Up On the Roof

 

The pressbox roof at Hunterdon Central Regional HS

OK, let's see. I needed eight rosters.

I needed four score sheets.

I needed equipment. Audio and video.

Just in case, I needed one of my pods. I also needed sunscreen.

I wasn't sure I'd have a booth to work in.

In short, I was ready. I left in plenty of time, heading across the Hudson River and then down I-287.

I was in Flemington, NJ by 9:00. That was the site of the 2024 NJSIAA Groups 3 and 4 lacrosse championships.

Two boys games began and ended the day, with two girls games in the middle of the day.

Oh, I had breakfast before I arrived at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. A Wawa was less than a minute away. Adding to my preparation, I picked up breakfast and lunch.

Plus coffee. And a big bottle of water.

I'm always nervous when I get to a site and I don't see a lot of activity. That was the case at Hunterdon Central. They'd show up but just not as early as I was.

So my thing is to always walk over and investigate things. In this case, I found an open door on the press box and plenty of room inside. 

I picked the first seat inside and put my stuff down.

But there was a camera to set up, as my videographer was going to miss at least the first game. (Narrator: The videographer never showed up.)

Note: The camera I set up is a remote camera that is controlled offsite.

So I climbed the stairs and walked out the door to the roof of the press box.

The door was spring-loaded and closed behind me.

I went about setting up the remote camera that Kevin Devaney Jr. dropped off with me. I worked on extending the tripod and putting it in a position to face the field.

Then I walked back to the door on this beautiful sunny day with the temperature in the mid-70s.

I reached for the handle.

And it was locked.

If you're paying attention, I was stranded up there.

At that moment, and for the next 30 or so minutes, there was literally not a person who paid any attention to the person on top of the booth.

I did not panic. I have to make that clear. I did pound on the door several times but nobody answered.

I watched one lone man -- a fan of Ridge High School* -- who stretched out in the stands and never looked my way.

* Funny thing about Ridge High School. They are the Red Devils but their colors are black, green, and white. This is because nearby Bernardsville High School -- Ridge's rival -- has red uniforms. Ridge's team name, however, is the Red Devils after the tool company owned by George Lee, who donated land for the high school to be built. 

Eventually, the lone fan below realized that Ridge fans would be sitting closer to the booth and he moved his spot. As he did so, I asked if he would open the door.

With a polite chuckle, he obliged.

At that point, I propped the door open with a chair, given that I had to go back up there to connect a microphone cable and extension cord. Plus I had to connect the camera to the internet.

With that, the roof drama was over and I went about completing the audio setup. Chris Gross at LocalLive assisted me from his perspective to make sure we were good and the day was off and running.

The four games rolled by with Moorestown, Chatham (in triple overtime), Morristown, and Westfield winning their respective titles.

It was over and I packed it all up, making sure to pry the upstairs door open.

I grabbed dinner for Sean at Wawa and began the long drive back home. Some 15 hours after I left, I walked back into the apartment.

A special shout out to the guys that I shared the booth with. We kept each other laughing and engaged all day. When they got criticism from the crowd, we laughed it off.

We did the same when it happened to me.

And so I'll leave you with this:

"A critic is a man who knows the way, but can't drive the car." -- Kenneth Tynan

"When critics disagree the artist is in accord with himself."  -- Oscar Wilde

Fine Distractions

 

This is a stress bull. That is all.

Wound up like a top, I didn't sleep much last night.

Oh, but I needed to. I had to be up at 4 a.m. and on a 4:49 a.m. train bound for Grand Central.

The fates were somewhat kind. Despite my exhaustion, I didn't struggle to stay awake during today's Hunt Scanlon conference. Plus, each time I was outside -- walking to and from the train in Greenwich and New York -- the rain held off. 

Overall, it was a good day. But it was also a day of juggling lots of things. It's nice to be such a popular, I suppose.

With this popularity came glimpses of hope. Hope is so dangerous. So lethal. But it's also positivity, if you will. Yet, I'm a realist so I'm potentially excited about some things but also tentative because nothing is in stone.

After a while, these nuggets -- the dangling carrots -- need to either be real or go away.

To that extent, some of it is what kept me awake last night.

I was initially tossing and turning. Then I slept a little. Then I was wide awake.

Then I was on the couch. Then I slept a bit.

Then I was awake and figuring that my alarm time was approaching.

It was 3:40 a.m. I still had 20 minutes.

I went back to bed and got a few more minutes of sleep.

And that was it. As I alluded to, I walked to the train station, made it to the Harvard Club, hosted the conference, walked back to the train, and walked back home.

Then Sean and I did a few things around town.

And all of that hope plays on my mind.

Now, I'm sitting on the couch and I'm ready to fall asleep. I'll likely miss some of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. I'm watching the Yankees as I write.

Since this has an "off the bench" feel to it of being about random items, let me flash back to yesterday's post. It was one of those that I put a lot of thought into before I published. I let it go for a few hours.

I decided it needed to be said. That's it. I'm not going to go on about it otherwise.

But people were kind. Thank you. I often worry those posts reflect poorly on me.

And so we move on.

There are so many things going on tonight that it's not worth dwelling on.

