The World Series victory by the New York Yankees was a wonderful reminder of why I'm a sports fan - and the absolute joy it can bring you. But - as we well know - it can also bring immense grief, and there's often more of that, since one's team is not likely to win a World Championship every year. So here's my list of my top three most joyous - and most upsetting - sports rooting events. I'd love to hear yours.
Best:
1-Rangers win the Stanley Cup (1994)
As a lifelong Ranger fan and longtime season ticket holder, I was lucky enough to be in attendance when the Rangers broke a 54-year empty spell and captured the Stanley Cup by beating Vancouver 3-2 in game 7. I'll never forget the ecstasy that filled the Garden when the buzzer sounded and the fireworks exploded - nor when Mark Messier lifted the Stanley Cup over his head. Still brings tears to my eyes when I see it.
2-Jets win Super Bowl III (1969)
I was the only kid in 7th grade who KNEW the Jets would win. After all, Joe Namath had guaranteed it. I watched in delight on our TV set as the Jets beat the Colts 16-7, and radio announcer Merle Harmon proclaimed "The Jets are champions of the football world!". Yes, I was one of those people who watched the TV with the sound down because I liked the radio play-by-play better. You can't do that now because they won't be in sync!
3-Knicks win game 7 of 1970 finals
The game when Willis Reed limped onto the court. I was SO nervous before the game I could barely watch. Then Willis hit his first two shots and the outcome was never in doubt. Marv Albert's call was thrilling. (Yes, I again was watching the TV with the sound down).
Honorable mention: any of the Yankees championships during my lifetime, especially 1977 (Reggie) and 1996 (ending the 18-year drought).
Worst:
1-Rangers lose 5th and deciding game to the Islanders (1984)
The blown opportunity of a lifetime. Rangers battled the 4-time Stanley Cup champ Islanders to a 5th game. They were behind with 30 seconds to go when Don Maloney tied the game to force overtime. (Yes, he did it with a high stick, but let's forget that ..) There was our chance to be the team that ended the Islanders reign as champs. It was RIGHT there. Ken Morrow ended that dream in OT, and when the puck went in, I screamed "Nooooooooooooooooooooo!". It hurts just to retell the story.
2-Jets lead Cleveland by 10 with two minutes to go in playoffs, but lose. (1986)
Mark Gastineau gets called for roughing the passer on 3rd and 25. I've hated him ever since. This one hurt. Badly. They would have gone to the championship game.
3-Yankees blow game 7 of the World Series to Arizona in 9th inning. (2001).
This one hurt the most because Mo Rivera - my favorite Yankee of all time - was on the mound. He broke three bats in the 9th inning, but lost primarily because of his own throwing error on what should have been a double play ball. Also because they won three thrilling games in New York and went back to Arizona leading 3-2.
Dishonorable mention: the 2004 ALCS. Hard to get over that one, but that agony was spread over several games.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Happy Anniversary, CNBC
In a frightening reminder of how fast time passes by, CNBC is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its launch this week.
It was on a Monday - April 17, 1989 - that CNBC made its debut. I'd been hired in February as an associate producer, based mostly on an off-the-cuff remark I made to Peter Sturtevant, the VP of business news, during my interview.
He said, "So, what can you do for us?"
And I said, "I can get a lot of material on the air fast with no money, no time, no resources, and no people."
And he said, "you're hired!". True story.
20 years later, I can tell you I have no idea how we ever got on the air. We literally made the whole thing up out of thin air through a series of meetings, rehearsals, random suggestions, and many dinner-and-drinks sessions.
The fun part is that ANY idea you had was considered fair game. There was no "gee, we don't usually do it that way" because no one had done anything ANY way! I had a particularly good time during rehearsals because I was tapped to play the role of our guests - all of them. Someone would produce a segment on any topic, and I'd be the guest and literally make up the answers. I was pretty good at it, too. Thankfully, we were able to get real guests to come on once we launched.
It wasn't pretty at first. Truth is, we really didn't know what we wanted to be, but since they'd saddled us with the name Consumer News and Business Channel - we figured we'd try to make that fit. That explains why we would have a market segment followed by a demonstration of how to cook a chicken properly. People who've heard this story think it's an urban legend. I was there. It isn't. The chicken was very tasty, by the way.
