Saturday, March 21, 2009

Like An Old Friend

I have very distinct memories of sports talk radio.

When I was a little girl, I would be trapped in a car full of boys for hours (one of the many joys of being the only daughter). My dad always listens to the AM radio. I don't think I've ever heard him listen to music in the car, with the exception of a little Meatloaf.

My dad is also a really big St. Louis Cardinals fan, and when he was younger he would spend hours listening to the Cardinals' games with his dad and two brothers. Naturally, whenever there was a game on we would be listening to it.

I catch myself tuning into games on the radio frequently. I just turned on the Angels game when I got into work and heard Steve Klauke call a spectacular play that a shortstop made to catch a runner from reaching first, and it felt like I had just seen an old friend.

I spent countless hours listening to that man call the Salt Lake Bees games this past summer, so hearing his voice on the radio made me feel as if I was driving from Salt Lake back to Provo while the team was on the road.

Even now, I am sitting at work and the BYU baseball game is on the radio in the background and sound of Brent Norton's voice seems so familiar in the background of everything going on around me.

Now if only the team could make a seven-run comeback in the top of the ninth....

Friday, March 13, 2009

Spectating

Yesterday I had to opportunity to attend a baseball game as a spectator for the first time since I watched my cousin Eddie's team play against the Angels' scout team past summer.

I've seen plenty of games since then, but they were all while I was working.

Please do not misunderstand me, because I love working baseball games, but there is something different about sitting in the stands, feeling the sun on your skin, watching the game, listening to the sounds of the ball park.

As I sat at the BYU vs. Utah game at Franklin Covey field I turned to Carey and proclaimed, "I should do this for the rest of my life."

It's an interesting aspiration considering my dream job would be in the Bigs, but I always want to be able to be out at a baseball game and be able to love every minute of it.

As I learn more and more about the sport, spectating becomes increasingly more satisfying. Shane Loux spent several summer nights teaching me how to tell what pitch was thrown while he was charting.

After spending time soaking in the knowledge of scouts every night, I can begin to see things in the game that I never saw before.

I had a great time sitting at the park and taking it all in, without having to worry about writing a game recap, injury updates, posting lineups, noting lineup changes, feeding stats to TV or tracking down obscure stats from years past.

But getting to do that for my job is pretty good too.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Dear Jason

Dear Jason,

You Jerk. Melissa was too good for you anyway. Enjoy heartless Molly. Enjoy public scrutiny for your despicable behavior.

Go Melissa.

I've heard rumors that ABC made Jason do it this way if he wanted to be with Molly and all I can say is what an A-Hole he is for agreeing to it.

I hope Jason and Molly break up. Today.

Best of Luck,

Jillian

P.S. See, I'm girlie if I watch the Bachelor.

Monday, March 2, 2009

February Sucks, Here Comes March

So I hold on strongly to the claim that February is the worst month of the year.

Surprisingly, it is not because of Valentine's Day.

Despite it being only 28 days (29 on a leap year), it seems to drag on as one of the longest months in the sports world.

Football is over, basketball is dragging on and baseball is yet to begin.

See, January is awesome because NCAA basketball is still exciting and NFL playoffs are going on. Plus, everyone is still reveling in the holiday glory.

February is cold, and conference races in basketball don't really get all that exciting until the very end of the month or until March. The Super Bowl is exciting, but that is the very beginning of the month. NBA enters the All-Star Break with the trade deadline, but I don't really care for the NBA.

Spring Training doesn't get exciting until March and need I say more than March Madness?

In short, I was really ready for March to come around.

I would like to add a disclaimer that my life isn't all sports, but I like sports, my job is in sports and that is why I write about it and I watch Sportscenter. I like girlie things, but February is cold and I like spring clothes better.