Hello my sports crazed fans! I apologize for the tardiness of my blog this week. The Internet was down and I knew my paycheck wouldn't cover the medical expenses to treat the carpel tunnel that would surface if I tried to type my entire blog from my Blackberry. But, in reality, you already knew my Internet was down (I'm talking to you, fans of my blog: Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Rip), so I guess all is forgiven. Onto this week's blog topic!
Clearly I am feeling creative and decided a top ten list of the greatest moments in the MLB 2009 season thus far would not suffice, so I decided to also include the WORST moments so far (clever I know).
So, here are the Top 10 Best and Worst Moments in the Infant 2009 MLB Season (according to Meredith):
10. A TOP moment to start things off. The Pittsburgh Pirates are excelling at pitching? Jest I do not, the Pirates, or should I say new pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, seems to have a deal with the devil because the Pirates pitching staff is excelling in this young season. Their pitchers are so good that they lead the NL in ERA (who would of thought!).
9. A LOW: Barry Zito "twittered" before he pitched on Monday. Now, it's not the fact that he uses a website that only allows him a mere 160 words to describe how he currently feels that makes this a low, it's that ESPN felt it was hard hitting news and reported on it. (But, as a fun experiment, I am ALSO on Twitter, follow me at MereCon and let me know if you found me from reading this blog! It's an experiment in trafficking!).
Is that a Blackberry in your back pocket, Zito? Photo from Flickr.com
8. BEST moment: Red Sox CF Jacoby Elisbury steals home off of Andy Pettitte. (Now don't say I wrote that just because I'm a Sox fan, it's a rarity). Even better? It shook up Pettitte so badly that he gave up double on the NEXT pitch.
7. Just to show I'm not biased, a LOW moment from a Sox player. Pitcher Josh Beckett went "head hunting" against the Angels. His target? Bobby Abreu. I don't care who it is, aiming 90+ mile an hour pitches at somebodies noggin is never a mistake and it is never ok. When I get into a tizzy while arguing with a friend, I communicate how I feel using my words, I don't hurl a hard round object at their skulls. Communication is key, Beckett!
Photo from Flickr.com
6. And just so you can question whether or not I am really unbiased a LOW from the New York Yankees. So, you want to know the real reason the New York Yankees lost to the Indians 22-4 and are 3rd in the AL East after the Red Sox and the Jays? The wind. Yes, the dimensions of the new Yankee Stadium are so bad that homeruns literally fly out of the park. Two problems with that theory Yankee lovers. 1. Over a billion dollars was spent on that stadium, wasn't it someones job to get the measurements down to perfection? 2. If the wind causes so many issues, like in the 22-4 loss, why were the Indians the only ones that seem to be having any luck? I guess the wind is a Sox fan.
5. A HIGH point times 16. Matt Stairs became the 16th player in the history of baseball to have 16 pinch hit homeruns. While playing everyday would be a favorable alternative, it can't hurt that bad to be the hero and round all four bags 16 times to an All Time list. 
Doing what he does best, hitting home runs. Photo from Flickr.com
4. A HIGH point for one player, well a player and his agent, and a LOW point for the rest of us. While, I struggle to make more than 15$ an hour (only to get taxed, stupid recession), Stephen Strasburg may be receiving a pretty big check from the reluctant Washington Nationals. And I'm not talking a couple hundred, although lord knows I would kill for a check that has three digits, but Strasburg could be walking away with somewhere in the ballpark of 8 digits if Scott Boras has anything to do with it. And, we all know he does. How can I get Scott Boras to represent me? In life, generally. It was just a thought.
3. This really only concerns me but a LOW point nonetheless. Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN. I'll say it once (and I literally did in an early blog gripping about this very issue) and I'll say it again, Sunday Night Baseball is garbage. The games are drawn out, the announcers are dated, I'm sick of the NESN blackout! Give me back Don, Jerry. and TC!
2. While this may seem like a negative thing, it really is a HIGH point for those of us that enjoy normalcy. The Tampa Bay "No Longer Devil" Rays are last in the AL East. The reason I'm pleased? Besides last season, they have ended up at the bottom of the barrel every season since I first realized the only way I could stay in my family was to become a Sox fanatic. I enjoy consistency, so thank you Rays for holding a losing record thus far in the 2009 season.
and number one goes to......
