Me, Her, the Boy and a Dog

I was playing Wii Sports last night and after several tennis matches and some spirited boxing matches (which I won, naturally), I decided to take the Wii Age Fitness test.

The first challenge was tennis; specifically returning 50 volleys and keeping them in-bounds; I was 48/50.

The second challenge was a homerun hitting contest. Hit as many home runs as I could in 10 pitches; I hit nine homers including two that were out of the park - all steriod- and HGH-free.

The third challenge was boxing related. Your “trainer” throws tennis balls at you and you have to duck and dodge them - a great ab workout if you do it correctly. I scored pretty high; points for the number of balls dodged and negative points for balls that hit you.

I was feeling pretty good about my performance and thought I’d score a pretty low “Wii Fitness Age.” Imagine my shock when I saw “36” come up on the screen! WHAT?! NO WAY! Then, just as I was about to fill out my AARP membership form, the 36 start to slide down the screen and there was this whimsical music playing before “23” jumped onto the screen.

Ha ha, Wii. Very funny. My fitness age was really 23, but it would appear that Nintendo saw fit to give the Wii a sense of humor. We are not amused.

I received the following e-mail from my dad today and it made me laugh. I’m not sure to whom I should attribute it’s origins, but it’s pretty funny. Enjoy!

An email from Ireland to all of their brethren in the United States. A point to ponder despite your political affiliation:

“We, in Ireland, can’t figure out why you people are even bothering to hold an election in the United States.

On one side, you had a pants-wearing female lawyer, married to another lawyer who can’t seem to keep his pants on, who just lost a long and heated primary against a lawyer, who goes to the wrong church, who is married to yet another lawyer, who doesn’t even like the country her husband wants to run!

Now … on the other side, you have a nice old war hero whose name starts with the appropriate ‘Mc’ terminology, married to a good looking younger woman who owns a beer distributorship!!”

What in God’s name are ya lads thinkin’ over there?!

The column below was posted on VTHokieFans.com on April 21, 2008, following the annual spring game. It was published before Zach Luckett was suspended indefinitely and before Brandon Dillard was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. Those two losses further support the redshirting of Tyrod Taylor.

Revised from April 21, 2008 Post

Following Virginia Tech’s annual Maroon vs. White spring football game on Saturday, members of the media asked head coach Frank Beamer about the option of redshirting sophomore QB Tyrod Taylor if redshirt senior Sean Glennon won the QB battler outright. Beamer’s response surprised more than a few people - he didn’t rule it out - though he did say that the competition would remain open throughout fall practice.

I have made my case for Tyrod Taylor being the starter this season, but I’m having second thoughts. Not because I do not think that he is the best quarterback for this team; but because the team, as it stands right now, might not be the best fit for his game, and redshirting him this season would give us two full seasons with him as the uncontested QB. Throw him in there this season and he could very likely be running for his life on every play, which would increase the likelihood of injury.

The offensive line, while massive, is untested and suspect. The running game is in complete disarray with our top two RBs out with injuries and the next three guys, while talented, have no meaningful game experience. In fact, Dustin Pickle, the redshirt senior, is the only one of the three that has run the ball in an actual game, though all of his game experience came in garbage time. He only got one carry in the spring game. The other two, Josh Oglesby and Darren Evans, both redshirted last year. Even when Jahre Cheeseman and Kenny Lewis come back, there is no guarantee that the offensive line will be able to open up the holes necessary to establish an effective ground game.

Then there is the receiving corps, which is completely new. Our top guy right now isn’t even on scholarship. Brandon Dillard is a redshirt junior out of Martinsville and he’s all of 5-11, 180 pounds. [Editor’s Note: Dillard was lost for the season during the summer.] He’s one of the fastest guys on the team and looked alright in the spring game, but he also lacks game experience and his lack of height will hurt him in jump ball situations. Then there are Ike Whitaker and Cory Holt [Editor’s Note: Holt will serve as the backup QB to Glennon in the ‘08 season], both converted QBs who haven’t seem much action as receivers. Certainly there is talent and potential at the receiver spot, but again, it is untested and there will be growing pains.

Glennon looked good in the spring game and tossed a pair of nice touchdown passes. He showed poise and maturity and looked every bit of the solid QB he proved he could be in the last year’s impressive 27-3 win over Georgia Tech. His issues is inconsistency and that is where I have concerns about making him the full time starter. Who would back him up if he struggles? Right now, Jeff Beyer, a 6-4, 221-pound redshirt junior is listed as the only other QB on the roster. I sincerely doubt they’d moved Ike or Cory back to QB after playing them at receiver all spring, though they could step in should the need arise, a la Nick Sorenson, but that’s a worst-case scenario.