I also remember that we somehow managed to forget some important details along the way. Like when - three days before our launch - someone said, "So, how do the right video tapes get to the playback area again?" The answer was .... "um ....... oh my gosh we need a tape desk!!". No one thought of it. One of our ace assignment editors, Judy Block, literally invented one on the spot - constructed of a stack of cardboard boxes and a chair. Improvisation was very much a key to our early days.
Somehow, we managed to get the ball rolling and slowly but surely, we created something that worked. And had a great deal of fun in the process. The 1991 acquisition of Financial News Network was a crucial turning point, giving us the cable penetration we needed and many talented new staffers as well.
As one of the lucky ones who was there then and now, I'm still in awe of how big it's become. I'm still astounded that Page Six cares enough to gossip about us. I still get a kick out of how much viewers are into what we do and the people who appear on our air. I even get a kick out of how passionately we get criticized, especially remembering back to the days when no one gave a hoot what we did - or even knew we existed.
No matter what you think of CNBC, I can tell you this: it's the best place I ever worked. Having left for 7 years and come back, I appreciate it more than I ever did. It's a wonderful, supportive group of people - both co-workers and bosses - and I hope I'm lucky enough to spend the rest of my career there.
It was on a Monday - April 17, 1989 - that CNBC made its debut. I'd been hired in February as an associate producer, based mostly on an off-the-cuff remark I made to Peter Sturtevant, the VP of business news, during my interview.
He said, "So, what can you do for us?"
And I said, "I can get a lot of material on the air fast with no money, no time, no resources, and no people."
And he said, "you're hired!". True story.
20 years later, I can tell you I have no idea how we ever got on the air. We literally made the whole thing up out of thin air through a series of meetings, rehearsals, random suggestions, and many dinner-and-drinks sessions.
The fun part is that ANY idea you had was considered fair game. There was no "gee, we don't usually do it that way" because no one had done anything ANY way! I had a particularly good time during rehearsals because I was tapped to play the role of our guests - all of them. Someone would produce a segment on any topic, and I'd be the guest and literally make up the answers. I was pretty good at it, too. Thankfully, we were able to get real guests to come on once we launched.
It wasn't pretty at first. Truth is, we really didn't know what we wanted to be, but since they'd saddled us with the name Consumer News and Business Channel - we figured we'd try to make that fit. That explains why we would have a market segment followed by a demonstration of how to cook a chicken properly. People who've heard this story think it's an urban legend. I was there. It isn't. The chicken was very tasty, by the way.
I also remember that we somehow managed to forget some important details along the way. Like when - three days before our launch - someone said, "So, how do the right video tapes get to the playback area again?" The answer was .... "um ....... oh my gosh we need a tape desk!!". No one thought of it. One of our ace assignment editors, Judy Block, literally invented one on the spot - constructed of a stack of cardboard boxes and a chair. Improvisation was very much a key to our early days.
Somehow, we managed to get the ball rolling and slowly but surely, we created something that worked. And had a great deal of fun in the process. The 1991 acquisition of Financial News Network was a crucial turning point, giving us the cable penetration we needed and many talented new staffers as well.
As one of the lucky ones who was there then and now, I'm still in awe of how big it's become. I'm still astounded that Page Six cares enough to gossip about us. I still get a kick out of how much viewers are into what we do and the people who appear on our air. I even get a kick out of how passionately we get criticized, especially remembering back to the days when no one gave a hoot what we did - or even knew we existed.
No matter what you think of CNBC, I can tell you this: it's the best place I ever worked. Having left for 7 years and come back, I appreciate it more than I ever did. It's a wonderful, supportive group of people - both co-workers and bosses - and I hope I'm lucky enough to spend the rest of my career there.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sasquatch Lives
We like to think that when our time on earth is up, we'll be remembered for our good deeds and notable achievements.
I like to think that as well. But - as I recently discovered - a clear early contender in the "things people will remember most about Peter" contest is a coat.
It's not just any coat. It was a winter coat I bought at the Burlington Coat Factory in anticipation of another cold Ithaca winter at Cornell. It had, as you can see above, a rather distinctive look.
