the contest.

Though it went the wrong way. 

Senior Luke Michalik picked off an errant pass and sprinted untouched into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

Then Choate had a punt blocked.

Then they fumbled.

Then they were intercepted again.

Then they were picked off once more.

And with two touchdowns and two field goals, the Bruins had that nice big 20-0 lead.

Still, in the booth -- ha! Did I say "booth?" -- Chris Erway and I both had this feeling. Chris said it on the air. He felt that Brunswick left too many points on the field by only getting field goals. I'm fairly certain Brunswick head coach Wayne McGillicuddy would share that sentiment.

Choate ripped off a long drive late in the first half and scored to get on the board. Now it was 20-6.

Chris and I stepped away from the snack table that served as our booth* and took a walk to stay warm. They both felt the game had just changed.

Look above #2 in this screen grab from Dave Fierro on Twitter.
That's Chris and me.

*There's no booth at Choate. They have three fields available for football that we saw but, in each case, only scaffolding appeared to be possible for any kind of eye-in-the-sky view.

That's a no.

At the turf field for today's game, Chris and I quickly shot down the scaffold option. Our technical director and cameraman, Gustavo Pessoa, was set up there along with another camera and a few coaches. I cringed as I watched each person climb up there.

So we stood at ground level, on the top of a hill overlooking the field. We also had to bob and weave around a light tower for the entire game. Was it ideal? No. Would we make it work? Have you met us?

A snack table, a nearby power outlet, an audio cable up to Gustavo, my computer, a small mixer, and two headsets. Plus one of my pod tents in case we needed it.

Cold? Yes. Blustery? Certainly. 

But did we survive and do our job?

Always.

*****

The second half started basically as we thought. Choate scored twice and took the like they had dinner plans.

The scoreboard now said 21-20 in favor of the Wild Boars.

It was no time to panic. Admittedly, many a team has done just that, allowing the oncoming freight train to take over the game and run away.

Not the 2022 Brunswick Bruins, who last lost to an excellent Hun School team back in September. That's the only blemish in an otherwise remarkable year.

The Bruins still looked done. Their quarterback, Elijah Cromartie, threw an interception that felt defeating for Bruins fans. Given the way the Choate offense had begun to jell, hope felt like it was disappearing.

Not so fast. Bryce Davis -- arguably the MVP of the Bruins offense -- ripped off a touchdown run to put Wick back on top, though a two-point conversion attempt failed.

Now Choate had the ball again with all of their time outs. Their drive never got going, stalling near midfield and dying with the Bruins defense shut down a short yardage play on fourth down.

Yet the Bruins, who had been in long yardage situations throughout the day, were ready to close things out. 

Chris and I fought the light pole on arguably the run of the year. On a third and fifteen with just over a minute remaining, Davis took it to the left side...

I'm going to give you a little "inside broadcasting" here. While I normally call most games that are on video in what I would consider a "hybrid" of the heavily detailed "radio call" versus the minimalistic "TV" call, I went smaller here.

The reason was our vantage point. On this play by Davis, I was navigating the pole. I couldn't see what was happening ... and then?

Davis was still running. Then he crossed the goal line. You could almost hear the shock in my voice.

Still, the call almost sounds OK and that's because of the minimalistic approach.

The touchdown was more than enough for the Bruins to wrap up the victory. 

The Wild Boars tried to get another score on the board but it was not to be.

VISITOR 33 CHOATE 21.

Brunswick lost the Mike Silipo Bowl last year at home. They'd lost to Choate in 2018.

Today? No. Not today. They received the plaque that will hang in the case near Robert L. Cosby Memorial Field. 

They are champions of the bowl and of the NEPSAC in New England.

No further questions. They've answered them all from the sweat of August practices to the frosty chill of a late November Saturday.

Game over. Season over.

A fun team to cover with players that will be back next year while others move on.

A win they can be very proud of and they were, as evidenced by the celebration at Choate after the clock ran out.