I'll be putting the headset back on this weekend, as I call these four New Jersey lacrosse championships:

- 11:00am – Group 3 Boys lax final – Ridge @ Moorestown

- 1:00pm – Group 3 Girls lax final -Chatham @ Moorestown

- 3:00pm – Group 4 Girls lax final -  Kingsway @ Morristown

- 5:00pm – Group 4 Boys lax final – Eastern @ Westfield

So I'm staying busy. 

And that's a good thing.

Now, I have to edit Hanratty's Huddle, the podcast that everyone should be listening to. Somehow, last week's show didn't get posted. So it will be 2-for-1 tonight!

Lastly, I talked about yesterday on the radio, but allow me to say it here. Thank you to the brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice on this day in 1944. I can't imagine what it was like to listen to the coverage of D-Day on the radio and I certainly can't imagine what it was like to be there.

But, as a nation, we should all be eternally grateful.

At Least I'll Get Wawa

 

I think I'm working here on Saturday (Google Maps)

It has been confirmed that I am heading to New Jersey this weekend to call four lacrosse championship games. 

The coverage will be via LocalLive on NJ.com.

The teams and details aren't confirmed yet but I'll be out in Flemington this Saturday.

That means learning the ins and outs of a new facility, which is at least something to take into account. Based on the setup, that often means no press box or there isn't room for me in the press box. In 2022, for instance, I worked on top of a press box on a considerably warm day with the sun baking on me.

Foolishly, I had no cover of any kind. Including a hat.

So this time I have to be more prepared in that regard. I'll need one of my pods in the car, a hat, and sunscreen. All just in case there's no indoor access.

And food. Yes, you need food. You can't rely on a concession stand for several reasons, including trying to get to it in between games. There isn't always enough time. Simply making a restroom run can be a challenge.

Oh, Wawa, my sweet Wawa. I'll be visiting you for sure in the morning.

Of course, that also means staying hydrated and taking care of my voice. The adjustment there is that I'll likely have a videographer with me which means I don't have to be completely detailed on the minutiae of the game. Thus that cuts down on some words.

The audience can see the game so it's not an audio/radio call.

But I still have to bring the energy and attention. These teams have earned a professional broadcast.

As for Connecticut, well, that's not my problem, is it?

They have what they have and I have to go where I'm wanted.

New Jersey will get me for what appears to be my 20th championship call there between baseball, wrestling, soccer, and lacrosse. I've also called some regional basketball and hockey championship games also.

I'm hardly "The Voice of New Jersey Sports" (cringe) but I've come to do quite a few events there.

I don't quite have the respect in NJ (shocked, right?) to have a larger say in which games I call and I try to be flexible. So it goes and, in this case, it's lacrosse.

Unfortunately, it's not playing out like last year, when I got to do a six-game swing of lacrosse and baseball spread out through a Friday and Saturday, with a hotel room included.

I'm happy to be working. I'm happy to take my talents somewhere.

After that, it will likely be a few weeks before the next calls, as Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth baseball will be heating up. I've come to love this being a summer tradition for me and am looking forward to those games.

For those asking, we have not found an apartment yet. Yes, it's nerve-wracking but there are people working with us on some ideas. 

We're staying upbeat and believing it will all be OK.

In the middle of this week is also a Hunt Scanlon conference, our last before a summer break. So I have to stay on my game for that also. But, hey, I handled the Renegades double-dip of PA and booth producer on Saturday and I likened that to being a conference moderator.

I'll be ready to go on Thursday morning.

And I'll be ready for lacrosse on Saturday from New Jersey.

Where I'm wanted.

On Hope and Losing

 

Cosby Field from the new Tailgating Pavillion

Game 7 of the Knicks/Pacers series just ended.

So let's recap. It was Game 7. Eastern Conference Semifinals. At Madison Square Garden. A home game. At the "Mecca."

Do we need any more buildup?

And yet? 

It was a big, fat, nothingburger.

Pacers 130, Knicks 109.

The Pacers had a historic day shooting the basketball and full credit to them for sure.

The Knicks dealt with a rash of injuries, including Jalen Brunson, who left this game with a fractured hand.

But I don't play the excuse game. 

And I also don't deal with the loser mentality of "it was a great season," which I saw before the game started.

No. Screw that, to be blunt.

Sure, marvel at the season eventually but, right now, no shot. The Knicks were the second seed in the Eastern Conference. You would be fine to have expected more.

Instead, it ends like this.

It's a shame.

I'm glad I don't have a show tomorrow because there would be fire.

I got a text from someone at WGCH about last Monday's show, when I eviscerated "phony" fans (you know, Town Hall types who disappear when their team stinks). He told me how "on fire" I was.

Well, I would have been off the charts tomorrow because this attitude makes me nuts.

I don't stand for it with any team that I support.

I want the Jeter stare, where you watch the other team celebrate and carry that feeling into the postseason.

I loved this Knicks team. 

I wish it didn't end this way.

*****

Once again, I'm here to stand up for having the ability adjust on the fly.

I struggled with a "Meet the Beatles" topic coming into this week. Something popped into my brain late yesterday but I just wasn't sure if I liked it.

I went with it. I decided to highlight some of the lads' contemporaries.

And I loved it.

But I completely slapped the whole thing together on the fly.

Broadcasting has to be spontaneous in spaces. In this case, it worked magnificently. 

I enjoyed every moment of it and was ready for another hour.

Next week, I'll be stumbling after the Greenwich Town Party.

