Calling All Crazies

At the TV station, you never know who is going to call. Fine, that's like many other jobs as well. Quite often, individuals will call with the "most important" story EVER, and tell us it's our responsibility to drop everything we are doing to fix it. Oh mighty journalistic angels we are. 

I was going to write about the person that called today concerning a political race, and how they believed one candidate was being a hypocrite (in politics?? no.....). The focus of his call beyond that was about abortion. It was all over the place, and I'm not going to say any more about it because with the election coming up (that particular race), I don't want to get into the reasoning behind this guys thoughts or lack thereof.  

Instead, I would like to share a transcript of another phone call I took over the summer...with my commentary added. 

June 5, 2012

8:32 am

*Phone Rings*

Ben: Newsroom...(The unlucky only person there that has to answer the phone)

Caller: Hi...um...*crying* I need to talk to someone...

Ben: Ok, who are you looking for?

Caller: You're not going to believe me, but you might know him or see him at the station. (Just fire away)

Ben: Yeah, maybe...who?

Caller: I should tell you a story first because then you'll understand. (I'm banking on no I won't)

Ben: Sounds good. 

Caller: I was drugged 33 years ago, and *sobbing* you'll never guess who saved my life. (I'm guessing you'll tell me)

Ben: Do tell.

Caller: Steven Tyler from Aerosmith. (Didn't see that coming)

Ben: Steven Tyler huh?

Caller: Yeah and I need to thank him. He was like a glowing angel sitting next to me. (Gonna just go ahead and say they were crying the whole time)

Ben: Uh, I don't know him or see him around. (Ahhh how the drugs make sense)

Caller: Well you have FOX at your station and American Idol is on it. (That explains it)

Ben: That isn't taped here.

Caller: It's not? But I need to talk to him, and see him. (The persistence is commendable). 

Ben: Well, we don't have access to Steven Tyler

Caller: Don't you have a computer near you? (I'm not seeing where this is going)

Ben: No (I can't take it anymore)

Caller: I'm not on drugs, I swear (I'm going to kindly disagree)

Ben: Ok, I'll call Steven and tell him you say thank you. What is your name?

Caller: I can't tell you (That makes it hard to leave a fake message)

Ben: I don't think I can help you

Caller: Tell him I love him (not a chance)

Disclaimer: I was not being insensitive, there's only so much crazy anyone can handle.

Stealing Benji Wilson

Murder.

For some people murder is a very real part of their everyday lives. Whether they aren't afraid to commit it, trying to avoid it, or not be impacted by it. 

Murder is what ended the life of Simeon basketball star Benji Wilson. 

ESPN debuted their "30 for 30: Benji" documentary, and it tells the complete story of an incomplete life lived. 

Wilson wasn't a clear cut superstar early on in his high school career. He had to earn his way onto the varsity team, only after his teammates told the coach to give him a chance. He grew to 6-8, and led the Wolverines to a state championship. Wilson became the #1 high school basketball recruit in the nation, the first from Chicago to accomplish that feat.

As you watch the documentary, you see how his story & life are developing. Growing up in Chicago, a hot bed for basketball talent, but also drugs & crime. Benji had people trying their hardest to protect him and dissuade him from becoming a part of the "streets." It's a lifestyle his older brother and friends had fallen into, but Wilson wasn't going to be like that. He even had neighbors like R. Kelly and the rapper, Common. 

More and more people are introduced, and the feel you get is that they want nothing more than to ride the coattails of Benji. Not just for the money or fame, but for a friend and brother to succeed. 

You can't help but wonder when something is going to go wrong. Gangs were spreading their influence into more and more Chicago neighborhoods. Guns were becoming more of a problem. It sounds like 2012, but it's 1984. 

Wilson fell in love, and had a son with his girlfriend when he was just 17 years old. Benji understood his decisions, but remained focused.

The details of Wilson's death are still unclear to this day. Depending on who you ask, the story might be different. Whether he bumped into fellow teens Billy Moore and Omar Dixon while walking on a sidewalk, or it was a botched robbery, the bottom line is Benji was shot twice in broad daylight. 

This is the most compelling part of the documentary for me. 

It's the middle of the school day, as Wilson is lying on the ground fighting for his life. It's like the entire city of Chicago heard the gunshots. Teammates, friends and family run to the scene. The media gets word about the shooting. An ambulance rushes Wilson to the nearest hospital, but there's no trauma doctors on-site, and surgery is delayed for more than 2 hours. He dies the next morning. 

EVERYTHING worked against Benji. He was the 669th murder victim in 1984. 

So far in 2012, Chicago has 426 murders, up from 341 at this time last year. 

Can you place a value on one human life? Is it just a case of showing, proving, sharing how much someone meant?

