Views From The Booth:

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(Posted 6-2-26)

Greetings from The Booth!

Take Me Home, Country Roads!

That great song echoed through the hills and hollows of West Virginia last night after WVU’s 6-5 walk-off baseball win over Kentucky in the NCAA Regional Championship game in Morgantown. A capacity crowd of 4000 at the Kendrick Family Ballpark swayed arm-in-arm and sang John Denver’s classic in unison as the Mountaineers lined up and joined in. It was a fitting serenade to a team that personifies the Mountain State: tough, gritty, resilient.

Sweeter still was the fact that the Regional Championship came at the expense of Kentucky. This was not just the Mountaineers versus the Wildcats. This was the Hatfields and the McCoys. It was WVU that knocked Kentucky out of last year’s Regionals with a 13-12 come-from-behind win, and as the saying goes, “familiarity breeds contempt.” these two teams played each other 3 time this past weekend, with the Wildcats putting the Mounties on the brink of elimination with a Saturday win over WVU. West Virginia, needing to win out, posted a 10-5 win over Wake Forest Sunday afternoon, followed by an improbable win over the Cats on Sunday evening, setting up last night’s winner-take-all final.

WVU seemed to be cruising to the Super Regional, leading 5-1 in the eighth. Not so fast. The Wildcats rallied to tie things at 5 and had several chances to take the lead and crush the hopes of an entire state. Gutsy relief efforts from Chansen Cole and Dawson Montesa (who threw 122 pitches on Sunday) kept things tied, setting things up for Armani Guzman, who’s game winning single in the bottom of the 10th sent the home crowd into a frenzy, and his team to its third straight Super Regional.

Folks, there’s a lot of crap going on in college sports these days. The transfer portal and NIL have made the landscape almost unrecognizable and smarmy. Many college athletes, especially in football and basketball, seem like mercenaries, some playing for a different team every year. In the case of WVU, the basketball roster is undergoing a complete turnover headed into the 2026-27 season. There’s no point latching on to a superstar–they’ll be gone next year, as they chase the almighty dollar. Don’t get me wrong. On a college football Saturday, I’m still rooting for the Old Gold and Blue. But it doesn’t feel the same. A season like 2007, when WVU was one bad loss to Pitt away from playing for a college football National Championship, will never happen again in my lifetime. The blueblood programs have the money, and that’s where the top players are going to go.

But last night in Morgantown, we were brought back to a simpler time in college sports. Guzman, a New York native, sang “Country Roads” even as he was being interviewed by ESPN (and knew all the words). Fans showered the players with love, and it was reciprocated by young men from all parts of the country who last night were West Virginians through and through.

It was “Almost Heaven.”

Until the next visit from The Booth…LET’S GO!

RW

 

 

 

Kyle Busch

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(Posted 5-25-26)

Greetings from The Booth!

The auto racing community and the sports world in general were stunned by the sudden and recent death of NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch. In case you’ve been off the planet, Busch suffered what was first called “a mysterious illness” last week and by the time he was taken to the hospital and received medical attention, it was too late. It has since been revealed that Busch, a 2-time Cup Series Champion, died of complications from severe pneumonia which advanced into sepsis. He was just 41.

The tributes have poured in from all over the sports world and beyond. By all accounts, Busch was a great father and husband, and although not always liked by some of his rivals, was certainly respected by the NASCAR community. He will be a first-ballot Hall-Of-Famer. His nickname was “Rowdy,” which accurately described his racing demeanor, on and off the track. In the film “Days Of Thunder,” Robert Duvall’s character said of Tom Cruise’s rival in the movie (also named “Rowdy), “He’d put his own Mother into the wall just to win a race.” That could very well also describe Kyle Busch.

