From Ice Side

 

I'm home for a few minutes after calling the Connecticut Roughriders 4-3 overtime win over the Providence Capitals.

It was the kind of game in which one team scored. Then another. And they alternated until the extra session when the Norwalk home team got the W.

I'll be back with them again next week.

It's one of the most unique setups I get to encounter. I call the game from inside the visiting team's penalty box, which is also part of the scorer's booth. It's from there that I get power and access to plug equipment into the setup fro the broadcast.

To that end, an important piece of equipment couldn't be found at first, leaving me to think that I'd have to see if I had one of my own with me. 

Left to my own devices, I found the item, wedged in among other things. If you've ever worked in a hockey rink, you know that the chance exists to find anything. Al Capone's remains might be in some hockey rink.

In the end, all was well. OK, sort of.

Obviously, the FloHockey broadcast is the primary outlet. I provide Robcasting for those content to just listen. It also gives me access to an archive given I'm not paying FloHockey for my own broadcast.

I plugged in my podcaster, which gives me more control over the sound, including access to a mute button, thus cutting down on extraneous noise. It also allows me to run it through Robcasting.

Except it didn't work today for two periods, so I broadcast 90 minutes of just rink noise.

I put that squarely on my shoulders.

It's a unique setup from which to call a game. There's no booth and, to be closer to the camera and audio connection, I have to stand in the penalty box as I mentioned. As a result, I also serve as doorman for the penalty box.

And, as I'm sure you'll not be surprised, there's no edit button on players coming into the penalty box.

Yup, F-bombs a plenty.

More to the point, I call it as if I'm invisible. Sure, my voice can still be heard but I try to keep things under control as best as I can.

Oh, and the view isn't ideal. I couldn't see a goal score and one point; something I apologized for.

But, again, I'll take the challenge and run with it. Many think this is above them and I don't see things that way.

And in the middle of that are texts about other things in my wackadoodle world that also need attention. So it's always a wild ride.

Which is just how it goes.

The week continues. 

The grind rolls on.

Not everyone will sign up for this.

But I will.

*****

Today is John Lennon's birthday. The member of the Quarrymen was born on this day in 1940. We lost him in 1980.

John is a man who needs to be studied in context. He was complicated. That's the short version. For every "Run For Your Life," there was "In My Life."

But I'll be curious what post-1980 would have been like. Sadly, we'll never know.

Shine on, John. We all need that.

We all shine on.

I Asked For This Schedule

 

The malfunctioning scoreboard

Always be ready.

Survive and advance.

Adjust as necessary.

I grabbed a cup of coffee and sat on the couch for a moment before "Meet the Beatles" this morning when my phone buzzed from one of the two people scheduled to be my first guest in the history of the show.

It turns out he wasn't feeling well and chose discretion, opting to stay home.

However, he was performing as part of a duo, so his partner was still going to come in and we'd also have him back another time.

I was fine with however it was resolved because, with the exhaustion of Saturday, I was all about having a peaceful day.

This worked out very well.

Mark Zelenz was my guest and he performed a variety of Beatles songs, as well as solo John Lennon and Paul McCartney songs, and, at the very end, even brought us part of one Billy Joel song ("Vienna"). Interspersed between songs, we chatted about influences, trivia, and more.

It was a success and I think the sound was outstanding.

As with all Robcasting audio, the show is archived on archive.org and Mixlr. Additionally, the WGCH archive page will be built soon. I happen to know the WGCH archivist in this case, as that has become one of Sean's duties.

With the show over, I stopped home for a few moments to grab some warmer layers.

My first hockey broadcast of the season was next on the agenda.

The commitment to Rockets Hockey Club means roughly a 90-minute drive to the Bridgewater Sports Arena in New Jersey.

It means the second time doing the drive down I-287, which has become one of the more boring jaunts that I deal with.

But, before I drove it, I found the new Wawa off NJ 17 in Ramsey.

I needed lunch. I also needed a cup of their coffee.

I worked my way out US 202 to cut off a bit of 287. The bigger reason to do that is because I used to have family out that way and we would drive 202 because 287 didn't exist yet. If I've never said this, my mother spent the first years of her life in Butler, NJ and we had members of her family sprinkled through that region.

So I enjoyed the few minutes of semi-nostalgia as things have changed quite a bit.

I rolled into the Bridgewater Sports Arena with plenty of time and found a full parking lot. I made my way into the red rink, where the Rockets play, to find that a game was already going on and it was being broadcast. As a result, I couldn't set up. Instead, I grabbed my notes, leaned on the top of a garbage can, and scribbled.

That game went into overtime and the Rockets won it (it was a different level than the one I'd be calling). But late in that game, I noticed the four-sided scoreboard overhead wasn't functioning.

Thus the broadcaster of that game said he'd be joining me to help with keeping an eye on the game clock (he was running the website also). So, thinking I'd be "Scullying" a hockey game, I instead wound up with an analyst I've never worked with and didn't know.

You know the drill with that. There's the whole thing of learning cadence as well as creating chemistry.

I'm not sure how smooth it sounded but we made it work. He (his name was Sean) brought a wealth of knowledge to the broadcast and that was a great advantage to have.

It was over a few hours later, completing my third call since Saturday afternoon, and I began my drive home.

Of course, Sunday night traffic slowed things up a bit in Rockland County for me but I was home by 8 p.m., in time for Steelers/Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

Which was delayed due to a thunderstorm.

Oh, you bet there was another trip to Wawa before I got home, as Sean (son, not today's broadcaster, was happy to get a sandwich).

Things will be quiet tomorrow but don't worry. 

Things will heat up.

More hockey and more football later this week.

If only I could work in a baseball and basketball call to complete the big four.

Adjusting on the fly, of course.

Four Games

 

Don't worry.

The post is here.

You're not worried. I can tell.

But, in the process of preparing for four games -- Danbury/Greenwich, Avon Old Farms/Brunswick, Elmira Impact/Rockets Hockey Club, Providence Capitals/Connecticut Roughriders -- I simply didn't get this on social media.

I suppose, to some, this breaks the streak but if a post fails to post and nobody notices, does it really matter?

So, yes, I'm here. Thanks for asking.

Thursday was (indeed) a day of preparing for four games. That, after recording and editing a new "Hanratty's Huddle" in the morning. We did the podcast from Norwalk Community College, ahem, except it's not NCC anymore.

it's CT State Norwalk. Marketing, I suppose.

But that meant Terry Hanratty, Dave Torromeo, and I got to sit in a nice podcast lab, working with shiny equipment.

And, for a moment, I thought we might not have any of the 38 minutes we recorded. My computer -- for some reason -- recorded roughly seven minutes and stopped on two different recording programs.

Fortunately, the internal SD drive of the RØDECaster Pro II saved it and, with a little figuring out of the process to get the audio on my computer, the day was saved.

One thing I often really like about most of the podcasts that I do is that there isn't much editing. What I mean by that is I work in a "live to tape" style. We do the show as if we're live. If I wanted to go to another level, I could have the theme music play as well, but I normally add that in the post-production process.

On rare occasions do I actually need to edit anything out. In those cases, it's usually someone has coughed or an audio level is too low or some other minor edit. On "Talent Talks," which I do for Hunt Scanlon, occasionally a client nitpicks a bit more and I have to see if I can work some magic. In that case, the option becomes that we leave it alone or we do it over.

