Nah

A Mahopac scene from earlier today

Occasionally, I know it's time for a night off.

Mostly, you tell me. I see the numbers dwindle and realize the product is likely stale and boring.

Therefore, this writer is also.

I feel down. It's probably the weather, but it's also lots of realities.

You don't need down. You need encouraging and positive stories.

In truth, I'm waking up most nights around 3 a.m. lately for one reason or another. Then the demons stroll in and hang out. Sometimes I'll get back to sleep after awhile.

I think I've just had too many nights of that. Too much of this rat race right now.

Too much of trying to write things that will inspire and excite you. And failing.

But, it's more than that. It's fighting with computers that can't handle what I'm trying to do and struggling with lack of technology in one form or another, all while being pulled at in several different ways. These are things that everyone is experiencing right now and, most days, you suck it up and move on.

Then there comes that one night where you're just shot.

That's me right now.

Let's try again tomorrow.

In a wonderful example of Rule 55 (aka, "Rob shuts up"), let's hear from someone whom everyone likes to hear from.

The Archive

Fairfield Prep wins Div I 3/22/14

One of my favorite, most challenging days in broadcasting was six years ago today and I was combing through my collection of old games to look it all over.

It started in Shelton, CT where I was staying at the Hampton Inn. I was allowed to stay there during that time to avoid driving back and forth from home to go cover games in New Haven at Ingalls Rink.

So, I was in New Haven that Saturday morning for the first of four games to air on HAN Radio. But that was part of a great week that began with Greenwich/New Britain basketball on Monday followed by hockey semifinal games on Tuesday and Wednesday (two each night). On Friday, we called the D-II hockey championship between Daniel Hand and Amity.

The total was ten games between Monday and Saturday, with me on the call for nine of them.

Saturday started with the Newtown against Smith-Tolland (the Bucks co-op) in the D-III hockey championship. We cranked through a gut-wrenching game that went to overtime before the Nighthawks won the state title. It served as a forerunner of the celebration that exploded when Newtown won the football title last December.

Darien and Fairfield Prep also gave us a great show before the Jesuits won in OT.

We aired a girls basketball championship, won by Laurelton Hall and called by John Kovach at Mohegan Sun while I drove from New Haven to Uncasville. I had a hotel room near Groton but felt like I didn't have enough time to check in so I flew to the casino.

It was weird to be listening to HAN as I drove. This thing -- my baby -- had been my obsession for roughly a year and this day was a triumph for us.

I got booted from joining that Laurelton Hall game and sat outside the arena sipping a cup of Krispy Kreme coffee like a wayward child who was too sick to join the other kids at recess. That night, I got back on the air and called a classic boys basketball game as Bridgeport Central came from behind to beat Fairfield Prep.

Oh, what a night indeed.

Since we're all (basically) quarantined, I thought it might be nice to start playing some old games, including these. So I combed through the HAN games. For the most part, they're straight audio broadcasts (until we switched to video) with little editing to be done.

But I discovered some off-air banter (clean and mostly harmless) in the video/audio simulcast games as well as the games in which I still recorded audio. There's a little editing to be done so that nobody is embarrassed.

I wish I recorded audio for all of them but I didn't.

That's where I'd love to see HAN return the games that they put in private back to being public on YouTube. It would be perfect for all of us to watch, especially during this time.

Sadly, there are games that I don't even have in the archive, like the 2015 FCIAC Championship/Turkey Bowl football game between Darien and New Canaan.

So, while I didn't air those games that took place six years ago today, I'm going through to see what can run. There are plenty of games that I can choose from!

They brought back a flood of memories for me. Some good. Some bad. Some...ugh.

I listened to part of a baseball game I called in 2015 in Norwich. My analyst (when he felt like joining me)? Sean. That's right -- my hasn't-a-clue-really-about-sports son. It was absolutely priceless.

I look forward to sharing all of these memories with you.

I hope you want to hear them.

Do Some Good

(Darien Times)

We need good stories these days.

Sure, we're all trying to survive and every day feels like a roller coaster.

For one thing, we need to keep an eye on mental health because the demons don't take vacations during pandemics.

So let's do what we can to keep an eye on that. It's one of many things we have to keep looking at.

Check in on all of our friends. Check in on ourselves.

Like I said, it's a roller coaster. It definitely is for me.

Boredom hasn't gotten the best of me yet. I'm surviving.

But, again, we need good stories, and I've got one.

Today on the Darien Times website (best in the biz), our friend Susan brought the story of a GoFundMe that I think is worth reading about.

Say what you want. Play the pessimistic card.

Good people exist everywhere. This is good being done by good people: Mr. David Genovese of Baywater Properties.

Funny, but I bet this won't get many reads or retweets or positive comments. It doesn't sell.

"Get the widow on the set," Don Henley sang. "We need dirty laundry."

That's all that is wanted by the mercenaries in the media who make the rest of us look bad.

As many have said (and it's worth repeating): stick with trusted news sources.

Like the Darien Times.

And maybe this little avenue of the world.

Let's keep doing some good. Maybe it will catch on.

Just a Friday

Joe Buck does an live "commercial" from the booth during the Turn Back the Clock game from 2000

The insanity could be setting in.

But, in truth, I'm just tired.

So I just discovered that the audio for today's Doubleheader on Mixlr was terrible. Shame on me for not checking.

In terrestrial radio, there's a board operator to tell you that things sound awful. The shame of it is that a click of a switch would have fixed it. We continue to live and learn here.

I still love the grass roots feeling of the show from home, but of course I'm a perfectionist (also known as a pain in the ass).

To be clear, the Facebook audio is just fine, and I could recover it there if I wanted to.

The shame of it is that I really liked today's show, even if it was just me talking about (dare I say) various and sundry things.

*****
I was able to rediscover a game that I remember watching at the time years ago. It was on Aug 26, 2000 when FOX did a "Turn Back the Clock" game. The Cubs and Dodgers met at Wrigley Field that Saturday and the network chose the game to honor the technological advances in the history of sports broadcasting.

They begin in 1939 in the top of the first, when Red Barber called the first televised MLB game on (not surprisingly) Aug 26 between the Dodgers and Reds from Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Columbia and Princeton had been the first baseball game of any type on May 17.

In the first half inning, the sound quality is not great and picture is difficult to see (and black and white). There are no graphics and Joe Buck called the action solo (analysts didn't exist yet). The technology improved slightly in the bottom of the first to 1944 and even more in the second when they moved to the second inning, as it became 1953. By that point, very rudimentary graphics were introduced.

In 1957 -- love it or hate it -- analysts started being somewhat prevalent, and thus Tim McCarver joined the call. In truth, one broadcaster -- the play-by-play announcer -- did most of the talking. The analyst really came into being a "partner" in the booth in the 1960s.

Later on, the technology moved to 1969, and thus attempts made at the picture in color. Again, with each half inning, the sound and picture quality improved.

Obviously, they rolled on from the 60s to the 90s.

It's a wonderful time capsule that absolutely fascinated me back in 2000, and you think about just how we've come in the nearly 20 years since.