Ben Wilson was compared to the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Walter Payton. He was the hope of a neighborhood, a school, a city. 

Seeing how the media covered the death, and the funeral was interesting for me because people often think the cameras are intrusive and there's no place for them. I AGREE. At the same time though, they tell a story and they capture emotion. In this case it's the worst kind of emotion with thousands of people grieving, and walking past an open casket paying their final respects. On the other side of the emotion, it could be the soldier coming home, embracing his/her family.

Wilson is that everlasting positive emotion. His legacy kept alive by his accomplishments, but also by those who came after him. Derrick Rose was a back-to-back state champ at Simeon. Now there's Jabari Parker. He's the #1 high school basketball player in the nation, and 3-time state champ for the Wolverines.

The sad truth is that people can do extraordinary things, but we are our own worst enemy. We limit our potential through our negative actions.

 Benji Wilson deserved better. 

Running Through Temptation

Run 

Who knew three letters could be so much work.

Those that know me, know I don't like running at all. There are runners that talk about the feeling of a "Runner's High." I generally just dismiss those thoughts and assume they're crazy for wanting to push the body, mile after mile. 

I said I was going to go for a run today. I told my friends & told myself. My goal was 5 miles (just a random number), but a distance I had never run all at one time.  I ended up going 3.24 miles. Admittedly, I was exhausted, but I was also caught in a heavy downpour and I didn't feel like testing out the warranty on my phone that I had with me. 

Instead of going to a local path, I decided to test out terrain near my apartment. I learned a lot...

I found myself running around the outskirts of the CherryVale Mall. This is where temptation began to come in. I'm really not much of a shopper, so anything at the mall wasn't the issue. I'm trying to get back into shape. Experts/normal people say working the morning shift messes with your fat cells/metabolism etc. 

I've gained probably 20 pounds since moving to mornings at the end of January. TV is all about the way you look and yes the camera adds 10 pounds. I've started to be more mindful of what I'm eating, and I'm trying to add more and more physical activity. 

Weight is something a lot of people struggle with, but it doesn't have to be what dictates how we feel about ourselves. 

As I got into mile number 2, one of my favorite restaurants, a staple of my childhood...Taco Bell.

There were more to follow...DQ Grill & Chill, Sonic, Burger King and Arby's. It's amazing how easy it is to get a meal that would be incredibly rewarding, yet completely unhealthy. I WILL eat at some of these places and easily will skip out on healthy alternatives, but I think that's part of keeping my sanity going forward. 

In running by Magic Waters, perhaps that can be motivation as well to get in shape for next summer. It's a process, but at least I've begun. 

Finally, something that clicked the most in my quest to eliminate unhealthy temptation. A pop-up Halloween store. Indeed, I still need to get a costume. That's not really what its about though. I realized that for a few nights a year we can hide who we really are. (yes, I know...totally cliche but hear me out).

It could be the weight we struggle with, or maybe our self image and the way we think others perceive us. They're personal battles, but they're things that need to be embraced. You can't really tell people how to live their lives, merely can make recommendations or give advice when they ask you to. 

Don't put on a mask. Be exactly who YOU want to be. 

Who knew a short run could give me so much clarity?   

Big House A Big Deal

When it came to college football as I was growing up there was a clear message,

"Don't cheer for MICHIGAN."

It wasn't something that was being forced on me, just merely the way it was. When I was probably around 5 or 6 years old, I took a tour of Notre Dame's campus. It wasn't a recruiting trip (Brian Kelly wasn't there and violations were unheard of). I left there thinking the golden helmets were so neat. My dad bought me a Fighting Irish basketball and warmup jersey. I was set on becoming an Irish fan.

Another team that adopted my fandom was "The Ohio State University," via my adoptive second family the Travis'. Mrs. Travis is a proud alum and we would all watch games in the family room growing up. My first memory is watching Eddie George during the 1995 season, as he rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. I haven't seen a game in "The Shoe" but I plan on it someday.

I realize I'm breaking a lot of rules here when it comes to cheering for certain teams but this week I had the opportunity to visit Michigan Stadium for a "Football Saturday." I've watched countless games on TV, and even attended "The Big Chill" back in 2010 between Michigan/MSU. More than 100,000 people in a stadium for a hockey game?? Unheard of!

Yes, my girlfriend Laurel went to Michigan. She is a proud alum, as she should be. Her fondest memories of college are going to class (no joke) and "Football Saturday." As I mentioned, liking anything that has to do with Michigan is against a lot of what I know, but I also appreciate a passion for sports and a dedicated fan base. 

"If you build it, he will come."

