I have been working in the radio-tv sports arena since the mid 60s starting college. So I can rightfully be considered a grizzled old veteran. I have seen or announced a whole lot of games during that period. Yet, I can still get a lump in the throat and maybe tears in the eyes when I see an athlete overcome by the joy of success.
I remember when I called the final out of Kenny Rogers' perfect game for the Texas Rangers in 1994 I was almost choked up for words. The emotion of the moment hit me.
Thursday night while sitting on the couch in my home the same thing happened when I saw Korean figure skater Kim Yu Na perform what one of the NBC commentators called the most perfect long program in the history of the sport.
Certainly the joy in her face and the crowd reaction would have sent chills up the spine of even the most jaded. It was that special.
Imagine having a whole nation behind one person. Imagine the pressure on the 19 year old to fulfill her nation's dream of winning the gold in figure skating. Imagine the relief when the routine was finished and perfection had been achieved. That is what I was thinking of when I saw Kim Yu Na's face.
While I still work some college basketball and college baseball games the bulk of my career has been spent with major league baseball and the NBA. There is no question the quality of ability is at its highest on the major professional levels, but the emotion, the joy of winning and the heartbreak of losing is not that evident.
In fact, unless a player hits a game winning home run...or a hoopster scores a winning basket..or maybe a pitcher tosses a perfect game it barely exists.
That's too bad. I don't mind occasionally being moved to those chills or even tears of joy of happiness for the success of others. Maybe that is why I have continued to work in my field for all my adult life.
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