I write this post as someone who these days is not particularly a NASCAR fan. I watch just a handful of races every year–the Daytona 500 and some holiday weekend races like the Coca Cola 600. NASCAR’s constant rule changes have made it hard for me to follow. My NASCAR wheelhouse was the 90’s, when names like Earnhardt, Stewart, Elliott, and Gordon were buzzing around the track every Sunday. I was a captive audience then, because the radio station at which I worked carried NASCAR races on The Motor Racing Network, and I often had to come into the station on a Sunday afternoon to “board-op” the race (plug in local commercials, and get the satellite feed on the air). I became a fan by sheer osmosis.

I think Kyle Busch would have fit in nicely with the aforementioned 90’s crowd. He was an old-school type of race car driver, who had no problem brawling with someone after the race, and during. In interviews, he shot from the hip, and said exactly what he thought. There was no ambiguity. When his car was not performing well on a given race day, Busch could win on pure talent, attempting moves that no one else would try. With Kyle Busch, it was grab your popcorn and hold on for the ride.

Kyle Busch was a polarizing figure to be sure. But like him or not, we can all agree that race day will be much less interesting without the familiar number 8 car out on the track. Busch’s death is a tragedy, and reminds us that we all have an “expiration date,” and when that day comes, our hope is that we’re remembered not for how we died, but how we lived.

Kyle Busch did a lot of living in his 41 years…

Until the next visit from The Booth…have a great Memorial Day.

RW

A Gut Punch, and Goofy Golf

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(Posted 5-18-26)

Greetings from The Booth!

If you’ve ever played sports or been involved in athletics on any level, you know that there’s no worse feeling than when a season with high hopes comes to an abrupt end. Such is the case with Shenandoah University Baseball, whose fans were probably already looking ahead to an NCAA D-3 Super Regional. After winning their first 2 Regional games in convincing fashion, 21-1 and 15-4, the number 6 nationally ranked Hornets only needed to beat Messiah once in a possible two tries yesterday on the Kevin Anderson Field at Bridgeforth Stadium in order to advance.

Messiah didn’t get the memo. Last year’s National runner-up edged the Hornets in the first game 4-3, then had their way with Shenandoah in the Championship Game 13-0, ending the Hornets’ season at 37-12. When the sting wears off, SU will look back at another stellar season under Anderson, who has built a dynasty in Winchester. Bridgeforth Stadium is running out of room for Hornet banners, but someone will have to find room for 2 more–an ODAC Tournament Championship, and an NCAA Regional appearance. But, oh what might have been in 2026…

Changing gears, it is now Charity Golf Tournament season, with a number of events throughout the Summer and into the Fall. Someone once told me, “Remember, these aren’t golf tournaments, they’re fundraisers.” Case in point, the recent “Cars Changing Lives” tournament at the beautiful Shenandoah Valley Golf Club in Front Royal, Va., a first-time event for this great organization who has indeed improved the lives of so many. My so-called “River Ringers” were honored to play.

As is the case with these charity tournaments, the format of this outing was “Captain’s Choice.” Simply, all four players tee off, the best drive is determined, and all four play that drive, and this continues until the ball is in the hole. When all was said and done, the Ringers posted a 23-under-par score for 18 holes.

How is that possible, you may ask? Well, remember that these aren’t golf tournaments, they’re fundraisers. Mulligan packages were available for purchase, in addition to the entry-fee. Mulligans aren’t part of the Rules of Golf but are used by just about everyone who plays a Sunday round at their local course. It’s basically a do-over. In Captain’s Choice format, if none of the 4 players hits a good shot, they can opt for a “Mulligan.”

And then there was the “silly string.” Lengths of string were also available for purchase, whereby pars could be turned into birdies, birdies into eagles, and so forth. For example, if your team has a 5-foot putt for birdie, you can take 5 feet of your string and use it to turn the birdie into an eagle. When your allotment of string was gone, you could purchase more (it’s a fundraiser!).

There were also the usual ways to raise money, like a “50-50” raffle, putting contests, and more. For the record, The Ringers’ 23-under didn’t even get a sniff. The winning score was an incredible 31-under-par!

