Once Every Score or So

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Apparently every score I miss a game.  Once a generation I am not in attendance.  And while that seems like a pretty good record it makes me sick.

You see, the weather and the sub-hubization of St. Louis has given travelers a much smaller margin for error.  When travel is time sensitive (like getting to a game) it's even more so.  Last month, my partner of 19 years Earl Austin Jr. and I arrived late to a game in Pittsburgh when two aircraft and one flight were pulled out from under us.  That was first.

Then the blizzard hit the east coast over the weekend and shut down the Philadelphia airport and thus any chance of getting to the SLU-LaSalle game.  We had originally been set to take the team charter.  But when that was pulled it was scramble time for an itinerary.  We went for six AM on Saturday.  As the snow storm approached the mid-Atlantic we looked to get out on Friday.  No can do.  The Philly airport was shut down.  We considered flying to New York and taking the train in.  But most of the train traffic into Philly was shut down and the few that were going i were booked.  Fly to New York and Dive in?  In a blizzard?  I didn't think was the right call.  So we missed the game.  And I'n sick about it.

This whole adventure for me started back in '86.  My first season was Anthony Bonner's as well.  We began the season in Hawaii, sweeping three in the Hawaii-Pacific tournament and rolled on to a 25 win season and a trip to the NIT.  What a way to start!

The next season was a step backward for the whole program.  Rich Grawer recruited the best player in St. Louis, Craig Upchurch, who qualified relative to NCAA regs.  But in the summer orientation session there was a concern that he would struggle.  They wouldn't allow him in.  Craig went on to play for Houston and became one of their all-time greats.  SLU started the year as if a shroud were hanging over the program. 

The team was scheduled to tip-off in a tournament in Ireland.  Boy, was I excited. 

"Whoa, not so fast microphone breath," said rights holder Greg Marecek. " We're going to do TV only and I think I need to handle the play-by-play."

I still remind Greg about that snub and we both laugh...sort of.

Anyway, that was the first game that I missed.

The next season, '88-'89, the Billikens were red hot again.  So hot that by the time the NIT came calling again KMOX was interested in carrying some games but not with the young, rough around the edges PBP man.  So I was in the stands at old Kiel when the Bills crushed SIU in the opener.  I did the game at Wisconsin but did not make the trip to New Mexico.  I did broadcast the semi-final, though as sidline guy, and finally got my shot with KMOX in the final game.  But that was two games missed making three total in three years.

And that was it.  Until Saturday at LaSalle.  Let's hope it is the last.  Though as I attempt to head to Phildelphia Monday for Tuesday's game at St. Joe's, more snow is predicted.  This time for St. Louis.  Will I get out?  It's out of my hands.  Though all things considered I'd rather be in Philadelphia.