Radio Studios!

So today we were introduced to the radio studios. That was a breath of fresh air to say the least! We spent a lot of time in the studios, learning the sound board, and operation of all the equipment. I think the best part of the entire day was the fact that it gave us an opportunity to bond more with our classmates! I got to know some new people really well, and I can't wait to hang out with them more and continue on this journey together!

So I've decided, once I learn the Cool Edit system (on Friday). I may be blogging a little less, and putting my thoughts more on Podcasts! That's right... Podcasts! I feel I can communicate more and faster through speaking, and I may even have guests on my show... we'll see! If you have ideas or a title for the show, please feel free to comment! I know I'm going to focus my podcasts on current events, i.e. News, Sports, and maybe a little politics, but only what's going on in the world of politics, and what I think of them! As we venture more into video, the podcasts may turn into video podcasts, or YouTube posts. We'll see. I'm still learning! But never fear, I will continue to blog on here. Maybe give a run-down of what will be on upcoming podcasts, or to respond to listeners more.

I'm excited about it! I hope others are, and I hope that I can get my podcast heard as well! I think that will be the hardest part, is getting listeners. I want to be able to for a listening base, so that people will actually respond to what I have to say, so that that will give me more to talk about! We'll see... Well, that's all for now... We're getting cable and Internet on Friday, so this may or may not be the last time I blog from the public library... but again... We'll see!

Buh Dee, Buh Dee, Buh Dee, that's all folks!

- Derek Drake

So, to catch everyone up... We've started diving into radio terminology in class. That's what's going on in school. Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 28th, we're supposed to have 2 guest speakers. Jen Toohey, the Afternoon Drive host on WQAL Q104 Radio (I'm actually listening to her online right now!). And Elisa Amigo, an evening news reporter on WJW Fox 8 Cleveland. I'm really excited about these professionals coming in and talking to the class! However, I hope the weather doesn't effect them coming in. We're supposed to get 4-6 inches of snow tonight, and 3-5 tomorrow. The reports I've heard so far is that the heaviest snow fall is going to occur tomorrow morning during the morning commute... which I have to drive in. So it looks like I may stick to back roads or just leave REALLY early. Which means get to bed early! Welcome to the broadcasting industry! Always ready to change plans, or jump at the word go!

So I'm going to stray away a little from OCB, and talk a little about some current events/sports/etc. That's what I want to use this blog for too. Both what's going on in my life, and what's going on in the world as well!

CAVALIERS NEWS

Tonight, the Cavs are playing the Sacramento Kings tonight at the Q. Zydrunas Ilgauskas won't be in the line-up but is expected to rejoin the team on Thursday night. I was listening to AM 850 WKNR ESPN Cleveland Radio earlier today and listening to them talk about the history of the Cavs with the potential departure of LeBron James in 2010, and the fouls that aren't being called against LeBron. In the Cavs/Lakers game last week, LeBron was punished, or as Kenny on WKNR put it "Hammered harder than nails..." And from what I can hear, because LeBron is so strong and he commonly can get through hard fouls and still score, NBA officials are seemingly overlooking the fact that it's a foul. In my opinion, a foul is a foul, no matter who is giving it out, or receiving it. Just because someone is big, strong, powerful and talented and can get fouled, "re-route" his shot and still scores doesn't mean that there should be a no-call. And yet these teams that go out there and will play "Hack-a-Shaq" against Ben Wallace... those petty useless fouls continue to get called. There really should be a new rule instituted to outlaw this "Hack-a-Shaq"ing... Maybe institute a technical foul call on it each time it happens after the first time. I mean once it's obvious to all officials, fans, players, etc. that the coach is instructing his players to intentionally foul someone consistently to slow down the game and take the ball out of the offense's hands, there needs to be something called. Maybe a Delay of Game call. But back to LeBron and the lack of calls against him, apparently Coach Mike Brown of the Cavs put in a request/complaint against the officials in the past few games about fouls not being called, i.e. when LeBron was hit in the face on his way to the basket, and nothing was called. Cavs play this evening at 7 pm... I have no cable yet, so I can't watch it... Maybe I'll go to a sports bar or something to watch it here in town.