FOX made sure to say that was not intended to be "mocking" of sports broadcasting and the people who help create those early broadcasts. That was a smart move because when FOX first came on the scene, they were very outspoken about being "edgy" and modern, and not dwelling on history. They quickly realized that was flawed logic and this day was meant to honor those who had come before them (such DuMont, CBS, and of course, NBC).

Anyway, I'm babbling as I often do. Here's the boxscore of the Aug 26, 2000 game. The game is on YouTube (shout out to Gershon Rabinowitz for finding this).

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Last note tonight: We've got Doubleheader up and running from home. We are considering trying a home version of The Clubhouse also. Stay tuned.

Doubleheader From Home

"We're dealing with a lot of s***" (Among the topics on today's show)

So I did the show from home today.

Overall, I felt it was OK.

Despite testing and preparing, the phone stopped working and wasn't ready for the show.

Frustrated, I walked away. I thought I'd try again tomorrow.

But I rallied and gave it a go.

After it was over, I replaced some cables and tried some different things. The phone line -- as we speak -- works.

Basically, if you don't know, the phone has to run through a mixer so that listeners can hear both the caller and me. Plus the listener needs to hear me and vice-versa.

Before the show, I could hear the caller. They couldn't hear me.

In the process, something called a "mix-minus" needs to be created so that there isn't a feedback loop being created.

As I said, it's working. Right now.

But, leading up to 4 p.m., it took a moment to regain my mojo.

It's the walk of putting so much into something we do.

If you missed it, it's archived in several places: Mixcloud, Archive.org, Mixlr, as well as still being on my Facebook page.

Lastly, I used it to revive my podcast, "Tales From the Booth."

Please give it a listen. I'm planning to try again tomorrow.

I want it to be a community as we deal with this crazy time in history.

I'm not against adding Instagram or Periscope but I need a way for it to work technically.

It's a work in progress. I have to stop expecting perfection.

So, maybe I'll see you tomorrow.

What's Next For Doubleheader?

I've mostly stayed home as we're all supposed to be doing and only going out as needed.

Basically, I haven't left Mahopac/Carmel/Somers since last Thursday.

That means I haven't been near WGCH and I don't expect to see the studio for some time.

While one can say we're overreacting and panicking -- and that's certainly their prerogative -- the facts have are that we need to take this seriously.

So that means coming up with another plan for "Doubleheader."

If Bob Small is in the WGCH studio then, sure, we'll stay at 4 p.m. and things will stay (mostly) the same as I'll do the show from home.

But...if not?

How about turning "Doubleheader" into an online show via Robcasting and Facebook Live? At the same time, I could also revive it my Tales From the Booth podcast.

Thus "Tales From the Doubleheader" (no, not really the title).

Or does nobody care and am I wasting my time?

See, the truth is I fear the latter is true. When I'm on GCH, I don't know how many listens I get. But I see the ugly truth on Robcasting/Facebook/podcasting.

I think I still have stories to tell. As you know, I work from the hip with a skeleton outline so that it's not scripted. I want my show to be a place where people can gather and talk sports (or life -- everything is open).

In this way, I want to try to take phone calls for interviews and open chat.

I have a Google number -- (845) 432-5553 -- and I've rebuilt my home studio.

So, do we do this?

If it's on WGCH, we'll be committed to 4 p.m. If not, we're open.

We can play with this format and I'm open to suggestions. 

With Tom Brady moving to Tampa Bay, four Brooklyn Nets testing positive for Coronavirus, and the CIAC's wait-and-see approach to spring sports, there are definitely topics.

More than that, I'd like to get more athletes and coaches and stories back on the air, and there's no better time for it than now. I want to talk to the Greenwich girls basketball players who lost their state championship opportunity. I want to talk to baseball players in Mahopac and lacrosse players at Brunswick to get their thoughts.

I want to have media types on.

I want to tell stories because that's what I do.

I want everyone on.

Beyond that, we can hit the "Tales From the Booth" side of things with historical content, including items from my own archive, such as interviews and full games.

We have a very clean slate to work with.

Is there interest?

The Final Sign Off

My current home studio setup

Fellow broadcaster Don Wadewitz had an idea.

Fellow Sports Broadcasters - Few of us realized that we were signing off for the last time on the 2019-2020 college sports season when we did our last game. I thought it would be fun to share our unexpected last sign-offs! https://t.co/8zriygBKk3 #FinalSignOff #LoveSportscasting

— Don Wadewitz (@DonWadewitz) March 17, 2020

Of course, I can never do things that easily. Plus, my process was just that -- a process. There were a couple of games that could have been "the last one."

So, let's go back (please note you can listen to all full game broadcasts online at Mixcloud or Archive.org, and play-by-play highlights can be found on Chirbit).

You'll recall that I thought playoff time was going to be an incredibly busy stretch (including the lowest-read post of 2020 so far). But, as a few very highly-placed people said to me: "Money wins. Quality doesn't."

So, that changed things.

So I powered through the FCIAC girls basketball tourney. In the middle of that, I picked up a cold that killed my voice. Please note I did not miss a broadcast in that time and that I'm fully-healed (I have an idea of what you're thinking).

Then I called one semifinal in the boys FCIAC hockey tournament, before handling the semis and finals of the FCIAC boys basketball tournament. I knew that wasn't the end of winter just yet, and that's where we begin.

The audio is posted below.

0:00-1:07 -- Loomis Chaffee/Brunswick Hockey Semifinal: You can hear the rasp still in my voice but this is also stronger than I've sounded in over a week. I gave it all during the FCIAC boys basketball championship a few nights earlier, but after a full day off, I'm sounding and feeling better (and working alone). This is also the first time I've noticed people acting differently. There's more fist bumps and elbow bumps and even baby wipes around the tailgate. There's a hint of caution. I can hear how bummed I am to say goodbye to winter. At least I think I'm saying so long. I lingered around to soak it all in and get ready for spring. "But, this is not goodbye..."

1:07-2:04 -- Trumbull Basketball Doubleheader: I didn't expect to do anything more with winter sports but when Jeff Alterman asked, after giving it some thought, I thought it would be a good thing to do. I was right. Great games? Nah. A good night to have some fun? Yes. The COVID-19 pandemic was certainly circling around but we still didn't know to what extent, so life went on. I did find myself thinking about what was going to happen and change but, so long as we kept rolling, then that would be it. I sound hopeful for more, handing the close to Jeff Alterman (it was really a TEN broadcast co-produced with Robcasting). I had no idea this was the last time I'd be with a crowd. A day later it all changed when the CIAC closed shop. "But, I was happy to be here nonetheless..."

2:04-4:38 -- Episcopal/Brunswick Lacrosse: The last one, and I knew it. I had been asked by Kevin Devaney Jr to call two Catholic league playoff games in White Plains but had to decline due to The Clubhouse. I think I would have enjoyed working in the empty gym, finding it to be similar to calling games in a studio off of a monitor, as I did with Episcopal and Brunswick. I stayed away from discussing the pandemic unless it was pertinent to the broadcast. So, you can hear in my voice that I'm in a studio (we had no ambient sound save for any conversations in the studio) but you can also hear that the Bruins have already lost at least one lacrosse game on the schedule. Still, knowing the reality but also trying to stay honest and upbeat, I say how I plan to see everyone on April 1. Everything was evolving as I was talking.