For me, it was another year of Brunswick football in the books. They played 10 games and I called nine of them. We'll deal with next year when that time comes around.

For Chris, he now has a full year of prep school football under his belt. I expected most, if not all, of the things that happened for us this year but it was a whole new world to him. We celebrated by raising a glass nearby after it was over.

Well deserved.

While it's not about us, we scratch and claw to present the best broadcast we can every day and today was another example.

There are still more football games before the season is over but we say goodbye to Brunswick for now.

Still, an email from the Brunswick hockey coach was waiting for me when I got home.

I'll be diving into that and basketball and maybe wrestling next.

Early December will be here soon.

But, for tonight, hail to the victors. 

The Brunswick Bruins are kings of New England.

For the Love of Community

 

(Photo: Greenwich Historical Society)

The first goal I had when I started calling Greenwich football back in 2000 was to make it about the community.

Sure, I wanted the broadcasts to sound professional but I also wanted there to be a sense of home to the production.

To that end, we immersed ourselves in understanding Greenwich football (and eventually Brunswick and other teams as well).

All of that was on full display last night at the Greenwich Old Timers Athletic Association Awards Dinner.

I've been attending in parts for 20 years and last night was the first time I viewed it from behind the podium.

It's the sense of community that bonds the whole gathering. Every year, while being dazzled by big names who are the national honorees, the true star has always been the stories of the town they love.

That, of course, was led by Mark Yusko, in his 32nd year as toastmaster. Mark's a "townie" as I've told you, even if he no longer lives in Greenwich.

I was assistant toastmaster, in my first year. I wasn't born in Greenwich but have worked here for 25 years and now live here.

The room is perhaps the toughest I've ever worked in, and why?

Community.

It's the first time friends and classmates and teammates have seen each other in one year. Two years. Thirty years.

So, I get it. They want to chat and catch up.

But, just like with Hunt Scanlon's conferences, there's a schedule. While it might not be as rigid as Hunt Scanlon it's still a schedule and I'm trying to adhere to it.

So quieting the crowd was a challenge.

But I was dazzled by the sense of community.

I listened to Mark and every speaker bring up a distant friend, story, business, and myriad other things that I didn't have the first clue about but loved nonetheless.

It's a banquet in that it starts with a cocktail hour that I spent in the VIP room (me? Very Important?) and proceeds into the grand ballroom for the beginning of the program. That sense of community included the presentation of colors and the national anthem.

There's pomp and circumstance, including the introduction of the dais with the honorees and the honored guests. 

Oh, and me.

While it was a night of the Mets (Todd Zeile) and Islanders (their owner, John Ledecky), there were plenty of Yankees references and more. The Rangers were represented as famed goal scorer Stephane Matteau was also in the house.

Zeile and Ledecky also included Greenwich in their comments and Zeile lives in the town and Ledecky grew up in the town. It turns out he also worked at WGCH at one time, making it five GCHers in the house with Ledecky, me, Mark Yusko, Chris Erway, and Bill Daughtry.

The event also a fundraiser, as the Old Timers raises money for youth sports for scholarships, and more. It's a wonderful, benevolent organization that I'm proud to be a small part of.

And will probably be a bigger part of in the future.

To be continued on that.

With chicken, cake, coffee, and beverages consumed, speeches given, awards presented, hugs and laughs, and a few tears, the guests called it a night.

Chris Erway and I stepped to the bar to toast a successful evening.

His first as an attendee.

My first in this new role.

I remain so overwhelmed by the number of people who stopped up to say hello and remind me of something I said or that I simply covered them.

That's community.

Cheers, Greenwich. I might not have been born here but I'm grateful for how you've welcomed me.

Analysis

 

Tonight's the Greenwich Old Timer's Athletic Association Awards Dinner and I'm dressed for the occasion.

Jacket. Tie. Dress pants. Dress shoes.

