Write Quickly and Avoid the Truck!

 

The "OG" mascots in bobble head form: Rookie and Renee

11:39 p.m.

Twenty-one minutes left on Thursday.

"Why bother," I ask myself as I'm nearly sandwiched between two tractor-trailers on I-95 at Exit 2. The one on my driver side -- that likely would have done significant damage -- came over from the center line to get onto the exit ramp.

Where I was.

Just trying to get out of more horrific construction at 11 p.m., courtesy of the state of Connecticut.

The construction must get done and I must attempt to try to live to see another day.

Amazingly, the truck that cut me off somehow did not hit me.

So, yeah, "why bother?"

I won't ask who is reading this because a collection of delightful souls will tell me they will. But it's a kick in the backside at the end of a very long day.

There was a baseball game tonight in Wappingers Falls and, as much as I'd like to tell you it's just watching baseball, I can't.

There is a script to follow (that constantly adjusts on the fly) and tension to cut through with a knife and micromanaging and hovering and...

It's baseball and it is supposed to be fun.

And Sean almost got hit with a baseball while working his camera. He didn't but it allowed me to give "Junior" (his nickname at the stadium) a shout-out.

In the end, it was humorous.

Overall, we laugh a lot but there are also heavy doses of snark and sarcasm.

Besides, most of these people are my friends. If I was starting a video broadcasting service, I'd certainly be reaching out to them.

But, for tonight, I'm simply trying to get a collection of words on the page and go to bed.

Yet, before that, I had to hit the grocery store. 

Wegmans on a Thursday night before 11 p.m. is delightful. I roared through like a house on fire while their staff was restocking shelves.

Cat food. Kitty litter. Milk. Seltzer. Shampoo.

I got most of everything on my list.

Initially, I was going to hit the Walmart in Fishkill before the baseball game but that didn't quite pan out.  we grabbed sandwiches and I elected to get to the stadium with time to spare before the pregame meeting.

Since the Renegades are currently playing some of the longest games in minor league baseball, I decided to come back to lower Westchester before going to a store. Part of me said to just go home, taking the back roads and avoiding Interstate 95.

That would have been prudent.

Instead, I did my quick grocery shopping and tried to get home to write.

Then I saw my life flash before my eyes on the shoulder near Exit 2.

I'm fine.

The car is fine.

We do, indeed, live to see another day.

Which is coming up in nine minutes as I type so I better end and hit "Publish."

The Renegades, The Clubhouse, and Mom

 

Hats galore in the Renegades Team Store.
Stop in and tell Luis that I sent you

I'm sitting in the lobby of the Hotel MTK with time to kill before I have to set up for "The Clubhouse."

The place we broadcast from is the hotel restaurant, which doesn't open until 5:00 so I settled into a comfy chair.

The running of the day began at 8 a.m. because Sean and I both had to get to Wappingers Falls. It was an Education Day game, so multiple school classes came out to the stadium for the game.

It's fair to say the kids are there because they get out of school for some time, followed by the fun, food, and games. Plus the mascots. Maybe some of the entertainment as well, especially the music being played next to me by Murph.

The baseball game itself matters. It does. And many of the kids were into it.

As for me, meh. I like listening to the kids enjoy themselves, and a row full of them walked by and shook my hand as they left. I'm happy to talk to them as well but, overall, they want to hear their name said over the PA system. Needless to say, that's a hard thing to pull off with so many kids there.

The Renegades had what looked like a dramatic win on their hands when the Bowling Green Hot Rods scored two runs in the top of the ninth. The Hot Rods went on to get the win.

The day had more to it there but I was satisfied with another completed game.

Mom and her guys, 2020.
I'll use this picture whenever I can.

Since then, Sean and I had lunch back near Mahopac at one of our old favorite places. As it happens to be Mom's birthday, it was a nice way to celebrate her memory. We're still planning a pizza night in her honor but there are too many things to do at the moment.

But thinking of Mom at 87 is a bit overwhelming. In fact, it still seems surreal to think of Mom as not being with us. Nancy Adams had such spirit that I almost expect a text sometimes telling me that she left groceries at the bottom of the stairs for me to carry up.

That feeling comes and goes and it speaks to how she's still with us in so many ways. Sean and I joke about her and tell stories all the time. It numbs whatever pain there still is.

Humor. To us, it remains undefeated.

Hotel MTK lobby, Mount Kisco, NY

But there's another show to be done, with our first "Clubhouse" of the season coming up at 7 p.m. I was explaining the show to someone at the stadium this morning and, admittedly, I began with outrage over the fact that they didn't know about the show in the first place.

I mean, it's been on for 500 years. Or maybe 20.

Either way, we've built quite the guest list, which Dave Torromeo correctly reminds us we should compile.

We've had hall of famers and entertainers and a variety of well-known names join us. Frankly, it's quite an impressive list. 

We're always doing the show from a fun location, be it bars that we put out of business*, arcades, golf simulation businesses, or hotel restaurants.