In my defense ... ah, forget it. There is no defense. I just liked the coat. It kept me warm. And I acquired a new nickname in the process - at least when I wore the coat: Sasquatch.
I loved that coat. It was warm. It had lots of pockets. And it amused untold dozens of my Cornell classmates.
Eventually, the coat wore out and was discarded. (There's no truth to the rumor that it got up and left one night to return to its former home deep in the woods ...) I forgot about it and went on to more traditional forms of winter wear that weren't quite as distinctive but certainly invited less abuse.
Recently, I was digging up old pictures to scan for Facebook and came across one of me wearing Sasquatch. I figured if any picture was a "must-post", that was it. So I did.
Not 20 seconds had gone by since I'd clicked "save" when I got an IM from a college friend: "OMG!!!! The coat!!!".
A few dozen comments later, it came to me. My defining moment had been in the books for 30 years, and I'd never realized it. Even my current group of friends and co-workers took the opportunity to comment on Sasquatch. I enjoyed all the comments - even the semi-abusive ones (all in good fun, of course).
I hope, of course, to have a few more memorable accomplishments. But for now, it appears that having owned Sasquatch is at or near the top of the list. You know, I just noticed my current winter coat has a few rips in it ...
Sunday, January 18, 2009
The Sheep Toss And Other Fun Facebook Activities
Let me admit something right up front: I love Facebook.
I love that it puts me in touch with old friends. I love that it lets me know what my current group of friends is doing. Even if some insist on updating their status about 20 times a day. I find that more amusing than annoying. "Joe Smith is leaving the house. Joe Smith has left the house. Joe Smith has arrived at work. Joe Smith is going to the gym." Me, I probably only update my status about 4-5 times a week. I'm either not that creative, or just not that exciting.
But I have to admit, I've yet to fathom why Facebook asks me to do certain things.
The other day, it suggested that I might want to "throw a sheep at" my wife. We've been married for almost 10 years and have discovered many and varied ways to have fun together. Amazingly enough, the idea of "sheep throwing" has never come up. Not once. Although perhaps I should have "thrown a sheep" at her, since she "twittered" me. I'm still not sure what that means, but apparently it's something good.
It was also suggested to me that I might want to throw a "flaming Tabasco snowball" at a friend. So I did. Hey, the friend threw some sort of ersatz snowball at me first, so it was only fair that I respond in kind.
Today alone, I've been challenged to take a movie quiz, invited to be a "poker buddy", given and received good karma, and been the recipient of a matzah ball.
I'm not really sure how I got involved in all these activities, and I'm not really sure what I actually did, if anything.
But so far, whatever I did do, did not involve a sheep.
Which is usually a good thing.
I love that it puts me in touch with old friends. I love that it lets me know what my current group of friends is doing. Even if some insist on updating their status about 20 times a day. I find that more amusing than annoying. "Joe Smith is leaving the house. Joe Smith has left the house. Joe Smith has arrived at work. Joe Smith is going to the gym." Me, I probably only update my status about 4-5 times a week. I'm either not that creative, or just not that exciting.
But I have to admit, I've yet to fathom why Facebook asks me to do certain things.
The other day, it suggested that I might want to "throw a sheep at" my wife. We've been married for almost 10 years and have discovered many and varied ways to have fun together. Amazingly enough, the idea of "sheep throwing" has never come up. Not once. Although perhaps I should have "thrown a sheep" at her, since she "twittered" me. I'm still not sure what that means, but apparently it's something good.
It was also suggested to me that I might want to throw a "flaming Tabasco snowball" at a friend. So I did. Hey, the friend threw some sort of ersatz snowball at me first, so it was only fair that I respond in kind.
Today alone, I've been challenged to take a movie quiz, invited to be a "poker buddy", given and received good karma, and been the recipient of a matzah ball.
I'm not really sure how I got involved in all these activities, and I'm not really sure what I actually did, if anything.
But so far, whatever I did do, did not involve a sheep.
Which is usually a good thing.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Financial Markets & Sour Stomachs
"My stomach hurts!"