1. The GREATEST moment of all! Get out the broomsticks people, not for spring cleaning, but for the Red Sox sweep of the Yankees this past weekend. If I have to suffer through Fox Sports I might as well see it end in a W for the Sox. And for all you disgruntled Yankee fans/Sox haters, you can at least chalk it up to the fact that they were a couple of very exciting games.
That does it for the list. Are there any moments that you would like to add? Any you disagree/agree on? Let me know!
The Best and the Worst of the 2009 MLB Season (so far)
Soccer: The Most Popular Sport in America?
Jack Constant is maybe the one family member who hasn't been mentioned once in my blog and he happens to be my little brother (he mostly hasn't gotten a shout out because I generally only include family members who are likely to comment on my blogs if their names appear in them, thanks Uncle Rip, Uncle Jay, Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa). But, in this case, Jack happens to be the inspiration for this week's blog. Jack is good at roughly five things in life: eating, sleeping, making a killer ice cream sundae, spraying an unhealthy amount of AXE on his body, and soccer. Jack can play soccer like it's no body's business. In fact, Jack is so good at soccer that he plays for a league in the Iron Bound section of Newark, NJ (he is basically like the real life white from the movie "Save the Last Dance." 
Jack the soccer stud. Photo from Facebook.com
He is getting roughed up by teams with players that come from backgrounds where soccer is life (think anywhere in Latin America and most of Europe) and he is loving it. And the reason I chose to write about Jack and soccer today is because there are kids like Jack all across America, living, breathing, sleeping soccer and yet it is one of the most unpopular, underpaid major league sport's in the nation. How can soccer be so popular as a youth sport and so unpopular as a professional paid sport?
Chuck Klosterman first brought this issue to my attention in his book "Sex, Drugs, and Coco Puffs" when he writes about his hatred of the sport and how every child in America has played it at one point in their lives. Even I played soccer in my youth. I did the YMCA soccer team, mostly for the trophy you receive every year just for signing up and paying the 30$ it costs to join the team, and yes I even played for a traveling team for a hot second (I quit because there were no more trophies being handed out each year. Oh, and maybe because I was atrocious at soccer).
Cute little kids love to play soccer, why doesn't anyone watch soccer? Photo from Flickr.com
According to my mother, I spent more time dancing and singing in the goal than I spent paying attention to the game, probably much to my father's chagrin who just happens to be a member of the Summit High School Varsity Soccer State Champion Team from the 70's, but what can I say, I was made for the stage. But, Chuck also brings up a pretty valid point that almost every child in America plays or has played soccer, it's an extremely competitive sport to get recruited for in college, but yet it doesn't fair well against the MLB or NFL as far as fans are concerned. Why is that?
I guess I can somewhat see why people don't go to professional soccer games or bother to watch them on TV. First of all, soccer announcers are obnoxious to listen to. If I hear one more person yell, "GOOOOOAAAALLLLL" I may have to crack skulls. I know it's a goal, I'm watching the same thing you are Mr. Announcer, calm down. Also, from what I've learned while watching games with my brother is that soccer announcers are usually Irish with obnoxious accents. It's probably different in American soccer, but still a turn off. Lastly, movies such as "She's the Man" and "Bend it Like Beckham" have made soccer seem more like a choreographed lame dance than a riveting sport to watch and are completely unrealistic. In "She's the Man" the first thing Duke Orseno teaches Sebastian "Viola" Hastings how to do is a bicycle kick. On how many occasions does a player do a bicycle kick and why is it the first thing you would teach a mediocre player? Nonsensical I say. 
Seriously, no one learns that right away. Photo from Flickr.com
On the other hand, why wouldn't America fall in love with soccer? Unlike other sports, soccer is essentially the same for men and women, which means if either watched a game, they would understand what they are watching. I know how frustrating it is to watch a sport that you don't entirely understand, but soccer is easy to learn the basics and follow, so why wouldn't Americans enjoy watching something they understand? Also, if most Americans have played soccer, why wouldn't they want to watch the sport they once played? Also, have you ever looked closely at soccer players? They are gorgeous, not mammoth beasts like football players, not absurdly tall like basketball players, not likely to loose teeth and get a black eye like hockey players, not jacked up on steroids like baseball players; major league soccer players are perfection. And sometimes they even take off their shirts during games! Come on ladies, there should at least be a female following at soccer games.
