Four Players

 

They sat with their backs against the wall.

Their backs really had been against the wall, fighting for their baseball lives as a four-run lead had evaporated.

Now, it was tied.

A walk, a strikeout, and a fielder's choice had them set up to win it. Then two intentional walks. Then, a base hit down the line.

Trumbull 5, Quincy 4. That eliminated Quincy and kept Trumbull's dream of making the Babe Ruth World Series in Virginia alive.

Trumbull plays Waterford, CT tomorrow morning. The winner heads to the championship of the New England Regional.

But now, four of the winners sat behind the first base dugout, their backs pressed against the wall, They wore their dirty uniforms, partially untucked, eye black decorating their cheeks.

They could have been Mays and Mantle and Robinson and Ruth. 

But they were four 13-year-olds.

I said hi as I walked by and congratulated them.

"Thank you," they said in unison.

Then one spoke up softly.

"We're listening to your broadcast."

Suddenly, I could hear it. It was coming from one of their phones.

It was my voice.

They told me they were listening to an earlier broadcast and that they really enjoyed it.

Maybe they are. Maybe they're just being nice.

Maybe both.

But I was touched.

Like, really touched.

Four kids, laughing and talking and listening to a rebroadcast of their game, which happened to be called by me.

And they approved.

I'm not getting rich doing these games and that's OK. It's another year and a new cast of people but, once again, Trumbull has welcomed me with open arms.

This is what makes the experience worth it. It's not about the prestige and anyone wanting to look down at me, well, that's on them. I'm happy doing this. It's a grind, no question, but a grind that I enjoy when it's all over.

It's not so much about the work that I do. Sure, there are kind words and I'm really grateful but it's giving coverage to the kids for games that wouldn't get covered. There has not been a single other media person around Trumbull High School this week.

I get it. It's summer and budgets are tight and so on.

But not one.

Other than me.

That's not slapping myself on the back. That's just a fact.

Players enjoy hearing their names. Families enjoy hearing the players' names. Everyone enjoys the attention. This is how it works.

I'm that conduit, providing the coverage that they deserve.

And that they seem to like.

Four players seemed to be happy.

Sitting against a dugout wall on a hot day as a thunderstorm loomed.

They laughed the laughs of a winning team looking forward to their next game.

Baseball played on a device in the background.

Audio only.

It sure sounded sweet.

*****

I won't put out another "press release" but the listens for this morning's game far outdid the game from last night that prompted that post. I'm overwhelmed but it speaks to the power of sports radio (audio) and the desire for coverage. 

*****

I'll be on "Melissa in the Morning" tomorrow morning on WICC Radio in Bridgeport to talk about the Babe Ruth tournament and the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Join me at 7:35 a.m.

*****

Suzyn Waldman, the longtime Yankees' radio broadcaster, as well as a trailblazing reporter on WFAN before that, has been named a 2022 inductee into the Radio Hall of Fame. I get it. You don't love her. "Oh my goodness gracious, Rogah Clemens," blah blah blah. But I think you should respect her. There comes a point where the criticism gets foolish. 

She's remarkable. I congratulate her.

PRESS RELEASE

 

ROBCASTING DRAWS BIG AUDIENCE FOR BABE RUTH TILT

Many listened. Could be a record

Contact: Rascal (he's The Cat)

ROBCASTING MEDIA, America's most electric local online sports broadcaster (find us another one), proudly announces possible record-setting numbers tonight from their broadcast of Babe Ruth Baseball.

The broadcast -- part of the New England Regional Tournament -- featured Pittsfield, MA and Trumbull, CT. Pittsfield beat the host team (Trumbull), 17-10.

Listening numbers -- unavailable to the media -- were strong, according to President, Vice President, Creator, Program Director, and Lead Broadcaster Rob Adams.

"We don't release our numbers," he said. "But, if we did, I'd say they were among the highest we've had since creating ROBCASTING in 2017."

Indeed, ROBCASTING RADIO -- a division of Robcasting Media -- just passed its fifth anniversary and has had a steady climb in terms of listeners every since. Created out of the ashes of another entity that doesn't pay its invoices, ROBCASTING MEDIA started out as a bit of a joke when board member and Technical Director/Designer AJ Szymanowski made a graphic that he sent to Adams.

The graphic became the basis for the channel.

Hard-pressed to think of another broadcast with similar listening numbers, ROBCASTING considers this to be a pretty highly-rated broadcast.

"We're very proud," Adams said. "Shawn Sailer (Vice President in charge of Statistics and Ginger Ale) really brought profound analysis to the broadcast. Our numbers have been strong throughout the Babe Ruth Tournament and we hope they continue."

The New England Regional continues Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at Trumbull High School. All games can be heard live on ROBCASTING RADIO at robcasting.mixlr.com.

Robcasting Media, founded in 2017, is the home of sports broadcasting in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and basically anywhere else professional play-by-play is needed. It is the top-rated Tri-State broadcaster in Northwest Ohio (according to Mike Hirn), as well as in Wilton, and Fairfield, CT. Its current home base is in Greenwich, CT after starting in Mahopac, NY. 

-- 55 -- 

Robcasting Founder, etc Rob Adams. (Photo: Rascal The Cat. Or Rob Adams.)

A sticky Saturday

 

I'm here literally to say hello.

It was a day of moving from one site to another. Plus it was a very hot day in the northeast.

I was back at Greenwich High School today for the showdown between GHS and Fairfield Warde. The two teams played an entertaining contest, resulting in the Cardinals moving on to the state semis on Tuesday. 

Today's final score was 5-2. Norwalk beat Ridgefield on the road, setting up a showdown between the Cardinals and Bears for the right to play in the state title game.

The game will be played at a neutral site, with Cubeta Stadium in Stamford being considered. I should add that I've also been asked already to call the contest. I'm happy to do it if I'm allowed to do so.