I better start thinking of topics now.

*****

It was Lawerenceville's day again
(From the LocalLive broadcast)

The Prep Nationals Lacrosse Championship was today.

It wasn't meant to be for Brunswick, as Lawrenceville came out and cruised to a 14-5 win at Cosby Field.

The Big Red were nasty, putting bodies on the ball constantly. The pressure was intense and they cruised to the title.

They won the Prep Nationals for the second year in a row and will be the number one team in the land.

I loved calling it and working with a great crew including Dan Arestia, David Berry, and Josh Drebsky. Great pros.

Before I head into the wasteland that can be the summer, I'm shifting over to the FCIAC baseball semifinals tomorrow, featuring No. 5 Wilton vs. No. 1 Warde in the early game and No. 7 Staples vs. No. 3 Trumbull in the nightcap. The broadcast will begin at 3:55 p.m. with the "Your Business Name Could Be Here Pregame Show."

But I do want to pause and thank everyone at Brunswick for another wonderful year of game broadcasts. I'm blessed to have these people in my corner to get me to call as much as I do. Kevin Devaney Jr at LocalLive either just puts up with me or likes me. I probably drive Wayne MacGillicuddy at Brunswick nuts as well.

But I'm truly blessed to have Kevin, Wayne, Director of Athletics Cedric Jones, Associate Director of Athletics Ron Van Belle, Head of School Tom Phillip, and so many others supporting me. I get to work with amazing coaches in McGillicuddy, Mike Kennedy, Steve Juricek, and Connor Redahan closely.

Plus the parents and students have been remarkably supportive. The kind words, the occasional tweaks, and the food delivered to the press box all mean so much. A mom introduced herself to me today and said that I nearly made her cry talking about her son in a recent game. Others have said I'm the best part of the game or that it's not a game unless I'm broadcasting it.

It's humbling and I'm beyond grateful.

Thank you, Wick. 

See you in September.

*****

Dan Arestia hands the Prep Nationals trophy
to Lawrenceville

Hope is inspiring.

Hope can make you want to run through a wall.

Hope is also dangerous.

But I suppose it's something.

So I'm hopeful.

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.

The Prep Nationals Semis

 

Thanks to the fates working my way, I have the honor of calling the Prep Nationals Championship again.

Brunswick is the number one team in the country and they host the tournament. Thus, I'm the broadcaster.

I will offer that if my work wasn't acceptable, I probably wouldn't be on the call. But I'm proud to say it seems to be pretty well-received. Plus I worked with an incredible crew tonight who made the games look stunning.

Tonight was the semifinal doubleheader with Lawrenceville beating Deerfield and Brunswick knocking off Salisbury.

Thus it will be the two best teams in the country for the title on Sunday. And I'll call it.

It just wasn't in the plan when I first started. I didn't think I'd become a lacrosse broadcaster or a soccer broadcaster or a wrestling broadcaster. 

Somehow I've done it.

I can still remember the first lacrosse game airing on WGCH roughly 20 years ago. I wasn't initially going to be the play-by-play announcer (it was a different time back then) but I volunteered to come down and do some sideline reporting (with a very little Sean keeping me company).

Then, the plan changed and I was asked to call the second half of the game.

So, how did I learn? I recognized that there was a bit of a similarity to hockey in terms of the description and that taught me to use a similar approach. It worked and I kept practicing, getting more reps during the days with HAN.

Then Brunswick wanted me to call their games and I picked that up.

I try to not overthink it and just describe it.

Apparently, it has worked.

So I suppose I've earned the right to be the Prep Nationals broadcaster again. Or maybe I'd like to think so.

Sunday will, in fact, be my last Brunswick broadcast for the school year. Thus ends the eighth year as Brunswick's lead (and, often, only) broadcaster. It happened because Brunswick wanted a professional approach and I'm thrilled that it was me who got the chance. My relationship with Brunswick goes back a lot further than that but I'm just about the only person who remembers that.

Sunday will also serve as the beginning of the end of my 26th year broadcasting sports though there are still more to come. 

Anyway, I'm just writing and babbling here.

Lacrosse happened tonight. Brunswick and Lawrenceville have punched their ticket to the Prep Nationals Championship Game.

Dan Arestia and I will have the call Sunday at 2 p.m.

Last Minute? No problem!

The camera sits in the right field corner at 6:55 p.m.

 I do love the grind.

The hustle of pulling things together and seeing if it can all happen. It's a challenge.

When the morning started, I had one game: baseball, between Brunswick and Hopkins.

I started gathering for that when my phone rang.

There was also lacrosse at Brunswick, but the Bruins wouldn't be playing. It was a neutral site game between Lawrenceville -- the number two team in the country -- and Deerfield.

Oh, by the way, Brunswick is number one in the country.

So, yeah, I was being asked to do that game also.

Thus -- baseball at 3:30 and lacrosse at 5:15. Both games would be on the same campus and I had access to set up whenever.

I quickly got a roster from Deerfield and went to work on setting that up for the broadcast.

No roster came along from Lawrenceville. OK, I'd finish prepping for baseball instead.

So I put the baseball scorecard together and updated my computer for a deposition tomorrow. It was nice to pick up some extra work.

I also went about setting up two cases of broadcast equipment to go to Brunswick with. 