You knew Beckham was bound to make an appearance. Swoon. Photo from Flickr.com
So, after writing this blog, I am thoroughly convinced that the MLS is lacking some much needed love and attention. I encourage everyone to go out, catch a game, and decide for yourself. I'm going to look into it this summer, why shouldn't you? Also, here's a question for all you readers: Why do you think soccer is popular in other countries but not in America? What would influence you to watch more games? Post your comments and I'll respond!
Playing with the Big Boys: Adam Harding
Some of you may remember Adam Harding, a popular character in my blog back when I was a freshmen at Emerson College. The talented, sometimes infuriating, never boring sports producer who was the first person to give me a chance at Emerson in sportscasting and made me believe that I could actually make it in this business. Adam has since graduated from Emerson College and is currently a minnow swimming in a sea full of sharks trying to make it in the world of broadcast journalism. Adam is the perfect person to give you the inside scoop on life as a broadcast journalist, so this is a must read whether you are interested in sports journalism, hard news, or any kind of broadcasting. While I can give you insight on getting through college with the dream of being on air, Adam can give you the facts on what life is like after you get your diploma. 
The man himself. Photo from facebook.com
Interview with Adam Harding
Hey Adam, what is your current job?
I am a reporter. (Note: less than 24 hours ago, Adam was promoted to Weekend Anchor. I think this blog is a good luck charm)
*So, what does a regular work day look like for you?
Regular? no such thing, because every day is vastly different from the previous.
BUT, try this: work 9:30-6:30. Wake up early, read the paper, go to work, check messages, e-mails, etc. Make beat calls (cops), form story ideas. Then at 10 we have a morning meeting, go over the stories of the day. 10:30 I'm making my calls for the day to set up interviews. I try and be out the door between 11 and 11:30, back to the newsroom no later than 3 (preferably 2). Come back, immediately ingest my tape into AVID, and start brainstorming my package. Once the tape is ingested I pick out my soundbytes and edit those, then write them down. I go back to my computer, write my script by say 3:30. Get it approved by the producer. Go edit my package by no later than say 4 (if it's for the 5). Finish my package, head to the make-up room (which is really the bathroom :) ), then go on the set, do my live hit... or drive to my liveshot, do that. After the news I put my stories online and come home....exhausted.
Also, I drink a lot of coffee. That's something you NEED in this business.
*Wow, I can understand the need for coffee. But really, why Washington State? I didn't even know people actually lived in Washington State.
I chose Washington for 3 reasons; one was a personal, "self-discovery"-type deals. Second I knew Melanie (an Emerson graduate). And third, honestly it was the only job offer at the time and I didn't want to wait any longer to start my career.
*Fair enough. What was the hardest part about adjusting to life as a real time broadcaster and also Washington State?
Well I have a unique story because as soon as I moved out here, I came down with a really bad case of mono. Needless to say, that made the adjustment about 100 times harder because I was constantly at the doctors, couldn't be around people, couldn't even work out. So that was tough.
But I think in terms of adjusting to my job, it was more a self-confidence issue. I knew I wanted to do the work, but wasn't sure I could do the work, at least on the same level as everyone else. This industry does put a lot of fear in you, a lot of doubt in you. It's really a mind game. But once you overcome it, it's great.
As for Washington state, people look at me funny for saying 'wicked.' And it's not soda, it's pop.
Reporting. Photo from facebook.com
* That is wicked weird calling soda, pop. So, what is the most bizarre story you have covered so far?
I did two liveshots from a science fiction convention. Let's just say my liveshot for the 6 pm involved me dressing up and speaking Klingon (I'm not a 'Trekkie'), and hanging out with a Star Trek character . I signed off by saying I learned how to save I love you in Klingon (it was the day before Valentine's Day).
Turns out, all 3 stations in the market were watching, and I heard later from my friends at the other stations everyone was laughing hysterically and even applauded for me!