When it comes to "Talent Talks" I always explain that I want the client to be happy with what they've said. Any big stumbles of mine can be fixed after the fact by me, and I've done that also, rereading statements and questions that I wasn't happy with.

But, in this case, "Hanratty's Huddle" was done without incident, despite my slightly raised blood pressure. It's posted online and can be found wherever you get your podcasts. Like anything I do, we would very much appreciate a little love. Spread the word as we're still trying to grow.

And many thanks to CT State Norwalk for having us in as we try to build a relationship with them.

Oh, but back to the four games. It's standard operating procedure at first, by creating a scoresheet for four games (two football, two hockey) with relevant information (records, last game, next game, etc) and then searching for rosters.

Four games means eight rosters. Two I have at my disposal (Greenwich and Brunswick). Five were found without too much headache.

And then there's one. I'll let you figure out which one it is.

Finding them is one thing. 

Making them look the way I want is another. I don't go crazy on the appearance but I do often copy and paste into an Excel spreadsheet. In the case of some, the copying doesn't go as planned, so there needs to be some manipulation.

I did plenty of that for games that will take place on Saturday, Sunday, and next Wednesday.

As always, I'll be ready. I'll have stats, storylines, and other items as game time approaches.

I'm calling three of these games solo, with Dan Murphy on Greenwich/Danbury joining me. He might, in fact, wind up calling part of that one but that's a different story. Lots of hurdles to jump.

And blog posts will likely follow.

Let's Move On

 

Visted Danbury today and saw that Newtown banner.
I called that state championship game in 2014

I admitted today on social media that a certain person and situation have been gnawing at me.

I tried to address it to a couple of friends last night and I'm not sure my message was received.

But this kind of stuff messes with my mental health and I felt I needed to say it.

Look, I'm in a weakened state because of nearly two solid weeks of baseball broadcasts with 28.5* since July 6th. Don't get me wrong. I've loved it but as I always say it's a grind.

Plus the move and stress of that, along with the complaining about the basement (which is currently calmed down).

*I should be calling number 30 tomorrow but the weather made officials decide to put one game at one field at Oxford and the other on the other field in the same park. They were both played at the same time. So, while I didn't do play-by-play of Hudson/Winchester, I stood maybe 500 feet from the field and described everything that I saw.

So this has been a grind of standing and sitting and having a sore back. Of setting up and breaking down every day.

It's been a grind of blazing sun and real feel temperatures of over 100. It's further been a grind of worrying about the weather and how it will impact the equipment.

It's been a mental grind. I don't just talk for 2-plus hours. I put my heart and soul into every pitch and every story.

I'm as prepared as anyone but I lament every mistake, getting frustrated when I stumble over words.

Beyond that, I'm exhausted with "opportunities." Perhaps I've mentioned but I have several carrots that have been dangled in front of me. Like a fool, I've engaged and pursued each one.

Then? Nothing. I have to figure out how to pay for this apartment and keep living a little bit of a life. In all likelihood, I'm not going away anytime soon and, yeah, that's very disappointing, considering my schedule will likely get nuts again in September.

I keep stupidly believing one of these gigs will come to be. Yet, I should know better. Fool me once, fool me twice, and so on.

I can't keep going like this much longer. I've asked for a home base. I've literally begged for some things to change.

And? Nothing.

So take this and add in the other stuff and it's a lot.

Anyway, this coming off like I'm whining and feeling sorry for myself.

I'm not.

I'm just reminding you to check on loved ones. Mental health is no joke.

The championship game of the Cal Ripken 11U New England Regional is tomorrow at 2pm between Easton and Winchester, MA. The winner tomorrow moves into ply in the World Series in Florence, AL.

I'm proud to be on the call.

2K

 

Last Thursday passed without much fuss.

As I recall, I ran some errands and it was fairly average.

That night, I wrote, as I've done every day since Dec 30, 2018.

But, in reality, while it was truly an average day in an average life, it's worth noting that it was the 2000th consecutive day with a post here.

I'm willing to note it because, well, I need a topic every night, right?

Beyond that, meh. I have my thoughts about what I've written and, as has been noted, not every post in meaningful.

However, I can't stress enough I'm not looking for a pick-me-up. I don't want attention, pity, or anything else.

I'm literally just noting that it's been 2000 days in a row. 

Except, now it's 2004 consecutive, so the moment has passed, right?

But this beats whining about other things, so there's that.

Plus it's a night with a game 7 and that's glorious.

Oh, I've seen some sinkers, no question about that. Speaking of which, none of us will ever get past Game 7, 2004. Beyond that, I shall not talk of it.

The good news there was that it was over early. That saves my blood pressure.

Or Game 7, 2001. That had a ton of drama and ended in heartbreak.

Then again, I loved every minute of Game 7 in the 1991 World Series. I was actually practicing calling play-by-play as I watched the 1-0 masterpiece between the Twins and Braves.

How about 1997 (Indians/Marlins)? 2016 (Cubs/Indians)? The 1992 NLCS, when Sid Bream got the piano off of his back on a mad dash? Oh, and the 2003 ALCS, when Aaron Boone got a new middle name in Boston?

There are so many great examples to mention but Game 7 -- or whatever is the ultimate game in a series -- is just the best. 

At least, generally speaking. It was just back in May, for instance, that the Pacers obliterated the Knicks in Game 7. At the Garden.

On the other hand, any hockey fan remembers Game 7 at the Garden in June 1994. The Rangers -- without a Stanley Cup since 1940 -- beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 to win. I clearly remember a nerve-wracking night watching that game.

Without a rooting interest, I remember a gutwrenching Game 7 in 2009 between Pittsburgh and Detroit. The series -- and the season -- came down to a brilliant save by Marc-Andre Fleury on Nicklas Lidstrom.

Doc Emrick's call on NBC was overwhelmed by the crowd in Detroit that night, but it's clear "What chaos!" would have been appropriate to say.

Tonight, Sean McDonough gets the honor on ABC/ESPN here in the US while Chris Cuthbert handles the call on CBC in Canada. 

Those are the voices who will be forever connected to this night and I wish them well.

Post number 2005 in a row commences tomorrow.

Home, but Active

He's watching me

 

I slept last night.

I mean, it wasn't off the charts but I slept, er, OK.

So I was up and drinking a cup of coffee in the living room.

The living room has boxes and some walking room in it. The cat sits up in his tower. But, mostly, it's becoming a holding area to move.

In fact, preparing for the move was how I thought the day was going to go.

Then the phone rang. Could I jump on a case?

Um, OK. When.

"Now."

My hair was still in several places thanks to bed head but I quickly splashed some water on it and threw on an appropriate shirt.  A faded creamsicle Tampa Bay Bucs jersey isn't the way to appear on Zoom for a court deposition.

I went from that phone call to going on the record in seven minutes. They needed me to be fast and so I hustled.

The truth is I only really need to be seen on camera to start the proceedings. After that, it's my voice and not my face that is needed.

So as they began the deposition, I double-checked everything. The recording was rolling and each other item was correct.

At that point, with a mostly quiet day ahead of me, I was good to go with a case that would take up the day and I figured I could use my home time wisely, and then...it was over.

Quickly. That was all the time they needed.

So I did my paperwork, fixed an issue with uploading the files, and that was it.

