Yesterday was solid

So next year I'll be working for the Ohio University athletics department, specifically in sports information. So yesterday my roommate Lucas, who works for Fox Sports Ohio with the Columbus Blue Jackets, finagled me a press pass and I sorta shadowed the associate producer in charge of stats and graphics. It was borne partly out of work and partly rampant fandom. I left my phone in the car so I don't have pictures, which was just as well 'cause I would've been texting and Twittering the whole time and looking like a complete jackass. Almost as much of a jackass as when I say I have Twitter. Anyway. Here are some braggy highlights:

- I'd never seen NHL players up close before. Jesus Christ, they're huge. The Jackets' goalie is 6'4", 212 pounds (and only 20 years old) but might as well be 7'7" in full pads and skates. Yikes. Just in suits, too, they look like behemoths.

- Walking around the tunnel before the game, I wasn't paying attention to some guys kicking around a soccer ball until my roommate poked me and said, "Hey, Red Wings." I looked and about six Red Wings were playing soccer in a big open area and eventually got a ball caught in the ceiling pipes, which they had to retrieve by throwing a water bottle to get it down. These are the best hockey players in the world and they were using the same ball-knocking methods 8-year-olds perfect at the Y.

- Sitting in a major network truck broadcast pro sports hurts your eyes. I don't know how anyone does those jobs. More than a dozen cameras to choose from, constant tape and replays, stats, audio...yikes.

- I got a pretty legit free hat they gave away for St. Patrick's day. The oddness of a green Blue Jackets hat is not lost. But we're going streaking and I'm bringing my green hat.