On the Air: KTIK-FM

Following an unfortunate microphone malfunction when I sang the National Anthem, Todd Rahr, the general manager for the Boise Hawks, invited me to the press box.

I had just finished singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame at the seventh inning stretch when Todd said “Hey, come up to press box and I’ll put you on air with our radio announcer. He can interview you between pitches and you can talk about your campaign to sing for all the Cubs’ teams.” “Okay,” I said, “sounds like fun.”

So Todd and I walked up to the press box and he introduced me to Mike Safford, voice of the Boise Hawks. Someone handed me a pair of headphones with a built-in microphone so I could listen to the broadcast and talk to Mike.

The top of the 8th started and Mike went through his normal play-by-play duties: announcing batters, quoting stats, recalling big hits from another game, etc. Finally there was a break in the action. Mike says to me “So Chris, you grew up a DieHard Cubs fan. Who were some of your favorite players?” I told him how I grew up cheering for the 1969 Cubs with Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Fergie Jenkins.

We talked about my plans for Singing 4 the Cubs, the popularity of SEC football in Nashville (except in my Notre Dame household), former players and coaches of the Hawks like Jeff Samardzija and Bill Buckner, and other things. It was a long inning as the Volcanoes scored a couple of runs and the Hawks changed pitchers. Finally there was the third out and my time was over.

I always love to talk about the Cubs. Thanks Todd and Mike!

CF

Note: On September 19, the Chicago Cubs announced that they are moving their A – Short Season affiliate from Boise to Eugene, Oregon, signing a new player development contract with the Eugene Emeralds. Boise will now be an A-Short Season affiliate in the Colorado Rockies organization.

I’m looking forward to singing for the Emeralds!