The Next Dare

Sometimes you have to make the unknown leap of faith in order to advance in life. Either you will land on your feet or you will have to pick yourself up from trying. However you won’t know the outcome until you make the jump. That is where we find young Erin Cofiell.

Four years ago she left the friendly confines of the northeast to pursue a career of Television Broadcasting at the local NBC affiliate. I first ran into her at the steps of the Capitol, that’s right it all comes back to the House That Huey Built. We were picking up a B-Block story about a local marching band getting ready to make the trip the Rose Bowl parade. I saw her with the fancy cam climbing up the stairs looking for the next shot of a sequence needed for the story. Eventually we exchanged pleasantries then wishing each other well in the business of gathering images for the glowing box.

Some time had passed then and we were at Police HQ waiting for the guest of honor to be taken away wearing some shinny bracelets. While we waited she had hinted that she always had an urge to sports reporting. Thinking in the back of my head that there was an opening at our shop, I simply said, “Come on over.” We had a position and she wanted change in her career. A couple of weeks pass, I had just come from getting some crime tape lining the streets when I walk into the edit and see that right you guessed it. Knowing that I had been looking into some flashing blue lights I had to make sure that my glasses weren’t playing tricks. She simply stood up, smiled, and gave me hug. That’s when it all began. Making her second leap of faith, she covered all that she could. From high school to National Championships she made her presence known to the peeps in South Louisiana. However her lasting mark didn’t happen until the morphed into the weekly TV phenom know as Darin Erin. Always willing to challenge local athletes, large or small, to any and all challenges known to the sports world. Never afraid to stack the odds in her favor but don’t ask her about the win – loss record.
Now faced with another leap, she jumped and landed into another opportunity closer to home. Willing to trade gumbo for chowder, she now leaves the halls of the asylum for a new sports job over at WJAR. Erin we had a lot fun and you were a blessing to work with. My dare for you is to continue what will be an excellent career in broadcasting, did you know?

Softball for Soldiers

How do you define a hero? One who is of distinguished courage or ability. It is someone who is admired for their brave deeds and qualities. A person who has performed an act that regards them as a model or ideal. How about someone who enlists in the Armed Forces and without questions goes out and defends the country knowing the risks involved. Knowing that there is a chance that they may not make it home to hug mom & dad again or kiss their better half.
How do you pay tribute to a hero? You can shower them with respect. You can tell them that, “We like what you are doing. You have us behind you.” You can simply tell them thank you. Or you can go hit the diamond and play a friendly game of softball. If you are one Jacques Doucet that is what you do.
For the better part of a decade, Jacques & his friends have been spending their summer with a friendly game of softball with the neighborhood crowd over some Cajun food and few cold ones to wash it down. However lately he decided to take the game and transform it into a must attend event that is pure entertainment for the family, minus the adult cold ones of course. Using his fame garnered from years of television exposure and recent contacts gained from a recent trip to the west coast, Doucet has managed to pull off a first for his tournament.



A great token of appreciation to the men and women fighting for our freedom. Thanks guys, look forward to seeing everyone coming home safe and sound.

Special thanks to Derron "XRAY TED" Daquano and Chris Blades for the video & stills from the Celebrity Game last night.

First Time on The 4th

For the past 234 years, we as a nation have come together to celebrate our independence from the rule of the United Kingdom through a war of immense importance and a document with the signatures of some of the founding fathers in United States history.

For the past 11 years that I have been in television I have never had to work this holiday. Normally the holiday would fall on a weekend or with me taking the events later in the year I was left out of the rotation for this one. As someone once said there is a first time for everything. I knew about the music and the fireworks that will happen once the sun goes down but to me there is more than just showing up and having one big party to put on television. So once I finished making the cable run for the live shot it was time to find another angle that is sometimes put on the back seat because most see this as just another day off.