* OK, not quite. We did the show from a bar/restaurant in Norwalk one time several years ago. We actually ran up quite a hefty bill (that part I'd rather forget) and had a nice night. In fact, Mom and my sister were also in the audience. However, the place went out of business not long after we were there.

You could say there is a "Clubhouse jinx" to us but I refuse to participate in that.

We're a mighty fun bunch to hang with. OK, Mark Jeffers and Dave Torromeo are. 

Anyway, it's also time for me to set up. Join us live on WGCH, wgch.com, or on Robcasting at robcasting.mixlr.com.

What Could Be

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

They hit free throws and held on for the win.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

They. Wanted. To. See. Me.

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

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

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

I'm not deserving of the attention.

Which is the Toughest?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's Sunday Night

 

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

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

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

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

The Cat. Not Sean.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adjusting and Readjusting

Vipers win! Thuuuuuuuuuuhhh Vipers win!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

Brunswick won with ease. So did the Vipers.

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

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

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

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

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

The "S" in ESPN Should Stand for "Sean"

 

Screenshot from Hudson Valley Renegades on "X"

First of all, there's nothing like a long ballgame on a cold, dreary night, followed by an interminable drive home to help one sleep.

I'm not going to tell you that I slept like a baby but it wasn't all bad.

I was glad to see my friends back at Heritage Financial Park last night and to get behind the mic. I thought the four of us in the booth (me, Anthony, Beats, and Murph) put on a pretty good show. 

In the seventh inning, the Aberdeen IronBirds had a runner on second and one out when a fly ball was hit to shallow centerfield. Shortstop Roc Riggio went back on the ball and made a circus catch, colliding with centerfielder Nelson Medina. Riggio then had the presence of mind to throw the ball back to second base from his back as first baseman Josh Moylan ran over to scoop it up and step on the bag, completing your average double play.

It was wacky. In the PA booth, we all reacted to the play, holding any noise or commentary before making sure all players were ok following the collision. 

A tip for all: I assure you that we're all mighty professional up there. We're sensitive to injuries. And, speaking for myself, I've navigated more than my share of those situations. You choose words and sounds very carefully.

Eventually, as the players trotted off the field, I resumed doing the sponsor read and Murph played music and we got on the evening. Incidentally, Murph is actually playing a keyboard every night and it sounds tremendous.

After the game, there was some buzz about the play, and some felt the play needed to be seen on SportsCenter on ESPN. As you know, I'm not one to push for that kind of attention, but I get that's what a team's social media account is for.

And, this morning, they got their wish. It's introduced by the anchors and there's the play, in all its insanity, for the world to see.

In fact, many social media accounts shared the play.

I'm particularly proud of it for my Renegades colleagues, but I'm especially proud of the camerawork.

It's Sean's.

I'm so used to seeing his stuff that I'm normally unfazed, other than letting him know that it looks good. He's in his fourth season doing this now and his work has made its way to YES, MLB Network, and now ESPN off the top of my head. I'm willing to bet other baseball programming has used it, not to mention myriad social media accounts.

Besides being his always-proud father, I'm also a cheerleader and career advisor, reminding him that this is to be included on his résumé. 

I told him about the ESPN attention when he got up this morning* and he smiled, modestly pleased with the attention but still laughing about the play.

* Please note we still (currently) live in Greenwich and he works for the Renegades in Wappingers Falls. His mother -- where he legally lives -- is not far from the stadium. But, again, he's here with me in Greenwich. 

You know I'm proud of him. The guy who was so nervous before his first broadcast has become a natural. I'm glad his work is receiving a level of respect, even if not by name.

*****

Another note from yesterday was hopeful good news.

You're not going to believe this but my mother has been paying for insurance on her home and car up until this week.

Now, if you're new here, allow me to tell you that my mother died in Sep 2020. Her car was turned in that fall and her house was sold in May 2022.

And yet, money continued to be automatically withdrawn.

I called about it a while back and got the usual runaround of forms and questions.

Finally, the pieces began to come together within the past few weeks. Still, the insurance company wanted more. I mean, I literally offered a death certificate and it wasn't enough. Not only that, everything came to me in the form of forms. As in form emails.

The last request included a need for a proof of sale, humorous given it was a lease. So I called Toyota and talked to someone who was about as helpful as a three-dollar bill. They told me to go to the dealer.

Befuddled, I did that yesterday, since it was sort of on my way to Wappingers Falls. At first, they were also befuddled but I sat with Bill, a salesman I recall Mom talking to when she pursued one of her cars in the latter years of her life.

To be absolutely certain, they were sympathetic to me but, as he worked with his computer, he began to think there was nothing he could do. He told me I'd have to call Toyota back and be pushy with them.

So that three-dollar buck was getting shoveled around.

Then he made a call. Within a few minutes, he spoke with someone who found some paperwork and said I'd have it within 7-10 business days.

Bingo.

I think -- hope -- that will resolve everything. I've already sent over proof of the house being sold and feel like this is trending towards a resolution. 

If you know the circumstances of dealing with a loved one's affairs after they pass, then you know what this is like, even years later.

We need a few wins. This one would help.