I truly appreciate every kind word I've received from listeners. It's almost sad that I have to remind everyone that I'm still out here, but I guess it is what it is. Still, it would just be nice to fill up my dance card much earlier. 

For instance, I already have a commitment next Saturday so I couldn't even call the state championship game if I wanted to. If only everyone would just have me keep it open but I assume I'm not needed for the state finals, despite enjoying calling them.

Otherwise, I make commitments and go where I'm wanted.

So, yes, it's been nice to remind some people that I'm still out here if you like what I do. Apparently, there are a few people.

I raced home from GHS for a lovely evening visiting with Mick, Gretchen, and Finnbar (who told Alexa the correct way to spell his name).

And now I'm tired. So is Rascal.

Tomorrow is another day.

Maskless...almost

 

You can bet that I can't wait to dump the mask.

Still, be it pressure or simply thinking I'm doing the right thing, I'm struggling to remove it entirely.

I walked into a Kohl's yesterday where a sign said clearly that masks were optional. At first, I strutted without it, almost confidently.

Then I looked around. Nearly everyone still had masks on.

Feel free to call me weak or sheep or whatever, but I put it back on. 

Baaaah.

I don't do it for me. Heck, isn't that why we were wearing the damn things in the first place? I do it for the people around me who still might not be as comfortable. In this spot, people didn't seem OK to go without.

I went to my local Stop and Shop today and it appeared to be mandated though I noticed a few shoppers were without them.

I wore mine. Then, as I've done since last March, I adjusted it when I went outside.

Now, is this a rule of mine? Not necessarily. I take each circumstance at face value and evaluate it as needed. 

I walked into a store today in Mahopac with the mask on. Seconds later, I noticed the staff weren't wearing them. There were only a few of us in there.

I took it off.

Perhaps all I'm trying to say is that I'm mindful of respecting others.

Respect. Such a silly concept, isn't it?

*****

"'Good Times' will not be seen tonight so that we may bring you the
following special program. 'Good Times' will return in its usual time next week."  

A few schedule notes while the Renegades are away:

- Back to baseball tomorrow as Greenwich and Fairfield Warde meet at Cardinal Yard in Greenwich for the right to advance to the Class LL semifinal. Thanks to the Greenwich Diamond Club for asking me. I'm really pleased.

- "The Clubhouse" will gather in person on Wednesday in Mount Kisco at Grand Prix NY. It's not only our last show for the season (we'll be back in probably September or October) but it's also a night to raise awareness for Alzheimer's research. Please come on out, won't you? I intend to be there for "Doubleheader" as well so keep me company (assuming that's all good to go).

- Next Saturday, I'm heading back to Milford, PA to call three championship games in Cal Ripken baseball/softball. As of now, I'm flying solo. Please inquire within if you would like to join me for a day of fun youth sports in a super friendly town.

Both of these outstanding events are airing on your local Robcasting station (also known as mixlr.com/robcasting-radio)

The Admin

Preparing game notes and my scorebook last August at Dutchess Stadium

I've belonged to -- and grumbled about -- the Play-by-Play group on Facebook before.

Now I get a say in it.

Mike Hirn and I were both named admins today.

It has, frankly, gotten stale. Good conversations have mostly given way to promotions of talk shows and podcasts. In a lot of ways, the pandemic damaged the page as none of us had games to broadcast so topics dried up.

While self-promotion is against the group rules, I get it, and there are ways around it. But every post has become either that or "Hey! So (insert name here) says I'm the best broadcaster ever!" Obviously a lot of things fall under the heading of self-promotion.

I've even seen posts intended to get members to buy one thing or another, and frankly, some of them were useful (I mean, we'd all be happy with some well-priced equipment).

For the record, I have two talk shows, a (seldom done) podcast, a blog, and my own little radio channel. I have plenty of things to promote and never have. To each their own.

When I was named "voice" of the Renegades (I'm still getting used to that title), Mike posted it in the group. He'll back me up on this -- I had nothing to do with it. He did that.

In fact, I was a lurker in the group (as I am in most groups). I like to read and maybe chime in when necessary. Despite my love of roads and road photography, there are too many rules and I just don't feel like getting yelled at for crappy road snaps.

But Mike and I need to liven up the PBP group. Keep in mind the full name is "Play by Play Announcers, Sideline Reporters, Color Analysts, Studio Hosts." There's a lot of room for members and good conversations.

In my opinion, you need be nothing more than interested or dabbling in any of those to be admitted. I'll use Harold as an example. He's done color on -- maybe -- 25 games total in the 25 years I've known him. That's 26 more than enough for me.

We -- including Channing Ewing, who started the group -- just want people to talk.

To that end, we ask that you follow the rules, which aren't rocket science.

From there, I'd like to see it spiced up and prefer that I don't have to delete posts and get involved in sorting out nonsense.

Mike and I (and a few others) were having fun one day on a particular topic one day. There was no harsh criticism. In fact, it was pretty benign. I'll politely say a "holier than thou" type spanked the hands of those doing such.

No more. Criticism is fair game. I've seen countless "I hate Joe Buck" posts but having an open conversation about a broadcaster whose style has come under scrutiny isn't OK?

I'm going to allow it. If it turns personal then it will be dealt with.

It's supposed to be a community. It's supposed to be a place for understanding of styles and giving advice. Jeff Alterman is still new to the play-by-play world, for instance. He can use some support and advice.

Some history and philosophy of this craft would be welcome.

Hopefully, I won't have to play babysitter.

Welcome to the new members.

Incidentally, it's a sacred day around these parts, as the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup on this day in 1994.

I watched it at Scott's house. It could have been a magical year, as the Knicks could have won the NBA Final a week later and the Yankees were denied by the MLB strike.

But, we have the Rangers. It has lasted a lifetime, hasn't it?