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, “sometimes I guess there just isn’t enough string.”

Until the next visit from The Booth, have a great Memorial Weekend!

RW

(SU Baseball in Regional action)              (The River Ringers)

 

 

Downtime Tidbits

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(Posted 5-10-26)

Greetings from The Booth!

Well, the NFL Draft is history, we’re settling into the MLB season, and I’m not the biggest NBA fan, so I thought we’d serve up some random thoughts from The Booth in our latest edition of VFB, so here goes…

If you were a fan of the “glory days” of the Washington Redskins–4 Super Bowl appearances between 1982 and 1991–you were certainly saddened by the passing of former ‘Skins linebacker Monte Coleman. Coleman was the anchor of a defense that was often overshadowed by the high-powered Washington offenses, Riggo, The Hogs, and The Smurfs. In truth, the Redskins defenses were among the league’s best, and Coleman was a huge part of that success. More than that, he was a solid citizen and a team leader. And no one except Darrell Green played more games for the Burgundy and Gold. They say that when one door closes, another opens. When I look at the Commander’s first round draft choice Sonny Styles, I am reminded of Monte Coleman. Styles carries himself with a maturity and confidence you don’t often see in rookies. He also appears to be a solid citizen. Not to mention, a high-end athlete. Will all of this translate to a Coleman-like career? That’s not a certainty at this point, but I think we will see a lot of number 51 in Sonny Styles.

OK, let’s talk about the Nationals. As of this writing, the Nats are 19-21, and in second place in the NL East. Folks, I know we’re only 40 games into the season, but the Nationals are “mashing!” The Nats boast one of the top offenses in the National League in terms of runs scored, and feature some young stars like James Wood, CJ Abrams, and Brady House. On the pitching side, the Nats starters are turning into a solid bunch, with lefty Foster Griffin stepping up as the ace (4-1, 2.12 ERA). The bullpen is still shaky, but the Nats’ run production hides a lot of their woes. The season is young, but let’s see where these Nationals are on Memorial Day, The All-Star Break, and Labor Day. As I said before the season, I’ll take .500. So far, so good.

Finally…Death, Taxes, and Shenandoah University Baseball. Folks, we have a real local treasure in Kevin Anderson. With over 700 wins as a Hornet Coach, Anderson once again has his team in the NCAA Division III Tournament after capturing this weekend’s ODAC Championship. In the tourney, SU took down nationally-ranked teams Bridgewater and Lynchburg to punch their ticket to the D-3 Regionals for the first time since 2023. I’m not sure Anderson and the Hornets get enough “buzz” for what they accomplish year after year. Should Shenandoah host their Regional “pod” at aptly-named Kevin Anderson Field at Bridgeforth Stadium, you owe it to yourself to attend, and cheer on what is truly a local dynasty. Another job well done, Kevin!

Some random thoughts on a Sunday Morning from the Booth…until the next visit, HTTC, Go Nats, Go Hornets!

RW

Views From The Booth: Runnin’ With Rudy

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(Posted 4-24-26)

Greetings from The Booth and Happy Bloom!

The Booth is festooned this week with pink and green, as we observe the 99th celebration of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. For the unwashed, the “Bloom” is a 10-day party filled with over 50 events, including 2 parades, numerous dances, luncheons, and events, along with fireworks, and a 10k run and Kids’ Mile. The first Apple Blossom Festival was in 1924, with basically a parade and a coronation of Queen Shenandoah. The Festival has, over the years, drawn major celebrities like Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, and, in more recent years Mary Tyler Moore, Wayne Newton, Dan Akroyd, and Chevy Chase. It’s a big deal, folks!

