Online Video Samples

Mallards Host National Audience

Mood:  chillin'
I have to admit, I'm a BIG Adam Sandler fan. From his days on S-N-L, to his lack of maturity as Billy Madison and free-swingin' styles of Happy Gilmore...he was the John Belushi of my generation - check that, IS the John Belushi of my time.

However, Sandler's most recent work has left me applauding introspectively as he takes his craft to a higher level - above the beer bongs, drug references and flaming bags of poo.

I believe Sandler's metamorphosis can be credited to his becoming a father. Myself a relatively new father, I can respect his wishes to represent himself in a more compassionate light. Spanglish saw Sandler play the role of a father struggling with his growing family; while most recently, Click delivered a passionate portrayal of a career-focused dad trying to find the easy way out of difficult life decisions.

At 28, I find myself in a seemingly similar position. I want to be successful, I want to provide for my wife and son...but at what cost? I've always told myself I would put my family first, but that's not always the easiest thing to do.

A line in Sandler's Click really clicked with me - "Family comes first" - that's a pretty common line in anyone, actor, doctor, teacher or stay-at-home parent. However, in life, lines are easier said than done. When you're living paycheck to paycheck, sometimes you feel the need to crunch a bit harder in order to get everything done.

As you can see on this page, I have an unbridled love for my son, Joe, and my wife, Dana. I want them to have everything my dad worked so hard to deliver for us. However, the one thing my dad admits to doing is not being HOME enough...he sometimes put work before family.

I'm trying hard not to...but when does life afford you that luxury? The juggling act continues, but I will always make my family priority number one.

-- Dave
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For your viewing pleasure, another fun video link of Joe having some fun - ENJOY!

One of Joe's favorite things...
Mood:  caffeinated
Here's a clip of the Joe-meister spinning himself silly to some rythmic, repetetive spanish sayings...

Buenos Noches

Halloween in July
Mood:  bright
I'll keep this short and let the picture do the talking.

Today marked the annual Marshall, Minn. tradition of the "Kiddie Parade" where you dress your kids up in a costume and march them down Main Street. It's a grand ol' time...

Cowboy Joe was on patrol, making sure no bad dudes tried to interrupt the event. He was rewarded handsomely with a Schwan's ice cream cone.

Hope you had as much fun reading this as we had at the parade!

The "naughty" step
Mood:  happy
Disciplining my son isn't something I enjoy. However, our latest ploy to keep the boy in line has turned out to be our latest source of humor.

My wonderful wife, Dana, and I have been - don't tell anyone - watching Nanny 911, Super Nanny and other shows of this sort. The key we've taken away is that discipline has to start early if you want to effectively teach your kids right from wrong.

Back in the day, my mom would threaten the wooden spoon - "1...2...3...it's comin' out!" with little resistence from me - and only once did the ol' man have to take me upstairs to meet with Mr. Leather Belt. Those days seem long gone with all the crap you see about kids suing their parents, Social Services, and just bad parenting in general.

With Joe, the little devil-angel that he is, discipline isn't easy...he's only 15 months old, so when do we and when don't we? We've devised a brilliant solution to when he's being bad - the "naughty" step. The bottom stair of our flight of stairs is a resting point for the boy when he's being bad.

We'll take Joe there, set him down on the stair, tell him he's been "naughty," explain why he's being naughty, give him a minute or two to cool off, then we hug him, tell him we love him and ask him if he's going to be a good boy.

Granted, we don't know if this is working. He's a good listener, but again I reinforce, he's 15 months old.

So, the other day, he's throwing stuff around the house he's not supposed to. Dana threatens to Joe that he's going to have to "sit on the naughty seat."

Well, Joe takes this as his cue to sit on the stair...so, bless his soul, the boy walks over to the stairs, looks over at Dana, backs his way onto the step, sits down, looks back at mommy with a sad face, and is content sitting on the "naughty" step.

I guess discipline can be a double-edge sword for parents - you want it to be effective, but sometimes it turns into a humorous situation that you just can't help but laugh about.