(Oh, by the way, looks like that Yankees stuff from yesterday was nothing. To paraphrase Elmer Fudd, "It's vewy vewy quiet for the Yankees hunters. Hahahahahaha")

Hockey, Hops, and Hot Tub!

Captains and officials before tonight's tilt in Brewster.

I'm home after a long day.

Work becomes hockey game (that is work also). After that, I shut down for a bit.

Harold and I grabbed sandwiches, went back to his house, and I jumped in a hot tub.

While we ate dinner, I chatted with his wonderful wife Tracy and their daughter Katie.

Katie is only a member of the All-Decade cross country team, as chosen by LoHud.com.

No big deal.

So, yeah, back to that hot tub. Yes, I really did go in it. The outside air was 20 degrees. The water was nice and comfortable. It was glorious. We talked music and sports (who...US? Nah).

Then we went back into his house to begin editing the video of tonight's Mahopac/Carmel hockey game, which also led to my needing to edit the audio.

Though the internet worked great tonight at the Brewster Ice Arena (smaller crowd? Gremlins not climbing through the wires? Who knows why it worked?) we had a computer crash that caused us to scramble on the audio (Robcasting side). Approximately seven minutes of game audio was lost on Robcasting, but Harold saved the day because we had the video, which is now on YouTube.

So I fixed the audio, and voila! We're done.

And I'm done for the night. That was game number 131 -- tying my best year (pathetic as that might sound). I'd like to break the mark but would also be OK (I think) if I stopped there.

I'm slightly confident that mark will be broken next year. The promise of roughly 40 baseball games in the summer brings me hope.

But we'll see what the final 11 days have in store.

I'm shutting down for real. Back tomorrow.

Goodnight, all.

Football Follies

Ah, the good ol' NFL Football Follies

The tire nightmare is over. Four brand new tires -- with treads! -- are on and life is good (for now).

But the storm has botched things up in other ways.

The Connecticut state quarterfinal football games, scheduled for tomorrow at 6:30 p.m., have been postponed to Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Wait. What?

Yes, we're getting a storm in Connecticut (as well as here in New York, but that's not relevant to this post).

Yes, storms happen.

But this storm is supposed to basically finish tonight for most of Connecticut, with the winter storm warning expiring tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. The northern part of the state is still supposed to get more snow.

I dared to question this on Twitter. Oops.

I'm hearing two arguments: 1) Host schools need time to clean up and 2) Teams don't have time to practice.

Which, no team ever has enough practice time. So your mileage may vary on that one.

And is this the first time we've had a snow storm before football games? No. No, it is not.

But hey, I'm all for clean roads and such!

Yes, I get it. Roads need to be cleaned, etc. I'd imagine that will be quickly done tonight and early tomorrow but that's also handled by the town.

I've called two "snow bowl" championship games (for instance) -- 2013 and 2017. Stamford's Boyle Stadium didn't need to "prepare the field." They sent out shovels during the game to clear up the yard markers and played the game. There was a point after the 2017 game when I was prepared to drive back to Greenwich and sleep there but I made it home without incident.

So, I get it. Clean roads are awesome!

Oh, and there was the 2002 game at Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport where people were cleaning their seats following a storm the day before.

Somehow, we survived.

Other parts of the country laugh at this. I'm content to not drive in the snow personally.

On another personal note, WGCH is impacted by this. The game -- and "The Clubhouse Christmas Spectacular" are both scheduled for the same night. I'm involved in both entities.

Here's how this will all resolve itself:

6:20 -- Greenwich football will air live on Robcasting Radio. I'm on the call.
7:00-9:00 -- The Clubhouse will air live on WGCH (1490am) and wgch.com. Mark Jeffers and Dave Torromeo (with Bob Small) will handle the hosting duties just fine.

We'll also replay the game on WGCH at a later time.

Beyond that, the semifinals have been moved to Monday. My involvement may or may not be contingent upon Greenwich winning, but I might still have a game regardless. I hope I do.

Some don't like my questioning this. Others agree.

Just another day.

Don Imus appeared on New York radio for the first time on this day in 1971. Radio, in my opinion, was rarely better (in the non-sports category).

Upcoming Baseball on Robcasting

Back in 2015, I was approached about covering a Babe Ruth Baseball tournament at Trumbull High School.

The schedule was grueling, with 15 games stretched out over five days.

The initial thinking was that I was crazy to try to do all of the games. The thinking was that we (HAN Radio/HAN Network) would do the semifinals and finals.

Undaunted, I was in for the whole tournament. I battled with losing my voice every night and loved every minute of it.

Since then, I've had similar experiences in 2017 and 2018. In fact, when HAN said they weren't doing the pool play games or the quarterfinals of the '17 tournament at Trumbull, I jumped at the opening, cranking through 12 games before rain canceled our last day.

Last year, I bounced between a Babe Ruth tourney in Norwalk and covering Fairfield American Little League. Again, I loved it.

Today, I confirmed I'll do that again.

The 13-year-old Babe Ruth tournament will take place at Cubeta Stadium in Stamford. There had been talk of Robcasting covering those games previously, and we settled on a modified schedule of games.

While I hate missing games, I will do everything to make everyone happy. Fairfield American Little League booked me first, so they have first dibs, but I'll have plenty of the Babe Ruth tournament from Stamford as well.

All games that we broadcast will be carried live on http://mixlr.com/robcasting-radio. Archives are placed on Mixlr, https://archive.org/details/@double5, and https://mixcloud.com/robcasting-radio/.

If all goes well, this is what the schedule will look like:

Friday, July 19: 
* The Babe Ruth tournament begins on Friday at Cubeta Stadium. I encourage you to go see the games, however, it is unlikely that Robcasting will be there. Sorry for any disappointment.