But, there's a sense of foreboding in my last words: "For now, stay safe. We'll see you soon. So long, everyone."


I knew. You can hear it. I knew we were screwed. To what extent, I had no idea.

I walked outside and Stamford, CT was like a ghost town.

I haven't been back in Connecticut since and I'm not sure when I'll be back.

Nobody knows.

The Great Unknown continues.

We Survived Monday

Programming notes: The Clubhouse is on hiatus, effective immediately. Grand Prix New York -- our home for the show -- has to close in accordance with the State of New York until further notice. Additionally, I can't tell you when I'll be back in the studio. We didn't do Doubleheader today. It's possible I might move it online/Facebook only. I'm still thinking things over. I'd like the show to be a release for all of us.

It was 3:30 a.m.

I don't remember what I was dreaming, but I remember the sound that I heard.

It was a sound like an asthma attack but it was coming from Chico, the large gray cat.

Not particularly looking forward to cleaning vomit off my bed in the middle of the night, I shot up to see what was going on.

Yet, it was as if he had a tickle in his throat. He stopped, sat back down, and began to purr as I petted him.

A few minutes later, the wheezing began again. The cycle ran it's course, he never vomited, and even had the decency to stand at the end of the bed just in case.

But I was now wide-awake.

Ah, the struggle to go back to sleep in the middle of the night during a pandemic. What could possibly go wrong?

Worry about no work? Worry about paying bills? Worry about taxes? Worry about my car?

Worry about my mother catching this thing?

Yes...Yes...Yes...Yes...YES!

So, I might not be making much sense here.

I had to leave the house today, as much as I didn't want to.
I had to drive said mother to and from dialysis and take my son home*.

* Sean always insists he's at "home" with dad also.

But, as I watched him unlock the door and go into the house, the sense of dread hit me.

Honestly, when will I see him again?

It's clear he's off from school at least through March, and likely a chunk of April, but we know it's still The Great Unknown (thanks, Doug Kerr).

He could come back whenever, but at what cost? Beyond going to the grocery story and getting mom to dialysis, there aren't many good reasons to go out.

As I write the city of San Francisco is getting ready to go on a complete lock down. Will that be us?

The Great Unknown.

We're in this spot in part because people can't stay off the beach in Florida or stay out of bars.

Let's just get through this and get back to life.

This all has to go a day at a time.

We will get though this.

Monday is over.

See you tomorrow.

Sports Matters but it's Not Everything and Who Cares if it Is?

Vin and Joe Garagiola on NBC in the 1987 NLCS

Well hi there, everybody, and a very good pandemic Sunday evening to you, wherever you may be. Whether you're quarantined or acting irresponsibly, pull up a chair.

We'll be OK without live sports. Honestly. We need to hang in there.

And, yet, these are the times when we need sports more than anything.

(I'll say up front that I'm in no way as eloquent as Mike DiMauro of The Day of New London but he and I have been in lock-step on this from day one.)

Mike's Twitter feed is here. I hope to get Mike on Doubleheader soon. I'm thankful for a voice of reason.

In these hazy, crazy days of COVID-19, some narratives have emerged. For one thing, there's a preponderance of holier-than-thou types who tell us from on high that we have/need to learn to communicate with our loved ones and so on.

For the love of Graham McNamee.

Who are those people (Shawn Sailer, do NOT say it's you)?

Regardless of no games to play, there are always things to talk about -- sports and otherwise.

Please go ahead and ask any significant other of mine -- anyone. If anyone is guilty of thinking I'm a one trick pony (meaning sports) then they don't know me. Heck, just go through this blog and you'll see otherwise.

So, who are those people?  I don't necessarily talk sports all the time with my fellow broadcasters that I'm close to. We talk music, relationships, and life.

Yet, if we do need sports, who's being harmed? Sports is our safe place. It's our entertainment.

For me, it doesn't have to be live sports (at least for now). There are plenty of outlets within sports without them being live. I've told you before about the Background Baseball skill on Alexa and there are plenty of classic games on YouTube, as the great (yes, great) Mike Vaccaro elaborated about in the NY Post today. Personally, I watched the Yankees/Orioles "Bobby Murcer Game" on Friday night on YES. Last night, I enjoyed parts of World Series play from 1948, 1964, and 1967.

But, there's something I've been longing for. The Master. The Poet Lauriate of Baseball. The GOAT of GOATS.

Yessir. Mr. Vin Scully. So I grabbed a "Redlegs" (it was the 50s, remember)/Dodgers game from Brooklyn on May 7, 1957. No disrespect to Jerry Doggett or Al Helfer, but I went straight for the sixth inning when Vinny greeted us.

Now THAT'S poetry. There are some (many?) who don't understand watching or listening to an old game, but I completely get it. As I did laundry and vacuumed and worked around the house, it served as comfort for me. I could hear the exploits of Jackie Robinson and Rube Walker and Don Drysdale and Frank Robinson and Carl Furillo and the Duke of Flatbush himself.

I could hear the scoreboard -- the Yankees and Indians were scoreless at the time they gave the score, though Cleveland won 2-1 and lost star pitcher Herb Score, as he was hit in cheek by a laser shot off the bat of Gil McDougald.

This, for me, is classical music. It's comfort food. It's more than just a time capsule or "a game." It's the book or movie that you inhale again.

Still, this doesn't define me. I have music. Books. Movies. TV. A son. Loved ones.

Sports is a part of me. I love it and it's in my blood. I feel bad if there are people who are that bad.

But, to hear that mellifluous voice, imploring us to light up a Lucky (Lucky Strike was the sponsor of Dodgers broadcasts, and I'm a staunch non-smoker, for the record), was simply the tonic for a Sunday.

We'll get through this. I keep saying it.

I do think the "social distancing" thing is right at this juncture. Stay out of the groups for now. Just for a short stretch. I know that's bad for bars, etc (and sports broadcasters) but let's get this thing over with. 

We can talk sports. Old sports and the future of sports. But we can also do myriad other things in a life.

Nobody needs to preach about it. We'll all be just fine.

I don't know who those people are that others are talking about.

It's not me.

The Food Bracket!

Folks, it has come to this.

It's not unusual to have all kinds of wacky brackets at this time of year, in the style of March Madness.

But, this year, we have no March Madness basketball brackets.

This one caught my eye. I found it on Twitter, and am not sure who to give credit to (though I suspect Barstool Sports might have something to do with it). Either way, it's pretty fantastic. It appears to be somewhat old, but it's trending today and I felt we could attack it.

Now, I realize there are those fast food and fast casual chains whom aren't in the tournament. For instance, don't look for Waffle House but, then again, it wouldn't be fair to anyone else as WH would win running away.

So let's break this whole thing down!