From there, I had my day in front of me. 

Oh, there were plenty of things to do. I went up into the attic. I did some paperwork and cleaning/rearranging. I did "Doubleheader."

There is still the clerical side of moving, which is mostly organizing things like switching the electricity and cable/internet accounts, along with changing addresses to several accounts.

We're still waiting patiently to hear when (and if) we can start moving anything over to our new address.

*****

I'm watching the Stanley Cup Finals and lead announcer Sean McDonough is clearly battling through an illness.

His voice clearly isn't right and I feel for him.

McDonough's performance throughout these playoffs has faced heavy scrutiny. Those saying they never speak ill of another broadcaster have waged a nearly nightly war on McDonough, saying how he should be removed by the more excitable Bob Wichusen.

"Bullet Bob," a former WFAN update anchor, is certainly worthy of the praise.

But I feel for McDonough, especially tonight. If you're not familiar with him, it's easy to criticize him because his voice is very flat. He's normally not like this.

I've been in this place, in terms of voice issues during a call. Dealing with a sore throat, along with whatever else, and loss of power in how I make my living isn't what you want.

So McDonough isn't at his best tonight and these are the Stanley Cup Finals. Oh, the information is still sharp but the power and energy are off.

I'd truly love to go to someone else's job and judge how they do. That's what dealing with armchair broadcasters is like.

McDonough has called the World Series, the Cup Finals, and myriad other big events. He's a pro and knows what he's doing.

I always read how fellow broadcasters shouldn't criticize one another.

Read the cesspool of Twitter/X tonight and you'll see the jabs McDonough is taking throw that belief right out the window.

Very petty.

And not very positive.

Oh, and while I'm at it, leave reporter Emily Kaplan alone. Yes, she asks questions that are unique, but she also knows her stuff. Any comments about her appearance are unnecessary. 

Lastly, since I'm on a roll, I'm here to stand up for Portland Sea Dogs broadcaster Emma Tiedemann. Once again, I'm sorry to say backward-thinking Neanderthal men still exist.

According to Jesse Scaglion (Tiedemann's husband), this clown called the front off and announced that he was "NEVER coming back to a Sea Dogs game b/c we have a female broadcaster & men only go to baseball games to 'get away from women & that our broadcaster should go to softball.'"

Not cool.

Speaking of pros, that's Emma.

We don't care about these things and have to have thick skin. Then again, we do care.

Sometimes, all one can say is "Do better."

Fang Gang Celebration

 

They are the champions

I was handling public address duties tonight for the Renegades.

Unless you're new around here, you know my first desire is always to be in a booth.

Any booth.

With a headset on calling the play-by-play of a game.

And I could have been in a couple today, but I was committed to the Gades so I worked there.

Roughly 575 miles away, the Hudson Valley Vipers hockey team played in their ultimate game.

After winning the Eastern Conference title last week in Niagara Falls, the Vipers traveled to Toledo, Ohio tonight to play the Mobsters for the APHL championship.

I always want the big call. I would have preferred to be in Niagara Falls last week and would have loved to be in Toledo tonight. However, doing road games was never in the cards so it wasn't something I pursued. 

Keep in mind, had I attempted to do it, we would have been driving and needing a place to stay. All on our own dime.

So given the many balls in the air right now, along with my commitments back here, it just wasn't in the cards to do it.

But I always want to complete the job. I was, basically, the Vipers' play-by-play announcer in 2024 having called most of their home games.

That's how I feel about Brunswick, Greenwich, and any other team I get attached to. While I don't like the term "Voice of the (insert team name here)" I do understand that there's a connection that the broadcaster represents the team to an extent.

The Renegades didn't broadcast road games in 2021, so I had to push to get the one road game that I wanted to call at Brooklyn. 

But I have called championship games many times, of course, including Greenwich's titles in football at both the conference and state level, as well as FCIAC championship wins in baseball and boys ice hockey.

With Brunswick, I've called their football bowl game wins and FAA conference titles in baseball and basketball. I've also called their lacrosse Prep Nationals title in 2022 and I'll call their attempt to win another one tomorrow. If they win that, they'll likely wrap up being the top lacrosse team in the country.

Those are just a few examples.

But, tonight, I had to watch the Vipers on my phone via the YouTube stream provided by the Toledo Mobsters.

With no announcers.

Broadcast aside, it was a happy night in the Hudson Valley. The Vipers beat the Mobsters 7-4 to win the APHL Championship in the league's first year. It's a wonderful accomplishment for the team and everyone associated with it. I texted with team president Pat Manning to congratulate him.

In the meantime, we talked it over at Heritage Financial Park and decided to make an announcement to congratulate the Vipers.

I had the honor of announcing the result to the assembled crowd of over 3,000 who reacted with a loud ovation.

A championship has come to the Hudson Valley and it deserves to be noted.

So, in some small way, I feel pride in being the broadcaster for the Vipers. But, as always, we are the smallest of parts of the story. We're the storytellers and it's not about us.

To that end, regardless of how many titles I've called for teams, I don't get a ring or a jacket or any of the spoils of winning. Generally, it doesn't work like that, at least not for me. It's a higher-level thing and I get asked about it often. In fact, someone told me that I should get a ring tonight.

I take pride in doing an honorable, professional broadcast. I don't think my place belongs in the domain of the players. 

But I was very proud of what the Vipers achieved tonight. 

*****

Sean and I went to the memorial service for our friend George Chelwick today. It was an honor to be there to support George's family. The speeches from his sons were a reminder of what a remarkable man he was.

The family was extremely touched that Greenwich football head coach Tony Morello and the 2024 Cardinals captains were in attendance at the church. I thought that was pretty great.

That's the love of the community that is well deserved for someone like George, who gave so much in his lifetime.

I don't have any particular reason to explain this to you but I wanted to honor George, Nancy, and their family one last time. 

Let it serve to remind us how good people are located everywhere.

What Could Be

 

Donte DiVincenzo reacts after hitting a three-pointer to put the
Knicks ahead (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The lacrosse game ended and I was ready to go home.

Thanks to the kindness of a Brunswick parent, I'd already had dinner, as she picked up a chicken quesadilla from the food truck at the game.

So I just needed to come home and enjoy some hockey.

It has the chance to be a really fun spring around New York sports. The Rangers are playing in Game 2 of their first round playoff series with the Washington Capitals. As I'm typing, the Rangers lead 4-3 so there will be some nervous time.

Last night was about as epic a night of basketball as this area has seen in years. The Knicks found themselves down late but scored six points to take the lead in a blistering pace during the last minute of play.

They hit free throws and held on for the win.

Donte DiVincenzo's three-pointer off a mad scramble brought about a rare double "BANG!" from the great Mike Breen, calling the game on MSG. 

Breen is the best basketball announcer and I won't hear otherwise (though you're certainly entitled to your opinion).

But I'll admit I yelled "BANG!" as DiVincenzo's shot went through the net.

It was an intense win and the Knicks lead 2-0. 

The Garden was rocking. I sometimes roll my eyes at the marketing of "The World's Most Famous Arena" but it's truly a special place at times like last night. The level of insanity will only grow as the Knicks and Rangers win games this spring.