5:30 p.m. -- Fairfield American (FALL)/Max Sinoway Little League Baseball at Unity Park, Trumbull

**If FALL wins on Friday, they play Darien at 10 a.m. If they lose, they play Darien Sunday at 10 a.m.

Saturday, July 20:
IF FALL WINS ON FRIDAY:
10:00 a.m. -- FALL vs. Darien at Unity Park, Trumbull
3:00 p.m. -- Keene, NH vs. Pittsfield, MA at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford
5:30 p.m. -- Plymouth, MA vs. Milford, CT at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford
8:00 p.m. -- Stamford, CT vs. Greater Portland, ME

IF FALL LOSES ON FRIDAY:
12:30 p.m. -- Barre, VT  vs. North Providence/Smithfield, RI at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford
3:00 p.m. -- Keene, NH vs. Pittsfield, MA at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford
5:30 p.m. -- Plymouth, MA vs. Milford, CT at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford
8:00 p.m. -- Stamford, CT vs. Greater Portland, ME at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford

Sunday, July 21:
IF FALL WINS ON FRIDAY:
12:30 p.m. -- Plymouth, MA vs. Keene, NH at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford
3:00 p.m. -- Greater Portland, ME vs. North Providence/Smithfield, RI at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford
5:30 p.m. -- Pittsfield, MS vs. Milford, CT at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford
8:00 p.m. -- Barre, VT vs. Stamford, CT at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford

IF FALL LOSES ON SATURDAY:

10:00 a.m. -- FALL vs. Darien at Unity Park, Trumbull

3:00 p.m. -- Greater Portland, ME vs. North Providence/Smithfield, RI at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford
5:30 p.m. -- Pittsfield, MS vs. Milford, CT at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford
8:00 p.m. -- Barre, VT vs. Stamford, CT at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford

Monday, July 22:
IF FALL IS STILL PLAYING:

5:30 p.m. -- FALL in Little League Section 1 Championship at Unity Park, Trumbull

IF FALL IS FINISHED:

4:00 p.m. -- Babe Ruth Tourney quarterfinal at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford
7:00 p.m. -- Babe Ruth Tourney quarterfinal at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford

Tuesday, July 23:
4:00 p.m. -- Babe Ruth Tourney semifinal at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford
7:00 p.m. -- Babe Ruth Tourney semifinal at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford

Wednesday, July 24:
6:00 p.m. -- Babe Ruth Tournament Championship at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford

I promise there will not be a test.

Could be quite a run of baseball. Weather permitting, of course.

Last thought: I haven't settled on broadcast partners and could be talked into having people fill-in for me on the games that I can't do. However, it has to be people I trust taking that on. I'm talking people like Chris Kaelin, Chris Erway, Mike Hirn (um...he's in Ohio), etc.

Anyway, I'm babbling. Lots of baseball coming up on Robcasting before the lull of August hits.

Change of Plans

My little podcast has hit Apple (and Stitcher)

First, thanks to the brave few who listened to the first episode of "Tales From The Booth." I greatly appreciate those who took the time to try it out. The thing is, as I keep stressing, it's the first try, and it will evolve.

All along, I've planned on adding guests, maybe bringing over interviews from "Doubleheader," and perhaps digging into the archive for other interviews as well.

This has been rolling around in my brain for months and is the kind of thing I ponder in free moments (like driving).

I threw yesterday's show together, so if it wasn't up to your taste, understand I jumped into the deep end of the pool. I didn't let anyone pre-listen. I just went for it.

And, truthfully, I was really proud of it. I listened to it a few times on my own. Sure, I could nitpick it, but for someone who is renowned for ripping everything I do, I surprised myself by feeling OK with it.

Lastly, I've submitted it to several places, and Stitcher was the first to respond. Find it at https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/rob-adams/tales-from-the-booth?refid=stpr

And Apple just approved it as well. So once it hits iTunes, you can find it at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-booth/id1455042173.

*****
You all know the reality of things for me. We've spoken too much about it and shall not speak of it again.

That being said, my plans for today have changed. I had scheduled the Robcasting Radio staff (that's me) to be at Greenwich High School for the Cardinals' boys basketball playoff game against Xavier.

Then Local Live pulled me to Fairfield to call Notre Dame against Bristol Eastern in girls basketball, and duty calls.

I thought the weather would destroy the whole thing, as we have between eight inches and a foot of snow around these parts. Most schools are closed (except for Sean in Dutchess County).

However, some were planning to open for the games. As of this morning, GHS was still playing, so I had to message them with the bad news.

That game got postponed in the last half hour.

The Notre Dame-Fairfield and Bristol Eastern game is still on. Game time is 6:30, and should be available at locallive.tv.

If it all goes well, I can now go to Greenwich tomorrow night for the Cardinals and Falcons.

But...things can change.

Basketball at Greens Farms Academy

It was doubleheader night at Greens Farms Academy tonight, as the Dragons hosted Sacred Heart from Greenwich in girls hoops, while the boys hosted Masters.

John Nash, all around good egg (don't tell him I said that), invited me to call the games, especially with my connections to Greenwich.

I was thrilled to do it, and was received with open arms.

Trust me: that makes a big difference.

John also set me up with interviews with the guys who have started GSPN, a student-run broadcasting channel at GFA, and Sean Obi, who played collegiately at Duke, Maryland, and Rice.

Everything is in the archive to download and stream. First, the girls game (download it here)

The boys game can be downloaded here.

The halftime interviews can be found here.

I'm back at Brunswick on Thursday, as Hamden Hall takes on the Bruins. Game time is 4:00 p.m.

Hill/Brunswick Hockey

An image from last night's lunar eclipse (the Super Blood Wolf Moon)...just because

It was great to get back under the headset today as Brunswick hosted Hill at the Hartong Rink.

The Bruins scored twice in the second period to take a 2-1 lead before holding on for a 4-3 win.

Later in the week, I'll be at Greens Farms Academy as the Dragons host Sacred Heart Greenwich in girls basketball (4:30) and Masters School in boys basketball (6:00). Both games can be heard on Robcasting at http://mixlr.com/robcasting-radio/.

