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| Not a sign I wanted to see |
I honored my commitment today.
As I usually do.
It's sort of one of my better qualities.
I was up and out of the hotel by 7:30 and on my way from Rhode Island back to Connecticut. I probably should have left a little earlier but it didn't worry me.
The hotel breakfast didn't do it for me this morning so I hit the road hoping for something better. Good lord, people, but where do you go?
In my case, I opted for the golden arches. Short-staffed as they were, I had a suitable Egg McMuffin that was too small and a coffee. But people were getting impatient as they waited. I just look at my phone.
And I tweet about customers helping themselves to a soda cup by walking behind the counter.
Fighting the inconsistent speeds on 95, I made it to Stratford with time to spare before class began at 10.
Teaching is the usual. It's a new group so the stories, videos, and sound bites are fresh to them. I tell them all, doing my best to assure them that I'm not a brag or a name-dropper. The idea is to recognize that you too can interview the players you've admired and broadcast their games.
It takes a lot of things. Fate, hard work, connections, some luck, and other factors help achieve those goals. Talent? It's overrated!
Honestly, does talent win out? I don't think it does.
But it also takes trust in the people who are guiding you along that road.
And making sure you're not being taken advantage of by "mentors."
Class was over shortly after 1:30 and I buzzed from Stratford to Fairfield to make keys for my sister to visit Rascal later in the week. I also grabbed lunch.
Then I came home, emptied the car out, and got to work on a small load of laundry before I hosted "Doubleheader." Oh, yeah, and The Cat was waiting.
With laundry done, I took it mostly easy.
The great shame is that Trumbull played back in Rhode Island tonight, and the game was on the Gamechanger app. The problem -- thus, the shame -- is that you can't watch it if you don't have a subscription.
I was tempted -- yes, indeed -- to try calling the game from home off the Gamechanger feed. I mean, why not?
But, alas, I do not have a subscription, so I got scoring updates and that was it. The final was a 17-4 for Trumbull over the team from North Providence, RI.
This Trumbull is scary good. They play smart, fundamental baseball.
Tomorrow is their off day so they can enjoy themselves. The hotel has a pool and there are some things to do in the Providence area. The beaches are nearby, Newport is a great town, and a day trip to Boston is possible.
Me?
Oh, I'll be teaching again. The students are good and they're nice and that matters. It gets my grumbling quickly into the background. They deserve my best regardless of whatever circumstances in life so I gave them my all today and I'll do the same tomorrow.
As soon as class is over, I'll get right back in the car and return to Rhode Island, perhaps stopping for lunch if I can find anything to eat.
The next broadcast is Wednesday morning at 11 a.m.
Today is the 103rd anniversary of the first baseball broadcast as Harold Arlin called the Pirates/Phillies game on KDKA. The Pirates won 8-5 and the broadcast was rudimentary but successful. Arlin called tennis the next day and college football that fall before doing boxing.
Sports play-by-play was officially underway, beginning on Aug 5, 1921.
As always, a tip of the headset to Mr. Arlin.
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