Things match even if it's not a full suit.

I wore it out into the world today, hours before the event with the knowledge that I might not have time to come home and get changed.

So I went to a place that I occasionally go and it couldn't go unnoticed.

Not, "Hey, Rob, looking good today."

Not, "Hey, Rob, you look like hot garbage."

No.

Picture someone whom I really don't know and am not friendly with. Now, listen for the voice.

Got an image?

OK, good. Let's proceed.

"Hey, why are you all dressed up?"

Oh, hey, why do you care so much? No, I didn't say that but I sort of wish I did.

That's my father coming out in me. He was uncomfortable being looked at and, I pity you if he thought you were staring at him.

I took the high road, navigating that I had an event.

Or, more importantly, this is how I wanted to dress. Like, I don't mind dressing up to make someone happy, even if that person is me.

I realize my style is nothing special but I'm that kid in high school who showed up in the narrow beige tie with a white shirt and off-brand Capezio shoes in the 80s. I didn't do it every day but I did it because I wanted to.

And you bet I was asked about it then also.

I elected to dress as if I wouldn't get home before the banquet because 1) convenience and 2) every girl is crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man.

You didn't have a ZZ Top quote on the "Exit 55" bingo card, did you?

I suspected someone would ask. I expected to be asked if I had a court appearance and, no I don't. That's next week.

I expected someone else to be the one to ask, to which point I suggested having security on standby (yes, I'm kidding).

I'm just not big on nosey people.

Sure, I can be a nosey soul in my own ways but, silly me, I never ask about such things.

Yes, I wonder why people do what they do but I figure, at the end of the day, it's none of my business. So the question goes unanswered.

As I heard a person say years ago, "This is an "A" and "B" conversation. "C" your way out!"

Well, that's why I could have been seen dressed for a banquet hours ahead of time. Because it was convenient, because I didn't have to get changed, and because I really wanted to.

Analyzing me isn't really a productive thing because I am what I am, as the noted philosopher Popeye once said.

Anyway, I have a banquet to get to.

Standard Nerves

 

Hilton Stamford Hotel

I'm deep into prepping and studying for upcoming events. Shockingly, not all are broadcasts.

Well, OK. Two of them are.

Tomorrow night (and something tells me I need to write earlier than I normally do), I'm stepping into a co-hosting role at the annual Greenwich Old Timers Athletic Association Awards Dinner in Stamford.

Now, you're saying, "Rob, you host these huge conferences. You're used to this!" You're right. I do and I am.

And that can be a completely overwhelming thing with intense personalities and egos (and that's just me).

But that's also settled into a rhythm. I know with my Hunt Scanlon colleagues, there is a rhythm and a great team.

Tomorrow night, I will step slightly into the shoes of Mark Yusko, whom I've known for years at WGCH. To many, Mark was Greenwich sports. He was Mr. Greenwich Sports Voice. Since I'm not a Greenwich "Townie" I could only hope to be spoken in the same sentence.

Mark and I are friends and it has been discussed for a few years that I would likely start lending my voice to the Old Timer's banquet. Mark is fine with it. I always said I wouldn't step on any toes.

This is a gathering I've been to numerous times, never feeling like I truly belonged on the rather august dais that often included pro athletes, Greenwich and other local coaches, media stars, and me.

But they keep asking, even after I wasn't around for a few years. So, yeah, I was dragged back in. Joyfully, I might add.

Tomorrow, I will only step to the mic for a brief stretch, unless Mark wants me up there longer. I leave this in his hands (he's done it for over 30 years) and the others who make the Greenwich Old Timers so remarkable.

Oh, and Chris Erway will be there, so buckle up, friends. "The A-Team" will be in the house.

But it's a daunting audience and I always admired how Mark could quiet them down. I keep that in mind every time I'm in front of a Hunt Scanlon audience. Mark's a bit more ribald in his approach.

