I Feel Badly For......

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

You said you "have spent that last week or so wondering how I'd call the race, what I'd want to say."

So, tell us.

I really don't know. Anything planned to say would probably have been only one line and only if he had won. Would have thought about various ways the race could unfold. Solicited ideas from friends, family, fellow announcers and maybe you guys as well.

As for thinking about it. I would have been working on preperation. Knowing every horse and jockey and silk days before. Something anictdotal about each horse.

Knowing the fastest and slowest fractional times at every split.

Thinking about how to control my nerves, stress and breathing. Announcers can move too early and have nothing left for the stretch at Belmont as well.

Reminding myself that calling the race is exactly where I've worked so hard to get. Remember to have fun.

Praying not to say something wrong or stupid that would be re-played forever.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I wonder if they get choked up during the funeral procession?

Don't judge me, Coachie, and I know it's dumb but there's no way I'll be able to watch him leading out the field without my eyes welling up.

There is just no way.

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

Praying not to say something wrong or stupid that would be re-played forever.

Stupidly that has never occured to me... that you guys must have that on your collective minds on big race days...

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Don't judge me, Coachie, and I know it's dumb but there's no way I'll be able to watch him leading out the field without my eyes welling up.

There is just no way.


Stupidly that has never occured to me... that you guys must have that on your collective minds on big race days...

Always

[bigjag0716]

Tough one, but I think you have to suck it up and you owe it to the fans to go out there and give one helluva call. I'll have another has the perfect name, too. Probably would have said something like, and we'll finally have another triple crown winner. What a huge bummer, the show must go on.

[PatCummings]

Having been in the grandstand, which was full, experiencing the thrill, and the call...

Vic - you are so wrong and have no idea how wrong you are. Hope others here could share the experience.

Originally Posted by PatCummings

Having been in the grandstand, which was full, experiencing the thrill, and the call...

Vic - you are so wrong and have no idea how wrong you are. Hope others here could share the experience.

I understand why you think I'm wrong. However I think you're losing focus as to the origin of your original shot at me.

As a fan I would TRULY love to have had the opportunity to be part of the cheering 85,000. I so glad you enjoyed that.

What I was speaking to and still am is the extreme sense of deflation I think Tom and Larry must have felt when IHA scratched.

Of course I can only speculate about that. But I sure know how I would have felt if it was me preparing to call potential history.

I would have felt like I had been kicked in the gut.

The race would have changed "for me" from a be all end all opportunity to just another important Grade 1 race. While I would give it my all to do a professional job I'd have had to rally my resolve and pep talk myself to get through the disapointment and produce quality work.

I don't understand why you can't seem to grasp this.

Anyway. Glad you had a great time. I'm jealous. Wish I could have been there. Woulda bought ya a cold one.

Have a good night.

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

I understand why you think I'm wrong. However I think you're losing focus as to the origin of your original shot at me.

As a fan I would TRULY love to have had the opportunity to be part of the cheering 85,000. I so glad you enjoyed that.

What I was speaking to and still am is the extreme sense of deflation I think Tom and Larry must have felt when IHA scratched.

Of course I can only speculate about that. But I sure know how I would have felt if it was me preparing to call potential history.

I would have felt like I had been kicked in the gut.

The race would have changed "for me" from a be all end all opportunity to just another important Grade 1 race. While I would give it my all to do a professional job I'd have had to rally my resolve and pep talk myself to get through the disapointment and produce quality work.

I don't understand why you can't seem to grasp this.

Anyway. Glad you had a great time. I'm jealous. Wish I could have been there. Woulda bought ya a cold one.

Have a good night.

There is no issue in suggesting that it's disappointing there wouldn't be a Triple Crown winner, and that everyone impacted, including the announcers, shared in the disappointment the opportunity wouldn't be present. It just seems so disingenuous to suggest it would be difficult to do your job when your job is to call one of the most prestigious races in the country, with one of the largest audiences of the year. They had a thrilling race, an energetic crowd, and a great result.

[jocko699]

And forgetable. I think that is the point. We will all forget the call of this race.

Aloha/Geoff

Originally Posted by PatCummings

There is no issue in suggesting that it's disappointing there wouldn't be a Triple Crown winner, and that everyone impacted, including the announcers, shared in the disappointment the opportunity wouldn't be present. It just seems so disingenuous to suggest it would be difficult to do your job when your job is to call one of the most prestigious races in the country, with one of the largest audiences of the year. They had a thrilling race, an energetic crowd, and a great result.

Disingenuous means that I was not being truthful when I shared my feelings.

I know what MY feelings would have been. I actually felt them without being involved. Why would I share anything that wasn't coming from the heart?

All kinds of things can make some days more difficult than others. A spat with your wife. A kid that's totally underachieving in school. Just feeling lousy.

A professional, which I consider myself, sets that all aside and does his very best especially on super important days like today.

That still doesn't take away the sting of losing a chance at getting to chronicle history.

I wish I had a better way of explaining that to you because you're still not getting what I'm trying to share.

Look you're an announcer and a very good one I might add. Every racecaller has a bucket list of races he'd like to call. What's your number one? Let's say for you it might be the Pennsylvania Derby or maybe the Dubai World Cup. You've known for 3 weeks you're going to have that opportunity then 48 hours before you get the bad news. You're out. You can still call one on the undercard but not the one you've waiting and preparing for. Constantly thinking about. Human nature dictates that you'll have to rally emotionally, stay focused and pep talk yourself into doing the best possible job.

I've called 250 Grade 1 races. While none the stature of the Belmont I've been privlidged to call some greats. There have now been 102 3yo Classics run since the last Triple Crown winner. Of those, 11 horses had a chance to achieve immortality. Those 11 calls were much more important than the other 23 Belmonts. To get the chance to have the 12th be the first in 34 years only to have it ripped away two days before. Would for me, in this context only, make just a regular Belmont seem relatively insignificant as crazy as that might sound. I'd be calling one of the most important races of my life with remorse in my heart.

I hope you and the 85,000 there had a great time. Not one of you. Not one walked out without thinking and probably saying, Yeah but, what if.

This Belmont was terrific. I'm sure the day was great fun. In 50 years it will mean nothing more than another non triple crown alive chance. In 50 and even a 100 years this race will be remembered first and foremost for a horse that didn't run. Sucks I know. But that's the way it is.

I think nobody cares any more about the Grade One's they call than me. I put my heart and soul into them all. It wouldn't have been totally there on this one. Part of my heart would have been in I'll Have Another's stall.
Part of my soul would have been wondering at age 53 would I ever get the chance again.

As a racecaller yourself I cannot fathom how you don't get that.

Good debate. Appreciate your thoughts.