Oh, it reminds me so much of 1994, which was a truly treasured time around here. The Knicks got to Game 7 of a gutwrenching NBA Finals series that they lost to Houston. There are still so many "ifs" that fans torture themselves with. After O.J. Simpson's famous van ride during Game 5 of the series, the Knicks needed just one win and it was nowhere to be found.

On the other hand, the Rangers also went to a Game 7 after a thrilling series. All anyone has to say is Mike Richter/Pavel Bure and we know the image, as Richter stopped Bure's penalty shot in Game 4.

We all gnawed away at our fingernails the night of Game 7, hoping the Rangers could erase the demons of 54 years. The euphoria at the end of the night was unforgettable.

New York is a big event town. We love the World Series and the Stanley Cup Finals and will go nuts if an NBA Finals comes here for the first time in 25 years.

The Knicks haven't won a title since 1973 so there's a hunger. Beyond that, New York hasn't had a professional championship in the four major sports since the Giants won Super Bowl Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.

So, yeah, it would be fun to have that feeling of 1994 again, especially if the two Garden teams can win. There was another team that was threatening to win a title that year but lost out due to a player's strike.

The Yankees would get back on top of the world in 1996 but they were close in '94. It would have made for an epic year in New York.

We could feel that this year. I'm not saying we will but it would be fun.

*****

A quick side note about lacrosse. Brunswick won the game after initially being in a tight battle with The Hill Academy from Canada. It was a great team effort as the Bruins continue to be the best team in the country.

However, a couple of students popped in the booth at one point for the weirdest of reasons: me.

They. Wanted. To. See. Me.

They both kind of stammered, called me "the man," shook my hand, then realized I was working and they left.

I was astounded and a bit overwhelmed. It was humbling.

I'd actually like to talk more with them if only to thank them.

I'm not deserving of the attention.

Which is the Toughest?

Al Michaels, right, and Ken Dryden called
the Miracle on Ice in 1980 on ABC

A minor debate popped up on the socials yesterday, beginning with the legendary Al Michaels.

Al, of course, has been a football broadcaster for 50 years, as well as working extensively in baseball, along with some basketball and hockey.

He has numerous legendary calls, including his work in the Super Bowl, World Series, and, of course, his "Miracle" call in the 1980 Winter Olympic Hockey tournament.

But during a recent interview with Dan Patrick, Michaels admitted that he feels hockey -- specifically, on radio -- is the hardest to broadcast.

I've asked this question to students for years, always curious what they think the most difficult sport is to call. Hockey is frequently mentioned until I demonstrate the mechanics of broadcasting baseball. That, in fact, has been an accepted answer for years.

Sure, preparation blah blah blah, but it's still knowing when to thread the information in, how to thread it in, and, most of all, how to make it sound conversational.

I find soccer to be the toughest, mostly due to still finding my voice with the sport but I think I've come a long way.

But hockey? Nah, it's literally describing. I mean, that's the first law of it, be it audio, video, or a hybrid.

As a radio call, you can't get every pass unless the game has that slow of a pace. Most games I call don't play like that, so I try to hit all that I can, but it's more important to know who and which team has the puck.

And I find baseball easy because it's so embedded in my blood. Pitch, swing, defense, and details. But, still, it's a balance of not talking too much or drifting too far between pitches.

Of course, this is all just opinion and mine is no more correct than anyone else. It's not an absolute. It's amazing how many struggle with that concept.

For me, baseball, football, hockey, and basketball are all fairly fluid for me. I don't want to say they're "easy" but I suppose there is something to that. I try to find a good rhythm to each one of them but they have so many differences. Football means calling the play and getting out of the way for the analyst (if I have one). 

Basketball and hockey play differently in having time for the analyst to talk while play is in motion but the general rule is I take over as things get close to the net or when a player takes a shot. It's hard to explain it but it works.

Years ago, WGCH decided to do a lacrosse game and, initially, I wasn't going to be on it. But, ultimately, I wound up at Greenwich High for the game, initially working the first half on the sideline before calling it in the second half.

Before the game, I had to figure out how to call it.

Ultimately, I took the lessons I learned in calling hockey and applied them to lacrosse. I've done the same with other sports as well.

That's where I figured out soccer also. As terrified as I was at first, I found my rhythm. I found my style.

So this debate really isn't one to take such a harsh stance on. Everyone has their own take.

To that end, I'll call lacrosse tomorrow and Friday before getting back to baseball on Saturday.

It's Sunday Night

 

Doing the PA reads before today's Renegades game
(Photo: Dan Muphy)

It's so often that I write about my difficulties sleeping.

However, my recent grind of Renegades games, chilly nights, long drives, plus a doubleheader of Brunswick lacrosse and Hudson Valley Vipers hockey had me wiped out when my head hit the pillow.

That would have been after midnight this morning. Thus, I really did sleep soundly for a stretch. At least, that is until Mr. You-know-who decided he wanted breakfast.

The Cat. Not Sean.

So I was up by six and soon pulled together for "Meet the Beatles."

I'll give myself credit for what I thought was a decent show content-wise as well as minimal technical snafus. Despite being groggy, I handled the show with aplomb. Or I just wanted to say aplomb.

But, seriously, I stumbled into the radio station this morning.

I finished the show, edited and uploaded the audio, and ran home before going right back out to handle the PA for the matinee in Wappingers Falls.

Several of my road friends were there, including Dan Murphy, who has become a close friend and fellow broadcaster, as well as Steve Alpert and the hockey-playing sensation known as Doug Kerr. If you've listened to the couple of Vipers games that Dan and I have called then you get that joke.

However, I only chatted with them briefly before they went to their seats and enjoyed the cider donuts that I'd like to enjoy.

The game was not so great as the Reneg...er...Cider Donuts lost to Aberdeen. My friends were gone before I had a chance to say goodbye.

Sean and I left the stadium soon after. As a reminder, as I said yesterday, trust your people. Empower them. Don't hover over them or micromanage them.

We did the drive back to Greenwich, picking up dinner as we drove, tried to find cider donuts of our own (with no success), and came back to The Cat around 7:00.

He's talking to his friends and here I am, typing away and trying to convince myself to stay up a little bit longer as the clock pushes towards 10.

A new week beckons. "The Clubhouse" returns plus there's an 11 a.m. Renegades game on Wednesday and I have a podcast to record and I get to be a play-by-play announcer again. Let's face it, that's my happy place.

This is to say I hope things are trending the right way.

But, for now, I'm happy to put this day and this week in the rearview mirror.

It's after 10:30. I'm going to bed.

Adjusting and Readjusting

Vipers win! Thuuuuuuuuuuhhh Vipers win!

I'm writing another early post since tonight will be late again.

Ah, we're always adjusting on the fly since life is simply not scripted no matter how many charts and graphs I fill in with my colored pens.

I have Brunswick lacrosse today at 3 p.m. against Hotchkiss, followed by Hudson Valley Vipers hockey for their last home game at 7 p.m. That was the plan.

Then an offer came up to do football (!) and I was all-in, thinking I could make it happen.

Then it got pulled due to, well, I still don't know why. A friend was asked to get a broadcaster and came to me. Then the production company said they were going to go with their guy. Was it because I'm an unknown commodity? Who knows? I'm new to this whole play-by-play thingy.

Anyway, it's all sort of amusing and best to just let it roll off. So, it's back to the original gameplan.

