HEY YOU GUYS! I’M WRITING ABOUT SPORTS!
It’s kind of a shocker, since I’ve been writing about making sh*t happen, making ridiculous sh*t happen in Las Vegas and crossing a huge item off my bucket list the past couple months. I am very happy to report that:
a) sports are still awesome.
b) I won’t be traveling for a bit and get to enjoy the summer in Connecticut (this state gets a seriously bad rap…I’m planning on proving that wrong and writing about it soon).
c) my work assignment has me falling in love with baseball.
Since the start of the season, I’ve been on the MLB highlight unit, which is a group of production assistants that get assigned to the biggest baseball games, and cut highlights for Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter. Much of the time, we cut the highlights for a whole series (I’ve got Phillies-Cardinals the next four days).
I’ve enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. Below are the variety of reasons why.
A question that burns deep in my soul: would we care half as much about Bryce Harper if he didn’t have a mohawk? Well, yes, we would, because he’s a 19-year-old BOSS, more BOSS than I am at 25 or ever will be.
I love it when players go under the radar, and you’re all like, wait, who? Like Mike Trout of the Angels, who is hitting leadoff and is out-bossing Harper statiscally (sans mohawk. I’m telling you, IT’S THE MOHAWK). Or Jonathan Lucroy of the Brewers, who is one of the league leaders of hitting with runners in scoring position and catching like a BAMF. Or Melky Cabrera, who’s leading the majors in hits (all the Yankees fans are now making sad panda faces). I could go on and on, but it just goes to show there are so many story lines, and the ones that go unnoticed are sometimes the real gems.
The voice of Vin Scully. The first time I had a Dodgers series (where the games typically start at 10:10 ET) I nearly fell asleep 14 times. Approximately. It’s so damn smooth and the perfect tone.
I may or may not be responsible for Jacoby Ellsbury’s busted shoulder and Matt Kemp’s bum hamstring. I cut the highlight for the Ellsbury shoulder game, and had Dodgers games five of the next eight days after Kemp initially tweaked the hammy. I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’.
It’s been a combination of these things, and realizing what a huge responsibility I have, that have invigorated my appreciation for the sport. My job is a blast, but I take it seriously. Viewers at home are relying on me to show them the best video, the important plays, and bits of information they wouldn’t have known otherwise.
What’s been your favorite baseball story of the season? More importantly, is Bryce Harper’s mohawk really that powerful?
Meg, it is the hottest thing in the world to read your baseball stuff. I’m not even kidding, and I’m not trying to sexualize and demean you or any of that nonsense, just telling you that it’s another reason why I LOVE YOU. I haven’t followed nearly as much baseball as I usually do or as I should have, but you have reinvigorated me!
Keep it goin’, girl.
xo.