On Friday, I'll head to New York to call the Class B regional football game between Pleasantville and Port Jervis. The Raiders of Port have all of their games carried on WDLC radio and I'll be filling in for the great Kevin Halpenny.

Kevin -- a true class act -- loaded me up with notes and a script and a run-of-show breakdown. Did I actually write a pregame opening? Me?

Yes. Yes, I did.

Will I -- noted ad-libber, lover of working on the fly -- read said script? You never know. Probably. I'm fairly adaptable.

I'm nervous for the obvious reason of a new audience, equipment concerns, broadcast partners I've never met or worked with, etc.

But, more, Kevin said that the Port audience is much like our Greenwich audience. So what that means is Port Jervis is used to Kevin, not some yahoo from Connecticut. 

I just want to do a good job. To that end, I'm reviewing everything. I know I'll be ready. It's at a school I'm familiar with in a booth I'm familiar with in an area I'm familiar with featuring two towns that I'm familiar with.

Still, consider it a sign of respect that I get so tightly wrapped about it.

Saturday will feature Brunswick in their bowl game appearance at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, CT. The last time these two teams met -- in 2018 -- isn't a game I like to remember. It's not necessarily a broadcast I prefer to remember either, though I always enjoy working with AJ Szymanowski and Shawn Sailer. It was just one of those days.

So, yeah, we'll see what Saturday brings. Championships always make me a little nervous.

These are all good nerves and nerves that aren't wrong to have. It's all pure and exactly as I expect to feel. Each day will produce a share of butterflies. 

Next week? More!

I'm pleased to announce that I'll be on the call of West Haven at Fairfield Prep next Wednesday night. Then I'll come home and head back out early on Thanksgiving morning for Greenwich and Staples in Westport. Then, on Friday, I'll likely call some youth football for the annual GYFL Graduation Bowl, but we just have to confirm the details for that.

Then comes the Connecticut state playoffs for Greenwich as well as getting ready for hockey and basketball.

More nerves.

Just less than these next three days.

Let it Snow ... oh No Way

 

Oh hells to the naw

It's snowing. Or it's supposed to snow.

I suppose I could end the post right there.

You might know that I truly detest and despise snow and cold weather and winter.

Too many years of slipping and sliding and gliding my way back to Mahopac or Carmel from Greenwich, White Plains, Rockland County, or wherever.

No, I don't find it pretty. No, I don't enjoy just seeing it on TV.

I don't enjoy the bony chilling days and the ice.

Reality check: I can't ice skate and I haven't been on a sled in years. As for skiing, I tried it once and within maybe an hour I was done. I was happier sitting in the lodge sipping a beverage. 

I don't enjoy the drab grey days and the dirty snow either. 

Now, understand that tonight's snow is barely going to cause a hint of an issue. 

But it means we're just starting. 

Yet, I thought, hold on a moment. I don't live in Mahopac anymore. A lot of the work I do is from home. If I'm needed at WGCH or Hunt Scanlon or even Brunswick that's all within 20 minutes tops. 

OK, and I don't have to shovel my driveway or get a snowblower to start.

On the other hand, I no longer have the garage I used for almost two years and I'm back to having to clean my car off in this stuff. And, let's face it, some days I'll have to park on the road versus the driveway.

So, that's a push. 

Still, I'm trying to consider how it will feel to simply be snowed in. I'll only have to clean the cars off (including Sean's when he is here). Let's find the energy! Make some hot food! Throw some chili together! Watch movies or sports or binge a TV show (I'm finally going all in on Schitt's Creek)! Crank some music up and just chill or read!

Doesn't this all sound great? That's the spirit, ol' chap!

Or not.

Like, no. No. No. No. No. No.

Maybe I'm just not cut out for the northeast anymore.

Maybe I should look towards Florida. Meh. Too humid. Too ... reptilian.

If anything, I'm likely more of a mid-Atlantic guy, where temperatures are a bit warmer and the snow/ice is less frequent.