That memorable quote - one that's stuck with me for the past 21 years - occurred on October 19, 1987, in the midst of the now-infamous crash of '87. It came from my fellow producer/reporter at CBS Radio, Maureen Clark, who crystallized what all of us were feeling as we watched the Dow lose 22% of its value in a single day.
We worked for a daily half-hour show called "Business Update", and it was the first time I experienced that now familiar pit-of-the-stomach feeling about a story I was also trying to cover. I had a Quotron on my desk that displayed the major market averages, plus all the stocks I owned, on one screen. All during the bull market that preceded the crash, I happily watched while most of those investments went nowhere but up.
However, this day, the screen was red. Very red. I was watching my net worth disappear while trying to interview people and write and voice stories for that day's show. It was a struggle, but we got through it, and put on an excellent show on a day when suddenly, EVERYONE cared about business and financial news.
I've thought about that day quite a bit these past few weeks, as we face what's arguably the most severe financial crisis in decades. Everyone at CNBC - both on air and off - felt an enormous weight of responsibility. This was no longer a business and financial story. It was THE story. And - it's fair to say that - although I didn't poll each and every one of my CNBC co-workers - we all had that pit-of-the-stomach feeling to some degree. In my not-so-impartial opinion, that makes the kickass job we did even more impressive.
CNBC employees can't invest in individual stocks (except for parent company GE), but I can guarantee you that we were all feeling that sick feeling while watching the value of our 401Ks and various mutual fund investments sink.
Being an eternal optimist (one of my co-workers once called me a financial "Pollyanna", a description I gladly accept), I believe many will look back at this period and say "why didn't I buy XYZ then?" Arguments over the details of the bailout aside, we WILL get through this. It may take a very long time, but we will.
Until then, however, my stomach still hurts.
That memorable quote - one that's stuck with me for the past 21 years - occurred on October 19, 1987, in the midst of the now-infamous crash of '87. It came from my fellow producer/reporter at CBS Radio, Maureen Clark, who crystallized what all of us were feeling as we watched the Dow lose 22% of its value in a single day.
We worked for a daily half-hour show called "Business Update", and it was the first time I experienced that now familiar pit-of-the-stomach feeling about a story I was also trying to cover. I had a Quotron on my desk that displayed the major market averages, plus all the stocks I owned, on one screen. All during the bull market that preceded the crash, I happily watched while most of those investments went nowhere but up.
However, this day, the screen was red. Very red. I was watching my net worth disappear while trying to interview people and write and voice stories for that day's show. It was a struggle, but we got through it, and put on an excellent show on a day when suddenly, EVERYONE cared about business and financial news.
I've thought about that day quite a bit these past few weeks, as we face what's arguably the most severe financial crisis in decades. Everyone at CNBC - both on air and off - felt an enormous weight of responsibility. This was no longer a business and financial story. It was THE story. And - it's fair to say that - although I didn't poll each and every one of my CNBC co-workers - we all had that pit-of-the-stomach feeling to some degree. In my not-so-impartial opinion, that makes the kickass job we did even more impressive.
CNBC employees can't invest in individual stocks (except for parent company GE), but I can guarantee you that we were all feeling that sick feeling while watching the value of our 401Ks and various mutual fund investments sink.
Being an eternal optimist (one of my co-workers once called me a financial "Pollyanna", a description I gladly accept), I believe many will look back at this period and say "why didn't I buy XYZ then?" Arguments over the details of the bailout aside, we WILL get through this. It may take a very long time, but we will.
Until then, however, my stomach still hurts.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Hail and Farewell, Yankee Stadium
Yes, a blog bidding farewell to Yankee Stadium will not win the "Most Original Idea For A Blog" sweepstakes this week. But since my last blog before this detailed my memorable last trip ever to Shea Stadium, there's kind of a nice synergy here.
My wife, Peri, and I were lucky enough to be invited to the last game ever at Yankee Stadium last night. (Thanks to my friend of 34 years, Keith Olbermann, for inviting us. You're a good man, KO!). It was a happy and uplifting experience, and - to my surprise - not the least bit sad.
