View from the Gondola

Inconveniences can be a Good Thing

 I would love to have a perfect setting for every broadcast but this is not a perfect world and I adjust.

Minor inconveniences can be a good thing.

When preparing to broadcast a William Chrisman soccer game at Van Horn I set up at field level.  Not the best vantage point but receiving help from Falcons Activities Director Chris Corrie was certainly encouraging.  Corrie, a busy man who was not required to assist me, set up a table near the field and provided electrical power to make this broadcast possible.

I was near the sideline, about 20 yards from one goal but 100 yards from the other.

With pink numbers on white the Van Horn jersey numbers were hard to see but this was due to a good thing.  The Falcons wore special shirts to fight breast cancer.  Many of my friends have sought a cancer cure for years. My sister, Judy, is a 20-year cancer survivor.  Thanks to every organization that does its part.

After 80 minutes of regulation and two-ten minute overtimes the game went to penalty kicks to decide a winner.

Immediately before the PKs my laptop quit, thus ending the broadcast.  Equipment failure is not high on my list of favorite things but in this case it may have saved me some embarrassment.  The penalty kicks took place 100 yards away and with the players standing side-by-side behind the shooters and there was no  way I could have told listeners who was taking a shot.  This too was a minor situation as the bleachers were close to the penalty kick.  If fans didn’t show up to fill the seats I would have no games to broadcast.

My soccer goal call is similar to my Mavericks goal call.  Sitting ten feet from the Van Horn bench I felt awkward describing the Bears goals.  The student-athletes were OK with it and had several questions about the broadcast.

Chrisman goalkeeper Andrew Wayman was fantastic during the PKs and the Bears prevailed 3-2.

But on this night designated to find a cure for breast cancer EVERYONE was a winner.