Celebrating the local quotesmiths
I can only be in one place at a time, so when I am not at a game - or return from one - my job requires a lot of desk duty in which I talk to coaches on the phone to summarize the contests I did not attend.
About three years ago I wrote a column listing the most overused phrases in sports quotes, many of which I will absolutely refuse to print. Nope, you will not see a “we’ve been working hard” or “we gave 100 percent” in my write-ups. I will go that extra mile – or in my case, ask additional questions – to draw out original thoughts from the local coaching brethren. Folks, it’s not as easy as it might seem, especially when a coach is reporting a blowout loss. Sometimes less is better, and often, I adhere to the adage, “if you can’t say something nice… .”
However, there are the jewels of the coaching profession who consistently provide me with thoughtful responses that spice up game stories. Below I have compiled a list of past and present coaches who have always given me interesting fodder to write about for the readers of Chenango County. As a disclaimer, I have enjoyed working with all of the local coaches, and no disrespect is intended toward any of those not mentioned.
Bob Branham, Norwich golf coach
Until I took this job, I only knew Bob from his exploits on the golf course. He was one of the first coaches to report a result to me, and he has consistently offered me quality insights in a sport that doesn’t have much in the way of play-by-play. His knowledge of his particular sport is on par – pun intended – with any coach I know.
Bill Case, Greene
The relationship I had with Bill for nearly 15 years extended well beyond the boundaries of the box score. Bill is truly a decent man with broad-reaching thoughts on all topics beyond sports. His successor for Greene’s girls basketball team, Dave Gorton, is a bit “edgier,” but no less thoughtful. Would you expect anything else from a high school English teacher who was a newspaper reporter in a previous life?
Dave Loomis, Otselic Valley
Now retired from teaching, but still coaching basketball, Dave is clearly much more than a Physical Education teacher and coach. Principled and pragmatic, it wouldn’t surprise me if Dave wrote or recited poetry on the side. He’s the master of issuing a quote similar in meaning, but with a thousand variations so it sounds fresh – at least to me.
Mickey James, Norwich, Sherburne-Earlville
I have known Mickey as a good friend for nearly 20 years, and it is through his volunteer efforts to help young athletes better themselves that I know him best. Mick also served as a varsity coach in baseball and football in separate stints at Norwich and S-E respectively, and he proved with his comments that quality does not necessarily go hand-in-hand with quantity. He will often sum up a situation in a few words with a wry, humorous non sequitur. For example, “we were more nervous than a turkey on Thanksgiving day.” Or, “his hands were so bad, he couldn’t catch a cold.” I’ll miss those one-liners.
Mark Abbott, Norwich
For 17 seasons, Mark was a model of consistency reporting games to me. He gave me all the time I needed for an interview, was clear and articulate with his comments, was organized with his thoughts and completely professional in our working relationship. He also provided me with any and all statistics to round out a story.
Tom Collier, Norwich
I was friends with Tom quite a while before he became a head coach. Surprisingly, he was reserved and reticent with his responses the first month or two at the helm as if he did not know me. He soon warmed to the adjustment of becoming a professional colleague as well as a friend. Tom is a true student of sports as well as a student of great coaches and their philosophies. He has gleaned that knowledge and combined it with his own style to produce an always-interesting take on the games he is reporting to me.
Mike Chrystie, Oxford/Norwich
Mike has to rank among the top three athletes I have covered, and certainly the most distinguished football player. Following his collegiate football career at Colgate, he returned to his alma mater, Oxford, to coach football. This past season, he led Norwich to a playoff berth. The best thing I can say about Mike is that is always has a lot of useful information to contribute. Seems like whenever I finish a conversation with him, I have a boatload of quotes to pore over. The leftover quotes have often provided me with subject matter for future stories.
And the best of the rest…
Sheila Cooman, Sherburne-Earlville
I could see the happy face she put on right through the telephone connection. Is it possible to be relentlessly optimistic? She is the godmother of Sherburne-Earlville field hockey, and is still going strong after 35-plus years.
Jim Johnson, G-MU
This gentleman just loves basketball and loves teaching the game to young kids. He remains enthusiastic after 30-plus years on the sidelines, and his remarks after games are always detailed and on point. He’s also such a terrific guy and golf partner. So much so, I have overlooked his lifetime allegiance to the Boston Red Sox.
Tim Paske, Greene
Need your sports team classed up – and improved – just contact this guy. Tim has always understood that working with the media was an integral part of his job, and no matter how busy he was with his wife and four kids, he made time to talk about Greene football. Tim loved to use acronyms to describe various things with the two I remember most: RPF – relentless pursuit to the football; and FOOL, fraternal order of offensive lineman. I really hope Tim returns to coaching football.
John Stewart, Norwich
John is from the first family of Norwich tennis, and his dad – John Sr. – was one of the premier players in the area for many, many years. John is passionate about tennis, he coaches the game that way, and he reports results in the same manner. He always offers plenty of details in a sport where I rarely receive any from coaches.
Don Kovalchik, Norwich
Don has been out of coaching as a head coach or assistant for over a decade, but is still a regular presence at Norwich matches. I have to ask this question: How many English teachers coached their school’s wrestling team? Don was great about talking about as many kids as possible in his reports. Don knew the value of a kid seeing his name in print in terms of building self-esteem and self-confidence. Now retired for several years, Don remains the consummate wrestling ambassador.
So there you have it, the no-so-short list of local quotesmiths who have made my job so much easier. I’ve been on the other side of an interview once or twice, and I have the utmost respect for anyone who can speak intelligently in an extemporaneous manner.