In truth, I should have stopped at WGCH and borrowed their stuff but I didn't. That was a mistake but I knew it would be OK. 

Before I went to Brunswick, I needed something to eat so I made a quick deli stop and drove up King St. to the campus. It was a little after 2 p.m. when I walked into Cosby Field.

The booth was wide open, so I quickly set up in the first window, putting a mixer, headset, crowd mic, and cables in place. 

Then I drove to the baseball field, where I grabbed the LocalLive camera and huffed my way out to right field.

Again, I set up a mixer, headset, natural sound microphone, and cables, along with setting up the camera.

Then, it was lineup time. 

The game started at 3:36 and I ate my sandwich just before the first pitch.

We were off and running.

The Bruins played pretty quickly, building up an eventual 9-1 lead over the Hilltoppers. Still, I was running out of time. Josh Drebsky -- trusty videographer -- was down at Cosby Field waiting for the lacrosse game to start and curious if I'd be showing up.

I would, I assured him.

It was just about 5:00, so I knew I could break my baseball equipment down, jump in my car, and hustle down to lacrosse.

I stretched my baseball call to the very end of the sixth inning and broke down my audio. Then I drove to Cosby Field, finding the only available parking spot. I walked towards the field, spying the game clock counting down at 6:42.

Cool! I'd made it! I'd plug my computer in, say hi to Josh, and it would be game on.

Except...

1) Lawrenceville still had not sent a roster. Keep in mind that Brunswick was providing a broadcaster for the game (that's me) and we sent a request for a roster. This is the second year in a row that it happened, as they ignored my request in 2023 and then refused to give me one at the game site. But put a pin in that...

2) The 6:42 on the clock was the time left in the first quarter. For whatever reason, the game started at 5:00 and not the scheduled 5:15. So I hustled, plugged in, and went live. Josh was already sending a signal so it wasn't like we weren't on the air.

3) OK, back to the roster pin. I messaged Ty Xanders, an outstanding reporter in the lacrosse world whom I've known for a few years. He sent me a Lawrenceville roster last year and he sent me another one this year. I'd just read the roster off my computer!

So, we were ready. The game, initially competitive, turned into an easy win for Lawrenceville but I'll still need that roster anyway. We'll see them for the Prep National Championship in a few weeks.

It was heading past 6:45 when everything wrapped up. I packed my lacrosse set up and headed to the car. I turned right out of the campus and started down King Street towards home when I had a thought: what happened with the camera at the baseball game?

I turned around. Sure enough, it was still set up. So, I pulled back onto the campus, parked at the baseball field, packed up the camera, and put it away.

Then I drove home. Finally.

If I told you all of the nonsense that goes into broadcasting you would be astounded. Literally. It's like middle school.

Like the person who would have never taken this gig today because he wouldn't have enough time to prepare his notes, charts, graphs, and whatever else.

I'm comfortable knowing I can make it work with whatever I have, so long as there's a roster.

I'll do it because if I don't, someone else will. I've worked too hard and will continue to do so. 

This day didn't work perfectly but the job still got done and I feel pride in that.

And I'll do it again.

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.

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.

A Pole (almost) Falls in Greenwich

 

All seemed quiet around the Presidential Suite* this morning.

* You know, father and son with the last name Adams? 

Then I heard a noise. Let's call it a crunch.

Crunches happen frequently outside our place for a variety of reasons so they're normally nothing to worry about.

Except this one had a visual element. The telephone/power pole outside the front window moved.

I'm not sure I need to explain this but it shouldn't do that.

For a moment, I wondered where the pole would land and what the impact would be. I watched with caution thinking there might be sparks. 

I yelled to Sean and we observed the situation.

The pole rested on top of the truck, which was an Enterprise rental box truck.

The driver got out and also observed.

According to what I was later told, he called the police. The jig was up. 

Sean and I knew that action was necessary before we lost power. We each pulled ourselves together and shifted into a standby mode, prepared to leave the apartment if needed.

By the time I stepped back towards the window maybe 10 minutes later, Sean told me the driver of the truck was being handcuffed. Indeed, I stood and watched as he was loaded into a cruiser. I'd later watch police talk further with him on the street.

According to people I talked with later, the truck was stolen. So, yeah.

Eventually, I walked to my car to make sure everything was OK with it (and it was). Otherwise, we were fine to go about our business. In fact, our road was never closed, except to trucks, as I watched a truck get tangled in the overhead wires at one point.

Sean and I were actually able to leave for lunch and come back.

Working quickly, a crew showed up in the afternoon with two trucks to pull the pole off the Enterprise truck. After moving that truck, they got to work on standing the pole back up and stabilizing it. 

Sometime after four -- a little over five hours after the truck hit it -- everything was cleaned up.

Pretty amazing.

Electrifying, I'd say.

*****

I had the great thrill of calling tonight's Brunswick/Darien lacrosse game. The game had been shifted between sites, times, and broadcasting outlets thanks to the weather impacting Brunswick's Cosby Field. Ultimately, the game was moved to Darien High School and would be broadcast on DAF Media.

And yes, they wanted the old dude (hi) to call it, with my friend Dan Arestia. Ryan Dahlquist, a Darien High student, rounded out the on-air team.

I have to tell you ... ready? ... I'm pretty proud of the broadcast tonight. It looked great and everyone said it sounded great. 