Sports have become a big part of the Bloom. That began in 1966 when the great Sammy Baugh was the Apple Blossom Sports Marshal. Since then, sports celebrities like Billy Kilmer, Terry Bradshaw, Mickey Mantle, and Ryan Zimmerman have graced the Winchester area with their presence during the Bloom. The Festival honchos have also done a great job in spotlighting our local athletes. My first “working Bloom” was 1983, when Martinsburg High School’s own Fulton Walker was one of the sports celebrities, and was months removed from scoring a Super Bowl touchdown for Miami. A few years ago, the Festival honored Nazeeh Johnson, a local product who was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.

One of the toughest tickets at The Bloom is The Apple Blossom Sports Breakfast, which is a sellout every year. There is now a “Sports Breakfast Hall of Fame,” which inducted it’s inagural class in 2021, and honors local sports giants like Russ Potts, Jimmy Wilkins, Jr.,  Jimmy Omps, and Rick Kern. The class of 2026 features legendary local wrestling and baseball coach Pepper Martin, and Handley High’s Jimmy Dix.

Believe it or not, I have never attended an Apple Blossom Sports Breakfast. That’s because on Bloom Saturday morning, I was usually at the start line of the Apple Blossom 10k amidst the sea of about 1000 runners. The Apple Blossom 10k is a great race that takes the runners through the festive streets of Winchester, where crowds already gather for the Grand Feature Parade later in the day. I’ve had some good races and races where I was beaten by Christmas and molasses, two of the slower things in life. But one Apple Blossom 10K stands out. In 2014, one of the Festival celebrities was Sean Astin, who of course, played Notre Dame football folk hero Rudy Ruettiger in the movie “Rudy.” As I was huffing and puffing the last mile back toward Handley High, I glanced over to my right and alongside me was “Rudy!” The word was that Astin at the last minute decided to run the AB10K. We exchanged quick greetings, and, inspired by Rudy, I was able to get a second wind and just missed breaking one hour. That race remains one of my favorite Festival memories.

That’s the magic of Apple Blossom…you never know who you’re going to “run” into.

Until the next visit from the Booth…Happy Bloom!

RW

(Randy with Virginia Tech Hall Of Famer and area running legend Mark Stickley at the 2024 AB 10K)

Tiger

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(posted 4-1-26)

Greetings from The Booth!

It’s hard to chase a Bear with a Monkey on your back…

Some thoughts about Tiger Woods as we approach the Masters next week in Augusta, Georgia. By now, after incessant 24/7 coverage, everyone is aware of Tiger’s recent vehicle escapade in Jupiter, Florida, where he rolled his SUV and was subsequently charged with DUI (he has pleaded not guilty to the charge). Although he registered a 0.0 on a breathalyzer test, Woods refused to take a urine test, which raised a red flag to the possibility of having taken painkillers. His litany of injuries is well documented, so this would not be a stretch, but as is always the case, the justice system will need to run its course.

As of this writing, Tiger Woods has released a statement that he will not be playing in the Masters, instead focusing on his health and well-being. Until last week’s car crash, Tiger was in the process of yet another comeback and was going to play in the Masters (past winners have a lifetime exemption at Augusta), and had recently returned to the golf scene in a Team Golf League event. In my very humble opinion, Woods now needs to focus entirely on getting better. If he does indeed have a problem with painkillers, Tiger needs to deal with that. Golf should be nowhere in the conversation at this point.

Tiger Woods may have to come to grips with the possibility that he may never play competitive golf again. In addition to the multiple injuries, Woods is now 50. Jack Nicklaus, the man Tiger is trying to catch for all-time major wins, won his last “major” at age 46. As the saying goes, Father Time is undefeated and catches up with us all. I don’t think we appreciate how difficult it is to walk 4 consecutive days of a PGA Tour event, especially Augusta National. One can’t fully appreciate the hilly nature of Augusta by watching the TV coverage of The Masters. With back and knee issues, just one day of walking Augusta can be excruciating. There has been some talk about granting Woods an exemption and allowing him to ride a cart in Tour events. Tiger has, in the past, said he would not use a golf cart, and I don’t think his pride would allow him to.