Au Revoir Rosenblatt

Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, in Omaha, Nebraska, is a fixture to College Baseball much like Wrigley Field is to the Chicago Cubs & Fenway Park is to the Boston Red Sox. It is the epicenter of college baseball where teams like Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, Texas would have trips penciled in to play in the collegiate showcase. Opening its doors in 1948 it has hosted the College World Series since 1950 crowning 60 National Champions while displaying a cast of thousands while etching memories that will stand for generations. Images like Minnesota’s Dave Winfield and the one hit gem that wasn’t enough to beat mighty Southern California in 1973. Or the famous phantom pick off play by Miami to knock off Wichita State in 1982. How about 1996 where a two-run bottom of the ninth home run by LSU’s Warren Morris that gave the Tigers the National Championship, number three of six. Will Clark (Mississippi State) hit here, Mike Mussina (Stanford) pitched here, and Jacob Ellsbury (Oregon State) rose to stardom here. It was not only a place for the best college baseball teams to showcase their talents but a gathering point for fans across the country to meet up and trade stories over some shaved ice & a hot dogs with the works. Whether the team you followed made the trip or not it was one place that you had to see and experience for yourself. Now the hallowed grounds on top of the hill next to the zoo will close its doors forever. One more champion to be crowned, a closing ceremony will ensue, and a flood of tears bidding farewell to a place where baseball and ice cream from the Zesto Hut go hand in hand. The girders and aluminum bleachers may be moving but your time Rosenblatt will be in the hearts of baseball fans forever.

Where's The Red Card?

The following is a formal request from the Ways & Means to Make TV Interesting Committee to the Lenslinger Institute. Here's is part of the inquiry:

Lenslinger,

I know that you have been enjoying some well deserved time away from making television at the Ocho. However, by chance if you have been watching any of the World Cup you are witnessing some serious drama originating from South Africa. France falling apart in front of the world to see, the United States making an improbable run, & the Germany taking England behind the wood shed for a serious butt kicking. However nothing could prepare me would what was about to happen. It was Argentina verses Mexico. Two hated rivals waging another contest for supermacy
in the world of soccer. The Argentines had just gone up 2 – 0 when it happened. Gabriel Henizne, the guy on the right, was in the huddle celebrating a goal, turned, then bumped is head against the camera. Incidental contact I’m thinking, no harm no foul. Then without hesitation this was the result.




The lens is being sent the other way. Now I know emotions can run high with the weight of one’s country on your back but this ridiculous. This is just another example of people who just can't keep their hands to themselves.

Surprisingly, no official caught this heinous attack that is being shown on international television as well as on viral videos across the globe. We are already being subject gated to the possibility of Argentina’s Head Coach running around the country in the buff should they win it all now it seems that it is open season on photographers just trying to cover the beautiful game that has all of a sudden shown an ugly side.

Therefore, I am requesting that the Lenslinger Institute investigate this matter with great urgency and that the proper issuing of a Red Card, as well as any other punishment deemed neccessary, be delivered to the player in question, did you know?

Regards,

Senator Hollins
Chairman
Ways and Means to Make TV Interesting Committee

Cantina 2010

Stated in an earlier post, the start of the FIFA World Cup is drawing near. 32 countries will travel to South Africa to compete on the soccer field to claim the right to be called World Champion. Thus causing a blitz of commercials to entice fans of the beautiful game to spend money to coincide with the four year event. Nike has their "Write The Future" ad. Now a rival shoe maker has this....

Hooray For Hollywood

The mere mention of “Road Trip” can make one smile with excitement. Especially when it’s one that will send you to the west coast to cover one of the local sports teams. Guys would be lining up for the chance to explore the sights and culture of another metropolis. Looks like old Jacques Doucet drew the right card. Granted he is half a country away but I hear the weather is nice in Los Angeles. I see he is already drawing attention from the local TV crews. Wonder if he is explaining the difference between Tabasco and Hot Sauce. Who knows? Just how long he's on the left coast depends on how well the Purple & Gold can play on the diamond in the post season.