Or, dare I say, North Carolina. Yes, I know, all of these places can still be reptilian. Gotta look at the pluses and minuses, friends!

The truth is, this is simply a gripe post. A bit frustrated over the beginning of winter weather and the shorter days (which tends to depress me) and the feeling of just being sort of incomplete, I suppose.

Just hanging and surviving day to day in the in-between, I suppose. It's this nebulous life that I'm dealing with.

I'll make the best of the winter as I've done for years.

I'm going to watch Schitt's Creek now.

Does that count as cursing on the blog?

Once upon a time in my family (pre-me)

Conversations with The Cat

 

I feel tapped out tonight.

I've done my radio work and I need to carve out a few minutes to write a post.

But no topic is grabbing me.

So I asked Rascal.

"Meow," was his answer, and, yes, that sure does seem like a good thing to write about.

The thing is I don't feel like writing about bad stuff tonight.

"Meow," he added.

Well, he had me there. I was indeed pretty horrified by the stories from Idaho and Virginia. Both are senseless violent acts that resulted in deaths.

Look, I have no interest in getting into some kind of gun debate. I want to keep guns out of the hands they don't belong in.

That being said, I'm not big on guns.

I'm also not big on people dying. I mean, that's just me.

"Meow," Rascal just said.

Yes, he's quite right. We're just such an angry, disrespectful world.

Oh, we have those pockets of kindness and humanity but as the song of years ago said, "Why Can't We Be Friends?"

I mean, we are -- at least around here -- but we just seem to want to fight all the time. Heck, I'm guilty of that as well.

Thus I ignore a lot of stuff. I mean, I pick my battles. It would be unhealthy otherwise.

"Squeak!" my furry companion added as he likes to do, given that he often squeaks more than he meows. Or at least it seems like that.

Oh, but given he was asking about why being kind is so difficult, he should know (and he does) that common sense isn't common.

Four dead in Idaho. Three dead in Virginia. More injured. These are just the items that are being reported from this weekend.

We've dealt with this far too often. Thoughts and prayers are literally just that. They're nice to offer but, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't stop the senseless violence that we keep seeing and hearing about.

So, like I said, I'm not wading into the gun debate pool.

I am, however, wading into the be nicer pool.

Be nice. It's simple, right?

Rascal thinks so.

"Meow," he adds as we wrap up.

Which he should since he's trying to sleep.

After all, he's a cat.

Scoreboard Announcer

 

I wore shorts yesterday. The temperature hovered around 70 degrees.

Today? Not so much.

That's probably the first thing I thought to myself when I arrived at my destination today.

Or maybe I thought it when I stopped at Wawa to pick up breakfast ... and lunch.

Yes. Of course, I did.

Today was soccer times four.

Where we do classes in New York and Connecticut to group teams, in New Jersey they do, well, groups.

So I had the calls of Groups 3 and 4 followed by Non-Public A and B.

Union, NJ -- site of the games -- was a reasonable trip from Greenwich. All signs pointed to a roughly one-hour drive.

That's in good weather conditions. This morning was not that. So, instead, just like the drive to Pawling on Friday night, I slogged my way along the Garden State Parkway.

I felt relief upon arriving at the trusty (and new) Wawa. With sandwiches (and coffee) in hand, I moved on to Kean University Alumni Stadium.

David Berry -- who shows up with myriad equipment and produces a great broadcast -- was already at the site. I was relieved that I had parked in the right place and gates were open for me to get in without questions of paying.

David offered to have me come up to the roof where he was set up. He also said I could have a booth.

Remembering 1) how exhausting the girls lacrosse championships we worked on a rooftop and the sunburn I got and 2) the fact that I very much did not bring a warm enough jacket, I opted for a booth.

Now I needed someone to open one for me. A nice guy showed up eventually with keys in hand. Time was beginning to trickle toward the 10 a.m. kickoff of the first match but there was no need to panic.