If the Hokies are to redshirt Taylor this season - which is making more and more sense to me - they would need to ride any inconsistencies on Glennon’s part for the entire season. I would think that if Glennon - God forbid - got hurt within the first three games, you could bring Taylor out and burn the redshirt. However, if Glennon remains healthy, you keep Taylor on the bench and give the RBs, OL and WRs a year to mature and adjust to the system. That also gives Tyrod another two years with the incoming, talent-laden ‘08-‘09 recruits.

I haven’t updated in a few days, that’s because things have been completely crazy now that football season is underway. For those that don’t know, I run a Virginia Tech Hokies football fan site called VTHokieFans.com and we’ve been cranking out the blog posts in the evenings after our full-time jobs. The kickoff of the college football season is like the start of a new year, so it’s a very exciting, albeit stressful time of year.

Anyhow, I have some good news to share with you guys! I will be going to every Virginia Tech home football game (at Lane Stadium) this year. No, I didn’t get season tickets - I did even better. I’m going to be on the field - working for the athletics department as a camera operator!

So, let me get this straight … I’m going to get paid to go to the games AND they’re going to feed me? Oh, this is just like being a sports reporter again! Only I don’t have to take the tape back after the game and edit it all together. I am very thankful and appreciative for this opportunity! I’m going to try and get tickets for some of the games so Nic and his mom can come to the game so Nic can see daddy down on the field. He’ll think that is cool!

Take care everyone and Go HOKIES!

If you were expecting a clever re-write of Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 classic, sorry, but it’s been done before … Google (yes, it’s a verb) “Twas the night before kickoff” and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

This is the night before my beloved Virginia Tech Hokies open their 2008 season in Charlotte, N.C., against the media darlings, East Carolina Pirates. Yes, you heard me - media darlings. ECU is the trendy pick amongst sports writers and talking heads to beat the Hokies tomorrow. The Detroit Free Press wrote that “ECU may have more the more talented team” and predicted an ECU victory. The Washington Post’s Kevin Blackistone said that ECU would win because the Hokies were too inexperienced and had Sean Glennon as their quarterback. Ouch.

It’s hard to hear “respected” sports journalists picking against my Hokies, especially when it’s a team like ECU. No disrespect to Skip Holtz and his team, but Tech should win this game … shouldn’t they?

Hokie fans usually fall into two categories; realists (a.k.a. pecimists) and dreamers (optimists). The realists remember humiliating losses (at home no less) to Temple and Miami (of Ohio). They remember getting blown out in bowl games by the Vols and the Tarheels.

Realists know that as long as Bryan Stinespring is the offensive coordinator of the Hokies, our offense will never amount to anything special and talent will continue to be wasted a la Eddie Royal, Josh Morgan, Josh Hyman and Justin Harper. All four of whom are in NFL camps, two of whom are likely to start in their rookie years. But if you look at their college numbers, they’re not that impressive. Why? Two letters; B and S.

Then there are the dreamers, or the eternal, rosey optimists. The blind faith followers whose credo is “I trust in Frank Beamer and the coaches because they know more than us.” Dreamers. They play their part. They try to bring the realists up from the depths of despair. I admire them because their sense of hope seems unbreakable.

I guess in the end, having the realists and the dreamers balances things out, which is important when you look at the big picture.

Tomorrow, the Hokies will take the field. I will be a nervous wreck, sitting at home on my couch, monitoring the Hokie chat rooms and message boards, watching the realists implode with every incomplete pass or Tech turnover; and the optimist get all flowery when Glennon completes a pass to the guys wearing the same color jersey. It’s like a dance and for the last 15 years, I’ve watched it (and participated at times) up close and personal for each and every game.

You’d think that since I’ve been down this road before, that I wouldn’t get so nervous and physically sick before kickoff, but I do. And I suppose I always will, as long as there is breath in my lungs and I’m coherent enough to remember that I am a Hokie fan, God willing.

So, I will retire for the evening and stare at the ceiling while I listen to every ESPN podcast I can download and then I’ll get up in the morning, have breakfast with my little boy and prepare for one of the most nerve-racking season-openers in recent memory. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to grab some pepto.

Nic and I went to Backstreets last night before the Virginia Tech women’s volleyball game. I hadn’t eaten at Backstreets since I was a student at Tech more than 11 years ago, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was very pleasantly surprised! The hostess was very nice and engaged Nic in conversation. We were seated immediately, which surprised me on a Friday night at 6:15. Try doing that at a Christiansburg restaurant on a Friday or Saturday night … good luck!

Our server was likely a college student and he did a good job. The best part of the night was the New York Style pizza we ordered (12-inch with pepperoni, sausage and green peppers). It didn’t cost any more than ordering from Pizza Hut, Domino’s, or my personal favorite, Papa John’s.

It was outstanding! By far the best pizza in Blacksburg in my opinion. Nic loved it, too! He ate an entire piece by himself. When we left, the hostess asked my son if he’d come back and see her … most definitely, but mostly for the food! I can’t wait to try their calzones, pasta and salads.