Most athletes do not get to go out on their own terms. To paraphrase a line from the movie Top Gun, the mind writes checks the body can’t cash. We all think of Tiger Woods as that unbeatable golf machine, piling up major wins, fist-pumping, and often lapping the field. That Tiger does not exist anymore. Although his competitive fires may still burn hot and bright, there may be no more checks left in the checkbook. It might have to be enough for Tiger to exorcise whatever demons are within him and become a great ambassador of the game. That would be a “major” win for Tiger Woods.

Until the next visit from The Booth, enjoy The Masters!

RW

 

 

 

Opening Day and Media Day at Nats Park

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(Posted 3-25-26)

Greetings From The Booth!

This week, the Booth is decorated in red, white, and blue bunting as we celebrate Opening Day in Major League Baseball (yes, folks, “Opening Day” is capitalized!). Opening Day is one of my favorite days in sports. The grass is always greener, the uniforms are more pristine, the hot dogs taste better, and the beer is colder. And, hope springs eternal for every team, because everyone is undefeated on Opening Day. Even the worst of teams can get out of the gate with a win and dream of a dream season, like the ’69 “Miracle Mets.” At the end of every season, cries of “wait until next year!” ring out. In baseball, there’s always next year. “Next Year” begins today.

This could be another long year for the Washington Nationals. We’re another year removed from the World Series Championship season of 2019. Long gone are Scherzer, Soto, and Strasburg, replaced by Abrams, Wood, and Gray. This year signals a front-office and field manager shakeup, as well.  The Nats underwent a youth movement in the Fall, hiring 35-year-old Paul Toboni as President of Baseball Operations. Toboni then hired 31-year-old Ani Kilambi from the Phillies front office. And, Field Manager Davey Martinez has been replaced by 33-year-old Blake Butera, who becomes the youngest manager in MLB since 1972. Both Toboni and Kilambi are grads of UC Berkeley, and are “analytics guys” who feel like they can turn things around in a hurry in DC.

That may not happen this season. Most experts are picking the Nationals to be one of the worst teams in baseball. The (lack of) offense in the exhibition season did not inspire optimism, and pitching ace Josiah Gray has been placed on the 60-day injured list with a flexor strain. Gray, who came to the Nats in the Max Scherzer trade with the Dodgers, has made only two starts since 2023 and has missed most of the last 2 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery. And sadly, another “generational” player, James Wood, is probably thinking of what he looks like in a Yankee or Dodger uniform. Pitching will be an issue this year, and despite a few bright stars like CJ Abrams and Wood, this will be a Year Zero for the new front office.

Still, it’s always great to be at the ballpark, and the Nationals once again hosted their annual Media Day, with yours truly and Ryan “The Duke” Rutherford in attendance. We got a first-hand look at changes to Nationals Park, like the wire-cam, which will give viewers some great panoramic shots of the game. As always, we got to see the new “merch” that will be unveiled this season (I especially like the Hawaiian shirt and shorts combo), hang out with a few of the Racing Presidents, and sample the new food offerings. We especially loved the Smashburger, and the hot dog topped with crab meat, cheese, and Old Bay was to die for! And, it’s always a great sight to see that green outfield grass and the grounds crew making the field perfect for Opening Day, when all things are renewed, and hope springs eternal.

Until the next visit from The Booth…Play Ball!

RW

 

The Mountain Mamas & “You Got Pittsnogled!”

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Greetings from The Booth!

Well, I’m officially a “Wagoneer,” an unflattering term I use to describe someone who jumps on the so-called bandwagon. As the WVU Men’s Basketball team is not in the NCAA Basketball Tournament again this year, I had to latch on to something. For Mountaineer fans, that something is WVU Women’s Basketball. I’ve never been a big fan of women’s basketball, but these 27-6 “Mountain Mamas,” as I have nicknamed them, are fun to watch! The WVU Women rolled into the NCAA Tournament field after winning the Big 12 Tourney, earning them an opening weekend at home in Morgantown in front of what should be a packed Hope Coliseum.