I think we might have to find a new "naughty" spot since Joe doesn't seem to mind his step, after all.

Raising a little giant
Mood:  vegas lucky
Kids...little kids...big little kids. I think that's what I'm destined to have as a parent. My son is a monster of a little man. 14.5 months old, growing like a weed, too big for his own good.


He's wearing clothes that 3 year old kids wear; his feet are like miniature canoes floating down a river of akwardness; his smile is as big as a canyon, his laugh resonates like grand echoes in the deepest caves.

Yet, I look at this man - Dana's blood, my blood, conjoined to complete the circle of life - and I wonder..."what have I done?". Is the boy going to be tormented with the same painful stature that I'm cursed with? Will he spend his childhood, teenage and early adult years enjoying sport, only to fall out of shape as a 28-year old, aching from every joint and limb just from getting out of bed?

Joe, you have an important choice to make, my son. Enjoy your life, but make sure you take care of your body. You will be bigger than most; you will tower above those your same age. Utilize this to your advantage, but remain humble in your gait. Remember that doorways may rise or fall as you pass under them, it's what you do before or after entering them that makes a difference.

That's my wish...is that your little giant may enjoy the fruits of life's labors, regardless of how big, or how small, they may become.

Happy Mom's Day
Mood:  cheeky
My lovley wife and I are so blessed to be parents. We've got a great little man running around our house...smart, funny, energetic, healthy. He's such a great little kid.



Anyway, Mother's Day started with Joe waking up a bit earlier than anticipated. I got him up, changed, milked and then we stormed in a jumped on mommy together. Joe was happy to see his mommy - as always - as I told him that Mother's Day was a day where we take care of mom.

Joe and I immediately got up, started breakfast, then watched some SportsCenter as mommy slept in. When she got up, she helped feed the boy, and the day rolled on.
Lunch time came around, so I made chicken and potatoes. Dinner, chicken and stuffing. The rest of the evening was spent lounging around, watching TV, and just enjoying each other's company.

Joey gave mommy a kiss before heading off to bed with me...but he didn't want to fall asleep without mom, so we brought her up, she laid him down, and the two snoozed off together.

All in all, I'd say Dana had a nice day - nothing special. I'll have to work on that for next year!

Weekend Away Awaits...or Does It?
Mood:  d'oh
So the wife and I are talking about taking some 'us' time...a little traveling, a little reacquainting, a little lovin' - much needed, mind you - but we're having a tough time deciding where, when, and IF we want to go anywhere. The struggles of vacation!

Here's the deal: we're huge Vegas fans, we're huge Florida fans. I would love to take the lady somewhere we've never been...Portland, Seattle, Napa Valley, Boston, Maine. Somewhere nice, but not too expensive. I'd be willing just to go to a cabin for the weekend, but Dana would rather bank the coin from something like that.

I can't argue with that logic - it's not like money is growing on the bushes around here. But, damn, it would be nice to splurge and endulge a little.

Anyway, I'm gonna go back to dreaming of sipping cold drinks in the hot sun next to my lovely wife on a lounger by the pool...ahhhh, sunburn!

Daddy Day Care
Mood:  not sure
I absolutely love me son. He is the world. He's so smart, funny, handsome (don't know where he gets it), and so easy going. So why is it that when my wife says she's spending the weekend away to do some freelance work, I get cold sweats and horrible thoughts of me failing as a father?

Joe is a great kid. He's 99% of the time an easy-going little squirt that loves to play, shout, and laugh. But there are times when he's an overflowing handful...and that makes me worried. He goes through these spells where he won't eat, won't sleep, won't stop crying until you pick him up. For being a 1-year old, he sure is moody. What's a guy to do?

My wife and I have the luxury of being able to keep him out of daycare. I work, the wife stays home. That's how it's been since day one of Joey being born. But Dana's getting tired of not having a career. She says she tires of caring for Joe...and that worries me. But she does a great job with him, he's always smiling when I come home, and for the most part, we all are happy.