I'll be back at Brunswick on Thursday as the Bruins host defending FAA champion Hamden Hall in boys basketball. Game time is 4:00. While the audio is on Robcasting, watch the game via Local Live.

As for today, the hockey game is in the archive.

Hoosac/Brunswick Hockey

When in doubt during the #365Project, just post the broadcast of the day.

So here we are.

As I've said previously, I don't take broadcast assignments lightly. I know there are listeners and viewers, and I do what I can to make the broadcasts enjoyable for the viewers.

Today it was Hoosac and Brunswick at the Hartong Rink. Head coach Mike Kennedy and associate head coach (as well as athletic director and former head coach) Ron Van Belle were among those who made me welcome at the rink.

From there, Brunswick wasn't very hospitable. The Bruins beat the Owls 6-1.

We all know the bad of social media. The negative is terrible. The up side can be quite good. After I tweeted to promote the hockey broadcast, the Hoosac School hockey twitter feed shared it with their followers.

Thus I had Hoosac viewers tuning in (I was also on Robcasting).

I feel a responsibility for the whole audience.

So this made me feel good, given it came from a Hoosac fan.

Nice job commentating @double5! We enjoyed the game.

— Kristy Belton (@KristyBelton) January 12, 2019

Thank you, Kristy! I also had a great chat with the parents of Bruin Cooper Moore after the game, who told me Cooper's grandparents enjoy the broadcasts from Orlando. I'm grateful. The words lift me, especially when I feel like I was too hungry and not at my best (er...like today).

If you missed it, here it is, suitable for streaming (or you can stream and download here).

Lists: The Robcasting Top 10

Courtesy Thinkstock

Everyone does a ranking.

Top 10 this or that. Best of and so on.

It's a majestically-flawed operation, to be sure. One opinion versus another.

A few days ago, I noticed Fairfield Ludlowe's Falcon Sports Network (aka Aiden Blanc) did a top ten list of games for 2018. Politely, I said I disagreed with one of the choices (one that I called, to be fair). To rank a dramatic overtime basketball game at number nine while posting a regular season football game at number one just didn't quite hold for me.

But, again, opinions. If you're going to join the ranks of the media (a la the troops at WWPT Radio at Staples High School), then you've got to be ready to defend those opinions.

Alas.

As for me, I love reading rankings. Then I love running them through my brain to see where they sit.

So let's do the Top 10 Robcasting Moments/Games (nearly all games ran on Robcasting, even if the main outlet was WGCH, Local Live, or elsewhere so that I could have a backup).

Honorable mentions: Too many to mention. Watching Cornelius Johnson's brilliance. Watching Gavin Muir, Jack Feda, Mozi Bici and company from week to week. Reuniting with my high school for hockey (and reuniting with Harold for the hockey broadcasts). Calling the MLK Holiday Classic in Webster Bank Arena with Shawn Sailer. Calling Gilbert/Nonnewaug baseball at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury with Tim Parry. Calling the FCIAC Championship in boys soccer. The state hockey championship between Greenwich and Fairfield Prep. Building myriad relationships with King School, Greens Farms Academy and more.

I'm trying to work everyone in. I can't.

10) Hockey: Girls Winter Classic, New Canaan at Greenwich (12/29/18).  I know the boys game later on had the bigger crowd, under the lights, and I suppose we could put both games here. But the girls game was my first outdoor hockey broadcast. Watching Jennifer Kelly score right below my broadcast perch was really...er...cool. So we can make both games number 10.

Check this out on Chirbit

 9) Lacrosse: Hill Academy at Brunswick (4/25/18). The Bruins won. It was decisive. For a stretch, they were in the conversation for the best team in the country (and, I suppose, the world, since Hill is from Canada). It was a great night for lacrosse in the tri-state area.

Check this out on Chirbit
8) Hockey: The Gunnery at Brunswick (2/9/18). This one is personal. Mike Richter -- yes, his name is on the Stanley Cup and his number hangs in the rafters at Madison Square Garden -- was my analyst. Brunswick won, and Mike had a rooting interest, but for one day, he was my partner. It attracted a different audience. It was a blast. Once my nerves settled down.

Check this out on Chirbit

7) Hockey: Darien vs. Suffield co-op (CHSGHS Girls Ice Hockey Championship, 3/11/18). Mick McGowan joined me, so having a friend made it fun. Shawn Sailer was there also. We had the privilege of being the exclusive live voice of the state championship. Darien won. Girls hockey continues to win.

Check this out on Chirbit

6) Baseball: Hopkins @Brunswick (5/21/18). I was partnered with Jim Walsh, whom I'd never met before. No pressure. The Bruins held on and Trystan Sarcone pitched his tail off. The joy of baseball.


Check this out on Chirbit

5) Baseball: Newtown @ Trumbull (7/12/18). This belongs to Mike Buswell, coach of Trumbull, who asked me to come do the games. Sometimes, one just needs to be wanted. So I did them, and had a ball, practically living at Unity Park, between the Babe Ruth and Little League games I did there. Each game was a blast, including the Darien/Trumbull game a few nights earlier. In this case, it took a walkoff to send Trumbull to the regional tourney in Norwalk (and a call that evoked 1959's "We Go to Chicago," as said by Vin Scully). It was very pure baseball.

Check this out on Chirbit

4) Baseball: Keene, NH @ Norwalk (Babe Ruth New England Regional Championship, 7/25/18). After a crazy stretch of game...after game...of Babe Ruth and Little League baseball, it came down to Keene and Norwalk. All of the fans at that event were awesome. I have a sign hanging at home that was a gift from Keene. Other teams gave me hats. I got soaking wet and sunburned and burned out and possibly damaged my right leg from standing, and I. Loved. All. Of. It. But how it ended was unfortunate and bizarre. I felt for Keene. I was happy for Norwalk. I was baffled by it all.