The Mamas have quietly built a mini-dynasty in the shadow of WVU Men’s hoop. This solid run started with Mike Carey, who coached the ladies from 2001 through 2022, taking West Virginia to 11 NCAA appearances, but the team could never get past the second round.  Now in his third season, Mark Kellogg has already piled up 77 wins at WVU, and this could be the season when they could make a deep run through the tournament. These gals can play. Led by the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Jordan Harrison, the Mounties smother opponents on defense, but with four double-digit scorers on the roster, can also light up the scoreboard when they need to.

The Mountain Mamas have earned their host-team status for Saturday (and hopefully Monday), and I like their chances of advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1992.

This is also a fun weekend to remember the 20th anniversary of a great WVU Men’s Basketball run in 2006, when opponents were getting “Pittsnogled” in March. For those not familiar, that term refers to one Kevin Pittsnogle, who became an unlikely hero in the 2005 NCAA Tourney, with a 22-point performance against Texas Tech in the Sweet Sixteen, and 25 in a heartbreaking OT loss to Louisville in the Mounties’ next game.

The Martinsburg native would return in 2006, where he would lead WVU back to the Sweet Sixteen. The phrase “you got Pittsnogled” became a favorite of play-by-play announcers in the postseason, as Pittsnogle rained 3 pointers over opposing defenders. The Mountaineers’ run that year would end with another soul-crushing loss, as Texas beat WVU at the buzzer, despite a tying 3-pointer by Pittsnogle with 5 seconds remaining.

Kevin, who remains one of the top scorers of all-time at West Virginia, would get a look from the Boston Celtics, but was later waived, and after knocking around with several professional and semi-pro teams, settled into life back in the Panhandle. Pittsnogle is currently the Principal at my old Junior High school, which is now known as North Middle School in Martinsburg. At 6-11, I would imagine he makes an imposing figure for unruly students who are sent to his office to “get Pittsnogled.”

Until the next visit from The Booth, here’s to a couple of wins in Mo’town for The Mountain Mamas. Cue Country Roads!

RW

 

 

Sports Superstitions

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(Posted 3-13-2026)

Greetings from The Booth!

If you have a “Basketball Jones” (a nod to the great song by “Tyrone Shoelaces”), this is the weekend for you! Locally, six teams are playing for VHSL State Championships over a 2-day period at VCU in Richmond. Best wishes to the Clarke County girls, Woodstock Central boys, the Handley boys, Skyline girls, and both the Luray boys and girls. Godspeed, and best wishes as they try to bring some hardware back to the Shenandoah Valley!

This weekend also puts the wraps on college basketball’s conference tournaments, as tickets (and guts) are punched to the NCAA Basketball Tournament. The weekend concludes with one of my favorite days, Selection Sunday. I love the live cut-ins to various arenas, gyms, and Student Unions, where teams anxiously await their tournament fates. Some already know they are in, while the bubble teams nervously listen for their name to be called. It’s great TV.

For me, there’s no drama, as my up-and-down WVU Mountaineers finished at 18-14 and have no shot at the Big Dance. Virginia Tech will probably be headed to the NIT, while Virginia could be a top-4 seed, depending on what happens in the ACC Tournament. As for the women, my “Mountain Mamas” are really, really good and should get a home weekend in Morgantown in the first round after their Big 12 Tournament Championship. Be on the lookout for a possible second-round game between WVU and the Sun Belt Champion JMU Dukes. Could that mean a friendly wager with The Duke? Hmmmm….

I’m writing this edition of VFB on Friday the 13th, which made me think about superstitions. Sports fans and players alike are probably the most superstitious people in the world. Whether eating a certain kind of food on Game Day, wearing our favorite team garment, or sitting in a certain place on the couch, we are all absolutely convinced that our little rituals are the difference between victory and defeat for our favorite teams. An oldie but goodie for me was (and sometimes still is) moving from the recliner to the floor when the ‘Skins or Mounties weren’t playing well. I’m certain that I’ve pulled my teams from the jaws of defeat many times by doing this.

