Clay’s Court: My first experience on the radio

Journalism is a field that’s full of surprises, and it’s gotten me to do a lot of things I never thought I would.

First, it pried me away from the information technology field. Next, it pushed me to pick up photography which has become a passion of mine.

Then, finally, it had me sitting in front of a microphone in an upstairs studio in Macon talking to who knows how many people on the radio.

For those who didn’t hear it I appeared on Creekside Sports Tuesday morning, and it was another first journalism afforded me.

Creekside Sports is a show hosted by Daniel Shirley and Steve Norris, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on The Creek 100.9 FM. They talk middle Georgia sports, Braves, Hawks, you name it.

They’ve brought on multiple local sources from coaches to the Macon Melody’s sports editor Micah Johnston, who I assume is the reason I got a text from an unknown number on Monday.

When I first sat down in the office I took a look at my phone and found a text message from a number I didn’t recognize inviting me on the show in the fall.

I just started my football preseason study last week so I thought it would be perfect timing to come on in a few weeks. I accepted and was met with immediate disbelief in the fact that I would be on the radio.

I was also met with thoughts of what I would say, what they might ask me and a general swirl of anxiety-ridden questions about what the experience would be like.

But I had time, right? Wrong.

I got another text around 8 p.m. Monday night asking if I could come on tomorrow, Tuesday. My heart sank, my hands got a little sweaty and I accepted.

I mean, what was I supposed to do, say no? I guess I could’ve and it would’ve been fine, but I accepted anyway.

I went into a flurry of re-engaging my work brain so I could actually remember stuff that happened last season and prepared some notes.

The way I’m able to be engaged with all 12-18 teams during any particular season is by unloading the information from the previous.

So when football and softball ends I unload that and load basketball in. When baseball and soccer comes around I do the same. So by this point football was like, four sports ago.

I’m also just now getting out of my recharging phase of the summer, so to have to go on a radio show and know what I’m talking about felt like jumping in freezing cold water.

But Tuesday morning rolled around and my body woke me up three hours before I had to be on, so I had plenty of time to prepare and sit with my thoughts.

The first time I go somewhere I’m always way too early, and this was no different. I was in a Macon parking garage two blocks away from the studio at 10 a.m., 30 minutes before I had to be on.

I went up to the studio with my heart beating out of my chest, hands sweaty, blood pressure through the roof.

But a few minutes after I put that headset on all the nerves just melted away. Daniel and Steve were so welcoming and made it incredibly easy on me.

In my anxiety I forgot that I’m going on a show with professional radio hosts, and they made it feel just like a conversation.

We talked about the new coaches at Northside and Veterans, coach Kevin Smith at Perry, the important upcoming seasons for HoCo and Warner Robins and some shared experiences with coach Chad Campbell at Westfield.

I didn’t even look at my notes once. Daniel led the segment and all I had to do was offer my knowledge and thoughts about Houston County football. They even let me go a few minutes over the usual segment length, and just like that it was all over.

Listening back (on thecreekfm.com) I thought I said “um” a little too much, but I’ve heard from others that it wasn’t all that noticeable.

Overall the experience was enjoyable and a great reason to get me out of the office on a Tuesday morning.

When the season rolls around they said they want to bring me on once a week, so if you want to consume some of the Houston Home Journal’s sports coverage on a different medium, head over to The Creek 100.9 FM or thecreekfm.com in the fall.