Check this out on Chirbit

3) Basketball: Fairfield Ludlowe @ Fairfield Prep (Holiday Classic, 12/27/18). You didn't have to be there to get it. Prep built up a big lead before halftime. Prep scored zero in the third quarter. The teams went back and forth. It took free throws in OT. I was exhausted, and didn't leave Alumni Hall for over an hour after the game ended.

(I realize this isn't a Ludlowe highlight, but this Jack Scholl bucket brought the place to its feet)
Check this out on Chirbit

2) Hockey: East Coast Selects vs. Russ Moscow Hockey (World Selects U15 Invitational Final, 5/6/18). How can I put this succinctly? East Coast Selects won a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. The winning goal (sans my play-by-play) made SportsCenter as a Top 10 (not the only time that happened in 2018). Again, I broadcast a world championship. That magnitude of that is overwhelming.

Check this out on Chirbit

1) Football: Greenwich vs. New Canaan (12/8/18). The empire is back. In his fourth year, John Marinelli has brought the Cardinals back to being the target. They're now the program that others want to be, and I saw every play of it. December 8 was a coronation, featuring show-stopping gadget plays (and thus AJ Barber's one-handed catch and throw made SportsCenter). On the field, before and after the game, it was clear that Greenwich was back, bursting with pride. Generations held each other in a town-wide hug.

Check this out on Chirbit

OK, so now it's your turn. Bring it. It's what's fun about doing this, and the truth is, if I decide I was wrong or missed something, I'll update this post.

UPDATE: 1/3 (4:36 pm): I've added individual calls from each of the games, and I wanted to point out a few facts about my archive. I'm also pleased to have people listen to games after the fact, and download them.

- To stream the games, please visit my Mixcloud page at https://www.mixcloud.com/robcasting-radio/
- To download them (or stream them), please visit my Archive page at https://archive.org/details/@double5
- To hear some of the calls that I've chosen to to highlight, visit my Chirbit page at https://www.chirbit.com/double5

Highlights of 2018

The setup at Cardinal Stadium before the Class LL quarterfinal versus New Britain, Nov 27, 2018

I put together a "best of" show for 2018 on Doubleheader that ran yesterday. I included three impactful interviews and added a highlight reel at the end.

The highlights are in no way complete. I didn't include the world championship goal of the World Selects hockey tournament, and time restraints kept me from finding a suitable lacrosse moment. I also didn't include much of the work of any of my great analysts. I wasn't trying to be selfish, but again time was an issue, as I had roughly four minutes to get in a year of work.

Here's that hockey call

Check this out on Chirbit

As for the rest of the highlight reel, here it is.

Check this out on Chirbit

Here's the full show from yesterday:

Brunswick Ends Their Season

Choate celebrates their win over Brunswick.

I just uploaded the final audio of the Brunswick football season.

Sadly, for Bruins fans, the result wasn't the desired one: Choate 25, Brunswick 8. I'm incredibly grateful to AJ Szymanowski for driving down from Cambridge, MA to join me for the call, and to Shawn Sailer for producing (aka, "keeping us company"). Also thanks to Local Live and Gus, the tremendous cameraman who ably keeps things moving.

But oh what a ride it was. This was a team that was "thought" to win maybe four to six games.

The point is nobody knew.

They found a QB, worked out a running game, and created a wonderful defense.

They played their hearts out.

They had two stellar captains in Cornelius Johnson and Nick Villis. Both will be heard from after they leave Wick.

In fact, all of these players will, and they'll figure things out for 2019.

Yes, the loss stinks. I'm sure there's regret for the loss yesterday (they finished at 8-2).

There should be no regret for the effort and pride they demonstrated.

I'm only sorry I wasn't there for all ten games.

Not many know that I've been around Brunswick athletics for roughly 20 years, and have called so many games.

Yet now -- more than ever -- I've made friends.

I'm excited for hockey and basketball at Wick, as well as the finish of Greenwich football (Thursday, 9:50 am -- WGCH). The playoffs follow.

Oh and Mahopac wants me to join them for some hockey. I'd love to see more games everywhere. Just watching the machine my friend Travis Jackson is building whets my appetite.

Anyway, I'm getting off-topic here.

Thanks again, Brunswick football. Come back soon.

AJ and I call the action (Shawn Sailer photo)

Xavier/Greenwich Football Broadcast Notes

An opening day view from September against Trumbull.

No fancy lede (or lead, your call) is needed here. Let's get to the facts.

Greenwich and Xavier (of Middletown, CT) were scheduled to play in a neutral site game on Thursday at 7 p.m. But snow is on the way.

So the game is now scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) at 6 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium in Greenwich (by definition, the game is a Greenwich home affair).

After some thinking, WGCH (including me) have come up with this plan:

-- The live audio will air on Robcasting at http://mixlr.com/robcasting-radio/ (there's also a widget on the right side of this page). Or listen right here!
Robcasting Radio is on Mixlr


-- On WGCH, regular programming will continue, including The Clubhouse at 7pm. Mark Jeffers and Dave Torromeo will carry on without me (I'll be back for the season-ender on Dec. 5).

-- At 8 p.m. on WGCH (wgch.com...anywhere), we will air the game on tape-delay (to my knowledge, only one of three times that Greenwich football aired on tape since I've been here).

-- Over on YouTube, the game will stream live through the capable hands of DJ Furano and company, with my play-by-play (and Paul Silverfarb's analysis). The stream will be here (or watch below). 

The audio will be archived after the broadcast on Mixlr, Mixcloud, and Archive.org.

Keep Grinding

I have to be quick here.

There are days when this business -- and certainly any business -- will eat you alive.

I've dealt with myriad politics in media.

I've been pushed aside thanks to people with money, power-hungry people, old boys clubs, and more.