Mack and Dick McDonald Region

FIRST ROUND
1) McDonalds over 16) Jollibee -- I don't really know much about Jollibee, but still.
8) Wawa over 9) Sheetz -- I mean, really? How in the hell do you put Wawa and Sheetz in the SAME region and the SAME game? But, OK, as much as I enjoy Sheetz, Wawa is still a king in the Adams household. Still, I'd rather see this in the Final Four or Regional Final.
4) Whataburger over 13) Quiznos -- "We love the subs!" Remember that spongemonkey thing? That might have helped Quiznos in the long run, but they've mostly left my region. So Whataburger wins.
5) Panda Express over 12) Potbelly -- sort of like trotting out two schools you don't care about or know.
12) Dairy Queen over 6) Carl's Jr/Hardee's -- Carl's had those dumb commercials. We had Hardee's here and it failed. Twice. My son liked Dairy Queen. Thus, the upset.
3) Arby's over 14) Taco Cabana -- WE HAVE THE MEATS!
10) Jersey Mike's over 7) Panera Bread -- I mean, sure, kale or whatever is fine, but sometimes I just need a good sandwich (hot or cold). One of the few ways Jersey wins with me.
2) Chipotle over 15) A&W -- Closer matchup but Chipotle gets the edge just for the friend of mine who often said "Chuh-poe-tay" and I can't pronounce it any other way not. But a chili dog and root beer from A&W? Not bad at all.

SECOND ROUND
8) Wawa over 1) McDonald's -- Get lost, Ronald. Give me a hoagie and coffee or a Coke icee.
4) Whataburger over 5) Panda Express -- An easy win.
3) Arby's over 11) Dairy Queen -- THEY STILL HAVE THE MEATS!
2) Chipotle over 10) Jersey Mike's -- Tough. Really tough. But a burrito and chips won out in the final seconds.

REGIONAL SEMIS
8) Wawa over 4) Whataburger -- You knew it, didn't you?
2) Chipotle over 3) Arby's -- The meats are THAT good.

REGIONAL FINAL
8) Wawa over 2) Chipotle -- Susan is a deli gal. She apparently makes a mean sandwich and, no, that's not meant in an offensive manner. She, however, would choose other items at Wawa and would, likely, take Chipotle over the mighty Wa. I, however, am riding the goose to the Final Four.

No Sundays Region

FIRST ROUND
1) Chick-Fil-A over 16) Penn Station -- Politics aside, it's mighty fine chicken.
8) Moe's over 9) Jimmy John's -- The queso alone wins.
13) Boston Market over 4) Culver's -- This might be controversial. The midwestern folks aren't going to like it. Yet I actually feel healthier when I eat Boston Market, plus it's one of the few times I'll take Boston for anything.
5) Domino's over 12) Torchy's Taco's -- Er. OK. I have no good reason.
6) White Castle over 11) Little Caesar's -- Are you kidding me? My NOO YAWK friends would bury me with Jimmy Hoffa out in the Meadowlands.
3) Subway over 14) Church's -- Just no. Really, no.
7) Papa John's over 10) Cookout -- Hmmm. I see Cookout has locations in Fayetteville, NC and Richmond, VA. I know I've passed them on road trips. But I've had Papa John's. Again, pass on the politics. When I needed pizza in North Carolina, this was...passable.
2) Burger King over 15) Sbarro. Sbarro tries to pass itself off as New York pizza. "The Office" made fun of it. That's enough for me.

SECOND ROUND
8) Moe's over Chick-Fil-A -- It was a battle but Moe's dumped some queso on the chicken. Game over.
13) Boston Market over 5) Domino's -- This is where the bracket if painful. So, the glass slipper fits.
6) White Castle over 3) Subway -- I'd take Jersey Mike's over Subway. My son might disown me for dumping Subway to White Castle.
2) Burger King over 7) Papa John's -- I agonized over this one. I still don't like it. But I can't take a (faux) pizza place any farther than the second round.

REGIONAL SEMIS
8) Moe's over 13) Boston Market -- Damn, this bracket is wacky and I can see how it's going to play out. Healthy can only go so far. Give me queso!
6) White Castle over 2) Burger King -- I had to get rid of Burger King eventually.

REGIONAL FINAL
8) Moe's over 6) White Castle -- I've loved you all. It's sad to think I'm going to buried in New Jersey but so it goes.

Bag Fries Region

FIRST ROUND
1) Five Guys over 16) Roy Rogers -- How did Five Guys get a one seed? I suspect it was booster shenanigans.
9) Zaxby's over 8) Portillo's -- I've never had either but Portillo's appears to be a Chicago thing and that's cool. I've seen Zaxby's in North Carolina. I go there more often (haven't been to Chi-town since 2006, I think). So, Zaxby's.
13) Firehouse Subs over 4) Pizza Hut -- There was a time when I would have easily taken Pizza Hut. That was probably in the 80s or early 90s, when there was a still a Pizza Hut in Pleasantville, NY and another in Glenville (Greenwich). That was then.
5) Bojangles' over 12) Noodles and Company -- Tim Parry and I went to a Bojangles' in Reading, PA maybe seven years ago. We could still taste it (and it sat in my gut) all the way back to NY. But Noodles and Company just isn't my style.
6) Jack in the Box over 11) PDQ looks pretty tempting but ol' Jack is an old friend from the days when they were in Yorktown Heights, NY. I just grabbed breakfast from them in San Francisco back in September.
3) Popeye's over 14) Schlotzsky's -- So, I had the famed Popeye's chicken sandwich recently. I don't get the fascination. But, I'd like to have their Cajun rice on a more-consistent basis. So, them.
7) Long John Silver's over 10) Wingstop -- Meh. No real reason.
2) In-N-Out over 15) Baja Fresh -- I had In-N-Out after grabbing a beer at the 2am Club in Mill Valley, CA (aka "The Huey Lewis Bar). I drove there in a convertible while cranking HLN. So, yeah.

SECOND ROUND
1) Five Guys over 9) Zaxby's -- Fairly unimpressive.
5) Bojangles' over 13) Firehouse Subs -- Also unimpressive. I hope these matchups are at least exciting.
3) Popeye's over 6) Jack in the Box -- Annie (Honey) over scary, explosive Jack.
2) In-N-Out over 7) Long John Silver's -- In-N-Out wen all "animal style" and prevailed.

REGIONAL SEMI
1) Five Guys over 5) Bojangles' -- Because, er, OK.
3) Popeye's over 2) In-N-Out -- Tough call. Really tough call. I would have preferred this as the regional final.

REGIONAL FINAL
3) Popeye's over 1) Five Guys -- Honey, you've got to have that Cajun rice!

Dave Thomas Region

FIRST ROUND
1) Wendy's over 16) Wienerschnitzel -- Wendy's is legit. I love McDonald's fries but Wendy's chicken is outstanding.
8) Sonic over 9) Checker's/Rally's -- Tough, tough call. But Sean and I have good memories over our now-gone Sonic. I actually like Checker's a lot but not many around here (I think there's still one in the Bronx).
4) Shake Shack over 13) Swensons -- Shake Shack is good though it's not what us New Yorkers make it out to be. There was a line every time I passed the one in Madison Park. Swensons looks good.
5) Steak and Shake over Wings Over -- Eric Wuchiski was outraged on Twitter that S&S got a five seed but my goodness I'm a fan. Just not of the one near Petersburg, VA (which has since closed). Yet, I've started making my own chili on pasta combo ever since I tried it in Raleigh.
11) Del Taco over 6) Raising Cane's -- Del Taco has been mentioned on "The Big Bang Theory!" That's enough for me.
3) KFC over 14) Blimpie -- Blimpie has just faded. I wanted to take them. I can't do it.
10) Qdoba over 7) Skyline Chili -- While I'm intrigued to really try Skyline, I'm told it has chocolate in it. That would be a no. Plus I actually like Qdoba. Qdoba. All day.
2) Taco Bell over 15) El Pollo Loco -- OK.