Lacrosse at 3. Hockey at 7. There's just enough time between the two to get to the Hudson Valley for the third of four straight days.

It's almost like I should live there or something.

I get asked frequently where I'm looking to live and the correct answer is to still focus on the Greenwich/Stamford/Norwalk area and spread out from there. It's quite possible I'll start packing some stuff up this week if time allows. I'll have to get some openings in my schedule, of course.

Which isn't happening today and likely not tomorrow either. It's lacrosse and hockey today and Beatles/baseball tomorrow.

*****

One thing I want to highlight is leadership style. I'm very hands-off as a manager. I trust the people who work with and for me. If help is needed, I won't hesitate to jump in but, otherwise, I expect everyone to do their thing.

I'm more of a collaborator. I want people I work with to feel empowered and inspired.

I never micro-managed Chris Erway, for instance. I never -- literally never -- questioned his game prep. He could show up empty-handed and sometimes got a roster from me before we went on the air. And it was always a solid broadcast. Why question that?

So I do get a bit tense when I see it happen to others or to me. And I see it frequently during this time of year.

It's just a style that is too "in your face" and makes you feel like you're not trusted.

And that removes a lot of the fun. While it's a job, it's still supposed to be fun.

*****

OK, speaking of fun, it's hours later. In fact, it's 11:35 p.m. so I don't have a lot of time.

Brunswick won with ease. So did the Vipers.

The Vipers wound up playing the Soo Nordiques, though they were originally scheduled to play the North Shore Nighthawks. So, we adjusted and carried on. It's what we do.

Then we were moved to a different place. And we adjusted. It's what, you know...

Dan Murphy joined me for the hockey call and the saving of my sanity since we foolishly sat near a speaker that blasted music and announcements at us all night. Those are the types of things that I make a mental note of for when it's time to discuss if we'll do this again next season. 

But it was fun and, as always, we made the best of it.

With that, I'm exhausted and there's still Sunday to go before I can breathe again.

There is No Dark Side of the Moon

 

(Photo: Stephen Shankland/CNET)

You'll forgive me if I don't tweet 150 times over a 24 stretch about WrestleMania, won't you?

Good. Grief.

I don't want to spoil that party. I know many of my friends are into pro wrestling and have been for years. I remember friends 40 years ago being into it. 

They tried to drag me into it. Physically.

While I watched a few times and have just enough knowledge to discuss a little of it, I've never been into the WWE, etc scene.

I'm not here to mock it either. 

Nor am I here to knock the other phenomenon being discussed at the moment and that's the eclipse happening tomorrow.

Initially, I had a baseball game scheduled that would be starting towards the back end of the eclipse tomorrow but that game has been moved to Tuesday. So, no go there.

What a bummer. I was prepared to do play-by-play of what was going on!

Instead, I'll likely be here. I'm considering taking "Doubleheader" outside to watch things as they end. I've never done the show from my deck and I think I'll do that tomorrow. There will likely be background noise of I-95 and trains running by, but so what? 

We're meant to be outside tomorrow.

Of course, solar eclipse glasses would be nice.

After finishing up "Meet the Beatles" this morning, Sean and I took a walk up Greenwich Ave. to the Warby Parker store. We immediately found that they were out of free eclipse glasses so we soldiered on and eventually made our way back home.

That's how it goes, I guess.

I'd heard that the library had some but the last I heard they were out also. 

But that doesn't take away from this for me. There are ways to survive without FOMO. We won't miss out.

We also won't damage our eyes.

Later in the day, I settled in to watch the Iowa/South Carolina basketball game. I readily admit I've become a Caitlin Clark fan and wanted to see the sensational Hawkeye finish her career with a ring. Still, it's hard to knock the phenomenal team that is South Carolina. Dawn Staley's team had the size and a deep bench to survive any early offensive explosion by Clark.

In the end, despite a talented Iowa team, it just wasn't enough and South Carolina finished a perfect season.

The greater point remains we're talking about women's college basketball. 

And, in my mind, this wasn't an "oh yeah, that game is on moment." This was appointment TV.

Back to "Meet the Beatles" for a moment. There were too many technical hiccups because our studio really isn't the best for playing music. So it's on me to adjust and get better at it, all while providing the best content. I did a covers show today and I nearly played everything I had on my list but there were a few moments when things didn't come across. 

It was operator error and I'll keep getting better from it.

Not that it's any excuse, but I dragged myself into the studio this morning after calling two games on Saturday. The day began with lacrosse at Brunswick on the soccer field as the Bruins once again displayed the potential for a truly special season. Their opponent -- Loomis Chaffee -- is another top team. The Bruins took the game 13-6.

Then I went up to Poughkeepsie for the Hudson Valley Vipers contest. I was thrilled to have Dan Murphy on the call with me. Dan texted me earlier in the day to see if I wanted company, and I was glad to have his steady demeanor and good sense of humor on the headset. We blended together easily so it made for a smooth broadcast. Pretty amazing since last night was only his second broadcast.

But, well, it was a night. The final score was 13-9. There were too many penalties to count. Three players were ultimately ejected. 

And the broadcast got silly at times -- which I noted on the air -- speaking to what kind of night it was.

All along, going back to lacrosse, I had a headache and a muscle ache in the back of my neck, likely the result of craning to look at something. That persisted through the drive to and from hockey and the broadcast itself.

Plus I was hungry. Thankfully, Saturday's post was written hours earlier so I didn't need to sit in the McDonald's parking lot following the three-hour hockey broadcast.

But rolling down the Taconic State Parkway, I pondered a later dinner. I knew we needed milk and I supposed I could pick up some milk at a convenience store. At worst, I could have cereal. 

Then, inspiration struck! Rocky's Deli in Millwood, is a minute off the TSP. They're always open. In fact, when I left Mahopac at 4 a.m. to head to Hunt Scanlon for our flight to London in 2022, I went to Rocky's to grab a ham, egg, and cheese on a hard roll and coffee.

At 11:30 on Saturday night, I had the same idea minus the coffee. An egg and cheese sounded really good.

And yet....yet? I had a sinking feeling.

I was right. There was a line out the door. No thanks. I went to a nearby store, grabbed milk, and went home.

I had a bowl of cereal and collapsed. Even the cat couldn't disturb me.

And so, friends, we head into tomorrow, post-Wrestlemania. Post-Yankees take two of three from the Blue Jays. Post-South Carolina/Iowa.

Straight into eclipse mania.

Despite postponed games, and whatever schools are doing, it will all be over by dinner time.

And, if you buy into what the conspiracy theorists are selling, who knows what else will happen?

Then again, if you buy into that you're probably reading the wrong blog.

See you tomorrow.

I hope.

Severe Snark Warning In Effect

 

This would not be ideal today

Our wacky weather, combined with a long day ahead, gave me pause to sit at the keyboard this morning.

Heavy rain. Earthquake. Aftershock. Eclipse. It's mass hysteria!

So here I am, your (hopefully) favorite "VERY upset" talk show/podcast host, preparing my little heart out for today, per the provisions set forth in the Preparation Accord of 1964*.

* Patent Pending, of course 

First, for your late lunch/early dinner pleasure, we head to Carroll Varsity Soccer Field for lacrosse. Yes, that's correct. Due to Cosby Field being unplayable at the moment thanks to the weather, today's Brunswick lacrosse game against Loomis Chaffee has been moved to the soccer field across King St. I've worked from there several times and it's an outstanding facility, even if it lacks the amenities of Cosby Field.

