Seriously. Don't. There's no way I consistently keep up with this.
Considering I haven't used this in about a year and a half, I don't think an explanation is needed as to changing the format of this blog. In fact, it's insulting to bloggers to call it a blog with how inconsistently I post on here. But anyway.
From now on, this isn't going to be me writing sports opinion pieces. It's not going to be ballpark reviews. It's not going to be me making predictions that won't come true. (Who knew Chone Figgins' career would fall apart when he left Anaheim?) It will actually be all of the above, plus a little more. I was texting a friend of mine this morning as I sat in front of a box of donuts I didn't want (the service guy took my chocolate frosted) at a car dealership, doing a broadcast for the radio station I've worked on and off for the past five years. My friend was giving me a hard time about how often I rant on Twitter. For those of you who know me best, 140 characters is rarely enough to describe anything that goes on in my life. So, at her urging - borderline begging - I'm bringing back the blog. It's going to be more informal, more fun, and more opinionated, but without anything that will risk me getting in trouble again.
I occasionally do learn from my mistakes.
-MTM
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, March 1, 2010
The storybook season
On the morning of Thursday, September 10th, I received a phone call from Quinnipiac Sports Information Director Ken Sweeten. There was an opening as the PA announcer for the women's hockey team at QU, and I was asked to come in and audition for the role the next morning.
I won't lie, I knew it wasn't catapulting me towards becoming the next Bob Sheppard. This was the team that was lucky to draw 100 fans at the Bank the year before, when they finished 3-26-5 under a first-year head coach. But, as I rode the shuttle back from York Hill that day, after being handed the keys to what was perennially the Ford Pinto of Quinnipiac athletics, I started thinking. Maybe this would be the year when the turnaround began. Maybe I would be lucky enough to be a part - a small part, from a booth high above the ice - of something special this winter.
One day after this storybook season came to a close with a game that felt like a movie - minus the happy ending - I sit again, thinking. As I sat on that shuttle back in September, I was right. I was privileged to be a small part of something special this winter.
Yesterday, as I said, had the makings of a Hollywood production. The home team, the team that never gets any respect, trying to tie the game and force overtime in the deciding game of a playoff series. The girl who grew up just minutes from campus knotting the game at one in the final minutes of regulation. One of the top players going down with an injury on the game-tying goal.
And then, the overtimes.
This team was no stranger to them. In fact, they had played two on Friday before capturing game one of the best-of-three series. Two overtimes wouldn't be enough on this day that was becoming night, though.
At some point in either the second or third overtime, the Canadian men's hockey team defeated the U.S. in the gold-medal game of the Olympics. I debated whether or not to announce Sidney Crosby's game-winning goal, and then decided in favor of it. Whatever would encourage our Canadian-born goaltender to hang in there, and maybe for one of our Canadian skaters to win it in OT like Sid the Kid, was worth swallowing my nationalistic pride for a few moments.
Three overtimes wouldn't be enough, either. At the intermission between the third and fourth overtimes, we started to try and figure out what the record was for the longest women's college hockey game. It was Mathias Gausz, the field producer for WQAQ's broadcast of the game, who informed me and others on press row that the record was 5:35 into the fifth overtime.
I decided to keep quiet about it, hoping that the Bobcats would finish off RPI in the fourth extra frame. No such luck, however.
At the intermission between the fourth and fifth OTs, as the scoreboards behind the goals read "Period 8," the surreal feeling at the Bank continued to grow. We were witnessing something most of us would likely never see again. A five-overtime hockey game. Jill Seward and Pat Salvas, the grad assistants in the Sports Information Department, were trying to figure out how to set up the game in the statistics software, as the program couldn't handle something this rare. Granted, it was only the second time in history it had happened. We were 5:35 from being at the longest game ever, as more and more people started filing into the Bank.
Then, four minutes and change into that fifth overtime, the air was sucked out of the building like a depressurized plane. It was the ultimate heartbreak. It was the game that felt like an inspirational Disney-esque movie, but with a horror flick of an ending. I've been a life-long Red Sox fan, and I would rather watch side-by-side TVs of Buckner's botched ground ball, Aaron Boone's walk-off, and Bucky Dent's moon shot over the Monster from sunrise to sunset than to ever see the end of that game again.
Maybe it's because I was there. Yeah, that was a part of it. But it was something more.
