The Press Box: Where I Live Now.

I walked into Rice Eccles Stadium ready for the day. Beyond excited. After all I had some how side armed my way into a Salt Lake Stallions game with a media credential for a community college paper. I was over the moon. How the hell did I pull this off?

It started with a call to some random ticket exec with the Stallions asking if they had a PR person. The answer was that they had just barely brought someone on and to send an email. So an email was sent. I received a link to a simple google form back filled it out, then filled out an identical new form later in the week.

By Wednesday I had not heard back. Not a bad try I thought to myself and went about trying to line up a ticket for the game through other channels. Finally Thursday afternoon I got the email. Credential approved! I don’t know what I felt but it was a mix of adrenaline and pure ecstasy. I had done it. I had somehow gotten into a press box with a community college paper. I’m still amazed I got in as I write this.

So I of course put together the Journo starting kit. A backpack, a laptop, portable charger, USB cord. Then headed off to the stadium with about an hour and forty-five minutes before game time.

I got to the gates about an hour and fifteen minutes before kick off. But it wasn’t kick off. The AAF doesn’t have kick offs so I find it very confusing people still use the term with the league. I picked up my credential post haste and went to tower one.

I had never been to the top of Rice Eccles Stadium. Reserved for fancy business meetings and high school dances I was never asked to or got rejected from. So as the elevator opened I was stunned. It was one of the most breathtakingly beautiful views of the Salt Lake Valley I had ever seen.

The press box is full of strange characters. The team staff, jumbled into the dining area eating a pre game meal. The radio guys running to and frow trying to get their remote studio set up. The TV guy Dave Fox walking around as if the press box was his domain granted by God. My goodness he deserves to feel that way he does some excellent work on TV and when I told him so myself he was very appreciative. I really enjoy all of Mr. Fox’s work.

Then theres the Stallions GM Randy Mueller who I don’t know is the GM until mid way through my conversation with him. I approach him to ask about the biggest complaint I have with the AAF which is where the hell are the live in game stats for the general public. Mueller kindly agrees with me and tells me he’ll get back to me with answers, but he never does. Still I consider the GM now a good friend and a good man on his way to steering this team to years of future success.

I settle down in the press box. Grab some good slice of some kind of rare fatty meat, some salad, a lemon bar and a cup of Sierra Mist. I am a God in the press box. Everything I need is provided for me in bounties of plenty. My view of the field is outstanding and I sit down to enjoy the game.

Which brings me to my point. I am going to live in the press box. It is truly a place of beauty and happiness. I am proud to say I did not cheer in the press box. However there were collective groans at bad plays in the press box. So I guess there is as they say no cheering in the press box but grunting and sounds of general discomfort are allowed.

Proud to say I remained stone faced the entire time. The way I watch sports fits in perfectly in the press box. Meditatively, surrealy. So that is where my heart shall stay. High above the field. Staring into the action, sitting in the press box.