Last Sporting Event

 BY SCOTT MORGANROTH

If there was ever an irony, this is it!

By now, we know that COVID-19 has turned 2020 upside down.

As a media outlet, our job is to cover events in person. 

For a few months, there were no events to cover. 

But, we’re not in the business to make excuses for not having content on and off the air. 

We have to be creative and ethical. This is when you find out what you’re made of.

The Last Sporting Event that Candy Ebling and I covered was on March 11, 2020 in Glendale, AZ as the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Milwaukee Brewers in a Cactus League Spring Training Game at Camelback Ranch.

It was neat attending a pre-game press conference with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts and I spent time with Alanna Rizzo, who covers the Dodgers. I met Alanna at the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Awards Luncheon in early January.

Mookie Betts
Photo Credit : Candy Ebling

For the past 41 years, I’ve always viewed the Press Box as my mobile office regardless of what event I cover. Nothing like firing up the computer, reviewing, highlighting my pre-game notes, writing my own notes then writing my story. It’s always great catching up with old friends, colleagues and meeting new ones. 

As my wife always says, there is nothing better for me than being in my element.

I’m not going to get into too much detail of all the events that I’ve missed in 2020. I don’t want to bore you because everyone in this industry is in the same predicament.

Times have changed so much that Zoom has taken over and we all do our work through this new medium.

Because of COVID-19, there is a new trend called Remote Reporting where broadcasters call the games from their homes, studios and make the best of the interaction with the newsmakers. 

Who knows how much traveling will be done for visiting media in an effort to cut down on expenses in the future. 

Thanks to the Miami Marlins, the best addition of the year for us as a media outlet, I’ve learned quickly how to adjust to the new norm and ask questions when you can. You have to be considerate of others and take the best notes possible or go to the link later.

On Saturday, September 26, 2020, I was hoping to cover the Florida Atlantic University Owls vs University of South Florida Bulls Football Game in Boca Raton, FL. 

But Covid-19 put an end to those plans as USF had to postpone the game when it traveled to Notre Dame the week before and The Fighting Irish had virus issues. 

I was looking forward to this game because it was an opportunity to see my AlmaMater USF play in my backyard. Oh well, it wasn’t meant to be. At least for now. 

Tonight at 10 pm ET, The Milwaukee Brewers will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Southern California. I have every intention of trying to watch this game.

I’ve always had a tremendous amount of admiration for the Dodgers because of the way they’ve always cooperated with me throughout the years covering their games. Former Manager Tom Lasorda was my first big interview and we had a lot of great memories through the years especially during Spring Training. 

Tom Lasorda with Scott Morganroth
Photo Credit Candy Ebling

I have special feelings for the Milwaukee Brewers. My wife is from the area. We got married at Miller Park on January 1, 2017 and my dealings with the Brewers organization have always been pretty good. I feel like I have adopted Wisconsin as another home area especially since I have family.

But what makes this game so neat is it’s the Last Sporting Event that we covered in 2020.

It doesn’t matter that the Dodgers (43-17) are the heavy favorites to beat the Brewers (29-31) and win the World Series title. 

We saw this game when Dodgers pitcher David Price and Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain were planning to play in 2020. 

What I do know is, I’m not sure when we’ll cover another game. 

Until I’m comfortable going out in public, the word caution would be the best way to go and take 2020 off until we get a handle on this virus with a vaccine in place. 

But we’ll see when the drought ends. You can rest assure when it does, I’ll be writing on this topic.

But tonight will be neat with this matchup as the Brewers face the Dodgers on the West Coast.

Scott Morganroth can be reached at southfloridatribune@gmail.com.