I was right when I sat on that shuttle in September. I did get to be a small part of something special this winter. The storybook season didn't have the Hollywood ending, but I can't think of a more enjoyable way to spend many of my Friday and Saturday nights the past few months. From the puck drop against the Bluewater Juniors in September, to when the team skated off the ice last night, it was truly a privilege. From witnessing the phenomenal single-season turnaround of this program, to those of you on the team I've gotten to know this year, thank you. Thanks for the interviews. Thanks for the memories. Thanks for giving me tips on how to do my job better. Most of all, thanks for making me proud to be a Quinnipiac Bobcat.
--MTM
I won't lie, I knew it wasn't catapulting me towards becoming the next Bob Sheppard. This was the team that was lucky to draw 100 fans at the Bank the year before, when they finished 3-26-5 under a first-year head coach. But, as I rode the shuttle back from York Hill that day, after being handed the keys to what was perennially the Ford Pinto of Quinnipiac athletics, I started thinking. Maybe this would be the year when the turnaround began. Maybe I would be lucky enough to be a part - a small part, from a booth high above the ice - of something special this winter.
One day after this storybook season came to a close with a game that felt like a movie - minus the happy ending - I sit again, thinking. As I sat on that shuttle back in September, I was right. I was privileged to be a small part of something special this winter.
Yesterday, as I said, had the makings of a Hollywood production. The home team, the team that never gets any respect, trying to tie the game and force overtime in the deciding game of a playoff series. The girl who grew up just minutes from campus knotting the game at one in the final minutes of regulation. One of the top players going down with an injury on the game-tying goal.
And then, the overtimes.
This team was no stranger to them. In fact, they had played two on Friday before capturing game one of the best-of-three series. Two overtimes wouldn't be enough on this day that was becoming night, though.
At some point in either the second or third overtime, the Canadian men's hockey team defeated the U.S. in the gold-medal game of the Olympics. I debated whether or not to announce Sidney Crosby's game-winning goal, and then decided in favor of it. Whatever would encourage our Canadian-born goaltender to hang in there, and maybe for one of our Canadian skaters to win it in OT like Sid the Kid, was worth swallowing my nationalistic pride for a few moments.
Three overtimes wouldn't be enough, either. At the intermission between the third and fourth overtimes, we started to try and figure out what the record was for the longest women's college hockey game. It was Mathias Gausz, the field producer for WQAQ's broadcast of the game, who informed me and others on press row that the record was 5:35 into the fifth overtime.
I decided to keep quiet about it, hoping that the Bobcats would finish off RPI in the fourth extra frame. No such luck, however.
At the intermission between the fourth and fifth OTs, as the scoreboards behind the goals read "Period 8," the surreal feeling at the Bank continued to grow. We were witnessing something most of us would likely never see again. A five-overtime hockey game. Jill Seward and Pat Salvas, the grad assistants in the Sports Information Department, were trying to figure out how to set up the game in the statistics software, as the program couldn't handle something this rare. Granted, it was only the second time in history it had happened. We were 5:35 from being at the longest game ever, as more and more people started filing into the Bank.
Then, four minutes and change into that fifth overtime, the air was sucked out of the building like a depressurized plane. It was the ultimate heartbreak. It was the game that felt like an inspirational Disney-esque movie, but with a horror flick of an ending. I've been a life-long Red Sox fan, and I would rather watch side-by-side TVs of Buckner's botched ground ball, Aaron Boone's walk-off, and Bucky Dent's moon shot over the Monster from sunrise to sunset than to ever see the end of that game again.
Maybe it's because I was there. Yeah, that was a part of it. But it was something more.
I was right when I sat on that shuttle in September. I did get to be a small part of something special this winter. The storybook season didn't have the Hollywood ending, but I can't think of a more enjoyable way to spend many of my Friday and Saturday nights the past few months. From the puck drop against the Bluewater Juniors in September, to when the team skated off the ice last night, it was truly a privilege. From witnessing the phenomenal single-season turnaround of this program, to those of you on the team I've gotten to know this year, thank you. Thanks for the interviews. Thanks for the memories. Thanks for giving me tips on how to do my job better. Most of all, thanks for making me proud to be a Quinnipiac Bobcat.
--MTM
Saturday, May 9, 2009
New poll
If it was up to you, what would you do with the DH rule in baseball? Vote on the right, and comment here.
