Hmm... that degree may still come in handy

Well, that degree in Communications may be useful after all. Last Saturday, I traveled to Anderson University to watch Clinton Christian’s boys basketball play in a Christian schools Final Four tournament. Earlier in the week, I had helped Keith Meyers, the tournament director from Horizon Christian School in Indianapolis, write an article about the four teams in the tournament. It was fun but I went there preparing just to be a fan.

After the long two-and-a-half-hour drive to Anderson, I was ready to enjoy the games with players and fans. Meyers surprised me, though, by inviting me to join the radio broadcast team for the boys games. WHZN out of Indianapolis does all of Horizon Christian’s games and decided to broadcast all three boys games in the tournament. I chose to stick to my expertise as the statistician but I did help in some pregame, halftime and postgame reporting.

Looking back, I am thankful to Meyers for trusting me as an announcer even though he hardly knows me. I would do it again but I think I prefer being a public-address announcer. Bill Ludlow did a fantastic job with play-by-play even when he was unfamiliar with the players in the Covenant Christian-Clinton Christian game. Nate Whisler was very knowledgeable as the color commentator. I can talk stats but I am not nearly as good as they are in terms of “thinking on their feet” as the action happens.

I hope to be back to help Bill and Nate next year. My only regret is that Clinton was eliminated in the semifinals so I did not have a chance to help in the championship game. As a diehard Cubs fun, I know that “there’s always next year.”