Don't think I've just hung on at WGCH for 21 years. There are times I've had to fight to be seen and heard.

Sometimes, I still do.

The politics of this business stinks -- even now, as a veteran of nearly three decades.

Everyone wants your job.

Many hate you or blacklist you.

There are stories. Oh yes.

Then there's the low pay, when being nearly 50 means finding work can be brutal (heck, I'll take an office job and broadcast on the side), but the child support bill must be paid.

How do I pay the bills?

How do I survive?

How do get my (insert term here) off my back?

How?

You don't know the full story, and you probably never will.

Power struggles stink.

I've been through and seen it all.

So when I get this, it means a whole lot.

That came out of nowhere. It wasn't a ringer, and she wasn't a friend. 

Honestly, that's all I have to add. The kind words are a good reminder.

Don't quit. 

Don't.

Keep moving forward.

See you at 3:30 for Brunswick and Hotchkiss.

Game One: Greenwich 42, Trumbull 7

The new scoreboard is really sweet.

Week one for the Greenwich Cardinals football team went in a similar way to how last year started. 

Initially, Trumbull was able to hang with "Big Red" before Greenwich ran away. It was 70-16 last year.

This year ended in a 42-7 win for the Cardinals as old foe Marce Petroccio began his run as head coach of the Trumbull Eagles. AJ Barber and Gavin Muir connected for three scores, while Tysen Comizio and Jack Warren added touchdowns on the ground. Ryan Raybuck's second quarter pick six was my choice for both "turning point" and "play of the day." The Cardinals followed that with a on-side kick, and they were off. Highlights here:
 
A few other thoughts:

- The scoreboard is beautiful. The lone casualty? Us! After many years, WGCH lost our corner space in the press box (at least for now).

- The crowd was really good. I didn't expect that, considering the rain. Well done, Greenwich (and Trumbull).

- The tailgate was...well, yeah. It was great. Marc Ducret is a master.

- I showed up to picture day in a blue polo shirt (representing the Hudson Valley Renegades, whose game I was calling that night). I, rightfully, got teased (and my headshot in the team program has me in that shirt). Don't want me in blue (as in Darien Blue Wave, or someone else)? Easily resolved! But I'm going to show up in a Brunswick cap one of these days!

- The program was beyond anything I could have imagined. I've always wanted a media page in the program, like the ones I used to see in the old Yankees yearbooks. Those pages listed the broadcasters and writers who covered the Yankees. So to have Chris Erway and I both featured in the GHS football program? Cool. Very cool.

- We did a live video stream of the game, produced by DJ Furano. It looked great on YouTube, with our play-by-play included. It's very much a work in progress. I'm aware there was criticism of the static camera, for instance. Hang in there with us. (Note: as of this writing, the video seems to have been taken down. Again, a work in progress.)

Next Cardinals broadcast is next Saturday at 4pm against Trinity Catholic. As of now, I'm without a broadcast partner as Chris Erway will miss the next two games. My next game is Friday night, when Brunswick opens their 2018 season at home against Loomis Chaffee School at 7:30.

** I make no promises that I will do these posts and highlights for every game.

Full game broadcast (in this case, sans commercials) here:

It's Time For Cardinals Football

Greenwich has a new scoreboard that might be turned on for Saturday's game (My photo)

I wanted to call a high school football game tonight.

I didn't call a game tonight.

So I stayed home, saw Sean (my 16-year-old son, for those who don't know*), and watched some guy named Paul McCartney perform from Grand Central Terminal.**

* I don't assume everyone knows Sean, especially since he doesn't join me on the road as much as he used to.

** Macca called it "Grand Central Station." He's Paul McCartney. I'll give him a pass.

As late as yesterday, I thought I'd be on the call of Fairfield Prep and Notre Dame of West Haven tonight, but for reasons out of my control, it didn't come to be. I might still get a Prep call later in the season. We'll see.

Tomorrow, at 3:50, barring any last-minute issues (again, I'm making no assumptions), we'll flip the switch on the 2018 season, as Greenwich hosts Trumbull at Cardinal Stadium.

Wanting to make an entrance (not really), we'll be the last game to start in the FCIAC, and the second-to-last game to start in Connecticut.

For me, it's another year in a wild ride that actually began in 1997, for that was when I first walked into the hallowed halls of WGCH Radio. After initially being used as a board-operator for Sunday church services and other fill-in things, I moved over to sports in late 1998.

But it wasn't on WGCH.

It was actually on our former "sister station," WVIP, the Mount Kisco-based AM outlet that we ran out of the Greenwich studios. I was the board-op and studio host for a few Westchester County high school football games.

By late '98, I was board-op'ing Greenwich basketball and hockey, and would soon venture out to a game site or two before getting my first game call in April '99 for a Greenwich/Port Chester baseball game. I'd stay busy with lots more, including calling Westchester County high school football on WVIP in 1999.

By late spring, 2000, former 'GCH sports director John Connelly was heading out the door. John was the lead for Greenwich football. Now that door was open.

I ran through it, pulled it shut, and have never really looked back.

So that means I'm starting year number 17 tomorrow as lead broadcaster ("Voice of" always makes me uncomfortable. Mel Allen was the "Voice of the Yankees." Who can compare to that?)

Add in games that I called during two years with the HAN Network, plus being a sideline reporter in late 1999, and I'm starting my 20th year around Cardinals football, and 21 overall covering Greenwich sports.

Local Live will get the FCIAC package going tomorrow, and my understanding is Tom Prizeman -- a one-time intern for me -- will handle St. Joe's and New Canaan. I would loved to have been on that call, but my commitment to Greenwich will keep me from it.

So Chris Erway and I will buckle into Cardinal Stadium again. I'll be on the call of every play (I've missed one Greenwich game, in 2005, not including the HAN years). Have I mentioned every down will air on WGCH (1490 am) and wgch.com?