As such, there is no press box or large grandstands. But it will absolutely suffice and we will broadcast it in all its glory. I'll head over in a bit to see exactly where we're setting up. I have a suspicion but I'm not 100% sure yet.

But we'll be there and it will be spectacular. Oh, nothing to do with me but everything to do with two top-10 teams. Excellence will be seen.

The game will begin at 2 p.m. and will wrap up around 4. You can watch it on LocalLive. That will give me more than enough time to jump on 684, grab food somewhere, and head to Poughkeepsie for tonight's Boston Gold Kings/Hudson Valley Vipers hockey tilt. I've done what I can to cover the Vipers in their first year and it looks like I'll wind up calling nine of their home games in the first season.

The Vipers game begins at 7 p.m. and I'll likely be live around 6:55 on Robcasting.

The idea was to help get them off the ground from a coverage standpoint with the hope of expanding somehow next year. We both know that and will hopefully talk about it after the season.

I'm hoping in the midst of all this to avoid hurricanes, typhoons, blizzards, sinkholes, locusts, pythons, and stink bugs. 

And, since there's a chance of showers, to hopefully stay dry. A fellow broadcaster noted working outside and his concern over the equipment. I assured him it's duly noted and, believe me, it's always a concern to me, whether the equipment is mine or not. I'll have the umbrella and rain gear with me. Honestly, that's all I can do.

So, let's have a day, shall we? Let's be positive and have fun!

Oh, was there a basketball game last night? Yes, in fact, there were two. South Carolina dispensed with NC State in the first one while Iowa survived UConn.

First, a note about the broadcast. I had it muted until the very end. That's the only way to survive it. But I felt I was duty-bound to hear how it ended.

Oof. That was a bad decision. In an incredibly crucial moment, the broadcast team of the Fordham Flash (no, not Frankie Frisch -- look him up) and the UConnLegend neglected to give us any details of the offensive foul at the end of the game.

Bad. Bad Bad. Did I say "bad?"

Were they too busy coming up with the next location Caitlin Clark would sink a three-pointer from? (Note: it's not new or unique. Kickoffs and run backs and home runs have ended miles away since at least 1999)

The offensive foul call was one that I was surprised about in that spot. I asked someone I trusted about the call and the person I talked to said the call could have been let go. But that's sports. Most people saw it with their hearts. 

A few things to keep in mind: UConn also had a double-digit lead and did they let Iowa get back in the game? You Bet!

Did Clark -- who couldn't find a shot in the first half -- heat up? You bet! She began hitting shots from Sandusky and Findlay (where Ben Roethlisberger played in high school).

Did UConn fail to box out after Clark missed her free throw? Bingo.

Bad calls happen. I've seen them. I've been a part of them. They've hurt and helped every team I've ever been involved with.

But the game didn't end thanks to that call. It was a call I wish they didn't make in that spot.

But they did.

Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, and both teams deserved to finish things on the floor. Both coaches -- especially Geno Auriemma -- were incredible.

That's what I'd rather be talking about today.

But, here's the thing. We're talking about college basketball today. Women's college basketball.

And that's a great thing.

Game over.

Snark Warnings mean that an abundance of sarcasm and humor will be mixed in with scathing commentary about events. Readers are advised to prepare to laugh or check their lack of a sense of humor. Preparation is subjective but it is advised that learning to laugh is wise.

Behind the Scenes

 

Yup. Hockey.

The Vipers have just finished a 14-4 win.

Yes, that's a hockey score.

I'm sitting in the rink while players meet fans and families.

The drive will follow as I've already packed up.

My throat hurts, my voice is tired, and the drive will be a drag.

But I spent most of the day in the mighty Hudson Valley.

Stop one was with my road friends -- Dan, Laura, Connor, and Doug, plus Laura's daughter Rainey.

I hung out with them as they prepared for a presentation on YouTube about Austin, TX.

I don't have much to add about Austin but I'm sure I could have survived had they asked me to talk. At the very least, I'm a decent moderator at that point.

But I hung out and watched the preparation of PowerPoints and pictures.

Plus there was food, with Doug making meatballs, wings, and corned beef and cabbage. It's St. Patrick's Day tomorrow after all.

They're good people --  all of them -- and I like being that fly on the wall as we talked and laughed.

We road types talk about more than just, you know, roads. OK, sure, we talk bridges and other infrastructure items, but we also talk sports, kids (Rainey is too cute, and she was climbing all over me), and life in general. Plus Dan's a big Beatles fan with an impressive collection of music.

Including things I don't own. Yes, I'm a touch jealous, but he'll be on "Meet the Beatles" eventually.

I left them and made my way to Poughkeepsie in plenty of time for puck drop.

Kris, Logan, and Danny were among those in the crowd who joined me.

Fun times as the Vipers poured the goals in the net and the penalties in the box.

There were numerous fights and, let's be honest, fans love that stuff.

Me? It's fun but it also adds to the length of the broadcast.

Which is now complete.

I have to get home and get at least a little sleep.

Tomorrow is a big day with "Meet the Beatles" live at 9 a.m. plus a recorded version to play next Sunday and laundry, packing, shopping, etc.

Time to go.

They Can't Stay Young Forever

This is "Junior"

I was looking in my memories today when I saw a reminder of some of the work I did at the HAN Network.

From time to time, I would get a hotel room out of the deal, especially if it involved a night game followed by a day game in the same area. There's no question I was grateful to not have to do the amount of driving from Shelton to Mahopac and so on.

However, in this case, it was a weekend in which I was supposed to have Sean. And, let's face it, what kid doesn't love crashing in a hotel?

Especially one with a giant indoor water slide?

That's what the Hampton Inn had in Shelton.

So I picked up Sean and drove him back to Fairfield where I called the Fairfield Ludlowe/Fairfield Prep on Friday night in a state playoff basketball game.

It was a chaotic night with a huge crowd and poor internet service inside Alumni Hall. It was just one of those nights.

Regardless, the waterslide was closed when we got back to the hotel. We'd have to get up first thing in the morning to enjoy it.

Sean was still at the age where he had a few stuffed animals to keep him company.

Though they wouldn't always travel with him, he had "Big Kitty" (a stuffed cat that was actually mine) and an Elmo at his mother's. Among the "guys" he kept with me was a small Pillow Pet that was called "Junior," named because he had a larger Pillow Pet. Both were black cats with white on his face.

It wasn't so much that he was looking for them to sleep with but they were sort of a running gag between us. Sean's inventive mind created a whole personality for Junior, including a small box that he made into an airplane.

It was "The Junior Jet."

And so I made sure to pack Junior to bring to the hotel, just as you see in the picture on the AC unit in the room.

These were the little things that made us smile and were part of the bond of this father-and-son unit.

We also bonded on the water slide early the next morning as we were down there when it opened. We did several runs on it with our laughter reverberating off the walls. We'd also jump into the adjacent pool as well.

Oh, keep in mind it was March and quite cold outside as I recall. That always adds to the joy of the situation.

We enjoyed this for a bit before getting dressed, grabbing breakfast, and heading into Bridgeport for two ice hockey games.