He let me into a room marked Radio and TV. Why, yes, that's where I belong.

The TV and Radio booth. Roomy!

I set it all up. The mixer. The computer. The connection to David's camera on the roof. We even tried to get an internet connection and he was just about to send an HDMI cable to me for a replay monitor when my friend with the keys returned.

"Er, I'm sorry," he stammered, "but could you move into the next booth? I was told this is being used by the press."

OK, hold up. Doesn't that include me? In this case, no.

Now, he didn't know this. How would he? 

But if there's one thing that will make me volcanic, it's showing up and making me move after I've set up. Especially if we're getting close to air time.

But, I took a deep breath after making an effort to stay and began to move into a booth that was literally for one person.

"I get it," I said. "You're the messenger."

This is where I'd spend the day.

I told David and, while he wasn't pleased, I set about setup number two which fortunately didn't take long. With a flourish, we were ready to go by 10. I had my eight rosters for the four games and whatever notes I could cobble together.

We -- for better or worse -- were ready.

Still plenty of room but not as roomy.

Group 3 was first -- Ramapo and Cherry Hill West. Now, when you have four games on the docket, things sort of need to run smoothly. Overtimes and extended games aren't ideal.

Then, of course, Cherry Hill scores on a penalty kick after the Ramapo goalie picked up a yellow card with under a minute left in a one-goal game. You can probably guess what happened.

Yeah. Cherry Hill scored against the Ramapo backup goalie. Tie game.

On to the first overtime. No goal.

On to the second overtime. No goal.

Penalty kicks happen and there were 14 of them. The Ramapo goalie -- the starter -- was back in net and made the definitive save to win the title.

Who doesn't love a good redemption story?

Freehold Township won Group 4 over Ridgewood. This was a good game but much more ho-hum after the slobber knocker that first match was.

The third game was also an overtime dandy but this time, it ended quickly. Immaculate Heart trailed Paul VI 3-1 in the second half before rallying for the tie. While, on the one hand, there's joy in such drama, there's also that feeling of the day being prolonged.

Still, a "golden goal" wasn't hard to find and Immaculate Heart won the Non-Public A championship.

Lastly, Rutgers Prep won the closest thing we saw to a blowout today, taking Non-Public B, 3-1. They trailed DePaul 1-0 before running off three in a row.

Games over. Titles won. Season over.

Day over.

A few things. I enjoyed myself and the staff was great to work with at Kean. I enjoyed having the peace and quiet of the booth where I could just call the game and not worry about who heard me.

On the other hand, please please please hear me out. When you sit near a booth at a sporting event, especially if you see a microphone sticking out the window, please be mindful of what you're saying.

No, there won't be trouble for us but I had people cursing just outside the window all night. I had people speaking ill of officials, players, and other schools.

Please consider this a public service because you're the one who looks bad in the long run.

Just sort of behave, you know? 

Oh, and always my favorite is the person trying to talk to me while I'm on the air (never mind the number of people who opened the booth door to see who was in there).

A kindly woman looked at me after the last game.

"Oh, was this televised?"

Sigh.

Anyway, none of that deters from a fun and challenging day.

I packed up quickly and headed for a warm car. I figured I'd stop back at the mighty Wawa on my way out of Union.

I traced my steps and could see the Wawa sign on the left side. I put my signal on, slowed up, and then ... saw the "no left turn" sign.

Instead of finding a way to grab a sandwich, I jumped on the Garden State Parkway (now nice and dry) and moved toward home.

Sean and the cat awaited.

I sit here now and always feel a sense of pride after a day like this. It's four games. We're on-site for roughly 12 hours. Other than David producing things above, I'm on my own. Soccer is not my strongest game though I will allow I'm much improved.

Heck, if Connecticut doesn't want me for state championships, then maybe someone else does.

New Jersey will do just fine.

Congratulations to the champions and also to the runners-up.

Let's do it again.