* Oh only you Adam Harding. Where did you go to college? What kinds of activities were you involved in that were related to your career choice?
Emerson. I did sports for our morning show, 'Good Morning Emerson,' for two years. I was also the sports director of one of our college stations, EIV, for two years. I also produced our 6 o'clock news and anchored sports and news. It was a lot of work, but I got to go to Colorado (all expenses paid) for the 2007 World Series, see the Red Sox win it all, be on the field and in the locker room celebrating with the team. It was something I'll never forget.
* What was the biggest lesson you learned about TV once you were out of college and in the real world?
Learn your voice. Be you, do you. Don't be or do anyone else. You have to know how you speak, and then you have to write like that. People relate to people, so be a person. Have flaws. Don't worry about being perfect all the time, it's unnatural.
* If you could go back to school would you still choose to go into broadcasting? Or, would you have done anything differently while in college?
I sometimes wish I had a broader education, but ultimately I'm happy where I am, so it's hard to say I'd do anything differently. I loved my college experience, so no, I don't think I'd change anything.
* Do you ever see yourself leaving the field? If so, what would you do?
Yes, but only to be a teacher. And even then I'd probably teach broadcast.
* What advice could you give to others thinking about going into broadcast journalism?
This business is all about telling stories. You really have to tell a good story for anyone to care, anyone to pay attention. So use your time learning how to really tell a good story.
Best advice, and I really can't stress this enough, is learn your voice. Everyone is meant to sound different, so never put on a "broadcaster" voice. It doesn't exist. And have fun when writing your story. Nobody wants a dull, straight-facts, story. Throw some spice into it!
* Do you have any family members who are in the business?
Dad is anchor in Boston.
Father and son. Photo from facebook.com
*So, does having Papa Harding in the business hurt or help your career? Why?
I guess help, but not because he can (or will) ever get me a job, but because I show him my work and he critiques it.
*My favorite question, what is the most embarrassing moment that has happened to you in broadcasting thus far?
Ya know, I've been really lucky (knock on wood) because I've never fumbled on a liveshot (everyone says your first one is always a disaster!), but there was one time I did a package in studio, and I was talking to my news director while it aired and none of us paid attention to the prompter, and when we came out of the package the script wasn't loaded and I didn't have my script iin hand, so there were maybe a few ummmms and ahhhhhs in there.
Also, once I did a liveshot with a dog, and during the story before mine, the audio board turned my mic up. So on the air you can hear me talking to a dog (mostly "good boy!") in a weird doggy-talking-type-voice, but you couldn't see me. It was very bizarre.
That's another lesson--when you're mic'd up, SHUT UP!
* Ha, sometimes it's hard to remember when the mic is hot. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Married with children and living in a major metropolitan city, preferably close to family.
* Any last thoughts you’d like to share that I didn’t ask?
This field weeds out the people that shouldn't be there quickly. So a word of advice: if you want to do this as a profession, put your heart and soul into it. This isn't so much a job, as it is a lifestyle. You have to love news, love telling stories, love meeting new people.
It's arguably one of the hardest and most stressful jobs. You'll get angry, want to cry, get in fights, lose sleep. You'll mess up a lot, too. Fortunately tomorrow is a new day, and the great thing about this job is you never know what tomorrow will bring.
And remember, it's a communications job. You have to be a good communicator. That means you have to work well with others. You're a news TEAM.
--
The most important thing I've learned from Adam is basically the overarching theme of his interview; you won't make it in this business if your heart isn't full committed to it. Work hard and your hard work will eventually pay off. Adam is the perfect example of just that.
What Recession?
As many of you have probably guessed over reading my blogs for the last few years (yes Experience has actually kept me on payroll for YEARS, it's shocking to me as well), I do not like a wide range of things. I don't like NASCAR, don't like the Yankees, and I really don't like March Madness (mostly because I don't attend a college with a shot in you know what at scoring a coveted spot and I don't know how to make a bracket). But, there is one thing that I do love: commercials.
