The Long Wait Finally Comes to an End

It has been so long since I have used this site, I've been considering discontinuing it.  People don't check it often and, as a result, I feel my efforts of updating the site are pointless and waste too much time.  Luckily, for you few who actually check the website, I have come about on my opinion.  Why?  Follow, and I'll show you.

First off, I am now on staff here at WAER-FM in Syracuse.  This is the same station that at one point held Marv Albert, Bob Costas, Mike Tirico, and many more "big time" radio and television sports personalities.  The whole process of being "cleared" took longer than I had expected.  I was cleared to desk, one step below staff, and stayed there for quite some time, due in no small part to my own work ethic.  However, that is past.  The present is now.  I am on staff and have already done two sets of on-air casts, the same radio updates you would hear on your drive to work in the morning or even on the way back home after the day is over.

Now that I am on staff, I feel I should put copies of my updates online, for all of you to listen.  Below are my first official sets of casts since I've been cleared.  They were recorded live off WAER-FM Thursday morning, April 26, 2007.  There are three updates, two three minute ones at 6:30 and 8:30, and a two minute update at 7:30.

I am also updating the site because I want to share some of the ideas I have.  Last night, I spent two hours free writing about college football and the argument over a playoff system.  I paused only twice in the two hours, to open a book and look up some statistics, and once to go to the bathroom and take a much-needed break.  Eventually, I will put my entire 12-page essay on the site here, so you all can read and comment on it as you see fit.

UPDATE -- As part of the Staff position here at WAER, all newly-cleared sports guys must do eight "open for business" casts, meaning that I have to come in and fill in for other sports staff eight times.  Below are copies of my 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 pm casts from Friday, my first OFB cast.

The Best Show Ever

The other day I witnessed the most amazing shot every in basketball...an 80 foot (nearly full court) one-handed shot with .6 seconds left.  Just check out the video, courtesy of Aaron Spragg and the WHIZ Sports Department, Zanesville, OH.

Sports Stuff

Well, it was an interesting week in the world of sports.  Let's review what happened:

• The Tennessee Titans scored 24 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat the New York Giants by a score of 24-21.  Former Texas QB Vince Young broke out of a sack (actually, Kiwanuka stopped trying to tackling him) on a fourth-and-ten and scrambled for the first down.  Last year's Rose Bowl MVP scored the tying TD with his arm, not his feet.  The Titans kicked a 49-yard field goal to win the game.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers fell hard to the Baltimore Ravens 27-0.
• USC pounded Notre Dame 44-24.  The Trojans now need to win this week against UCLA to clinch a spot in the BCS National Championship Game against Ohio State.
• Wichita State upset top-ten LSU over the weekend.  Unfortunately, the Shockers will visit the Dome to play Syracuse on Saturday.
• And, finally, Werder Bremen sits one match away from the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League.  Bremen faces Barcelona next week, needing at least a draw.  Bremen and Chelsea are tied for the top-spot in Group A.  Chelsea beat Bremen in group play 2-0.  Bremen's roster consists of the following: Per Mertesacker, Torsten Frings, Tim Borowski, Miroslav Klose (all mainstays on the German national team).  Barcelona includes Ronaldinho of the Brazilian national squad.
• Staying in the UEFA, the following teams are of interest:
• Bayern Munich - first place in Group B, has clinched a spot in the knockout stages.  Roster includes notables Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski, Oliver Kahn of Germany's World Cup team.
• Manchester United - needs at least a draw in two weeks against Benfica.  Roster includes Cristiano Ronaldo of the Portugal national team.

Michigan Fans

Well, the big game came and went.  Ohio State beat Michigan 42-39.  The Buckeyes trailed once in the game, when Michigan scored to open the game.  Obviously, leading up to the game, there was a lot of hype and a lot of talk, especially from the two types of Michigan fans.

Type 1, The "True Blue Fan"

These are the fans who watch every game, not just the big ones.  The fans that cry if Michigan loses in a huge upset.  I have no problem with these types of fans.  They are my enemies the Saturday before Thanksgiving, but I respect their love for Michigan.  Now, sure, I like to have a little fun, and try and play around with the true fan, especially after a devastating loss, but I have to respect them.  Without the true blue fans, the OSU/Michigan rivalry has no substance.

Type 2, The "Bandwagon Fan"

Alright, this has been my rant all season long.  I had the pleasure of calling about 10 bandwagon fans after the game on Saturday.  These fans were running their mouths before the game, saying that Ohio State was going to get pounded.  The only true fan I know up here at Syracuse, was about as quiet about the game as you could be.  It was the bandwagoneers that made this an interesting celebration for me.  The problem with my location (Syracuse, NY, for those of you who don't know) is that Mike Hart, the starting running back for "that school up North", grew up and graduated in the Central New York area.  There are a lot of people who have jumped the bandwagon just because they know a guy on the team.  That's alright, I do the same thing with teams in the NFL.  The root for certain teams just because they include former Ohio State players that I enjoyed watching.  However, several bandwagon fans have said the wrong thing to me.  For instance, a friend of mine, Brett Payne, sent me a message before the game saying that he thought Ohio State was going to lose by 14 points.  After the game, I sent him a message reminding him that his pick was wrong.  He responded by saying that Mike Hart had 140 yards rushing and "so many" TDs (sorry, I don't feel like looking it up), and then he said, "we will c u in the title game."  WE?  Since when did Brett become a diehard Michigan fan?  Two years ago, when Hart joined the team.  So, just giving you a heads up, be careful what you say, especially when you are riding the bandwagon.

Oh, yeah, shout out to D-Bump, Villani, Messick, and all of the WAER Sports Staff.