It was Sean's patience in those situations that were recorded with things like staying in a hotel, with him learning that Daddy's job was different than the average 9-to-5, even though I also did that at the time.

They were crazy days, nights, and weekends that produced wonderful memories.

They're long over now as HAN is gone and Sean is 22.

Oh, he still has his guys but he doesn't travel with them anymore.

No, I don't have to keep space in the backseat for them when we drive to Florida.

Junior, in fact, will stay put in Sean's bedroom while we're gone.

He and Rascal will be our guard cats.

We Now Pause For This

 

Current situation

Whether it's a gymnasium in Yorktown Heights, NY, or a hockey rink in Bridgewater, NJ, the games keep coming and I have to be dressed appropriately.

In other words, I need to be bundled up in an ice rink.

Today began at Yorktown High School.

I called two girls basketball games in the New York State playoffs with the winners advancing to the state semis in Troy.

Shout outs to Putnam Valley and Our Lady of Lourdes for getting the victories.

I jumped on those because I was needed and I can't deny that's a nice feeling. Then I turned the equipment over to someone else after my two were over.

There were two more games there but I needed to get to New Jersey.

That's where I am now.

When I first walked into Yorktown, nothing was set up and, honestly, I didn't expect it to be.

Dutifully, I got to work setting up tripods, getting internet, and carrying everything out of the nearby closet.

As I was stringing wires, Kevin Devaney Jr -- unaware I'd be setting up -- came in and relieved me.

And I do mean relieved. He knew what he was doing and I stopped worrying about things falling apart. All I had to focus on was my audio and the call.

To top that off, I had AJ Szymanowski on controls, and that helped even more. His steady hand will chide me as needed or we'll just talk via text.

With the games done, I packed up, got in my car, and began driving.

I grabbed dinner and a much-needed coffee and came to the rink.

These can be funny places. My game is coming up in a little more than an hour but there's another game going on. In this case, it's a youth hockey game.

Thus, there are parents standing where I need to set up.

We're going to have to boot them eventually but I'm trying to be patient for now. I don't like being "that media guy."

So, here I am. Ready to call the third game of the day with a voice that's OK but a throat that's a bit sore.

I have my throat drops and can get a drink if needed.

Other than the coffee, of course.

Tonight's game comes with a broadcast partner, whom I only met a few minutes ago. There's always an awkwardness to that and the fear that chemistry won't come naturally but we'll give it a try and see how it goes.

As the saying goes, this is not my first rodeo.

Or hockey game.

Of course, I'll look forward to the drive back up 287 to get back to Greenwich and a solid night of sleep.

Which we'll lose an hour of tonight.

That's fine. I'll take the tradeoff of longer daylight for being a bit bleary-eyed when doing "Meet the Beatles" tomorrow morning.

So long as I don't get stuck on any highway in traffic for an hour like last night.

It's true, I got hung up on the Hutchinson River Parkway due to what appeared to be a pretty serious accident. Fire engines and other emergency vehicles roared past all of us.

Eventually, I put my car in park and hoped I didn't fall asleep.

That happened on Interstate 684 one time before Sean was born.

In this case, we were eventually permitted to move and head on our way.

The slight inconvenience of traffic woes is nothing compared to whatever happened to the car that looked pretty destroyed when I saw it on the back of a flatbed tow truck. Their lives were likely changed.

Compassion doesn't cost much.

Rockets Hockey Club and the Connecticut Junior Rangers -- yes, ironically enough -- are coming up at 7:30 on FloHockey and wherever you get your Robcasting.

Admitting it is the First Step

Getting to Use a top-line Sennheiser headset Friday night
in New Providence, NJ. It's the little things that make me happy.

OK, friends, at the subtle behest of a few loved ones, I took a break today.

I loved the last five days with seven games over that stretch. As you might know, that doesn't even approach my record. Babe Ruth baseball tournaments* take care of that.

*Please note that we're looking at a Cal Ripken baseball and a Babe Ruth baseball tournament this summer. They're basically both confirmed so expect another nutty July.

I loved the challenge of getting from place to place and presenting the best broadcast I could for the audience.

But I realized that I was hitting a wall last night as I sat in the parking lot of a McDonald's near Poughkeepsie.

So I got home and almost slept (thanks, cat) before going to WGCH to host "Meet the Beatles."

Today's show topic was a suggestion and I appreciate the challenge of digging into the deep relationship between John and Paul.

In the end, they were brothers, and that gets complicated.

They could create masterpieces whether they wrote them together or not. But they still contributed to each other's work. They still challenged one another.

But then it turned ugly, mostly thanks to exhaustion with being Beatles as well as bad business decisions.

So Paul wrote "Too Many People" and John wrote "How Do You Sleep" and George wrote "Wah Wah" and Ringo did "Back Off Boogaloo." Oh, and there were others ("Dear Friend," "God," "Sue Me Sue You Blues," etc).

But I felt the complexity of the relationship meant playing some other things to show the musical partnership as well as things that explained their bond. And even a wild card like "Silly Love Songs," which was meant as a dig at Paul's critics, especially John.

Indeed, that song is arguably Paul's most divisive one. To me, it has a killer bass line and a pretty decent message. I mean, what's wrong with that?

Others, of course, see it as 1970s dreck. 

Once the show was over, I finished editing and uploading it to the archive before coming home.

Somehow I thought we'd go back out.

Nope. We ordered in and hung out. Sean did his thing all day, talking to his friends, and I kept to myself.

I went outside to get the food from the driver.

For the record, I'm not a good couch potato.

I don't find much to like on TV these days, opting for things on YouTube and reruns of The Office.

And sports, of course. I did watch the Yankees play a lackluster spring training game as opposed to listening to Gus Johnson scream his way through the Ohio State/Iowa game.

But I sort of don't feel like talking about sports broadcasting today. Believe me, I have a ton to say, but nah.

I checked out today. The Vipers played again today and I felt the pull.

It's not unfair to call it an addiction but I've also explained why doing every game I can means so much to me.

Right now, I'm off for the next stretch. It's possible I'll do a state basketball game this week and I do have a hockey game in New Jersey next Saturday.

Then there's freshman basketball and more Vipers action in a few weeks.

Then Sean and I are going away and Brunswick will be playing when I get back.

Yeah, I love it too much.

I probably have a problem.

The Late Post Before the Drive

 

Game 2: The Vipers win.
Team president Pat Manning applauds near the open doors.

From the parking lot of McDonald's on NY Route 55 in Freedom Plains, NY, it's Late at Night Blogging with Rob!

I did two more games today. I wrestled with the second one but hanging out with family and still doing a game seems like a plus.

We were out the door at 9:30 this morning. The first stop was at WGCH where Sean works doing production every Saturday.

He didn't need much time, so I did some game prep while he worked.

Then we were back at it, dealing with rain as we drove into New Jersey.

Yes, of course, we had Wawa.

Twice.

Breakfast before the game and lunch after.

Colonia High School was the game site the home team got the win today.

The not-so-easy part was getting into the high school as I had to speak to three different people and promise them my next of kin before they would allow me in.

Game 1: Colonia High School, NJ

Oh, they were fine. Really polite and triple-checking that we belonged since the game was a sellout.

That it was. It got crowded.

We were shoulder-to-shoulder in the crowd but there were no issues. We worked. They cheered.

We packed up and left.