The game wasn't a classic. Brunswick built up a 4-0 lead and never trailed. They won 12-6.

It was a pleasure to work with the DAF Media team, led by Bruce Ferguson tonight, though Damian Andrew is normally at the front of it all.

It also had that feeling of the days of the HAN Network when we were a machine. While we weren't all student-run, we were largely a collection of people who didn't know much about broadcasting, especially at first. There were only a few of us that had any broadcasting experience.

There's still a book in all of that somewhere.

But, for tonight, it was a blast and I'd do it again.

"Canceled"

 

We have a perfect storm today.

Actually, yes, it's storming quite a bit, but the storm in question is, in part, metaphorical.

I was supposed to call Brunswick's game today against Putnam Science Academy but it's pouring and very windy here in the 203.

I checked the Brunswick website a few hours ago to confirm what I knew and, instead of seeing that the game had been postponed (and thus would be made up), the word was more definitive.

Canceled.

That likely means the two teams couldn't find another window to play the game, so that's that. The players lose a game.

Selfishly, so do I.

It's not what you want.

OK, obviously we can look at this on the bright side and say that I'm not standing outside battling the conditions and trying to keep the equipment dry.

Keep in mind -- and this is not a complaint -- that the audio equipment and computer are all mine. The camera is LocalLive's (and, by extension, Brunswick's).

So, yeah, there's a concern for keeping that all safe and working.

But it's also generally sort of miserable to battle the elements without cover while keeping a paper scorecard. Try keeping things covered, making sure it's all working, keeping the scorecard dry, and still call the game. It's a juggling act. Then again, it's better than not doing the game at all.

Regardless, this one isn't happening.

Obviously, I have weather stories galore when it comes to all sports. Snow, thunder and lightning, hail, hurricane threats, flooding, locusts, etc. Among baseball games, I recall the time Joe Early got a tent to put over us for a Brunswick game several years ago. OK, cool. 

Except the tent had a hole in it. Now, we knew the tent wasn't perfect but we thought we could mitigate the damage.

We did, to an extent. You know, you push the tent up to watch the water fall off the roof. But, ultimately, the puddling, er, ponding on top of the tent and the dripping coming inside was a bit much.

Still, I look back and laugh. We tried. And, for what it's worth, while I like the tent idea, try setting and breaking down a 10x10 tent alone. It's not easy. That's why I bought pods a few years ago. Those have been good but they're not very roomy.

So, with that, I'm home, watching the rain pour and listening to the wind howl. Thus, I'm writing early, just in case power and/or the internet go out.

And I have the Yankees on.

If only I had a radio show to do. I don't. "Doubleheader" gets the day off in favor of a Red Sox game. My only gripe there is I'd like a say as "sports director" but what do I know?

I'll not air my grievances, especially following a good conversation with my WGCH friends today. Lots to discuss there also.

Oh, and Cooperstown is getting closer to being a reality. The game between Stamford and McMahon is Monday, Apr 15 at 10 a.m. You will definitely be able to hear it on Robcasting. I'll add more details as we get closer.

And there's lacrosse tomorrow. Stay tuned. 

Back to It

 

Brunswick warms up

Today was the first full day back in Connecticut after our vacation.

We had to return the rental car and then I had to call a lacrosse game.

Things got back to normal pretty fast. I had laundry done and folded by the end of last night. More to the point, I slept some but, as usual, not great. 

By late morning, Sean and I were on the road to return the car to Stamford. Usually prepared, I screwed up by not bringing my copy of the contract with Budget. Ultimately, it didn't hurt things but it sort of made me feel foolish.

Whatever. We departed and no extra charges were added. We had that car for 11 days and it was a pleasure.

With that done, we jumped on a train and came back to Greenwich. 

Once Sean found out we could take a train, he wanted to join me. Both train stations were within walking distance so it was a win.

With that done, I prepared to call my first game in a week and a half.

I felt rusty. It felt like I hadn't done a game in a month.

But I was back at Brunswick, calling lacrosse for the Bruins as they hosted Radnot High School from Pennsylvania.

Cool fact: Radnor's boys basketball coach is Tim Smallwood, who played both football and basketball and Greenwich. I broadcast his games, including the night he joined the 1,000-point club in basketball. My broadcast partner was his father. 

So Tim came to Cosby Field to watch the game and stopped up to say hello at halftime. We were going to try to have me call a Radnor basketball game this past season but we're going to get that done in the future.

Otherwise, like I said, I felt tired and caked in rust on the air. There are some sports I think I can seamlessly jump back into (hello, baseball) but lacrosse isn't one of them. I needed to find my groove and I don't know if I found it today but I will.

Oh, and Brunswick won the game 11-5. They're 2-0 on the year.

One thing I will tell you is that I already miss the road. That's unusual, as I tend to like a day or two (or sometimes more) before being ready to get back in the car.

Not this time. I'd go again if I could.

What sticks with me about the drive to and from Florida was how it was the culmination of something I've wanted to do for a very long time. It was something I honestly never thought I'd do because it's just easier to fly.

And, to be honest, those kinds of long drives can be seriously overwhelming. It's easy to have a moment in which you think you've bit off more than you can chew.

Yet? We did it. I had one patch of exhaustion through South Carolina last Tuesday and if you've ever done that drive I guarantee you understand. It's a lot of lowland and not too much to see.