SECOND ROUND
1) Wendy's over 8) Sonic -- The eat in the car thing can get tiring. I like Wendy's.
5) Steak and Shake over 4) Shake Shack -- I will not apologize for this. If a Steak and Shake ever moved into the Shake Shack location off Exit 11 in Darien, CT, I would go there.
3) KFC over 11) Del Taco -- I have literally no logic for this one. Unimpressive.
10) Qdoba over 2) Taco Bell -- Cinderella has returned! A late drive to the bucket before a slam dunk. Chips and salsa for everyone!

REGIONAL SEMIS
5) Steak and Shake over 1) Wendy's -- In a stunning victory, Steak and Shake kept the game close before dribbling a shake in for the win.
10) Qdoba over 3) KFC -- I'll be honest, I prefer Popeye's over KFC and never got the appeal. KFC made it this far because they've created some things that only I can ever like (such as a chicken sandwich with a donut).

REGIONAL FINAL
5) Steak and Shake over 10) Qdoba -- It was like VCU and Butler! Eric Wuchiski is going to question my sanity!

FINAL FOUR
Wawa
Moe's
Popeye's
Steak and Shake

Wawa over Moe's -- "Wawa has got more choies" - Sean Adams. I quite agree. Incidentally, when I told Sean what I was doing and why, he said: "Wow. You're desperate."
Steak and Shake over Popeye's -- Chili mac over Cajun rice! Honey, please?!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Wawa over Steak and Shake -- That's right, y'all. An eight seed wins it! It's Villanova in '85 all over again! They have the coffee, the icee's, the large coolers of beverages. They have the deli and the baked goodies. They also (mostly) have gas. It's one-stop shopping on a road trip! It's an oasis!

They are the champions, my friends!

Give me a Philly Cheesesteak, but no...ONIONS!

Cue "One Shining Moment."

So, Now What?

The familiar stance of Bobby Murcer on TV tonight (YES Network)

Today is Friday the 13th, and it's probably fitting because what a weird week it has been.

Yesterday was the day sports stopped.

We've documented it all week. By this morning, basketball, hockey, baseball, all college championships, golf (including The Masters), soccer, NASCAR and just about everything else had been either postponed or canceled.

The size of the event didn't matter, be it March Madness or Dodge For a Cause (at the Greenwich Boys and Girls Club).

Honestly, it should go without saying that sports is not everything, even to me.

But, it will be a unique stretch of undetermined time. We don't know when anything will be "normal."

Two weeks, baseball says? Hopeful, but I feel it's not likely.

A month, per the NBA? Maybe, but six weeks feels more probable.

We will move forward. We will figure it all out. We have to.

The rhetoric has to stop. But, we know it won't.

We'll watch TV and movies and we'll read and write and do projects around the house.

Life will continue without sports. Temporarily.

I called the Brunswick/Episcopal lacrosse game late yesterday afternoon and stuck to my game plan of allowing people to watch a sporting event (the only one, and the last one, involving a Connecticut team to my knowledge). What I mean by that is I made no reference to COVID-19 or Coronavirus.

I referred to "the elephant in the room" once and mentioned the upcoming schedule. The Bruins have already had a game canceled -- at Deerfield on Mar 28. Beyond that, I wanted people to feel what sports is supposed to be: a release. A form of entertainment.

Stamford, CT at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, 3/12/20

The drive was eerie. While this can't be compared to Sep 11, 2001, there was still that ominous feeling of one story breaking after another, along with much less traffic as I drove.

Yes, it's a scary time. You bet it is. It's scary for health but it's also scary for the economy.

Still, folks have found plenty of ways to make it all about themselves.

That's not to say I'm not concerned but, as with all of this, there are priorities.

So, it stinks that all sports are gone. We'll be OK though. But, in any industry, it's the part-timers and freelancers who can get hurt. There's no guarantee of pay at all.

This situation is so fluid. Things are changing and will continue to do so.

One day at a time will have to be the rule.

Let's Work Together

(Big East Tourney today at MSG before it was halted at halftime -- Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)

I woke up around 3:30.

I couldn't sleep.

Too much from the past few days have weighed on my mind (personal stuff also in addition to COVID-19).

I've basically become one of only a few in Connecticut media who continues to criticize how things have happened this week. I'm shocked who actually agrees with me.

I don't bow to the CIAC. Others made a nifty about-face, maybe to be in the cool kids club (I've seen it happen many times) or whatever.

But the point is moot now as so many organizations have shut down. Now the NCAA Tournament is in danger. So is Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League (they've actually already sort-of announced it).

Part of New York high school athletics has canceled. I'm told hockey championships are still on in Buffalo. My understanding is Massachusetts is still holding high school events. Ohio, on the other hand, just canceled their winter tourney.

We're in crisis mode.

Is the answer to simply go into hiding? Go get a giant bubble?

I just can't sit around and say, "It was the right thing to do" like some kind of lemming. It's happening, yes. That doesn't mean I blindly sit here and accept it. That "I told you so" crap had my blood boiling at 3:30 a.m. It's not necessary.

At this point, everyone needs to work together. Call me naive. We're all trying to process this. We're all trying to work through this.

Let's work to get this under control and get back to our respective fields of play.

A lot of people -- a lot -- are impacted in myriad ways by this. Health. Finances. Mentally.

So let's move forward. Sad that it feels like politics are playing here, or at least that we're acting like it's political.

I'm heading to Stamford in a moment to call -- as far as I can tell -- the only sporting event involving a Connecticut team (Brunswick/Episcopal lacrosse). It might be the only one in the Tri-State area.

Before I go further off the rails, let me head into Rule 55 territory.

I feel fine.

In...sanity

The NBA has halted their season.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have it.

The NCAA says March Madness will proceed (as of now) without fans.

The Ivy League has canceled spring sports.

And then there's the jackov broadcaster on Twitter who just posted a thread about how it will impact HIM financially. But he's not selfish.

And that's all I'm going to write, because apparently I'm the one that's wrong.

Carry on here.

Every person for themself.

I'm taking tonight off.

Historic

I saw the press release in my inbox.

The CIAC -- that bastion of high school sports in the Connecticut -- was holding a press conference regarding the winter sports tournaments due to the Coronvirus pandemic.

Speculation followed. Cancel? Play in empty arenas?

I couldn't watch because I was in a spot that I was unable to.

Then I saw the announcement via Twitter.

All tournaments are finished. No more games until spring.

So often, I react. I fly off the handle and the sparks fly magnificently in my wake.

I wanted to think this one over, and I did. I read the reactions all afternoon. I had until 4:00 when I would do Doubleheader from home.

But, in truth, I was seething, and it kept burning.

Yes, I know. Safety first. Yet, riddle me this: members of the Greenwich High School girls basketball team will walk right back into GHS tomorrow morning, as they did today. In a school that is like a small town, they'll sit in classrooms and go about their normal days.