We dealt with heavy rain as we made our way home. In fact, we wound up on the Palisades Interstate Parkway and the fog rolled in to add to the challenge of the drive.

The next stop was back to Greenwich to drop Sean off. I made a late effort to see if he'd like to take a drive to Poughkeepsie and he elected to pass. He'd had enough sports broadcasts for one day.

My cousin Kris and grandson Logan were heading to the Vipers game against the Norfolk Mallards, so I'd see them there.

The rain remained steady and heavy as I climbed I-684.

And I-84.

And the Taconic State Parkway.

Normally I wouldn't be comfortable with showing up 33 minutes before game time but the Vipers knew these were the terms for me today.

I went to the parking garage I normally park in ... and it was full.

I mean, stuffed.

So I worked my way around the phalanx of streets (not really) to get to the larger garage across the street. Parking was free which was nice.

I calmly walked across the hell known as Market Street (the Family Court I visited many times was on that street) and made it into the arena.

I tracked down team president Pat Manning who quickly found someone to tell me where to set up as it had changed slightly.

I mean, literally. Like six feet to the left of where I used to sit.

A few hours later, the game ended with the Vipers picking up a 4-1 win.

Now, I'm sitting in a McDonald's parking lot to keep a ridiculous streak alive before I drive home.

Why do I do it? Well, family, sure. Opportunity, sure. Even making sure nobody jumps in my place.

But it's also to fight the loneliness and whatever other demons that circle the drain.

And so I keep plugging away, starting March just as chaotic as February was.

It will calm down. I promise.

Another day is over. Almost.

The Vipers play again tomorrow.

I'm not planning on going.

For now.

It's time to drive.

End of the Season

 

Oscar Miranda drives the Zamboni after the game

There's a moment where, even as a broadcaster, you still can't believe it.

The team you cover is the higher seed and, as a result, "expected to win," but we know that's so often fool's gold.

But this team was simply gold.

Still, any given Wednesday, in this case.

The sixth-seeded Salisbury Crimson Knights ended the Brunswick Bruins hockey season with a 3-1 win this evening.

The Knights won the quarterfinal matchup and next play Kimball Union on Saturday in the semifinals.

It could have been the Bruins. But that's not how it works. Salisbury played a really smart game and earned the win.

It's tough watching the team you cover lose because you build relationships with the coaches, players, and families. But, at the end of the day, you have to pack up and head home.

Sure, I was looking forward to covering the Bruins wherever they wound up, which could have gone as far as Boston. I had already offered Robcasting to the Bruins, knowing that the championships would have some kind of video streaming and I wouldn't be on that call.

So I was willing to do an audio-only call for Bruins fans. Call it an alternative broadcast. 

I truly treasure the relationship I've built with the Bruins' families and they're incredibly kind to me. There are grandparents and aunts and uncles and alumni who are tuning in and I give them my best.

But, they also think I'm a good luck charm. Indeed, the last time Brunswick played Salisbury -- just two weeks ago -- they were down 2-0 as I called basketball in the Dann Gym.

I walked upstairs, jumped on the hockey broadcast, and Brunswick scored four times after I got there. They won 4-3.

Still, we have no influence whatsoever. If we could, we'd all be rich.

I don't influence no-hitters or free throw streaks or field goals or goalie saves.

I have zero impact. I talk. I describe. I report. 

And, within reason, I don't make it about me. Let's face it, as conduits to the game, our own personalities have to drip in a bit.

But the ride is over with Brunswick hockey and basketball. I have such great respect for all involved.

Now, I'll freelance a bit with the Hudson Valley Vipers and anything else I get thrown before heading off to Florida.

Lacrosse and baseball will be waiting when I get back.

Baseball. Huh. I'm sort of fond of that sport. 

*****

With the help of Mike Buswell, I hosted a preview of the FCIAC boys basketball championship game tonight. It ran on Robcasting and Facebook Live. We recorded the Zoom video and I uploaded it to YouTube.

We think it's pretty good and worth your time. There's nothing fancy about it. It's just good content. We were blessed to have Staples head coach Dave Goldshore, Trumbull assistant coach Colin Devine, and Ludlowe head coach John Dailey join us. Staples and Trumbull meet in the championship.

I'll have the call of the game tomorrow night at 7 on YouTube and Robcasting.

I've Said Enough. Really.

 

Byram Hills celebrates after winning today

Can I get a break tonight?

I've spoken enough words over four games since 3 p.m. yesterday. 

That was all basketball. Today was all hockey.

It's no worse than what anyone else does. It's taxing in its own way.

In either sport, you have to find different ways to talk about repetitive things. Not everything is a pass. It's shuffled, thrown, lobbed, lifted, tossed, popped, and whatever else my brain can grab.

And it's finding the right words, especially in high-leverage moments. These sometimes wind up on highlight reels and social media accounts.

So, for instance, in a slight state of shock at the end of today's Byram Hills-Pelham game, I said: "Byram Hills is going to win this thing!"

I have no idea where that came from and I hope people like it. I wish I knew where my brain went in that spot because it's not something I normally say.

It was a 4-3 win for the Bobcats in an upset of the Pelicans.

I was more conventional in Suffern's 4-0 win over Clarkstown.

"The Suffern Mounties with four. Down to two. They will celebrate. They've won Section One!"

Not exactly poetry or "my NHL voice" but it relays the message of a strong performance by the Mounties. It was 4-0 and never felt that close. They were just that good.

Also, let's not keep score because that's apparently all that happens. You say you've called four games this weekend and, inevitably, someone will feel the need to do in that they did five or whatever. It's nuts.

So I'm tapped out of big ideas and words tonight. In fact, I've come home to an empty apartment as Sean is at his mother's where he celebrated his birthday.

I've got The Cat, who has earned a new nickname: "Five."

As in, he'll try to wake me up at 5 a.m. 

But, let's face it, it could also be "Four."

I've been wearing my Air Pods again and listening to white noise to drown nonsense out as I try to sleep.

I wish those words weren't true. SiriusXM actually has a channel for that. 

Oh, and I neglected to mention another episode of "Meet the Beatles" came and went today.

Today was George Harrison's birthday, so I played a cross-section of music to represent him as performed by him and others. 

The show continues to find itself and while I know two hours would give me more room, I'm staying with an hour show for a few reasons, including hopefully leaving the audience wanting more every week.

I didn't get to watch or see it today, but the Yankees played baseball and it was broadcast. 

I like that.

Enough words have been written here for tonight. I'll do "Doubleheader" tomorrow and gear up for more games. Barring any changes, I'll call the semifinals in the FCIAC boys basketball tournament on Tuesday and will have the honor of doing play-by-play for the championship for the ninth time on Thursday. I think I've only called the football championship more times (11). 

That pleases me a lot.

Brunswick hockey has a big week coming up. They play Salisbury in the NEPSAC Elite 8 tournament beginning Wednesday. If they win that, they'll have a semifinal game before playing in the championship next Sunday. That game is at Harvard.

So, yeah. That might happen.

Oh, and Brien McMahon and Stamford are playing baseball in Cooperstown next month at Doubleday Field. I'm planning on taking Robcasting (and Sean) up for that but would be very interested in talking to anyone who would like to make it an audio/video effort.

And anyone interested in sponsoring/underwriting/getting us a hotel room.

Inquire within.