Still Here

 

Calling a Renegades game, Brooklyn, 2009

It was just after 6 a.m. on Sunday, Sep 2, 1990.

I couldn't wait to go home.

I maneuvered down the rutted driveway back to NY Route 292. The route numbers would evolve past the houses and farms and shopping centers.

311. 52. 6. 6N.

Then home.

I'd sleep. Sure I would! It was nearly 7 a.m. I'd been up for quite a while. I had to sleep!

And I barely slept.

I had just completed my first shift as an air talent.

A DJ.

On the radio.

My broadcasting career had begun.

I had been hired to host a Sunday overnight shift that would go from midnight-6 a.m. on WMJV in Patterson, NY. 

It was initially suggested that I drink a ton of coffee and, oh hey, try some NoDoz as well.

Kids, I don't suggest this. Ever.

But I did as told and then felt like my heart was going to leap from my chest and back into my car to participate in a triathlon.

The shift was exhilarating enough. I'd trained with someone the previous week -- someone who didn't know I was coming -- and I felt good. Newsflash, that person and I became close friends.

Then I took over from the person who was on the air before me. A different person. Further newsflash, that person liked me and, then, not so much. Ah, radio politics, friends. I just looked and apparently, he's still in business in the area. Somehow, he and I have not crossed paths in over 30 years. That's just fine with me.

After dealing with some butterflies, I convinced myself to turn the mic on and talk.

And here we are. It's been 34 years and I've worked in broadcasting for nearly all of them.

WMJV/Majic 105 wasn't my goal. Oh, I could have been happy playing music and getting paid to do that. I would have been happy with some witty banter and tunes. But we all know working in sports was the goal. Heck, I was doing a sports report every Sunday morning not long after I started at Majic.

But that shift could be tough. Sometimes, the only listeners I felt like I had was the staff at Harlem Valley State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital colloquially known as Wingdale for the hamlet it was located in.

The building was back in the woods and it was creepy. Radio, especially in the dead of night, can be like that.

Friends and family would listen for maybe the first hour. I'd also have some high school kids and other locals who checked in. By 3 a.m. it was very quiet. Those were the toughest hours to stay awake and, yes, I might have a cup of coffee around then.

I might also put on "Hotel California" or "American Pie" and zone out. The format wasn't that tight so I didn't have to adhere as closely to the program log. I followed it but I could deviate a bit and, as a break was needed, a longer song was the way to go.

Eventually, my cousin Ron would listen in as he was delivering newspapers.

Finally, my replacement would come in after 5 a.m. But as we got friendlier, we'd get to talking and I wouldn't leave until after 7 a.m.

It was fun and I was there for just about a year before I got eaten up by the politics. Lesson learned. Sort of.

If you're not playing in the cool kids' clique, you're disposable. I've seen it too many times.

I licked my wounds, moved on, and eventually made it to WREF.

Then to WGCH.

And on and on and on.

You wind up on many outlets during a broadcasting career. In this era, you sometimes create your own outlet.

For the haters, sure, I had my own delusions of grandeur when I was 20. I had high hopes for what I could achieve. I didn't get there. Enjoy.

However, I'd also say I've achieved a lot and am proud of what I've done. And I tried to make each one of those events sound like the biggest deal possible.

Thus the GYFL will always sound like the Super Bowl. Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball will be the World Series.

I've covered election nights and breaking news and anchored the news and hosted so many programs and done the Greenwich Town Party and I honestly can't remember everything.

I tried to figure out how many appearances I've made on the air, be it terrestrial, online or otherwise. Audio and video. Oh yeah, and podcasts.

Video has tried to kill this radio (non-)star but hasn't succeeded.

I used to keep a list of every time I was on the air but I stopped a bunch of years ago. Maybe it's 5,000? 10,000? I'm really not sure.

But I've honored and respected my craft as I've continued to learn and grow while passing my knowledge on.

The business of broadcasting has enthralled me and enriched me. It has also tried to destroy me at times, or I try to destroy myself.

I accept the blame, I suppose.

And I've had a few battles over the years. I'm not proud of that but I'm proud of standing up for what (and who) I believe in.

I have no tolerance for phonies or nonsense.

Maybe I've made it to 34 hours in spite of myself. I don't know.

There will be no on-air appearances today and that's fine.

I thank you for supporting this wonderful experience of mine.

Stay tuned for more.

I hope.

Thanks for listening.