But they can't play in the state semifinal game on Friday night against Staples in an empty gym? Does that make any sense?

I've had hours to think about it. I made it through Doubleheader without yelling or saying anything incendiary. But, still, over eight hours after getting the news, I still have yet to be convinced that the "abundance of caution" can't be achieved without emptying the arenas and playing the games.

My idea remains solid: round up the reporters, broadcasters, and social media types who can send the information out to the world. Send 1-2 to each game. Keep the gym or rink empty otherwise, save for the obvious (athletes, coaches, trainers, officials, personnel).

Play the game and report. Simple.

And wash your hands. Common sense.

Instead, a total panic is rolling like a (Darien Blue) Wave.

But, again, most schools will still be open tomorrow. Some will not. Colleges also. States of Emergency are being put in place.

There are schools *cough* *cough* *Norwalk* who said their teams would not participate moving forward and, thus, forfeit. I feel terrible for those students. I guarantee they wanted to play. There were sites that weren't comfortable hosting. Fine. Find other sites (they exist).

At this point, I want to see teams go find a couple of hoops and just play. I want to see hockey teams go on as well. Somehow.

Gone are the great stories, like the aforementioned Greenwich girls basketball team or literally any other story. To the CIAC and those defending the canceling of the tournaments, those are just a footnote.

Understood and respected. There isn't necessarily any easy or correct answer. I hope money isn't a factor in this, but I suspect it probably is (empty arena means no $$$).

I like my idea but not everyone does and, of course, I've engaged in debates with only a few people today.

They're in the large minority.

But there's also enormous outrage. Notre Dame West Haven basketball coach Jason Shea was outspoken in his disdain for the decision. He, and others, have said to just go forth without the backing of the CIAC.

I, for one, would jump in and help be a media partner. That's how strongly I believe in it.

But despite every protest and petition, the CIAC will likely not back down. The winter is over.

All around us, things mostly continue. New York and New Jersey and Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Game on! (Like I said: mostly)

Today was historic.

And sad.

And those who shouldn't lose -- the athletes -- lost today. Badly.

The adults often shouldn't be the ones deciding for the kids.

Trumbull? Again?

Jeff Alterman buzzed my phone this morning.

He was texting to see if I was interested in calling Trumbull's basketball playoff games tonight.

Tonight. Like, hours away.

I couldn't, I told myself. Focus on other duties. Host "Doubleheader" again.

A drive to Trumbull is not a short commitment.

Then I looked at the schedule. The Trumbull boys basketball team was going to host Fairfield Prep and the girls basketball team had Greenwich coming in.

Dammit. Duty. I have relationships with all three schools.

Suddenly, a peaceful Monday was gone.

I hustled. I pulled rosters together and made scoresheets. I looked for story lines.

I repacked basically all of the equipment.

I threw items on social media. Gotta promote, you know.

At one point, I literally had nine different text conversations going.

I had a quick lunch at home, did a few things around the house, told WGCH there would be no show and I was out the door.

As always, I slogged my way from Mahopac to Trumbull but was in the building roughly an hour before tipoff. It would have to do.

Jeff came along a few minutes later, with a hamburger I held him hostage for and his TEN equipment.

We threw it all together and made it on the air in time.

Trumbull lost in each game, thus assuring that neither coaches Buddy Bray or Steve Tobitsch want to see me around THS anytime soon but the broadcasts well about as well as they could go.

There remains this ridiculous notion that broadcasters need hours -- yes, hourS -- to prep for a game. They need to make charts and graphs and so on. They also get quite belligerent about it and feel you're an offense to mankind if you don't do the same.

Sure, I'd advise young broadcasters to do the same. Great.

In a perfect world, that's so lovely. I love nosing around for story lines, but given I don't have that luxury often, I've developed the skill that I don't need crazy preparation.

I get rosters. Pronunciations (though we struggle for time for that tonight also). I then rely on my computer or phone and, most of all, I rely on my brain to carry the day for everything else.

I had a tech problem. I literally couldn't get sound to my computer. Instead of panicking I kept trying different cables.

It worked.

It always works.

I drove home, comfortable with a job reasonably done.

The skill to adjust and call a game that I picked up just a few hours before air time is one that I'm proud of. I never thought it was anything special.

But I was ready.

Never Leave the Gate Open

I had business in the Hudson Valley today that took me out I-84 into Newburgh.

As always, my head looked towards Dutchess Stadium as I drove westbound on the highway in the morning.

I had some free time as I came back across the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge (USELESS INFO TIME: the eastbound one opened almost 40 years ago, 17 years younger than the westbound span).

I paid the toll (Just $1.25 with EZ Pass...imagine that?) and jumped off at Exit 11...er, wait, no, Exit 41. Times change.

A few minutes later, I turned into the lot of Dutchess Stadium. There were a few cars, but it's not uncommon for people to park and ride there, especially at this time of year.

But...wait. A few people were actually walking...into...the...stadium.

The gate was open!

I was officially offered the play-by-play position* back in October but had not been in the stadium itself since last August. I've been dying to get back in.

* Since there's still some confusion, let me continue to say that the Renegades play-by-play job is only from June-September. I'll be right back on WGCH (conditions permitting) for Greenwich football in September as well as with Brunswick and Local Live and virtually any other commitment (Yes, Mahopac, I haven't given up on football with you). In fact, I can call other games on my non-Renegades game days (and maybe, if timed right, even on game day). So Little League and Legion and Babe Ruth baseball: I'm still here!

But, back to today. I couldn't resist the urge. I walked in and found myself on the familiar concourse on first base side. I glanced up towards the window that I will happily claim ownership of soon.

The left window is mine. The right one is for visiting radio (we used that when I first joined the team)

I wanted to go up the stairs and peer inside.

Batting practice was going on down below for some team (I wasn't sure). The sound of ball hitting bat and general baseball conversation permeated the air. The temperature was teasing that baseball was getting close. A young man walked around, cleaning the ballpark of trash. Various cups and wrappers of different shapes and sizes sat woefully on the concrete.

Though I didn't want to get yelled at or worse, I ascended the stairs I've climbed so many times and made my way to the door. The one with a sign next to it that says "HOME RADIO" in white outlined in Renegades light blue on a black field with a white box outlining it.

That's my booth!

I looked through the narrow window. There was a folding table -- MY TABLE! -- with a chair -- MY CHAIR! -- perched nearby. I began running things through my brain, like: do I want to change the orientation of the table so that I'm standing or sitting up against the window?

I wanted to organize it and clean it up. I wanted to start setting up equipment.

I quickly walked back downstairs within seconds.

A tease? Yes.

I'm waiting. Patiently. Waiting to see the game times appear on the schedule.

Waiting to finalize a spreadsheet for those who want to jump in with me.

Waiting for the promotional schedule.

Waiting for John Jay and Mahopac to play in early May to hopefully get a broadcast in at the stadium.

Waiting for the team to tell me to come on up and be a part of us!

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

I'm still hoping to go on a few road trips (yes, on my dime, but I'm hoping some friends want to join).

I want to start a podcast! I want to start writing for them now!

I want to see my name on the website and in the Baseball America Directory!

I want to see it...

Broadcaster: Rob Adams

I warned you that I'm going to make you sick of this.