INDIANS NEWS

First off, I absolutely love the Cleveland Indians. So many of my blog entries in the future will most likely involve new Indians news. Mark DeRosa stopped by WKNR to talk about the upcoming spring training. DeRosa, along with Grady Sizemore will be representing the Tribe and America in the World Baseball Classic coming up in February. DeRosa, a winter acquisition from the Chicago Cubs will more than likely fill in a large void at the hot corner (third base). DeRosa is considered an infield utility player because he has played and is good at many of the middle infield positions and third base. It's been rumored that he and Jhonny Peralta will share some time at the hot corner in spring training that has moved from Winterhaven, FL to Goodyear, AZ. During winter ball, Peralta played most of his time at third base, and has shown his comfort there last season as well. It's going to be a difficult decision, I think, in the long run, for manager Eric Wedge on who is going to build up that infield depth chart. You've got DeRosa, Peralta, Asdrubal Cabrera (who struggled in 2008), Jamey Carroll (who really came alive during the run to .500 at the end of the '08 season), Josh Barfield (who Eric Wedge has said he's thinking of moving to the outfield as a platooner), Andy Marte (who started most of the Tribes games at third), Ryan Garko (don't get me started on this guy...), Victor Martinez (V-Mart is looking to get much more playing time at first base this season after Kelly Shoppach really exploded onto the scene last season). I really think that the issue isn't so much at third base as it is at second base. Jamey Carroll's bat came to life at the end of the year last year, and Cabrera never really could get it going in '08. Defensively Cabrera struggled at second base as well. Now Cabrera is a natural short stop. When he plays at short stop, he plays better. So maybe it would be a good idea to move Peralta to third, and Cabrera to short, and DeRosa to second base. Then platoon in Carroll and Marte maybe. I dunno, again it's going to boil down to how they perform in spring training.

So let me breakdown, as of right now, what I think the Indians line-up is going to look like:

1.) Grady Sizemore - CF
2.) Mark DeRosa - 3B
3.) Victor Martinez - 1B
4.) Travis Hafner - DH (the 3-4 spot is going to interchange a bit)
5.) Jhonny Peralta - SS
6.) Kelly Shoppach - C
7.) Shin Soo-Cho0 - RF
8.) Jamey Carroll - 2B
9.) Ben Francisco - LF
P - Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona, Jeremy Sowers, Carl Pavano, Anthony Reyes

Let's talk pitching a little... First off, thank you Mark Shapiro for beefing up the bullpen! Something that Cleveland needed the most this off season was dependable pitching out of the pen. With the acquisition of Kerry Wood, the late inning pitchers, in my opinion are solid. Rafael Perez, Rafael Betancourt, Jensen Lewis, Masahide Kobayashi, Kerry Wood... awesome! Starting rotation, as mentioned above, is still shaky... scouts report that Fausto Carmona has worked out the kinks in his mechanics, and is back to form, we'll see. The acquisition of Carl Pavano will fill a void in that rotation left by Jake Westbrook (Tommy Johns surgery), who is slated to be back in July, maybe sooner but we don't want to rush this recovery! I don't know if Sowers will be tapped to fill in for Westbrook until he gets back, or Aaron Laffey. Laffey had some shoulder issues last season, and I personally think he's better out of the pen. He'd be a good long reliever.

Now back to the infield a bit... Eric Wedge has said that he's going to try out Carroll and Garko in the outfield during spring training. I personally feel that Carroll could possibly work well in the outfield, but Garko... no stinkin' way! He's so slow... Casey Blake made the transition excellently, and I loved him in the outfield, but we couldn't re-sign him this winter. But Garko... oh man, where do I start? His offensive production for the past few seasons has been horrific, and defensively, Martinez is a much better first baseman. Now there is an up and coming youngster, Beau Mills, who may put up a fight for Garko's spot at first when Victor is catching. Shoppach is going to play a lot more this season behind the plate thanks to his outstanding showing last season in V-Mart's absence. The Tribe re-signed Shop for, I think, $1.95 million dollars... which tells me, he's not going to be your ordinary "back-up" catcher. He's going to be receiving significant playing time, which means to keep V-Mart's bat in the line-up he's either going to have to be playing first or DH-ing. I think the best option for the Tribe would be to find a team willing to deal for Garko... Get a pitcher for him, or some young pitchers that have potential. Open up some salary room! It won't be much, but it's something...

Alright, well, I'm going to leave the Indians talk at that, and I'll pick it up again next time! Have a good night, and if you're someone who has, or will be affected by the coming winter storm, stay warm! That's all for tonight...

- Derek Drake

Day Two...It's going to be hard work!

Day two at the Ohio Center for Broadcasting rolls around, and it's another session going through the course, what to expect, etc. Today, the National Placement Director, Gary James came in to speak to us. He gave his background and told us stories from his past. He went through job openings that he has available right now. Some as far away as Alaska! People may be naysayers these days about the lack of jobs, and the lack of employment opportunities out there. They're out there, people are just "too good" to work for some places. I'm going to focus this entry on a particular naysayer that I've found online. His name is David, I don't have a last name, but that doesn't matter.

I found David's story on RipOffReport.com (Click here to read his story in full, as well as some rebuttals and people in agreement). Now, let's get this straight...I've only been at the Ohio Center for Broadcasting for two sessions. I don't know what lays ahead except for what I've been told by personnel that are employed by a school that is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, and approved by the State of Ohio Board of Career Colleges and Schools. But here's what I do know...

Life is hard... Work is hard... Life is hard work! I think people have got the wrong idea about OCB, and what it can do for their lives. OCB is a training program, or as Jim Szymanski likes to say a Broadcasting Boot Camp. When you complete the program NOTHING IS GUARANTEED!!! Only what YOU make of your experience at OCB is what opens doors in the future.