Also, Sean seemed to really enjoy the drive. Look, I didn't create a sports fan but he enjoys working in the business and attending games. I also didn't create a traveler just like my dad and me but he enjoyed life on the road. 

Sean's not going to prepare and study guidebooks and websites and make notes and spreadsheets* and whatever else I do.

*I track times and mileages in a notebook and put them into a spreadsheet and I enjoy it, thank you very much.

But he was interested in doing that drive again. Also, he was intrigued by the idea of driving straight through.

I've done OK. That many days together can be tough but we survived.

Next year is at least worth discussing.

*****

Former Sen. Joseph Lieberman

I wade into this with trepidation but here goes. 

Joseph Lieberman, U.S. Senator from Connecticut and 2000 Vice Presidential nominee, died today at the age of 82.

I admired Lieberman, mostly because of his ability to bring people together. While he ran with Al Gore on the Democratic ticket in 2000, Lieberman was considered strongly by John McCain as his running mate in 2008, despite McCain being a Republican.

That was Lieberman and I admire that fiercely.

I suppose that's the larger point I want to make tonight.

We need more Joe Lieberman's (and I suppose John McCain's) because they were people who weren't hung up on parties and sides.

And I suppose that's all I have to say about that.

Lieberman was also always a great guest on Imus in the Morning. He gave good answers on topics and had a sense of humor.

Farewell, Senator, and thank you.

On Deck

 

New York Yankees on X/Twitter

While football was the talk of the day (well, football and Taylor) football is done for the season.

The draft is in a few months and the schedules will also be out. But training camp and preseason are months away and we won't see a regular season game until September.

Hockey and basketball are at the forefront now. College basketball will especially step into the limelight with March Madness roughly a month away.

As I got ready to go live on "Doubleheader" today, I popped over to the Brunswick Athletics website to check on things. I use it to check scores and occasionally see if any schedules have been updated.

My eyes widened.

The lacrosse schedule was online.

Then I saw it.

The baseball schedule.

Spring is coming.

But, as with anything in life, there are conflicts and decisions to be made.

Sean and I planned to go back to Florida basically as soon as we got home from last year's trip. It was safe to say that he loved it.

Of course, I did as well.

To tell you the truth, I'd probably prefer to go in February for a few reasons. First, that's when I used to go with my parents back in the 1980s. But also, there's something to be said about driving away from the cold and snow. By the end of the day, it wasn't unrealistic to think that the heavy jacket in the morning had been shed and the temperature was much more comfortable.

The temperature shift in March isn't as dramatic but beggars can't be choosers. I chose March last year because that's when I knew Brunswick's season would be over and, in all likelihood, I wouldn't have any games.

That was the same plan this year, as I made sure to be available into March. Brunswick's hockey team has what it takes to make a deep run towards the New England championship at Harvard and I'm intrigued at going to that.

Brunswick's basketball team, for the record, will wind up their season in February, regardless of any championship run. The FAA Championship is scheduled for Feb 29 as of now.

There also might be more for me back in New York and there's always the opportunity of broadcasts in New Jersey.

But it looks like I've scheduled our trip a little too late. Three home games for Brunswick lacrosse and baseball are when we'll either be in Florida or on our way back.

So now those are things to consider.

Look, you know how I feel about these things. Especially baseball. I've missed calling the pastime, having not done a game since last August in Virginia.

Conversely, we want this trip, and have a bit of a nostalgic one planned in that we're going to drive it. This will be the first time I've been to some of these places since 1989.

This is all part of the gig. There are conflicts, lost money, and lost opportunities. But life also needs to keep rolling and, if we can afford it, we need to be good to ourselves.

I'm on a great roll of calling so many games but I have to be mindful that my voice and my mind deserve an occasional break. Burnout can happen and I try to monitor that. 

So the trip will happen. I actually checked out a little when I was down there last year. Yes, me.

The games will also happen. Brunswick baseball and lacrosse as well as any other games I can get. 

And the Renegades will be back as well.

All coming very soon.

*****

I'll be home tomorrow and working from here as a big snowstorm is supposed to hit us. There's talk of upwards of a foot but I'll frankly believe that when I see it.

Many schools have already closed and others will follow.

It's amazing that word spreads about closings earlier now. I'm used to the days of getting up in the morning and putting WHUD radio on. The veteran broadcaster Joe O'Brien had the duty of telling us we had the day off.

Now, families learn via different technology and that's just how things evolve.

I'll have the day off from leaving the house I suppose.

Be safe if you're out in it.

Sizzling in '23

 

It's a time-honored tradition in many parts of the sports broadcasting world.

It's the highlight reel, often called "a sizzle reel" by many.

I call it a highlight montage and I didn't have much of an intention to create one this year.

I pull my highlights together -- generally speaking -- on the fly following games. In fact, that was part of the postgame of each Renegades game for me back in 2021. I'd come home and cut up the audio. It's hardly unique to do so as most of us do the same.

To do so can be tedious but if you know what you're looking for, it's not terrible. For one thing, if you open the audio of a game file, just look for spikes in the audio wave. That normally means voices and crowd noise have been raised for some reason.

Chances are, that's a highlight. Also, in baseball, I have a very detailed scorecard that tells me a lot.