I'm also waiting for Steve Gliner or Joe Ausanio (or Kristen Huss or Rick Zolzer) to hunt me down and tell me to shut up. Privately, I'm afraid they're each saying, "What have we done?"

I wanted to go in the store and get some swag so I can start preaching the gospel of Rascal and the Gades around Fairfield County.

Alas, I left.

I was soon out of Dutchess Stadium and back on I-84 east.

Heading for the Taconic Parkway.

Heading home.

A route I'll drive a lot later this year.

A Silly Hard Goodbye

The game had been over for some time and the rink was mostly empty.

The scoreboard was left on, as if a bad reminder was necessary, and wouldn't be turned off until I left.

VISITOR 5. WICK 2.

The season was over.

And yet, for whatever reason, I just couldn't leave.

I go through this a lot. I've highlighted it before. Be it the adrenaline that's gone or whatever the case, I struggle to leave many games, often forcing myself to do so.

But, that last game of a season? It's tougher.

My brain tells me to soak it in...just in case...

So there I was. I Facetimed with great niece Isabelle from North Carolina.

I packed up the equipment.

I archived the audio.

I took pictures.

I just looked around.

The reality is that the season is just a small portion of a year, and that I wouldn't be back in the Hartong Rink until most likely December at the earliest. But, given how fleeting all of this is, it can also be over just as easily.

There's no contract. No guarantee. Sort of a gentleman's agreement of "Oh, sure. You'll be back."

So I took it all in.

Then I made myself leave, but not without making a promise to myself.

I went to the baseball field, to serve as a reminder that I would be right back.

You see, I've always liked Brunswick, but was never sure what they felt in return. Again, while it's fleeting, there has been warm regards passed from class to class as I've built this relationship dating back to the fall of 2016. But, really, I've called Brunswick games from the very start at WGCH. It's just that, overall, nobody knew it.

So, at this point, I just want to be where I'm wanted. Some places make me feel that way. Greenwich football does, for sure. The rest? Nah. An occasional note from basketball. But otherwise, it just...well. I don't know.

Mahopac baseball? Yes. I thought Mahopac football also, but it didn't pan out. I was hoping for Mahopac basketball (girls? boys? Doesn't matter) also. Again, not yet. Mahopac softball is interested and I like that.

Trumbull has been kind.

There have been glimpses from Fairfield Prep, but that's mostly due to Eric Scholl (Mets fan) and Eric Woosh (Browns fan, but I forgive them both), and assistant hoops coach Garrett Hickey. Fairfield, as a town, has certainly shown love, but...

Every now and then, another school tantalizes.

Or it's Section 1 (New York) taking me. Then...not.

Or I'm "The Voice of the FCIAC." Then, I'm not.

But Brunswick has remained largely true across football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, lacrosse, and now even water polo.

When you run in circles as I often do, you just want a home. Brunswick has come awfully close over the past four seasons.

Yet, here I remain: a free agent and it's scary (yes, the Renegades from Jun until early Sep). I feel like I'm constantly fighting for my very life as I watch others get gigs because they buy them or they're free or whatever. It's scary and I feel like I have to defend myself constatnly.

Sometimes, I'm just Brooks Hatlen, wandering the streets of Portland aimlessly in The Shawshank Redemption.

Or I just care too much about sports broadcasting.

I'll call lacrosse next Friday from the confines of the Local Live studios.

The Scorecard

My book

It's March 6th.

I called basketball last night and will call ice hockey tomorrow. I'll also call lacrosse next week with more basketball and even dodge ball (YES! REALLY!) to follow.

Hockey might be done after tomorrow, though I'm still hopeful for a return trip to New Jersey in May for the World Selects.

In the case of each sport that I broadcast, my scoresheet is hyper-important. I've designed sheets for pretty much each of the sports I broadcast.

But, in sports, is there a more important scorecard than baseball?

I mean, I know other sports are going to debate that. Yes, a full scorecard in basketball tracks shooting and turnovers and points. Mine uses the fundamentals: points, two-point field goals, three-pointers, and free throws made, as well as free throws missed. I also keep a running score. I need to add timeouts to it but that's not the end of the world.

Yes, I could add more for hockey, such as shots on goal. Again, I've made the best of it for years.

Football? I could do a whole run down of plays, drives, yards, sacks, etc.

But, overall, I don't lean on statistics. They're lovely if available. Even necessary in spots.

Mr. Scully (Vin) has said he following: "Statistics are used much like a drunk uses a lamppost: for support, not illumination."

Indeed.

So, back to baseball. My baseball scorecard (or scorebook, if you wish) is an essential. Not for OPS, WAR, WHIP, or whatever, but for the facts: pitches thrown, what a batter did, and basic pitcher information.

As I prepare for over 50 baseball games this spring (with the first one -- WOO HOO -- just a few weeks away), I'm reviewing scorecards. I have a style that I've used for years that I can't find in print anymore so I just keep making copies (my apologies, I'll buy it if I find it). It mostly accomplishes what I want but it's not perfect. There are only 10 innings and space for only four pitchers.

Modern baseball -- especially in the minor leagues (aka, the Hudson Valley Renegades) tends to use multiple pitcher.

However, I like the diamond on this scorevard to color in and boxes to fill in for RBIs and balls and strikes. Overall, it's a good style.

I've tried a few other styles with various success. I've tried a few online styles also.

Again, everything has been with various degrees of success.

Now, let me make one thing clear: this is not a first world problem. No benefit concert is necessary. Tell Coldplay to go raise money for someone else (not that I don't need money, you know).

Everyone has their own style, and that's the beauty of scorekeeping. It's completely personal. You have to know what it means. That being said, I've often been told others can transcribe my book because it's fairly neat.

So I've tried designing my own in Excel and have never quite mastered it.

And, no, I'm not big on the Bob Carpenter book that many swear by. Yes, I know, YOU love it, but as I've said, scorekeeping is a very personal art.

Again, this is not a First World problem.

It's my issue and there are many different styles to look at.

I'll keep looking and I'm sure I'll figure out something that works.

Basketball Rules in Ridgefield

The Tigers are the home of Title Town.

Ridgefield High School has become just the third school since 1975 to own the FCIAC boys and girls basketball championships in the same year.

The girls won last Thursday over Staples at Trumbull. Tonight, the boys knocked off Trinity Catholic at Wilton.

Last week it was Kate Wagner and Katie Flynn and Cali Stietzel.

Tonight it was Johnny Briody and James Rush and Luke McGarrity.

Last week it was Cameron McLellan starting on the girls team. Tonight Andrew McLellan (her dad) coached his team to a third FCIAC championship.

It's a pretty cool culture they're building there. They also had a huge, excited student cheering section. Granted, Wilton High School is the next town up but they were still there tonight.

Credit to Trinity Catholic's fan base as well, and full respect to the Crusaders for a good game and a good crowd.

But Ridgefield basketball is top dog in the FCIAC.

Norwalk in 1981.

Trinity Catholic in 2008.

Ridgefield in 2020.

All hail the orange and black.


Check this out on Chirbit
*****
Back to hockey for one more on Saturday, as Brunswick hosts Loomis Chaffee. While I'd love to do state games, I'm often shut out of those for one reason or another. But everyday we keep working and building whatever we can. You never know where conversations can lead.