Back to David now. David's "woe-as-me" story shows the lack of determination and poor attitude that he had while he was at OCB. That persona was seen, I'm sure, by the staff there, and the "Why help he who can't help himself" idea comes to my mind. I know, if I was an instructor and I had a student that could care less what was going on in the class room, who didn't show the drive to excel especially at his age (he was 47), I would have spent time with those who did care! His sob story about the placement program ties perfectly in to what happened in class today. When Gary James came in before he said ANYTHING else... he said, "Raise your hand if someone told you that I was going to GET you a job." I think one person raised their hand... He said, "FALSE! I will not get you a job. I will present the opportunities to you, I will help you with your resume and audition tape... I will LEAD you to the door, it's your job to open that door and walk through it!" BINGO! I think that little speech that Gary gave kinda opened the eyes of those in the class who might have thought, "I'll do my minimum 270 intern hours, and rely on the 'placement guy' (Gary) to get me a good full-time job." For me... it made me giggle a little inside at the thought of this David character, and his naive, immature approach to this school at the ripe ole age of 47.

You have to earn your way in life. If you pass up opportunities that are placed in front of you; and you don't put your all into everything that you do, you're not going to get anywhere! My goal at this school is to learn as much as I can from the "Boot Camp", learn as much as I can from my inter/externships, work hard, and put in some serious intern hours (or lab hours). There's a plaque at school that shows people who've put in over 1000 lab hours. I'd like to be up there! Not for the recognition by future students, or to boost my ego, but to learn and accomplish as much as possible before I get hired to do this for a living! I'll end with this: Lou Holtz, former Notre Dame coaching great, and current ESPN College football analyst, said, "Success is when preparation meets opportunity." My hope is that I can do as much as possible to prepare myself for the opportunities that will present themselves in the future so that I can be successful!

There's no better feeling than greeting the morning before it gets there because you're glad to be alive, and you love what you do! That's what I look forward to!

- Derek

A New Beginning!

I'm a little late on posting this, but it's ok, the meaning's still the same!

Yesterday, I started a new phase of my life. The night before, I slept very little in anticipation of the new path that I was about to embark on. I felt as though I was seven again, barely able to enjoy my slumber because Disney World was on the horizon tomorrow! But this time, it wasn't Mickey in the distance, it was my life, a new profession, a new me!

Tom Hamilton erupts from my phone announcing a home-run blast into the Cleveland night. My eyes burst open, a smile crosses my lips! It's here! Monday, January 19th, 2009. The first day of the rest of my life. Today I start my training at the Ohio Center for Broadcasting in Valley View, Ohio. So many things going through my head. Who's going to be in my class, what does the future hold for them, what does the future hold for me? Those answers don't come easily, and won't come for a while.

The first day of class starts off just like every other first day of class, going over the rules of the school, what's coming in the days ahead, etc. And then one of the most motivating people I've heard speak in a long time comes in to speak to the class. Mr. Bruce Ryan, comes into the room full of energy, and full of hope! For some, the things he said may have scared them. For me, they were energizing, motivating and most of all eye-opening. I'm ready to work my tail off and show what I'm made of. I can't help but smile, as I look into the world that awaits me when I finish here at OCB. The opportunity, the many people I'll get to meet, the money I'll make, but most of all, finally doing something with my life!

The last school I was at made me feel negative and worthless. When I looked ahead at my future after that school, all I saw was unhappiness. Maybe it was because the teachers there didn't motivate me. Maybe it was because the opportunities that the school brought me were non-existent. I don't know what it was, but all I know is that it's in the past now, and my future looks much brighter with out it!

Bruce put it best when he said, "Don't think of this as school, cause it's not." So true. It's training. It's life training. It's life changing! When I see someone who is working, and I can see that they're doing the bare minimum to get by, I think what a waste. I look at my past and I see that pattern repeating throughout it. I've finally realized that to survive in this world, you need money. To get that money, you have to work, it's not going to be given to you. To work, you need training. And the Ohio Center for Broadcasting is where I'm getting that training. I'm so excited for the opportunities ahead, and the many classes, instructors, and internships/externships to come! I've never been so motivated in my life, and it's invigorating! It's too hard to even put into words how excited I am for what the future holds.

"Who's going to be in my class, what does the future hold for them, what does the future hold for me?" I've met some in my class already, I'm sure I'll meet and get to know them much more in the months ahead. What the future holds for them and myself... Well, that's for us to decide! I hold my own future in my hands! My attitude, my determination, my work ethic... that's what will decide my future! And you better believe me when I say that there's no way I'm going to ruin my future. There's NO WAY I'm letting this wonderful opportunity pass me by!

As Rick Wolcott said at orientation, "You're support staff is the most important thing during this process." I have a wonderful support staff. My loving wife, my family, and God! As long as I've got them behind me, then my determination will stay strong and I cannot fail! Thank you to my support staff now, and in the future!


~ Derek Drake