That's because it really is all about the moments and memories. Yankee Stadium is beautiful when you're already sitting in your seat, staring out at the lush green field. If you're on your way TO the Stadium, or in its halls, walkways, and concession areas, not so much. To call it a "pit" wouldn't be inaccurate.
Also, it's been well documented elsewhere that THIS is not the Yankee Stadium of Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, most recently by Tom Verducci in Sports Illustrated.
My most memorable moments occurred in the now long-dead Yankee Stadium, the one with the poles obstructing the views from the reserved seats, the one with the original steel facade lining the top of the upper deck. That's where I saw my first Yankee game in May of 1967 with my grandfather. And that's where I had MY most memorable in-person moment.
It was Memorial Day, 1968. The once-great Mickey Mantle was in his final year as a Yankee, a shadow of his former self, but still a favorite of the fans and one very enthusiastic 12-year old fan - me.
The Yankees played the Washington Senators in a doubleheader (remember those?) and for one day, Mickey was 25 again. In game one, he went 5-for-5 with two tremendous home runs into the upper deck in right field. I'd never heard a crowd roar that loud in my life. The Yankees won that game 13-4, and although they lost the second game, that's still the game that stands out in my mind as a personal favorite.
I'm told by people in the know (OK, it was KO)that when people walk into the new Yankee Stadium, they'll rediscover the OLD Yankee Stadium. KO says while the Mets went for "functional" with Citifield, the Yankees went for "iconic", and nailed it. I'll be looking forward to returning to the Yankee Stadium of my youth next season. With much cleaner bathrooms!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
My Brush With Beatle Greatness
With six words, Billy Joel gave about 60,000 Shea Stadium fans the thrill of a lifetime last night: "Ladies and gentlemen, Sir Paul McCartney!"
Not since Mookie's grounder went through Buckner's legs has Shea Stadium been as loud or shook as hard as it did last night.
It was Billy Joel's "Last Play At Shea" - the second of two concerts designed to give Shea, which is closing at year's end, its musical sendoff.
We knew there would be "special musical guests" - the names had been leaked, so everyone knew that Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Steven Tyler, and Roger Daltrey would all come on for one song at some point. They did, and they were terrific.
But when Billy came back for an encore - and everyone was expecting to hear the opening notes to "Piano Man" - he threw one of the best curveballs in the history of Shea Stadium: "Ladies and gentlemen, Sir Paul McCartney!".
When they began to play "I Saw Her Standing There", I nearly wept. Yes, I know, if you're not of a certain age, that reaction seems ridiculous. I am. And it's not. And when he came out again and played "Let It Be" - there were some dry eyes in the house, but I didn't see them.
I watched the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. I bought every album. My sister was a member of their fan club. In short: I did (and do) love the Beatles. Obviously, I'm a little late on the idea of ever seeing them live. But I came damn close last night!
So thanks to Billy Joel - a terrific musician and performer who gladly upstaged himself to bring Sir Paul on. And give Beatle fans like me the thrill of a lifetime.
Not since Mookie's grounder went through Buckner's legs has Shea Stadium been as loud or shook as hard as it did last night.
It was Billy Joel's "Last Play At Shea" - the second of two concerts designed to give Shea, which is closing at year's end, its musical sendoff.
We knew there would be "special musical guests" - the names had been leaked, so everyone knew that Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Steven Tyler, and Roger Daltrey would all come on for one song at some point. They did, and they were terrific.
But when Billy came back for an encore - and everyone was expecting to hear the opening notes to "Piano Man" - he threw one of the best curveballs in the history of Shea Stadium: "Ladies and gentlemen, Sir Paul McCartney!".
When they began to play "I Saw Her Standing There", I nearly wept. Yes, I know, if you're not of a certain age, that reaction seems ridiculous. I am. And it's not. And when he came out again and played "Let It Be" - there were some dry eyes in the house, but I didn't see them.
I watched the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. I bought every album. My sister was a member of their fan club. In short: I did (and do) love the Beatles. Obviously, I'm a little late on the idea of ever seeing them live. But I came damn close last night!
So thanks to Billy Joel - a terrific musician and performer who gladly upstaged himself to bring Sir Paul on. And give Beatle fans like me the thrill of a lifetime.
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