After broadcasting the first-ever NFL overtime game in London yesterday, I received multiple tweets asking if I would make it back to The Garden in time to call the New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning matchup. Considering the opening face-off took place less than six hours after the conclusion of the Washington Redskins vs. Cincinnati Bengals 27-27 tie, it would have been a bit of a challenge.
Too bad the Concorde is no longer in commission.
During the craziest times of the year for me, I often feel like I am in two places at once. In fact, during the past month, I experienced that sensation on numerous occasions as I traveled across the country (and the Atlantic Ocean) to call games in four different pro sports … in five different time zones!
During the month of October, my itinerary included stops in Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Boston, Brooklyn, Kansas City, and London. Working in “offices” such as the broadcast booths at Soldier Field, Nationals Park, Dodger Stadium, FedEx Field, Madison Square Garden, TD Garden, Barclays Center, Arrowhead Stadium … and the “Broadcast Gantry” at iconic Wembley Stadium.
I had the privilege of calling a classic Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Washington Nationals National League Division Series, including Game 5 – the longest nine-inning, postseason game in Major League Baseball history (Clayton Kershaw’s first career save); Jimmy Vesey‘s first NHL goal; the final two New York Knicks preseason dress rehearsals for what hopes to be an exciting 2016-17 campaign; Drew Brees’ record-setting 100th career 300-yard passing game; and the 17th installment of the NFL International Series in London.
It was an honor to work with some of the best analysts in the business during the past month, including Daryl Johnston, Harold Reynolds, Tom Verducci, John Lynch, Dave Maloney and Walt “Clyde” Frazier.
Between watching game film, reading mounds of newspaper articles and pouring through statistics, I visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in DC; as well as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Tower Bridge, Harrods, Hyde Park and the U.S. Ambassador’s House in London.
As I fly back to the U.S. and prepare for tomorrow’s Rangers vs. Blues broadcast, the trick-or-treaters are out and we get set to flip the calendar to November. The Blueshirts are off to a 6-3-0 start and the Knicks look ahead to a busy month after splitting their first two games.
Following a whirlwind October, I look forward to settling in next to Dave and Clyde for what is hopefully a thrilling next six months and beyond. See you at the World’s Most Famous Arena!
