Reflecting on my time at the Score
Here, I'm basically going to list cool stuff I got to do because of my job
You may have seen the news on Thursday, but I’m officially leaving 670 The Score for the Managing Editor of Podcasts and Multimedia position at WBBM - 780. You can check out my Twitter thread here.
I’ve been at the Score since before I graduated from Lewis University back in 2001. When I took on Radio/TV Broadcasting as my major, my career goal was “to be a producer at the Score.” That was it. That’s what I wanted to do. When I achieved that goal, I really wanted to focus on hockey, and when the Blackhawks got great in 2009, I got my chance…which got me thinking of all of the incredible opportunities I’ve had because of my job at the Score.
I’m just going to make a list. I want it documented in case I ever decide to write another book. This might seem self-indulgent, and it probably is, but there’s just so much I want to share.
I was on the air after all three Blackhawks Stanley Cup wins. I got to interview players and coaches while they were on the ice celebrating a championship.
I got to travel to Boston for the 2013 Cup series.
My first on-air gig was covering the 2007 NHL Draft, where the Blackhawks drafted some kid named Patrick Kane. Jason Goff gave me the mic at Connie’s Pizza in Bridgeport.
I made several trips to Spring Training, including two incredible “Score House” trips. These are the things I’ll miss the most.
I got a personal tour of Joe Maddon’s art installation, guided by the man himself.
Was invited to attend the Blackhawks Winter Fest.
I became actual friends and hockey compatriots with Len Kasper, which still impresses my daughter. “Wait…so are you and Len actual FRIENDS?”
I took a road trip to Detroit with Len to see the Wings and Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada.
I was there when the Cubs won the pennant in 2016. I was also in the building when the Cubs won a World Series game in Cleveland.
I was there when Schwarber deposited the ball to the top of the scoreboard in 2015.
I went to Super Bowl Week in New Orleans, where I had a taco with Steve Zahn.
I got to see the Blackhawks play in Madison Square Garden with Danny Mac and Spiegs.
I produced the Score’s 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th Anniversary programming.
I got to know Doug Buffone.
Doug and Gary Fencik took me and my buddy Tim Bock to Gibson’s to thank us for producing Chicago NFL Live. I still think this might be the most surreal moment of my career. The 85 Bears were heroes to me, and here I am shooting the shit with Gary Fencik. I should add that Fencik is one of the kindest people on the planet.
I ran the board when the White Sox won the World Series and produced the postgame show.
I was the board operator for Blackhawks hockey when they were on the Score, and became friends with one of my favorite Hawks ever, Troy Murray and the best play-by-play guy in the league John Wiedeman. John emceed my wedding.
I got to interview and get to know several Blackhawks, including Dave Bolland, Troy Brouwer, Kris Versteeg, Brandon Bollig, Antti Raanta, Scott Darling, Ben Smith and others.
I had to learn to play it cool when interviewing hockey players.
We did a live broadcast from Soldier Field for the Blackhawks 2015 Cup win.
I was in Grant Park on the media stage for the 2016 Cubs World Series Championship.
Dinner with Shep, Spiegs, Buffone and Patrick Mannelly.
Mannelly helped Shep and me fulfill a lifelong dream of walking through the tunnel and onto the field at Notre Dame Stadium.
Sharing photos of great bathroom stalls around the country with Shep, Spiegs and Mannelly…a tradition that continues to this day.
I wrote a book.
I launched two hugely successful podcasts.
Mackeyland parties.
I set my brand new coat on fire at Japonais.
Pappyland parties.
Mike North refused to go on the air until I was made full-time. That was huge.
I attended the NFL Draft in Chicago.
I got to hold the Stanley Cup with a Stanley Cup Champion (on a few occasions).
I was part of the “What About Chicago?” fundraiser.
I was at 670 The Score’s last ever Bowl-A-Rama.
I got to work Blackhawks pre and postgame shows with one of my all-time favorites, Bob Probert. Sadly, I witnessed his decline in person.
I got to interview and do shots with Joel Quenneville at Cork & Kerry.
Sox postgame shows in the Bullpen Sports Bar with Chris Rongey.
Friday nights in the Sox booth with Rongey, Moose Skowron and mountains of chicken fingers.
I went to the final Bears Camp in Platteville and every Bears Camp in Bourbonnais. Chasing players with a golf cart and being a human security wall for Mitch Trubisky were highlights.
I hosted several bar events with Jake Arrieta during his Cy Young season. He was such a nice guy and couldn’t have been nicer to my daughter.
I took two INSANE trips to Dublin with Spiegs and Matt Abbatacola. Jameson picked up the tab…free drinks, food and five-star hotel for every guest, which included something like 35 stations from 20 countries. Endless entertainment. I think we might have done a radio show or two at some point?
I got to experience the Score at the Taste of Chicago and at the Auto Show. The best people watching anywhere…
I’m sure there are dozens of experiences I’m forgetting, but I wanted to acknowledge the incredible privileges that came with this job. There were days I wanted to tap out. There were days I didn’t think I could afford to work there anymore, but I stuck it out and I’m glad I did. If I had to do it all over again, I would. Zero hesitation.