Next Friday, I'll be back with Brunswick, calling their football (and more!). That will be on Local Live and Robcasting Radio.

Local Live will get me going with plenty of FCIAC stuff (and...again...more!).

My (hopeful) point is that I will be busy. So long as I have the voice, I'll make it happen.

There's equipment that needs to be reviewed, and even then, I won't know what works until I'm at Cardinal Stadium.

There are notes to finalize and, to be honest, how many notes do I need? I'm fairly familiar with GHS. I know Trumbull pretty well.  It's football. Chris and I can call a game. There's actually a point where there can be too many notes (especially in a small booth like Cardinal Stadium).

The ability to adjust, not lean on stats, and ad-lib is immensely important to a play-by-play duo.

I'll talk to John Marinelli (Greenwich coach) and Marce Petroccio (Trumbull coach -- man that's weird) tomorrow at the field. I know them both well.

As always, I'll be nervous. Families actually rely on me to be a conduit through the radio/internet to their athletes.

But I'll take a deep breath around 3:49.

The music will build around 3:50.

By 3:51, I'll probably begin talking. Like I always have. Since 1998.

The National Anthem will play around 3:58. That's a sacred moment for me. Patriotism aside (I'm not dismissing it), it's my last moment to think. To pause and remember the father who never heard his son as a broadcaster. To hope I make my son, my friends, and the listeners (many of whom are also friends) proud.

Then...it's football. The nerves will subside.

Another year will begin.

Let's go.

*****
Greenwich has a hype video, created by DJ Furano. Have a look.

The CIAC Airwaves Are Quiet

Notre Dame of West Haven and Masuk lineup before the Class L Championship at Palmer Field in 2014. (My photo)

OK, that title is somewhat-misleading, and I'll own that.

It's Championship Weekend in the Connecticut, as the CIAC is handing out titles in baseball, softball, and lacrosse.

I attended some of the baseball action back in 2016 because I had nothing going on, and I wanted to watch. I grabbed a media credential and sat with Shawn Sailer at Palmer Field in Middletown. We had a blast, despite the raindrops and delays.

I decided to stay away this year and get some stuff done around Robcasting Headquarters. As I was thinking about working the yard, it occurred to me how great it would be to listen to the action.

That's overall not an option.

Yes, I'm aware that (for a nominal fee), you can watch games via NFHS. That's certainly a worthy option, though buyer-beware in terms of some of the quality, to be honest. I'd be a wee annoyed to spend money and not be happy with it.

So you might say I could just pay the money and listen. Er...no, and here's why:

- I, like you, have a data plan. Mine is not unlimited. Video from NFHS eats data, and my wifi doesn't necessarily make it into all parts of my yard as I'm mowing the lawn.
- I don't want to spend the money (and can't really afford it!)
- Not every broadcaster calls a game with the necessarily level of detail for a listener.

This last one is a big one for me. There are reasons that, despite calling numerous video webcast and TV games, I still largely do a descriptive radio call. Often I'm working with a limited number of cameras that can't pick up every angle, for instance, so my voice is needed to fill in the gaps.

But I also know -- and have been told by many -- that even when they do watch, they're not watching. They're doing something else.

So I describe and describe and describe.

And thankfully, by working either on just WGCH or with Local Live and Brunswick, I can put that skill to use. Plus Local Live and Brunswick have graciously allowed me to use the Robcasting platform to give people a listening option.

That's where I'd like to see the CIAC also go. The truth is, I would have done baseball for free today.

** See, here's the thing: I need to make money. Sure, that's true. But I also like calling games, and if there's a meal, maybe gas money, and hopefully a place to lay my head down (and a shower), I'm fine. A conversation for another time, of course. The point is, yes, I need to pay my bills, but there's a balance to all of this. Anyway, I'm babbling. Back to our story.**

Now, I'm aware that George DeMaio is doing softball on ESPN Radio 1300 (and, curiously, online, which the CIAC is always grumbling at WGCH about anytime we're there). So that's great.

But as I type, Ridgefield and Cheshire are in a great baseball dual in Middletown. Plus there's zero radio coverage of lacrosse (boys or girls).

The thing is, if Greenwich is involved, I'm always rattling cages to get the game on WGCH, and to that end we did cover the football and hockey title games. I'm no "VOICE" of anything, but who is?

If Staples is involved, you get their wonderful WWPT. These students produce a remarkable broadcast that is wholly unbiased. Not many on the local level can say that.

Darien might bring their DAF Media group to various state final games, but that's also a video-based broadcast, and the CIAC tends to shoo anyone away that might get in the way of NFHS.

(Side note, when HAN Radio was...er...just radio, NFHS and the CIAC blocked us from radio coverage of both hockey and basketball in 2015 because we were an online station. That's after we did a full schedule in 2014, which was, of course, nirvana for me. They relented and let us do hockey only, yet other online stations show up at various state games, such as WCNX.)

I'm quite positive more schools will be trying the media concepts, but I'll still preach an audio-only element.

You know, like Robcasting.

Anyway, I'm not trying to get on a rant or stir up trouble. If it makes people think about other approaches to how the CIAC (and, yes, you too New York State) covers these games, then I think that's a worthwhile conversation to have.

There are myriad reporters doing a phenomenal job covering these games in print and via social media. GametimeCT is leading the way, and has really kicked things up with the addition of Pete Paguaga. He's not Petey Pageviews for nothing!

I know. It's a business. Business, however, doesn't often serve the fans. That's the problem.

*****
Things are different in Middletown today, as Jim Bransfield's spot in the Palmer Field press box was taken by Joe D'Ambrosio, the now-former UConn play-by-play announcer for football and men's basketball. There are two thoughts here: 1) UConn dropped the ball. Big time. I don't know Joe D, but I've listened to him. He's a wonderful play-by-play voice. 2) Everyone is missing Mr. Bransfield in Middletown. That being said, having Joe D there is an inspired choice. Well done.