I just wish I could do more. There are days when I wish I didn't have to work, and we could all be one giant Familia Americana. But someone's gotta make the bread...but there are times when I have to handle the reigns of a boy who - at any second - could turn into a spewing, screaming shrimp-sized me.

That makes me fear Daddy Day Care...but it also makes me smile. I smile because I know that he's mine, and my actions will directly impact the decisions he makes down the road. Consciously or subconsciously, he's learning - and I love that!

Eddie Murray, eat your heart out - I've got one helluva kid!

Something Old Tries Something New...
Mood:  cool
Hello friends, it's been at least a year since my last post. Yeah, I'm a slacker. At least I'm not a hacker...okay that sounded cooler in my head.

Alas, here I am. I started this blog as a way to express my frustations with the TV news industry. I got so far as to post once; now I'm trying something different. On every level.

Since we last spoke, I've moonlighted as an overnight news photographer in Minneapolis (a great news market, if you're working during the day). I enjoyed this experience, but really didn't like 95% of what I had to see: from the Red Lake School shootings aftermath; countless dead bodies - either shot, run over, or ejected from vehicles; innumerable fires - homes, commercial buildings, cars, brush (and we're not talking hair brushes); too many visuals that just don't go away when you clock out for the night.
To make matters worse, I was working from 12am until whenever I was done the next day. Sometimes 9, 9:30, but usually I was putting in 11, 12 hour days. Mind you, I loved the overtime, and it meant my wife didn't have to work...which was great, because she was busy carrying - and delivering - my first son...who is just beautiful, and made all this crap worthwhile.

However, my schedule didn't allow me to see my wife or kid much. So, I did what any good father would do...I gave up my dream of being a full-time sports guy in a large market to settle into the cushy, comfy, corporate world. Now, things are slowing down substantially, and I've had to learn to pace myself. When you're used to deadlines, scanner traffic, and producers screaming at you...you'll gladly embrace a quite office with the occassional phone ring. It's so soothing...

Anyway, welcome back to my world. I hope to provide some positive insight and reflection as I carry on this quest of being a good father, a good husband, and a great member of the corporate rat race.

Wish me luck!

Welcome to "Scribings of a Sports Guy"
Mood:  suave
Now Playing: Welcome to "Scribings of a Sports Guy
You've stumbled upon what's sure to become a passing fancy for this "blog-illiterate" sports guy.

Thanks for stopping by, allow me to express the purpose of this page.

All too often, my profession is brushed aside as one that seems easy. I sit in front of a camera, read my highlights, and watch the cash roll in. On the contrary, my job is nothing like what is shown on ESPN's "Dream Job". I put in 60-80 hour weeks, for the pay of 40 - mind you, which isn't much to begin with - and I hardly ever see my lovely wife, and precious little puppy. I eat TV dinners (fittingly) and drink too much soda. I carry heavy, prehistoric broadcast equipment fit for cable-access, and deal with complaining, never-satiated viewers who find it necessary to gripe about not putting his kid on TV enough.

So why do I bother going to work everyday? Simple, to help make this industry more honest. Too often, my colleagues and competitive cohorts - all across the country - find themselves sitting in their office, watching the "feed" (a video service that sends highlights from all over the world), waiting for "their" highlights to arrive. When they do, they rehash them, do their sportscast, and go home, content with the little bit of work they didn't accomplish that day.

How will I make this industry more honest? By calling out everyone of those sports guys, and gals - you know who you are - who are sitting around, waiting, letting good sports in the communities go to waste. I hear it all across the country - "sports isn't important in local newscasts anymore." "No one wants to see sports." "Ratings show that sports aren't what people tune in for."

On the contrary, friends! In small markets, where viewers aren't inundated with large-market professional sports, LOCAL sports are ALL THERE IS!! There's a reason a kid still fights for his school; there's a reason newspapers still write about the Friday Night Lights. Local sports MATTER, but news directors and general managers think differently.

I'm a small market sports guy with large market dreams.

I'm gonna fight for the small markets, I'm gonna FIGHT the large markets. Local leads in my book, and this page will help reinforce that.

Again, welcome. I look forward to educating the world on what a good sportscast should look like.