Monday, July 10, 2006
Viewer Mail
My adventures as a morning anchor continue. I'll be sharing the story behind my transition from sports to news on my blog here at thepittsburghchannel.
I have been on WTAE doing sports the last decade, but all it took was a 45-minute jet ride to make me famous. Since I went up with the Blue Angels, I have been stopped on the street by complete strangers, called by friends I have not spoken with in five years and become the source of laughter for literally hundreds of Western Pennsylvania. But along with the attention has come plenty of questions. Let me try and answer a few regarding my journey into the wild blue yonder.
WERE YOU SCARED?
I was very nervous before I got to the 911 Airlift Wing and even in the moments before I got into the plane, but I was one of three local media representatives taking the flight of a lifetime. My nervousness was eased because I went second behind an female anchor from a competiting station that does not start with "W". ( I think you get the hint ). Watching her take off and land and still be in one piece eased my mind.
DID YOU THROW UP OR PASS OUT?
I did not pass out nor did I puke, thought I came close to blacking out when we hit 7.5G. I started to go black at one point but somehow was kept my wits about me.
WHAT WAS WITH THE BREATHING? WERE YOU FREAKING OUT OR GIVING BIRTH?
OK, people, let me try and explain this as best as I can. I was told by my instructor before we took off that I should try to use what is called the "hook" method when I am faced with such change of pressure in the cockpit. The move is designed to keep the blood from racing out of your head. What happens is you tighten up the bottom half of your bodies and make short, calculated breaths. It may not look pretty -- and in this case it looked pretty funny -- but if someone is telling you to do this when you are 10,000 feet in the air, who am I to say no.
WILL YOU BE GOING UP AGAIN?
I don't know if I will ever have the chance again, but I would enjoy the honor. It was one of the great moments of my life and the best thing is that I have the entire experience on videotape. I really enjoyed it and no matter what I did on television, it could never convey the experience.
That being said, I was pretty funny with all that panting and breathing in the cockpit.
I have been on WTAE doing sports the last decade, but all it took was a 45-minute jet ride to make me famous. Since I went up with the Blue Angels, I have been stopped on the street by complete strangers, called by friends I have not spoken with in five years and become the source of laughter for literally hundreds of Western Pennsylvania. But along with the attention has come plenty of questions. Let me try and answer a few regarding my journey into the wild blue yonder.
WERE YOU SCARED?
I was very nervous before I got to the 911 Airlift Wing and even in the moments before I got into the plane, but I was one of three local media representatives taking the flight of a lifetime. My nervousness was eased because I went second behind an female anchor from a competiting station that does not start with "W". ( I think you get the hint ). Watching her take off and land and still be in one piece eased my mind.
DID YOU THROW UP OR PASS OUT?
I did not pass out nor did I puke, thought I came close to blacking out when we hit 7.5G. I started to go black at one point but somehow was kept my wits about me.
WHAT WAS WITH THE BREATHING? WERE YOU FREAKING OUT OR GIVING BIRTH?
OK, people, let me try and explain this as best as I can. I was told by my instructor before we took off that I should try to use what is called the "hook" method when I am faced with such change of pressure in the cockpit. The move is designed to keep the blood from racing out of your head. What happens is you tighten up the bottom half of your bodies and make short, calculated breaths. It may not look pretty -- and in this case it looked pretty funny -- but if someone is telling you to do this when you are 10,000 feet in the air, who am I to say no.
WILL YOU BE GOING UP AGAIN?
I don't know if I will ever have the chance again, but I would enjoy the honor. It was one of the great moments of my life and the best thing is that I have the entire experience on videotape. I really enjoyed it and no matter what I did on television, it could never convey the experience.
That being said, I was pretty funny with all that panting and breathing in the cockpit.
Posted at 8:50 AM
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