However, I didn't think I accumulated that many highlights this year. That's often a result of not having big moments or not thinking my call was that great.

There were several highlights where I didn't think the call stood up to my standards. 

One highlight that I did include was the winning goal in Lawrenceville's Prep National Championship back in May. I audibly stumbled on the call.

Curiously, I submitted that call for STAA's "Calls of the Week" and for some reason, I thought it would make it. In part, I thought it would make it exactly because I didn't think it was the best example of my work. Yet my gut told me that the call didn't matter. It was the championship-winning goal that did.

I was right.

Sheepishly, I smiled when STAA chose it. So I've got that going for me.

I grabbed each highlight this morning and listened to it, editing as necessary for length and any necessary clarity. I recalled that a few highlights were missing and I found those.

I also selected the last words I spoke this year on a game broadcast: "From Norwalk, good night everyone," and decided that would be how the audio ends.

Then I decided to put an music track underneath it. Two, in fact: "Trailer Sport Stylish" by Anton_Vaslov and "Stomping Rock (Four Shots)" by AlexGrohl, found via a search at Pixabay.

Oh, I have the raw audio without music as well. Just in case someone wants to hear that.

Then I decided to do a quick video so that it could be posted on YouTube, etc. I selected a picture that Dan Murphy took of me at Cardinal Stadium back in September and created a couple of open and close slates for credits.

With that, it was done. Nothing fancy.

You can watch it here.

The audio version is here.

What's the goal? Hopefully, a few people listen and like it. Once in a while, one dreams that a well-placed person likes it and says, "We should talk about opportunities."

But, mostly, it's simply an exercise to note the passing of a year.

That last part seems a bit self-serving for me but I had the time to do it so I did. The editing, including music, and creating the movie version allows me to use some skills that I don't always get to sharpen.

I suppose it's also a point of pride to put this together and say, "This is me." It's a reminder of what the year was like.

The other takeaway is I get to listen to things and evaluate them. I can hear things that I need to improve.

Yes, after all these years, I don't stop learning. I make sure to continue to adjust and evolve.

New highlights begin Friday at Brunswick.

*****

And so, 2023 is (almost) complete. My notoriously Grinch-like ways are usually on display when it comes to this night. 

However, Sean and I will eat some dinner, maybe watch Doctor Who, and then I'll probably settle in with The Honeymooners marathon for a bit.

It's a night that just doesn't mean that much to me. It never has. 

I do wish you and yours a happy, safe, and peaceful start to 2024.

With every day, my hope is we all get closer to being better people.

Personally, I want more stability in my life.

And, most of all, I hope for peace for all of us.

We Knew Them When

 

John Sullivan with me, 2019
One of these guys played in a Super Bowl.
The other one has watched a lot of Super Bowls

Carlos Rodón is on the mound tonight in The Bronx.

You might recall he pitched last Saturday for the Renegades in a rehab start at Heritage Financial Park. I was on public address and my duty doesn't include introducing the starting pitcher normally so I played no role in his evening other than watching him pitch.

But Sean got to see him through his camera. Those pictures were no doubt seen on the YES Network and perhaps MLB Network. Maybe others.

So Sean has the pleasure of being able to say he covered a player who is now in the big leagues.

Obviously, we can both speak of Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza and Jhony Brito and Randy Vásquez. Each made it from our broadcasts of 2021 to Yankee Stadium. Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith both left the Yankees via the Joey Gallo trade (blech) and both made it to the Texas Rangers. Visiting players like Bryson Stott, Brett Baty, and Francisco Álvarez also climbed to the big leagues.

It's good fortune to be in the right place to see these wonderful athletes, dating all the way back to Kevin Shattenkirk and John Sullivan.

I still remember the excitement I felt when Tyler Matakevich was drafted by the Steelers. The former St. Joseph star -- who scored a touchdown in a victory against Greenwich in 2010 -- would become a key cog, especially on special teams. I was so proud that Chris Erway got me a Matakevich Steelers jersey. He's now with the Buffalo Bills but I still like my jersey.

Honestly, these athletes don't have to make the bigs. I just love seeing these athletes keep doing what they love.

I continue to keep an eye on Aaron Sabato, the Brunswick baseball product who was drafted in the first round three years ago by the Twins. He's currently in double-A.

I watch Cornelius Johnson, the Gatorade Player of the Year from Brunswick who is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree at Michigan.

I not only covered Aaron and Cornelius, but I also knew them a little.

There are others from basically each sport I've called since 1999. It's a really cool perk of the job.

I filled in for Manhattan College on a baseball broadcast in April 2022. At shortstop for opposing Fairfield was Colin Kelly.

Colin Kelly homered as part of a 5-2 win for the Stags.

Colin Kelly played baseball and hockey at Greenwich High School.

Yup. I covered him then.

Pretty cool.

Basically, everyone in the business has a story like this. We've all covered those players who stepped to another level. Some have achieved the highest levels, like John Sullivan as well as Cam Atkinson, though Cam didn't play varsity hockey in Greenwich, he's a Greenwich kid who made it to the NFL.

Obviously, I can't possibly name every athlete who has ascended and, to be honest, there are some that we lose track of. 

If this sounds like bragging, well, I guess it's all in how you view it. 

I see it as expressing how lucky I've felt to watch the athletes I've seen. 

They do things that I can barely dream of.