Now, not any old commercial will do, but when I get stuck on a commercial that strikes my fancy, I am obsessed with it and look for it on television more than normal programs. I can do funny commercials, commercials with good jingles (Freecreditreport.com is especially catchy), and romantic commercials are definitely my favorite (tell me you have seen the one where the man and woman are driving in a car on a snowy night and at the stop light he slips a diamond necklace into her hand with "Coffee Shop" by Landon Pigg playing in the background. Hands down favorite commercial of all time, it was my former roommate, Ginger (as you may recall from early blogs), and I's definition of true love.
Watch the greatest commercial ever below from a diamond is forever.
But, some commercials do fail to hit my mark of excellence and one recent commercial that really irks me is the Chevy commercial with the "rally caps." The concept of the commercial is regular Americans wearing rally caps to "rally" America out of the recession (with the help of Chevy and their wonderful finance options) similar to how fans at a game would rally a team out of a slump to come back and win the game. The reason this commercial makes my skin crawl is that it's completely hypocritical. While the rest of America struggles with job losses and pay cuts, athletes continue to sign multimillion dollar deals and new stadiums are continually built as if we are living in the glory days instead of a period being compared to the Great Depression. This leads me to the question: if America is in a recession, why is the world of sports ignoring it?
Old Yankee stadium, meet new Yankee stadium. Photo from flickr.com
I decided to put my journalist skills to the test and peruse the internet highway for signs that my thesis was wrong and that athletes are struggling. I found none. Most of the articles that came up were about the New York Yankees and the New York Mets unveiling brand new stadiums this week. What was wrong with the old stadiums you ask? I have no idea. I've been to Yankee stadium, it's massive so it can't possibly be a space issue and the park seemed to be well maintained so I can't imagine the building was in dire disrepair. And, I hate to admit it, but the best part about the old ballpark is the history of the stadium. So, many heartbreaking moments (for a Sox fan), but nevertheless, magical sports moments have happened inside the "House that Ruth" built, so to think that a $1.3 billion dollar glitzy new stadium could replace it seems ludicrous. And then the Mets also needed a stadium? I feel like the Mets and Yankees are like siblings and since the Yankees got a pretty new toy, the Mets wanted one as well. But, don't worry, this one was cheaper only $800 million (eyes roll). And who paid for these stadiums you ask? Call me crazy, but I have a feeling some tax payers' money was involved and as we all know, money is so easy to come by these days (insert a second eye roll).
Besides New York wasting money on new stadiums, I found a few more points of interest in my google search for signs of a sports recession. Remember Chad Ocho Cinco, the Cincinnati Bengals player stupid enough to change his last name to 85? Well, he was also stupid enough to skip off season workouts costing him $250,000. The fact that someone has the ability to give up that kind of money is an insult to every hard working American that is struggling to hold onto a job or find a job at that.
Why so sad Chad? Because you lost $250,000? Photo from flickr.com
But one man did take a pay cut this year, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He took a $2 million dollar pay cut this year, which is pretty noble, except that he makes enough money that he probably won’t miss that $2 million that badly. It would probably seem more of a sacrifice if more commissioners and players took a cue from him and did the same.
Back to the athletes, and in particular, C.C Sabathia. He is an amazing pitcher, but is he worth $161 million? Apparently the Yankees think so. Now, plenty of teams shelled out big bucks this year for top players, but I am simply noting this instance because it was one of the biggest off season acquisitions by any team in the MLB. But really, who is worth $161 million? Isn’t there a Yankee’s charity or a way to give that money back to the city that has supported the Yankees for decades instead of showering one man with more money than he can probably even spend in a life time? Now, I’m not really sure how athletes getting pay cuts would get that money back into the economy and into the hands of regular Americans, but I have to think that it would at least lift the moral of everyday Americans if they saw their heroes taking a hit and scaling back their income in honor of the current economic situation. Mia Hamm, one of my least favorite human beings of all time (she stole my man Nomar Garciaparra, I will never forgive her for that), but Mia Hamm even took a pay cut along with 18 other U.S female soccer stars to keep the Women’s United Soccer Association alive. She gave up a portion of her salary for the sake of her sport. Can’t athletes do the same for America?
Photo from flickr.com
So, as far as Chevy is concerned, I’ll put on my rally cap, once sports stars start rallying for America as well. Until then, I will scoff at multi million dollar contracts as I work several jobs trying to support myself through college and onto whatever the future holds in store for me.
