How DO I do it?
I recently shared my sportscasting wisdom, on the air, with Andrew Donlon of River Forest, a precocious 10-year old who reminds me a lot myself. Good diction. Bright smile. . . Gigantic head. No lie, this kid's working with an 8" hat size. Huuuuge head!
I've included a link here for you to view our meeting.
I'm frequently asked for particulars about doing sports for this show, on this shift, on how I get my teeth so white and my skin so tan. I'll try now to satisfy your curiosity.
Working on morning television can be fairly hellacious. I am always tired. ALWAYS. Hallucinations are common, but I've gotten used to moving objects leaving trails.
I'm at my desk no later than 2:45 AM every morning. People are stunned whenever I tell them this. "Why do you get in so eaaaarrrlly?" Do you people think television magic happens on accident? If I were smart enough to walk in off the street and speak and act so fluidly, I wouldn't have picked a job where I have to wake up at 1:30 in the morning.
I break only for meals (8 - 10 per shift) and for make-up. Not ashamed to admit I wear makeup. Not only do I wear it, I baste my face with it like sauce on a rib. Removing it usually takes 5 - 6 makeup wipes, which my 8 o'clock (AM) shadow will trap fragments of. I'll often run errands after work, and think "Wow, a lot of people in this store recognize me!" Then I'll get home, look in a mirror, and realize "No jackass, they were wondering why that idiot had white crap all over his face."
I don't lead a very glamorous life. I hardly go to games, another fact that's hard for people to believe. I tell them, when the Bulls start moving their games up to 11:30 AM on a Wednesday, I'll be the first one on line for the media buffet. I don't spend any time in locker rooms, and I've just completed the 4,000th hour of community service I've donated in exchange for not having to go into any locker rooms.
But I do watch every single bit of tape our day-time sports come back with from practices and games. With my lucky Harris Bank pen in hand, I'll scroll through tapes of the Bears, and the Bulls and the Hawks. Ten minutes in, my producer usually confiscates the pen, as I'm trying to jab it into my eye.
This can be a fairly tedious job. But ultimately, those 25 on-air minutes a day I get to do what I love, make it all worthwhile.
Well, I think that answers most of the questions I've gotten. OH . . . my teeth. . . ? Three parts peroxide, two parts baking soda, one part castor oil, and just a touch of cumin.
Hope that helps.
Comments
Pat,
You do a great job with the sports. I love the New Jersey humor! Keep up the great work and have a great holiday.
Posted by: Becky L | December 1, 2006 4:08 PM
Pat--I love your dry sense of humor. I did see the telecast of Andrew doing the sports. But I love the link of the day before in which you gave him so many behind-the-scene tips, including sending him home with your jacket for him to sleep in....to imbibe your talents. Thanks
Posted by: Anne Wilmot | December 2, 2006 8:45 AM
Pat-I saw this and I thought it was funny! I love your "special" clips like this and the one with Robbie Gould. You need to do more like those. You've go a talent for acting!
Posted by: Anastasia Beaverhausen | December 5, 2006 8:28 AM
I am frickin' dying over here! you always make for a good morning of sportscasting!!!! HYSTARICAL as always!!!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU PAT!!!
Posted by: Nichole T | December 6, 2006 1:22 PM
The story today in regard to the unsafe busing in Lansing is also occuring in Lywood and unincorporated Chicago Heights. The children who attend Sandridge school must pay for the bus if they want to ride and it is unsafe there are no sidewalks and this is a heavy truck route with many corn fields. The children who live in unicorporated chicago height live over 2 miles and can only ride if the parents pay and then seek reimbursement. Wwhen approaching the district for a couple of years about this I was told by the school they had to provide transportation but no one said it had to be free.So then does this mean if the parents can't afford to pay and wait that reimbursement that their children will have to be in danger walking to school or will they have to miss school. I realize that parents have a responsibility to get their children to school but the school and state has a responsibility to see to their safe arrival. Are they suggesting that parents are not working or should miss work to provide safety for their children. These buses that are being provided at a cost because the school district themselves know the dangerous travel involved
Posted by: DENISE | August 27, 2008 9:09 AM