*****

Vito Montelli, the winningest coach in Connecticut basketball history, died earlier today at the age of 92. Amassing 878 wins over 50 seasons at St. Joseph's, he had a firm, gruff exterior with a voice and a handshake that one could never forget.

I covered his teams early in my time at WGCH, handling the call of a Greenwich/St. Joe's in Jan 2000. He was always kind to me and commanded my complete respect. 

He won 11 state championships and walked away after back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012.

Connecticut and the FCIAC are a little sadder today.

What a legend.

Farewell, coach.

Wow Wawa

 

They'll be here any minute now.

Room 302.

Last door on the right.

I'm currently having dinner and, well, I suck.

I'm having Wawa. I didn't want that.

Two lacrosse games are in the can and we congratulate Summit and Shawnee for their state championship wins in Groups 2 and 3 respectively here in New Jersey.

So here I am at the Candlewood Suites while Sean holds down the fort back in the Presidential Suite.

He was initially interested in making the trip with me.

At least he was until he learned that there would be six broadcasts in a little over 24 hours.

So I'm all alone which is fine. 

I got to enjoy the drive here today which was thankfully without much drama. Oh, it's still a Friday in June in New Jersey so you're always aware of the traffic.

Still, I was able to check in here without any issues and was soon in my room.

Wawa sandwich and a cup of coffee in my hand.

I sat here, watched a little TV, ate, and was "nudged" towards getting to the game site nice and early to scout.

It's a sound idea, and one that I endorse, because I want to know what I'm working with. Not only for me but for the videographer as well.

I pulled into Hopewell Valley Regional High School around 2:00 for a 4 p.m. game. It's not uncommon for me to be two hours early to a game.

Or three.

I didn't rush, stopping at ... you guessed it ... Wawa for a big bottle of water. 

But once I found the field and a place to park (school was still in session), I walked into the facility to check on the booth.

I could see the lights were on in the booth but, well, nobody was home. Plus the door was locked.

Of more concern to me was that I was literally the only person there. I've been to other state championships and there's normally someone on site. But, often, that's on a Saturday. This was a Friday as school was letting out.

I began to get nervous that I was at the wrong site.

I double-checked and tripled-checked, just as I did when I learned where the games would be.

That's preparation, isn't it? I mean, it didn't take me 35 hours or whatever the formula is. 

Soon, my anxiety was calmed as a bus from Wall Township pulled into the parking lot. Lacrosse players decked out in red jerseys made their way to the field.

I was at the right place.

But I still needed an open booth or I'd be doing the game from the roof, which could be accessed from the outside.

Oh, and I still needed a videographer.

So I sat.

And I waited.

I watched as people set up the field.

I watched as Wall Township warmed up.

I watched as Summit arrived and soon they were warming up.

I played Solitaire on my phone.

I messaged with friends, sort of stunned by this.

Yet, I would have been a panicked mess at one time but I actually don't do that anymore.

I knew that I could set up quickly. I hoped the videographer could do the same.

He and his significant other showed up around 3:15.

The Hopewell Valley athletic director opened the booth around the same time for me.

It was under 45 minutes before game time.

The booth. The view.

I had my choice of where to set up and I chose the first window inside the door because it was right below where Michael (the videographer) set up on the roof.

I was set up within about 10 minutes. That's all it takes with a small mixer, a headset, a crowd mic, and cables to send the audio to Michael's camera, and to my computer.

Wall and Summit faced off and, after initial sound issues, we were on the air. Despite everything we missed none of the action.

You might know that I run literally every broadcast of mine into my computer so that I can have a recording. I love having my archive which is rather voluminous at this point.

I called the game and it became standard stuff. Summit won and there was much rejoicing in the crowd.

Except I forgot to record my audio.

I snarled at that fact, furious only with myself because I was so focused on everything else that I neglected to make sure the recording was working.

I was so annoyed but there was still another game to call.

So I ramped up and got ready for Shawnee and Chatham.

The roster on my phone

Except, despite all of the preparation that I did to satisfy the gatekeepers, the rosters for the second game were sketchy. To that end, I had to take pictures of copies that the athletic director had to get them on my phone. I'd have to balance between the versions I had (from the state) and my phone.

Not ideal, especially as I tried to be comfortable with schools that I'd never heard of. Yet I'd be damned if some out-of-state clown was going to ruin their championship broadcast.

The second broadcast happened and Shawnee -- the Renegades, of course -- won the crown.

Shawnee fans celebrate

The pack up in the booth was quick and I was soon on my way to get dinner.

Dammit, I wanted something different.

Yet, as I scrolled my phone, another jumped out at me.

Also, the skies opened. Fortunately for everyone at lacrosse, the games went off without rain. 

The ride back to the hotel wasn't as simple.

Thus, as I reached my exit, I knew I could get something at Wawa, like it or not.

I did have something different from earlier in the day and I got back to my room.

And, let's face it, it was still good.

Now I get to turn my attention to baseball tomorrow.

I'll head out in the morning and grab breakfast and I'll hopefully pick up an extra sandwich as well.

There are four baseball games so pacing is important.

The first game is at 10 a.m. Then 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. before (probably) driving back to Connecticut.

Oh, and the first lacrosse game is archived so I'm recording the audio off of it for my personal archive.

It's not ideal but it reminds me to be diligent.