The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.
I am not a superstitious guy. I have opened an umbrella in my office. I’m sure I have walked under a ladder (although I was probably NOT using it). I have certainly stepped on a crack and, as far as I knew, my mother never suffered any undue back distress. I cannot remember the last time I spilled salt, but if I did I would just clean it up, not make a bigger mess by throwing it over my shoulder.
So, once again, I am not a suspicious guy. However…
This past Friday was the 13th. Yes, Friday the 13th. I know the date has some history to it. The number itself is supposed to be unlucky. Many hotels avoid having a 13th floor. Thirteen disciples came to the Last Supper and that did not turn out well at all. Even Hammurabi (you remember him?) left the number 13 out of his famous code.
I bring this up because this past Friday was the 13th and I had a football game to do – undefeated Nazareth at undefeated Freedom. I always plan to arrive at the venue by 5:00pm for a 7:00pm game. When I get to Bethlehem School District Stadium I ALWAYS park in the same place – just across the street from the stadium. It allows easy entrance and, more importantly, easy exit. But, my space was taken! That never happens.
I was forced to find another. Okay, no big deal.
About 20 minutes before the start of the game, I was informed that the officials I was given during the week were all changed. This meant that our graphic was completely wrong. Luckily, we managed to make the change before game time, but I was left wondering why the change.
The game began and, as is the norm, I wanted to get a report from Tony Cocca, our sideline reporter, before the opening kickoff. His microphone would not work and never worked for the rest of the night. He could hear us. We could not hear him.
When a touchdown is scored, I quickly have to recap the drive and make some notes so I can recap when necessary. Freedom scored in the second period to make it 14-13. I started writing – time of score, who scored, how many TDs the player has scored this season, etc. After all, the extra point was a given. The Freedom kicker, up to that point, was a perfect 14 for 14. He missed, but I missed the miss!
For the next ten minutes or so, I kept giving the score as being tied – 14-14. I asked my color analyst why he didn’t point out my mistake. He told me he missed the miss, also.
Later in the game, I “promo-ed” a game we had dropped from the schedule. That’s right, I was building up the viewers’ expectations for another game to follow, but I was wrong. The game was originally scheduled but then dropped from the schedule.
The culmination of the night was the outcome. Every sportswriter (10 of them) picked Freedom to win the game. Nazareth won 35-33. Freedom was forced to go for a two-point conversion (because of the missed extra point that I originally missed, too). They failed.
As I walked back to my car wondering where I had to park it, I began to think that maybe this Friday the 13th stuff has some merit to it.
Thank goodness, it only comes rarely! KNOCK ON WOOD!
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- Two of the superstars in the NFL, Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers and Drew Brees of the Saints, may both be facing surgery after this past Sunday’s games. Roethlisberger grabbed his throwing elbow after throwing a pass and Brees injured his wrist and thumb after hitting the hand of a defensive tackle.
- Time for my Saquon Barkley mention (seems to come up every week). His presence has me now watching the Giants, too. He is great; his team is awful. And Eli Manning (I know his offensive line is awful) looks lost out there. He has no one to throw to and he seems to panic at times. It is time to see what his backup Daniel Jones can do. I mean, come on. I want to enjoy the Barkley games.
- Who will beat the Patriots? No one until maybe November. That’s when they have Baltimore, Philadelphia, Kansas City and Dallas. If they win those and Tom Brady stays healthy, it could be 16-0.
- Remember Keith Jackson, Don Meredith, and Howard Cosell behind the microphones for Monday Night Football? That was (are you kidding me?) 50 years ago. September 21, 1970 was the first broadcast of Monday Night Football. The Browns played the Jets that night. They played each other this week on (you guessed it) Monday Night Football. The Browns won.
- The high school football just gets better and better each week. RCN-TV has a terrific football lineup this weekend. On Friday night at 9:30pm, the undefeated Nazareth Blue Eagles take on the once-defeated Golden Hawks of Bethlehem Catholic, who “mercy-ruled” Parkland this past Saturday. Our LIVE game at 7:00pm features Parkland at Liberty. Both teams already have two losses and cannot afford another. Join us.
GARY’GUESSES (LAST WEEK –11-5) (YEAR-TO-DATE – 22-9-1 71%)
