The frost touches the end of the lilac bushes where the leaves used to hang. A few of the once green petals, now boasting brown tones, line the base of the chaparral which is long overdue for a trim. The crisp air echoes with the sound of a bouncing basketball, flat from the frigid temperature. The sight of my breath escapes my lips. The combination of subfreezing temps and physical activity causes my lungs to burn. The ball continues to split time between my hands and the uneven gravel driveway before clanking off the iron and tickling the nylon below. Sunset will be here soon, its natural light disappearing beyond the horizon. No matter, the headlights of the 1993 Silverado will serve as as makeshift gymnasium lights for my personal playground. Another shot grazes the side of the rim forcing me to sprint toward the icy lawn to avoid the ball splashing into the puddle nearby. This was my routine. Dozens of shots, hundreds of dribbles, day after day. I loved basketball, lived for it in fact. My dream was to play in the National Basketball Association. As I perfected my form I would imagine myself on the court at American Airlines Arena with the clock ticking away. "Three, two, one...." the ball leaves my hand as the horn sounds. If the ball doesn't splash through the net the countdown starts over. If the spherical piece of rubber, which just so happens to be painted in Orlando Magic black and blue, falls between the 18 inches of orange iron the imaginary crowd roars in approval. Dozens of shots, hundreds of dribbles, day after day. During our childhood we are told to chase our dreams. Parents and teachers tell us we can be anything we want to be. "Dream big" they say. My dreams were above me as it would turn out. My 6-foot-2 frame was too slow to accommodate the demands of a guard in college, let alone the NBA. Fortunately, sports would leave a mark on my future. The end result of my dream may have changed, but my aspirations did not. As a recently declared communications major, I would find myself narrating play-by-play on Monday Night Football. Perhaps March Madness and buzzer-beaters would be my calling. "Chase your dreams" they told me. "Be whatever you want" they said. Through hard work and an ever-improving ability I would land my dream job. I still believe those practices to be true. By soaking in knowledge and advancing my capabilities I believe there is a probability of landing the occupation of my desires. The path to any dream is littered with hurdles and mine is no exception, though the hindrances in the sportscasting world are not as I expected. "We are not perfect. But we'll play hard. And we'll make the corrections." Jon Gruden spoke those words during his tenure as the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The man dedicated his life to coaching, making stops from the University of Tennessee to the Oakland Raiders and eventually Buccaneers. But not even a Super Bowl can preserve a job in professional sports. Gruden has now tested the broadcasting world, starring on, you guessed it, Monday Night Football. Yes, Jon Gruden occupies one of the very positions I have been told to work toward. He's not the only one. Coaches and athletes continually land jobs in sports broadcasting when their careers have come to a close. Many improve a fan's experience of the game: Bill Cowher, Hubie Brown and Sean Casey bring personal involvement to their discussion. Others provide more entertainment value analytical knowledge. Charles Barkley sparks controversy, John Kruk overhypes and fans spend more time guessing what Lou Holtz says than listening to his opinions. As sports continue to be a 24-hour commodity, ex-athletes and former coaches linger as mainstays on our television sets. Young journalists set out to conquer the sports world but find it littered with those who no longer play or tutor. In 2013 ESPN admitted they keep a running list of NFL players they will pursue as broadcasters. Sports is not the only landing spot for celebrities. The late Joan Rivers made a career of bashing personalities' outfits. Soak in the irony. Now NBC News has announced the hiring of Pippa Middleton, sister of the famous Kate, one of Britain's most recent royals. Pippa joins the likes of Chelsea Clinton and Jenna Bush as correspondents paid by NBC. "If you've got a famous name and a degree that doesn't even begin with the letter 'J,' you've got yourself a job." The article nails it in one simple quote. In today's broadcasting world, sports or otherwise, does a name outweigh talent? Many journalists continue to land jobs at the highest level and deservedly so. Still many "stars" absorb these positions despite their lack of experience. This does not mean I will give up on those dreams my brain imagined all those years ago. 29-year-old me owes it to 12-year-old me to continue the pursuit of my goals. It may not be easy, but I join forces with other journalists who still believe in working hard to achieve objectives. Because in my world, true talent beats a name damn near every time.
1 Comment
Shirley
11/25/2014 01:42:19 am
Right on! We find it's the same in the publishing world, but at least some "authors" are honest to admit he/she had a ghost writer.
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AuthorRichie is a small-town boy chasing big-city dreams. When he's not involved with sports, he's spending time with his wife, Fallon; their yorkie, Tinker; and their Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rosie. Archives
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