The next time you are in Blacksburg, check out Backstreets!

Have you ever had one of those days where crap just happens that makes you sick to your stomach? I mean the kind of crap that you’d rather get kicked in the “boys” than have to deal with? Ladies, I’m not sure what a suitable equivalent would be. Yeah, I had one of THOSE crappy days today. I’m not going to go into a lot of detail because frankly, most of you could care less about my problems, but I don’t mean that as a negative reflection on your character.

A lot of you would say, “call me any time,” and that’s really cool of you - I appreciate it. But I know most of you would only say it to be polite. It’s almost like asking someone “What’s up?” as you pass them in the hall. You’re not really inviting them to tell you how things are actually going … it’s merely a figure of speech. We’ve all done that dance before.

But, hopefully we all have one or two people who actually mean it when they say “call me any time.” If you do, consider yourself lucky. Today was one of those days where I was just beside myself. I felt like someone just beat the crap out of me with a 3-1/4 inch lead pipe packed with asbestos and studded with nails. Seriously, I would have rather had a complete stranger come up and kick me in the nuts and be done with it. It would have been a lot less painful.

I have a very short list of people I can call to talk me down from the ledge (figuratively people, don’t freak out) and help me through the cataclysmic range of emotions. I am an emotional guy and pretty much wear my heart on my sleeves (usually the right, bigger bicep), but when it comes to days like today, there are few people I can actually call and I know will listen to my sob story.

And while you’d think I call the people who would take my side and make me feel better, I know that’s not what I need to hear. So, I call the people who tell me the truth and tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear. Even when I’m hurting, I’m a glutton for punishment.

I know that God doesn’t give you any more than you can handle, so I take faith in that and know that there are so many people out there that have much much worse situations. So, after I step back from the aforementioned figurative ledge, I count my blessings; apologize if necessary (usually is); pray for all those involved (even the random person who kicked me in the fellas); give thanks for the many blessings that I have; and ask God to give me the strength and wisdom to come out of this a better person.

That’s all for tonight’s rant. If you read this, say a prayer for all those in worse situations and when you’re done, sneak in one for me and my family if you happen to think about it. No matter who your are or what your situation, we can all use the power of prayer.

For those that haven’t heard, I will be working for the Virginia Tech Athletics Departments’ video production team during all Hokie home football games this season. Mostly, I will be operating one of the two endzone cameras for HokieVision (the big video screen in the north endzone). I can’t think of a better way to spend a game - getting paid (and fed) to go.

Of course, we’re expecting a lot of rainfall from Tropical Storm Hanna for this game and possibly some thunderstorms, so being in a flat, open areas with a metal box next to my head, attached to a metal tripod, on a platform is certainly cause for concern, but I will get through, just as I did back in the days when I was trotting up and down the sidelines with a similar type camera on my shoulder, sloshing through mud, rain and snow.

That being said, I am going to Dick’s Sporting Goods today to pick up some rain gear because if Hanna hits as predicted, we’re going to get completely soaked on Saturday - and when I say “we” I mean everyone who is brave enough to come out in the weather. But, if you remember Hurricane Isabelle five years ago, more than 65,000 Virginia Tech fans defied wind gusts over 50 mph and torrential downpours to see the Hokies beat Texas A&M 35-19 on national TV.

I’d like to say I would expect the same turnout for this Saturday’s game against Furman, but I’m not sure that’ll happen because, well, it’s Furman, not Texas A&M. Either way, I plan on having a great time with whomever decides to brave the weather. Look for me on one of the endzone cameras.

Keep track of Tropical Storm Hanna.

Well, after a seven-year hiatus, I will return to the college football field tomorrow … as a camera operator. Yep, that’s right! This one-time sports reporter and anchor will be back behind the camera tomorrow for the Virginia Tech vs. Furman University football game in Blacksburg.

The last weather report I saw calls for a 90 percent chance of rain tomorrow morning and early afternoon. But, I am prepared. I have my rain suit all packed and ready to break out if needed. I’ll be wearing khaki shorts and an official Virginia Tech Athletics Department polo and hat, but if it is raining, you won’t be able spot me because I’ll be wearing a khaki rain jacket and pants. Regardless, I am looking forward to it.

I think the last college football game I shot was the final UVA home game in 2001 when I was the weekend anchor for WVIR in Charlottesville. I didn’t leave WVIR until March of 2002, so my last sporting event that I videotaped was probably a college basketball game.

I hope the fans brave the rain and make it out to the game tomorrow. It’ll be interesting to see how things go now that Tyrod Taylor will be playing. If can, I’ll sneak a few pictures in during the game. Stay tuned and GO HOKIES!