Manuel suspended
Mets manager Jerry Manuel has been suspended one game for making contact with first base umpire Bill Welke. He will serve the suspension today, with Sandy Alomar, Sr. taking his place.
Despite how blatantly wrong Welke was on the Victorino obstruction call, the suspension is still correct. The brim of Manuel's cap did make contact with Welke's face. It's only one game, so the Mets will deal with it today and move on.
Despite how blatantly wrong Welke was on the Victorino obstruction call, the suspension is still correct. The brim of Manuel's cap did make contact with Welke's face. It's only one game, so the Mets will deal with it today and move on.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Quote of the day
From Chris Thompson: (Edited for content, because Thompson makes that necessary. Read his blog here.)
"Nichols and Favre have to be f---ing on the side. They never send anybody else to do Favre stories. Always Nichols."
Chris, avoid the state of Mississippi for a long time if you're going to make accusations about Brett Favre.
Update: Vote Milledge
An update in the effort to vote Syracuse Chiefs outfielder Lastings Milledge into the MLB All-Star Game: there is now a Facebook group.
Join it, invite your friends, and Vote Milledge for NL Outfielder!
Westerly-Chariho on WBLQ
Tonight on 96.7 WBLQ: High school baseball- Chariho at Westerly. Zack Garceau, Eric Piccolo, and I will have the call. 6:50 pre-game, 7:00 first pitch. 96.7 if you're in the Westerly-Pawcatuck and Chariho areas, or on-line via WBLQ's website world-wide.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Ortiz scratched, updated Sox lineup
As if the Red Sox aren't banged up enough, David Ortiz is a very late scratch with what's being called a "stiff neck." Updated lineup:
Lugo DH
Pedroia 2B
Bay LF
Lowell 3B
Baldelli CF
Drew RF
Bailey 1B
Green SS
Kottaras C
Wakefield P
I think I'm going to be sick.
Lugo DH
Pedroia 2B
Bay LF
Lowell 3B
Baldelli CF
Drew RF
Bailey 1B
Green SS
Kottaras C
Wakefield P
I think I'm going to be sick.
Lineups- 5/7
For the Sox, who look to split a two game set against lefty Jeremy Sowers and Cleveland:
Lugo SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Bay LF
Lowell 3B
Drew RF
Baldelli CF
Bailey 1B
Kottaras C
Wakefield P
Rocco didn't bring the Paw Sox uniforms back with him. Probably too busy catching up with some other Hendricken grads whose claim to fame is "I went to high school with Rocco Baldelli." He bats seventh against the lefty, with the nine million dollar utility man leading off. This team needs a healthy Youk and Ellsbury for the big weekend series.
For the Mets, who face Jamie "The Ageless Wonder" Moyer:
Reyes SS
Castillo 2B
Beltran CF
Delgado 1B
Wright 3B
Sheffield RF
Tatis LF
Castro C
Pelfrey P
Church will start this one on the bench for the second night in a row, with the lefty pitching for the Phillies. Castro behind the plate due to his good numbers against Moyer. Sheff gets a start against one of a handful of starters older than him.
Lugo SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Bay LF
Lowell 3B
Drew RF
Baldelli CF
Bailey 1B
Kottaras C
Wakefield P
Rocco didn't bring the Paw Sox uniforms back with him. Probably too busy catching up with some other Hendricken grads whose claim to fame is "I went to high school with Rocco Baldelli." He bats seventh against the lefty, with the nine million dollar utility man leading off. This team needs a healthy Youk and Ellsbury for the big weekend series.
For the Mets, who face Jamie "The Ageless Wonder" Moyer:
Reyes SS
Castillo 2B
Beltran CF
Delgado 1B
Wright 3B
Sheffield RF
Tatis LF
Castro C
Pelfrey P
Church will start this one on the bench for the second night in a row, with the lefty pitching for the Phillies. Castro behind the plate due to his good numbers against Moyer. Sheff gets a start against one of a handful of starters older than him.
Milledge '09
Something I first read on Metsblog, and then Sons of Sam Horn:
This is a great idea, in my opinion. The fact that 1) Milledge is on the ballot and 2) The ballot is out this early is ridiculous. That being said, vote Natinals outfielder Lastings Milledge for the 2009 All-Star Game!“Milledge is on the NL All-Star ballot. He needs to make the team. Nothing would be more NatsTown than having the Natinals’ (lone?) All-Star game representative be a AAA player for whom the organization has no plan.”
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