-Field Of Dreams (1989)

On Saturday, the Wolverines celebrated their homecoming against Illinois. As I walked through Michigan's campus, Maize and Blue littered the streets, college kids were playing flippy cup on the lawns (parents alongside). It had the feel of nearly every other college campus I've been on with a home football game. As I continued to walk with Laurel and a handful of her friends, the crowds kept growing, so did the amount of Maize and Blue. We eventually got to the golf course known for the tailgating. At $40 dollars a car, it's a real money maker. Vehicles were strategically setup between the fairways, with thousands of people disregarding the rain.

Thanks to family friends (The Witt's), we tailgated with the finest. Their friend Ernie makes sure everyone is included and fed. A spread of hot dogs, burgers, tacos, chili, ribs, cake, candy, and of course beverages welcomed everyone, even the adopted Wolverines. 

GAME TIME.

After more walking, we reached the stadium. I was hit with tradition instantly. Decked out in my Michigan gear, I felt like I was included in the rich history of Michigan football. They have 72 All-Americans, 3 Heisman trophy winners and 11 national championships. 

When you enter the bleachers, there are dozens and dozens of rows. We sat in the 8th row. Up close to the action, but just a few people out of the more than 110,000 that showed up to support the team. When you get that many people yelling for a similar cause, the atmosphere is electric. That moment, that first touchdown Michigan scored defines college sports and it's following. You can replace the Michigan logo with any other school, pick your favorite. The idea is that we all cheer for something/someone, but in this case to be a part of this particular school and fan base was rewarding. As a graduate of Northern Illinois University, I sat through too many games of 11,000 people watching on. A lot of the time, it was a better team (record wise) than Michigan has had in the last 5 years, with the exception of Michigan's Sugar Bowl win last year. Sometimes the devotion overrides success. It's an understanding that hopefully better days are ahead. 

The Wolverines won their 899th football game, taking down the Illini 45-0. 

Ultimately, I won. As a sports fan, and for choosing the right girl to date to introduce me to such an epic experience. So, going back to growing up with a certain mentality about something? 

Give EVERYTHING a chance. It's worth a try. 

Canal Jumping. Something I will do.

Canal Jumping. 

This has been the topic of conversation with family and close friends of mine over the last few days. It's apparently quite popular in Amsterdam, probably second to visiting the red light district. When I was in Amsterdam in 2008, mi amigos (that's not what they call them there) didn't explore beyond the city limits. We walked for miles to find a windmill. Hold on, as I type, I'm learning that I have so much more I could tell you about, not just concerning Amsterdam. There is awesome history there, art as well, Heineken flows from the brewery. There was the night of watching the Superbowl, and trying to keep the bar open because it didn't start until two in the morning overseas. 

I digress. 

Canal jumping is something I wish I experienced. ESPN's camera crews traveled and followed the plight of Kenny Mayne, solid situational journalist. an entertainer, comedian. Mayne, was hoping to witness a record of a well known CJ (canal jumper/jumping, situational abbreviation).

The idea is that you run forward, hang on, climb up the pole, while shifting your weight and the pole over the canal...hopefully 10 to 20 meters landing in the grass/sand on the other side. 

Why this is intriguing to me is because of the oddity. Traditional in Amsterdam, mysterious to Americans. I find it amazing that we could stop and think about something that's been done for decades, possibly centuries. In the next year, I will canal jump, its been added to my bucket list. Who's coming with? (To Amsterdam...or a local creek that will pose as a canal) 

Oh, and as my friend Billy Travis pointed out...If you do well you get to kiss the mayor there...You're a champion and she gives you that reward. 

Here's to friendly skies.

My Name is Ben & I am a Blogger.

Greetings! Thank you for visiting my blog. I've never blogged, nor had enough desire to create a blog. Bottom line is, this is a place for me to discuss news, sports & strange things I might see during the day (which happens a lot based on my geographic location).

Based on the title of the blog, it really isn't anything more than it sounds like. I do have access to events and opportunities because I am in the TV world. My fellow colleagues understand the advantages and sometimes the disadvantages of that. I applied to be Kelly Ripa's co-host, hence the still frame that is my background on the blog (if it's not there...it's because I'm new at this and have no idea what I am doing.)

I mentioned I will discuss news, sports, and the strange things I see. I will also post any videos that are interesting or totally terrible? It does not reflect my job, which is usually to report, inform the good and the bad. More bad than good usually...that's for another post. I don't claim to be a great writer just because I'm a journalist. My grammar and punctuation may not always be sound, but I hope my spelling suffices because dating back to 2nd grade, I've usually been 95% or better on any spelling test taken. 

I'm attaching my Kelly Ripa entry...I didn't become a finalist, but it doesn't mean I'm not a winner!