Today marked the first time in nearly seven years that I was behind a camera shooting a college football game - Virginia Tech vs Furman. I had initially thought I’d be on the field, but as it turns out the endzone cameras aren’t on the field. One is located in the South Endzone (see picture below) and is at the top of the steps and then down at the bottom of the upper deck. That camera is a quite a hike.

The North Endzone camera is above and to the left of the tunnel where the players come out. I shot the first quarter in the South Endzone, the second quarter in the North, third quarter in the South and the fourth quarter in the North. That’s a lot of stairs and walking/jogging between cameras, but I actually enjoyed it. It was my exercise for the day.

Surprisingly, it turned out to be a beautiful day! We were originally supposed to get some rain today, but other than a few overnight showers, we didn’t get a drop before, during or after the game. In fact, the sun was out for most of the game, which accounts for the mild sunburn on my face and neck.

I parked in the M2 parking lot, located just north of Canada and walked to the Merriman Center to meet up with the crew. One of the guys I worked with today, Mike, used to work with me at WSLS in Roanoke back in the late 90s. Another guy, Tim, is currently a videographer with the station. So, we talked shop and Mike and I reminisced about past reporters and the antics they used to get into.

After we set up the North Endzone camera, we hiked back across the field and to the Merriman Center for a pregame meal and planning session. The food was free and therefore good! Of course given the choice between fried chicken strips and bites and fresh fruit, most of us chose the chicken. Though, I did have a few bites of the fruit … to balance out the bad stuff, you know.

As for the actual game, I loved it! I was sitting there thinking, “I can’t believe they’re paying me to do this.”

Considering I haven’t shot a game in seven years, I think I did alright. Though, it did take some getting used to the controls. You see, the controls I am used to are on the camera itself; the zoom toggle is on the handset to the right of the lense and the focus is in the lense itself. But with these cameras, there are control servos attached to the tripod. It was a minor adjustment period of a couple of minutes, and after adjusting the resistance on the tripod’s head mount, I was good to go.

Now for the adventure. I bought two tickets to the game for my son and his mom. It was Nic’s (my son) first Virginia Tech football game! He’s been to several baskeball, soccer, baseball and volleyball games, but never a football game. His mom hasn’t been to a game since the 2003 Boston College game, which we lost in horrible fashion … I still have nightmares. Anyhow.

I bought a new football jersey and hat for Nic for his first game. His mom calls me at about 12:45(ish) and was asking where she should park. I tried my best to help, but there wasn’t much I could do. Then she calls me at about 1:15 and she’s clearly upset. Ruh roh. She can’t find the tickets. She swore that they were in her purse, but they’re not there now. Well, crap.

Now Nic is upset because she told him that he was going to see the Hokies play football. He’s seeing all these Hokie fans with flags and gear and just a sea of Orange and Maroon and now mommy tells him that they have to go home … in Pulaski. So, she puts him in the car and drives all the way home to get the tickets, which are sitting on the dining room table.

She drives all the way back, pays for parking … again. And calls me about halfway through halftime. She made pretty good time! I meet her and Nic at their seats in Section 3 and give Nic his hat and jersey. I say “hi” and tell her that they didn’t miss a thing in the first half, so it all worked out. I gave Nic a hug and said “goodbye” as I had to get back to the summit at Mt. South Endzone for the third quarter. Now I’m really huffing it.

And wouldn’t you know it, as soon as they get to the game, the Hokies go off for three third-quarter touchdowns! I know it was a rough adventure, but in the end, it all worked out! Plus, in the fourth quarter, when I was on Camera 2 in the North Endzone, I was able to get a nice tight shot of Nic (and his mom) and Nic was clapping and just looking cute as could be. Next thing I hear in my headset is, “Ready Camera 2 … and take Camera 2. Camera 2 you are live, hold your shot.” Sweet! Nic now sees himself on the jumbo tron (a.k.a. Hokie Vision).

He made it up there one more time, so we’re hoping that we’ll be able to see him on the Hokie Playback at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow. If he doesn’t end up on the editing table, I’ll grab a still of the video and post the pictures here and on my Flickr account.

Lastly, Nic was able to see me waving at him from across the stadium. That kid has eagle eyes, I swear! Donna (his mom) was telling me later that he was trying to talk to me as if I could hear him. It was cute!

Overall, it was a great day! Nic ended up having a great time and to be honest, I think showing up for only a half was the way to go. I’m not sure he would have sat there for a full 3-1/2 hour game. But, we’ll see they’ll probably come to the Georgia Tech game next week. I think we’ll leave the tickets at Will Call. ;) Just teasin’ Donna!

After the game, his mom dropped him off at my townhouse and we watched Toy Story 2 and then another football game. Then, before dinner, I taught him how to tackle properly by wrapping up. He’s a fast learner. That’s all for now. I’m wiped out and need to get some sleep. Nic and I are going to church tomorrow and then I think we’ll hit the playground and maybe catch a game on TV.

God bless!