Last week was filled with something on my schedule every day from Tuesday-Saturday. Add a balancing act with an autism documentary I will be broadcasting soon, and the result is a lack of time on my blog.
On Thursday, I called my first soccer game in my short announcing career. Two U10 traveling teams from River Falls played against each other in a game that nearly didn't get televised thanks to a heavy band of showers a half-hour before the game began. It cleared up 10 minutes before the start and our two-man camera crew scurried to get the match on tape. Fortunately, weather wasn't a problem during the game. My co-worker called it a "home video" with graphics; there was no scoreboards or bleachers, just a field with parents lined up along the sideline in their captains chairs. I kept time with my stopwatch.
The lack of preparation time caused by on and off showers led to a difficult time trying to match names and numbers. My partner, a parent himself who knew some of the kids, was pretty solid. I probably won't be working with him again anytime soon as we don't televise too many events in western Wisconsin, but it helped move the game along. However, the problem with parents on the same sideline as our game camera makes wide shots impossible; the parents get in the shot and block a lot of action on the near sideline. I'm sure they'll enjoy watching the broadcast.
Two days later, I was on the crew broadcasting the 2nd annual Urban Bowl on SPNN at Griffin Stadium. It was by far the longest high school football game I've worked on. The kickoff was scheduled for 3:00 p.m., but was delayed by a half-hour with no explanation. The game itself wasn't much faster, not finishing up until around 6:10 p.m. The game was sloppy throughout with a few nice plays sprinkled in. The Urban Bowl crew was hoping for 5,000 fans and fell far short. The game can't be controlled, but starting the game a half-hour late isn't the most respectful gesture to fans and players. My graphics left more to be desired; I wasn't happy with my performance. Overall, it looked like everyone was a little rusty.
I'm still working on getting the AAU Meltdown tournament televised. I will keep you posted.
iI am not surprised the turnout was so low for the Urban Bowl. I checked the St Paul Paper on Saturday, only to find a huge article on a Cretin basketball player, and no mention of the event. Too bad the St Paul paper only reports on one school in St Paul. Too bad that if all of these boys from Minneapolis and St Paul were getting to do something negative it would be all over the paper.
ReplyDeleteFor your info sir Kick Off was not scheduled for 3 the opening ceramony was scheduled for 3 which included introduction of the team coin toss and the singing of the national anthem. and that all began at 3:10. the game began at 3:30. the Stadium permit was from 2-7. When putting on a all-star game or a championship it is going to run longer then a regular season game. The game ended at 6:10 so the game went as expected (2 1/2 hrs) So how is this a disrespectful gesture.
ReplyDeleteWhat is disrespectful is you calling the game sloppy. The winds kept the teams from passing and destroyed the kicking game. The game was well played. The Defense swarmed to the ball, and there were bone jarring collisions out there on that field. In an All star game Defense will always outshine the O because the offense needs time to gel and prepare and that is not possible in a week.
Now what was sloppy was the filming of the game. The cameras never followed the plays. And many people were displeased to say the least.
Anonymous, you are so on point. Not one story in the Pioneer press or Star tribune. and then you have this blog talking bad the kids performance. Clap it up for the community support!