A quick note: at this moment, it's possible (and probable) we will not broadcast any girls hockey state games. There are some personal reasons involved and things could change. But, for the moment, I might drop out. I might reconsider.

I've already booked my first lacrosse game for next week and baseball isn't far behind.

A Call and Good Night

I don't have much in the tank tonight.

A double overtime hockey game left me pretty wiped out as this cold continues to beat me (and my voice) up.

Indeed, right back at it tomorrow for the FCIAC boys basketball championship (I think it's my sixth, for what that's worth).

Vin Scully, when calling Hank Aaron's 715th home run in 1974, said this about Dodgers pitcher Al Downing: "Downing has to ignore the sound effects and a stay a professional and pitch his game."

That, friends, is wonderful advice. I know there are some (Hi, Mike Hirn) who would love to read as I go off the deep end with tales of nonsense from this day.

Oh, if only I could. I'm still just, I don't know, befuddled?

But, what good does it do?

So I ignored the sound effects and remained a professional.

I just called my game.

So, doesn't it figure in the middle of this run, that we hit a double overtime dandy between New Canaan and Ridgefield? No matter how much I thought I might collapse or any other nefarious thought, I simply blocked it out and kept going.

I'm not a hero -- let's be clear. But I jump in and start talking. It's not brain surgery.

And when it was over, it sounded like this...
Check this out on Chirbit

No fancy one-liners. Nothing scripted. Just the facts and the natural sound.

Ignore the sound effects.

Whatever bothered me in the day is gone. Gripe and grumble at other points.

Remain a professional.

Tomorrow, I have the duty of calling the final FCIAC championship appearance in the history of Trinity Catholic High School, as they play the defending champion, Ridgefield.

Back at it then.
 

The Old Account

I've used Mixlr as a broadcasting outlet for years. It was the first home of Hersam Acorn Radio, then HAN Radio. Then I used it for Greenwich Sentinel Radio (for, what, a month?) and it's been the home of Robcasting ever since.

Initially, I had a separate account that I created for the possibility of personal use. It was free and I just sort of left it alone.

Mixlr has changed some business practices, eliminating their free tier (shocking, I know) and is preparing to delete all old broadcasts on accounts that aren't paid.

Thus, I deleted my "Rob Adams 1" account earlier this morning.

To you, this means nothing. In the long run, it doesn't mean a lot to me beyond today.

But, sitting there in my archive of this old account, were six broadcasts. They were all tests, including a game that Paul Silverfarb and I called in early Nov, 2013.

Still, it's a time capsule.

We needed a place to try things as the idea of Hersam Acorn Radio/HAN Radio percolated through the latter half of 2013, so I created a free account.

The "broadcasts" are literally just talking about nothing. It's me and my colleagues testing our Bluetooth equipment, a mixer, microphones, and seeing how things sound. The broadcasts were heard by a select few (and I mean that. You needed to be given the OK to listen to this "top secret" project).

I would often be holed up in a closet in our old Ridgefield office, with some wondering where I was, until -- golly, how did that happen? -- an office gadfly just happened to open the door and "stumble" in to see me.

I mean, what were the odds?

Thus opening up the official gossip mill.

The next thing was to try out a game, and Paul and I went to Brunswick to call the Bruins' game against Berkshire. Again, the audience was maybe 5 people as we did not promote. In fact, we told Brunswick to essentially ignore us. We were there to test things.

Our radio project officially went live on Nov 21, 2013 with our first game (our grand opening) a night later -- my 45th birthday, for what it's worth -- as New Canaan beat St. Joe's for the football FCIAC Championship.

I thought the whole thing might collapse that night.

But that's a story for another time.

**Please know that I'm still on Mixlr and that nothing has changed. Robcasting is still at http://mixlr.com/robcasting-radio.

Lipton's Questionnaire

James Lipton and Tom Hanks (Photo: Getty Images)

This one has been sitting in the Drafts folder for some time, but with the passing of James Lipton at the age of 93, it seemed like it was time to publish it.

This was actually supposed to be post number two back in August, 2006.

I thought -- as a way of opening up to you, my trusty readers -- I'd list the questions asked by James Lipton at the end of Inside the Actors Studio.

Somehow, I thought it was narcissistic, so I shelved the idea. The last thing I wanted to hear was that I made it all about me.

I recently mentioned it to a friend, and I was told I should do it. So here it is, on the day that we learned Mr. Lipton has died.

1. What is your favorite word? "Yes." Or "trivet."
2. What is your least favorite word? In lieu of saying the one I truly detest, I hate "no." I also don't like "sorry."
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Collaboration.
4. What turns you off? Questions.
5. What is your favorite curse word? S*it
6. What sound or noise do you love? Laughter (especially from a child), and the crack of a baseball bat.
7. What sound or noise do you hate? Screaming.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Musician.
9. What profession would you not like to do? High rise window washer.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "He's waiting for you at the bar."

Lipton based that questionnaire off one created by French television host Bernard Pivot on Apostrophes, based on the Proust Questionnaire. I have long admired Lipton and his work on Inside the Actor's Studio, and should I ever find out if Heaven exists, and get to have that drink, I will certainly raise a toast to Mr. Lipton and his collection of index cards.

To a job well done, sir.

Dear March

Hi ya, Third Month:

I thought we'd play nice this year, but we're not off to a good start.

Starting the month with a nasty cold and a rough voice will do that.

Since midnight, which is around the time I took Nyquil to -- you know -- make me sleep, my phone has buzzed like the middle of the day.

The topics were things like staplers, radio talk, and Scott-freaking-Smalls from The Sandlot.

Yes.

Really.

I cringe every time Smalls gets that ball from his stepdads office. #TheSandlot pic.twitter.com/aIzPyuceoZ

— Rob Adams (@double5) March 1, 2020

As you know,  I've never done illegal drugs, but after that conversation, I'm wondering if someone spiked my cheap coffee that I'm now out of.

Oh, and of course, what would good ol' March be without a reminder of the very thing that makes March so Marchy?

You betcha! Good ol' Erin go Bragh! Because nothing sets the tone for March like knowing St. Patrick's Day is coming up. That was a wakeup call like a right to the chin from Sean Thornton in The Quiet Man which, you might know, plays mightily in the theme of debauchery.

Let's face it, the ultimate scene ends up, where? A pub? What are the odds?

It tasted about as good as a skunky, warm Budweiser in Dublin, doncha know?

It didn't used to be like this, ol' March. We saw you as an opportunity to rise above the morose of the month. I wish I could figure out what happened.

It used to be that I'd make myself do something good and that probably needs to start again.

Baseball is here (and will be officially on by the time we're done this year). March Madness is approaching. Spring is a-springing (soon). Maybe we can rally. We've got 31 days to figure this out, I suppose.

Considering I got punched in the gut for the (third? fourth? fifth?) time this week I feel like I can only pull myself up so many more times.

I keep trying to figure it out. I've p*ssed a lot of people off, I guess.

It might be time for new highways. New opportunities.

We'll start with a new day. A new week. Tomorrow. March 2.

Anyway, we'll deal.

We have no choice.

March on!