{"id":84701,"date":"2021-05-25T19:54:06","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T19:54:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=84701"},"modified":"2023-03-01T23:59:00","modified_gmt":"2023-03-01T23:59:00","slug":"take-ballgame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/take-ballgame\/","title":{"rendered":"Take Me Out to the Ballgame"},"content":{"rendered":"

The views expressed in this blog are<\/em> those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Thankfully, the coronavirus appears to be on the decline as millions get vaccinated.\u00a0 As the virus wanes, the prospect of actually announcing games from the venues in which they are being played appears closer.\u00a0 That has not happened since March 18, 2020 \u2013 16 months ago.<\/p>\n

This past year, like so many other things in our everyday lives, has been like no other.\u00a0 I know I have never had a broadcast year anything like this one.\u00a0 With that said, through great forethought and adaptation, we were able to still bring you the major high school events in football, basketball, and baseball.<\/p>\n

As a high school student myself, I played them all.\u00a0 Unlike the high school specialist of today, I felt each sport offered up unique lessons about life and, thus, were equally important in one\u2019s adult development.<\/p>\n

Football was the ultimate team sport where you had to count on 22 or more players to gel as a unit.\u00a0 No sport brought more attention, both good and bad and, therefore, the wins were more meaningful and the losses were tougher to take, but there are lessons in both winning and losing.<\/p>\n

The focus was greater in basketball on your individual skills and meshing those skills with those of your teammates.\u00a0 Individual offensive and defensive challenges were present throughout the game.\u00a0 Basketball, also, forced you to learn plays as a unit and each basket or defensive stop was contingent upon the group doing their job.\u00a0 Sounds much like the work environment, right?<\/p>\n

Baseball was much more individualistic.\u00a0 It was a simple game on paper – a pitcher faced a batter; a fielder waited to react when needed; and everyone had to do their job, within the framework of a team game, when called upon.<\/p>\n

Announcing<\/u> football, basketball, and baseball, much like playing the sports, had their own set of challenges.\u00a0 Those challenges increased dramatically when you were not there.<\/p>\n

Football <\/strong>\u2013 Who has the ball? \u00a0What yard line is the ball on? \u00a0How many yards were gained or lost on a given play? \u00a0Who made the tackle? These were the questions that needed answers on every play.\u00a0 I feared looking like a fool trying to call this game.\u00a0 But help was offered \u2013 eyes at the stadium that could instantaneously get information to me; a scoreboard shot that would tell me where the ball was; and a close-up view of the teams as they ran their plays.\u00a0 My fears were unwarranted.\u00a0 Much like the game of football, the broadcast of football required all parts of the team to work together.\u00a0 No one was more surprised than me, but it worked.<\/p>\n

Basketball<\/strong> – A new sense of trepidation crept in as I anticipated doing play-by-play for this fast-paced sport.\u00a0 Could we follow the ball?\u00a0 Could I see the numbers?\u00a0 Could I determine who made the shot, blocked the shot, made the pass, got the rebound, committed the foul, etc.?\u00a0 The answer was, \u201cYes, we could and did.\u201d\u00a0 This was tougher.\u00a0 We may have been a split second late with the call, but the correct call was made.<\/p>\n

Baseball <\/strong>– This past week, it was baseball\u2019s turn.\u00a0 I arrived at the studio (not the baseball field) hoping that somehow I would know where the ball was hit.\u00a0 We would not have a camera shot of the scoreboard so calling balls and strikes might be a challenge.\u00a0 But we proved, once again, that we are a team, too.\u00a0 The camera work was superb.\u00a0 I could call balls and strikes just like the umpire because I had a terrific view of the pitch and the plate.\u00a0 I could tell where the ball was hit because our camera guys were flawless and our director pushed all the right buttons.\u00a0 We did not miss a play.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t wait to get back to the actual venues again, but until that happens, I can guarantee you our \u201cteam\u201d will do the very best to make you believe you are at the stadium, the court, and the ball field.\u00a0 We will \u201ctake you out to the ballpark\u201d even if I cannot join you there.<\/p>\n

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. I am predicting that it will be the Brooklyn Nets<\/a> versus the 76ers<\/a> in the NBA<\/a> Eastern Finals. The Sixers need to get by the Wizards<\/a> and, I\u2019m guessing, the Knicks<\/a> in the second round.\u00a0 That should happen and create a thrilling Eastern Conference final.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. In the NBA West, I like the Jazz<\/a> over the Grizzlies; the Lakers over the Suns; the Trail Blazers upsetting the Nuggets; and the Clippers over the Mavericks.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. The Phillies<\/a> have lost four in a row and they are doing it with poor fielding, poor hitting, and poor pitching. That combination will get them absolutely nowhere.\u00a0 They are now under .500 and sinking fast.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. Congratulations to Emmaus for winning the EPC<\/a> baseball championship, their first league title since 2005. Pleasant Valley, the other finalist, deserves some accolades, too, for knocking off #1 seed Liberty in the semis.\u00a0 District baseball starts this week.\u00a0 We will have the 6A championship game on Tuesday, June 1.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. With the holiday weekend coming up, I will be taking a break from blogging next week. Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

             <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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