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Published Sunday, October 05, 2008 in Sports

A unique view from the sidelines

By Tommy Camp

The Times-Herald

"Yeah, I know," I replied, speaking as the voice of ultimate authority since I've viewed contests from every imaginable angle and, therefore, should know, at least in my own estimation.

"So why do you keep doing it," he asked.

"I like it," was my simple retort. "I get a feel for the game there that I don't get in the press box."

It's not that I'm opposed to sitting in press boxes.

I've enjoyed their environs in many places over the years especially when the weather man presents us with precipitation that would challenge the rain-gauging capabilities of Noah himself.

But I'd rather watch from the ground level, as close to the action as possible.

I like the sounds. I like the faces up close. I like the smells.

When I first got into sports writing my boss insisted that I cover from the sidelines.

Admittedly, I didn't like the idea.

"I won't be able to see," I protested. "I won't be able to learn from those more seasoned professionals sitting around me."

He only smiled.

"Do it," he said. "You'll see."

I did and I was hooked from the very beginning.

There have been times, I must confess, that I have questioned the decision.

I've never been hit on the sidelines, but have come close on several occasions causing my life to flash before my very eyes in the twinkling of time as large behemoths bore down on me with alarming alacrity.

Those times, however, have thankfully been few and far between.

Most of the time and regardless of what some may think, I've had the best seat, or more precisely, the best standing spot in the house.

Let me tell you that the game from the field level is much faster than it appears from the stands.

It also much more violent that it looks from afar.

It's amazing to me that the players seem to just get bigger and faster as the years progress and the surprising thing is not that there are injuries, but that there are not more of them.

I've heard some amusing things over the years while covering from the sidelines like one observer up in the stands who, years ago, extolled his team's coaching staff to "run something that works."

I decided right then and there that that fan had hit upon the success of calling plays in football.

All one had to do was call "something that works."

Oh yeah, let me add that the game is also much more complicated from the field level than it appears from the stands.

I have been tremendously impressed with the ability of players and coaches to maintain their "cool" in times of great stress and trial.

That's something that oftentimes doesn't translate into the press box.

Nor does the pain and anguish of failure or even the joys of success.

It's one thing to see it. It's another to hear while standing in the midst of it.

So, I'll keep on keeping on.

For 30-plus years there's no place I'd rather be on a Friday night in the fall than on the sidelines of a high school football game.

Call me crazy. Call me weird.

I just call it wonderful.