Follow me on Twitter @evesunpat
About three years ago I wrote a column listing the most overused phrases in sports quotes, many of which I will absolutely refuse to print. Nope, you will not see a “we’ve been working hard” or “we gave 100 percent” in my write-ups. I will go that extra mile – or in my case, ask additional questions – to draw out original thoughts from the local coaching brethren. Folks, it’s not as easy as it might seem, especially when a coach is reporting a blowout loss. Sometimes less is better, and often, I adhere to the adage, “if you can’t say something nice… .”
However, there are the jewels of the coaching profession who consistently provide me with thoughtful responses that spice up game stories. Below I have compiled a list of past and present coaches who have always given me interesting fodder to write about for the readers of Chenango County. As a disclaimer, I have enjoyed working with all of the local coaches, and no disrespect is intended toward any of those not mentioned.
Bob Branham, Norwich golf coach
Until I took this job, I only knew Bob from his exploits on the golf course. He was one of the first coaches to report a result to me, and he has consistently offered me quality insights in a sport that doesn’t have much in the way of play-by-play. His knowledge of his particular sport is on par – pun intended – with any coach I know.
Bill Case, Greene
The relationship I had with Bill for nearly 15 years extended well beyond the boundaries of the box score. Bill is truly a decent man with broad-reaching thoughts on all topics beyond sports. His successor for Greene’s girls basketball team, Dave Gorton, is a bit “edgier,” but no less thoughtful. Would you expect anything else from a high school English teacher who was a newspaper reporter in a previous life?
Dave Loomis, Otselic Valley
Now retired from teaching, but still coaching basketball, Dave is clearly much more than a Physical Education teacher and coach. Principled and pragmatic, it wouldn’t surprise me if Dave wrote or recited poetry on the side. He’s the master of issuing a quote similar in meaning, but with a thousand variations so it sounds fresh – at least to me.
Mickey James, Norwich, Sherburne-Earlville
I have known Mickey as a good friend for nearly 20 years, and it is through his volunteer efforts to help young athletes better themselves that I know him best. Mick also served as a varsity coach in baseball and football in separate stints at Norwich and S-E respectively, and he proved with his comments that quality does not necessarily go hand-in-hand with quantity. He will often sum up a situation in a few words with a wry, humorous non sequitur. For example, “we were more nervous than a turkey on Thanksgiving day.” Or, “his hands were so bad, he couldn’t catch a cold.” I’ll miss those one-liners.
Mark Abbott, Norwich
For 17 seasons, Mark was a model of consistency reporting games to me. He gave me all the time I needed for an interview, was clear and articulate with his comments, was organized with his thoughts and completely professional in our working relationship. He also provided me with any and all statistics to round out a story.
Tom Collier, Norwich
I was friends with Tom quite a while before he became a head coach. Surprisingly, he was reserved and reticent with his responses the first month or two at the helm as if he did not know me. He soon warmed to the adjustment of becoming a professional colleague as well as a friend. Tom is a true student of sports as well as a student of great coaches and their philosophies. He has gleaned that knowledge and combined it with his own style to produce an always-interesting take on the games he is reporting to me.
Mike Chrystie, Oxford/Norwich
Mike has to rank among the top three athletes I have covered, and certainly the most distinguished football player. Following his collegiate football career at Colgate, he returned to his alma mater, Oxford, to coach football. This past season, he led Norwich to a playoff berth. The best thing I can say about Mike is that is always has a lot of useful information to contribute. Seems like whenever I finish a conversation with him, I have a boatload of quotes to pore over. The leftover quotes have often provided me with subject matter for future stories.
And the best of the rest…
Sheila Cooman, Sherburne-Earlville
I could see the happy face she put on right through the telephone connection. Is it possible to be relentlessly optimistic? She is the godmother of Sherburne-Earlville field hockey, and is still going strong after 35-plus years.
Jim Johnson, G-MU
This gentleman just loves basketball and loves teaching the game to young kids. He remains enthusiastic after 30-plus years on the sidelines, and his remarks after games are always detailed and on point. He’s also such a terrific guy and golf partner. So much so, I have overlooked his lifetime allegiance to the Boston Red Sox.
Tim Paske, Greene
Need your sports team classed up – and improved – just contact this guy. Tim has always understood that working with the media was an integral part of his job, and no matter how busy he was with his wife and four kids, he made time to talk about Greene football. Tim loved to use acronyms to describe various things with the two I remember most: RPF – relentless pursuit to the football; and FOOL, fraternal order of offensive lineman. I really hope Tim returns to coaching football.
John Stewart, Norwich
John is from the first family of Norwich tennis, and his dad – John Sr. – was one of the premier players in the area for many, many years. John is passionate about tennis, he coaches the game that way, and he reports results in the same manner. He always offers plenty of details in a sport where I rarely receive any from coaches.
Don Kovalchik, Norwich
Don has been out of coaching as a head coach or assistant for over a decade, but is still a regular presence at Norwich matches. I have to ask this question: How many English teachers coached their school’s wrestling team? Don was great about talking about as many kids as possible in his reports. Don knew the value of a kid seeing his name in print in terms of building self-esteem and self-confidence. Now retired for several years, Don remains the consummate wrestling ambassador.
So there you have it, the no-so-short list of local quotesmiths who have made my job so much easier. I’ve been on the other side of an interview once or twice, and I have the utmost respect for anyone who can speak intelligently in an extemporaneous manner.
Follow me on Twitter @evesunpat
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