Posted by Dead Wax Records on September 27, 2009 at 16:04:29:
Looking for a good book to read???
By Pat Tomasulo
If you watched our show at around 7:50 Friday morning, you witnessed one of the more awkward moments we've had in quite
some time. Friend of the show (FOTS) Chet Coppock was on to plug his new book (the title of which conveniently escapes me
at this time). I call Chet a FOTS because he's been an invited guest many times in the 4+ years I've been here. And each
time, he and I have spoken in-depth, on- and off-camera, about sports, the business of sports broadcasting, and how much
he enjoys the job I do on this show.
So you can imagine my surprise when someone plopped a copy of his guaranteed best-seller on my desk, open to a passage in
which Chet lists the best and worst local sports personalities of the last 25 years. At #2 on the "worst" list: PAT
TOMASULO.
What??? Wasn't I the "cat's meow?" The "Hulk Hogan of sportscasting?" Didn't he say I was "the tops," the "best of the
best," and "Grade A???"
Yes, he did. So did my grandfather . . . 20 years ago.
When people still spoke like that.
I'm sure many might rank me #1 on that "worst" list; a few might rank me #1 on the "best" list. But Chetster had never
given me any criticism in the dozens of face-to-face meetings we'd had! All those times we invited him on the show, he'd
gush about me!
So I had to ask him about this list, on the air, in the middle of his guest segment. What ensued was an uncomfortable :30
- :45 of live television. I'm sorry for that [sad.gif] I sat looking at him, with an expression that could be best
described as a "glare," while he furiously backpedaled. When we went off air, he shook hands with Larry and Robin, said
nothing to me, and walked off set.
I'm not sure why. I suppose if our roles were reversed, I might be a little embarrassed. You know, here are these nice
people who continually invite me on their TV show, even when no other stations are, even when their fans ask why they
invite me on - not because they dislike me, but because they question my relevance. And I go and trash one of them! I
guess I could have shared those feelings before they were the only TV crew in town that'd give me a chance to let people
know I'm still around, and not until I decided writing a book would be the best way to remind them.
But hey, I can't guess what Chet was thinking.
He did preface in the book that he might make a lot of enemies by writing those lists. For the record, he hasn't made an
enemy in me. I'll even continue to listen to him for the 12 weeks each year he's on local radio. But if he ever wants to
come back on this show again, he needs to bring gifts, like . . . maybe a signed copy of his book?
Think he'll have any left?