Something that almost never works for me, but I continue the routine (definition of insanity?), is wearing team garb the day of a big game. Time and time again, I do this, only to see WVU or Washington get thumped. But I can’t help myself. Surely, the odds are with me this time. Another sure loser is taking a run on the morning of game day. That exercise (pardon the pun) has contributed more to losing than any fumble or missed shot. But that morning jog (and these days, walk) is a release of nervous energy before kickoff or tip-off. Some pound back Bloody Marys–I pound the pavement.

In truth, my sports superstitions and rituals probably have absolutely nothing to do with winning or (in my case) losing. It could be that my teams are just not good. That being said, where did I put that WVU sweatshirt?

Until the next visit from the Booth…Go Eagles, Falcons, Judges, Hawks, and Bulldogs!

RW

 

Back In The (B-Ball) Booth!

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(Posted 3-4-260

Greetings from The Booth!

This edition is actually about The Booth. I got to do something this week that I hadn’t done in 20 years. Since the early 2000’s, I have mainly concentrated on football play-by-play, calling Shenandoah University games for 22 seasons, then returning to my roots calling high-school football for the past 4 seasons. Football is my comfort zone. Last night, though, I had the opportunity to call a high school basketball game, as our regular hoops play-by-play man, Ryan “The Duke” Rutherford, was hob-nobbing in our Nation’s Capital. (Sidebar: As the saying goes, The Duke cleans up pretty well, although his Facebook post reminded me of those old Beverly Hillbillies episodes where Jethro had to wear a tie).

Going into Handley High School to call their VHSL Class 4 State Semifinal with Broad Run, I was hit with a bittersweet wave of nostalgia. When I came to the Winchester radio market back in 1983, one of my duties at WUSQ and (then) WVAI was doing play-by-play broadcasts of Handley and James Wood basketball and football. As I entered the Handley press box and looked down on the Tommy Dixon Court, I was reminded of the years the iconic Dixon roamed the Judges’ bench and how deserving the court was named after him.

Another great memory that came flooding back was my Handley pre-game routine. More often than not, my “prep” was a stop at Coalie Harry’s on Picadilly Street for a burger and “soda pop.” Coalie’s, which doesn’t exist anymore, was one of several “go-to” watering holes back in the day, along with The Cork Street Tavern (still there!). I was one of a select few who had a nameplate on the bar at the CST, and I’m told that those nameplates are in a box in storage above the Tavern, but I digress…

Also still around is the ladder in the Handley press box that leads to the roof of the gym. Unlike today’s high-tech gadgetry, our broadcast equipment in the 80’s and 90’s was cumbersome. To broadcast a Handley game, one had to lug a portable transmitter (called a “Marti”) to the roof, along with an antenna, via that ladder, which goes straight up with no incline.  Not fun, and usually during basketball season, it was pretty cold up on that roof. Good times…good times.

Finally, although I can’t remember all the broadcast partners I worked with while calling high school hoops, one in particular stands out, the legendary Joe Pasquali. Joe, a Winchester radio legend, provided color commentary for my basketball (and football) broadcasts. I have nothing but great memories of Pasquali, but let’s say that he was not a slave to detail. Joe would often have me wondering whether he’d make it to the booth on time for the broadcast. Pasquali knew everyone in Winchester, and everyone knew Joe, and it was commonplace to see him on the floor below chatting with one of his cronies just minutes before airtime. And Pasquali’s idea of broadcast preparation was to buy a program at the front door, but you wouldn’t know it by listening to the game.

It was a great ride in the “way back machine” last night at Handley High. Duke, if you ever need me again, all you have to do is ask!

That’s it for another “Views From The Booth!”

RW