COURTSIDE: ON THE AIR AGAIN.

The last time I sat behind a microphone was in October 2003. It was probably my most memorable interview while at WPTF. Longtime broadcasting legend, Tom Suiter, had agreed (reluctantly) to be my guest as I filled in for the vacationing Tom Kerney on "Open Line."

Now, you have to understand this about "The Legend" -- Tom Suiter: taking him out of his comfort zone is a little unnerving. Ever meticulous, Tom is the central hub on "Football Friday." Coaxing him to have the tables turned took a little bit of convincing. In the end, Tom thoroughly enjoyed his experience. He has lamented to me on several ocassions of how much he enjoyed the interview.

Not as much as I, Suitman. As I've said in an earlier blog, Tom is the champion of the underdog. He's always looking for ways to champion them. Through the years, Tom Suiter has been a mentor, a hero, and a dear friend.

For me, this was the way to go out. You see, I already had interviewed with Lowe's, and felt relatively confident that my time at WPTF was drawing to a close. Indeed, only two weeks later, I was leaving a broadcasting company I had been affectionately attached to for five and a half years to pursue greener financial pastures.

Interviewing Tom was a dream come true to me. And there I was. Surprisingly calm -- soaking in every minute we were on the air together. I tried to keep the premise of the "Open Line" to its core -- laid back; personable.

Growing up as a teenager, I utilized broadcasting as my identity. An awkward kid, it was usually hard to express myself in ways that made establishing friendships difficult. Broadcasting became me. WRAL-TV 5 was what I identified with most.

Along the way, there were naysayers. Students, Teachers, and others said I would never make it as a broadcaster. By the pinnacle that was that final on-air interview, I had grown into a confident man. No longer unsure of himself, feeling ever so comfortable in the role -- I walked away feeling that there was nothing left to prove. People who doubted me were wrong. I proved to myself I could do it. And ... I enjoyed it.

The funniest thing happened after I left -- I didn't miss it. Not that much anyway. That was a little surprising at first. I realized that part of my life didn't identify me. It shaped me. It helped develop me. But -- I wasn't crushed without it in my life.

I've been so fortunate with the great friendships I've developed through the years. More importantly, I married the most beautiful, passionate, and caring wife a man could ask for. She's given me three darling children. Becoming a family man has certainly replaced the identity I once relied on through broadcasting.

Returning To The Air.

The call came the other day. Ric Crews, the Regional Director of Human Resources for Lowe's needed a favor. He, and the rest of the regional staff were on the way to the annual Sales Meeting in Las Vegas. As a result, no one would be able to do the "live" spot on the Wolfpack Sports Network.

After four and a half years, it was time to dust off the pipes. Courtside, I made my way to Tony Hanes and Gary Hahn. After a little chit chat, I put on my headset and stepped back on the airwaves. Tony Hanes -- ever gracious -- mentioned he remembered listening to me deliver the news years ago. Humbled, I babbled on for the next 90 seconds about Lowe's and broadcasting. Tony and Gary are icons to me. Being a State fan, I was sitting beside the guys whom I listen to call all of State's games. That was exciting.

And for one Saturday afternoon at the RBC Center, I stepped back up to the microphone again. The fun and enjoyment came out of being able to do it. The best part about it was not having to let it identify me. From a geeky teenager who's life seemed to depend on being on the air -- to wrapping up a small career in the business by interviewing my hero -- to stepping back up next to icons of NC State basketball broadcasting -- my journey has come full circle.

Who knows? Maybe one day I'll get back in the business part-time. The nice part about it all is not feeling the need.

Randy Gupton, fivesecondstoair.blogspot.com

EVERY NOW AND AGAIN ... A SHOW COMES ALONG.

Every now and again ... a show comes along that captivates you, takes hold of your imagination, and leaves you clinging to the edge of your seat for what will happen next. Like a Blue Moon, however, these shows don't happen very often.

Sure, we all fill our hearts with endearing thoughts and memories of shows gone by. There's no question TV genuinely is a letdown these days. Ahhhhh.... but then .... there's DEXTER.

I became hooked on Dexter by watching episodes on Showtime On Demand late last summer. From the get go, the show grabs you and won't let go. Centered in Miami, it stars Raleigh's very own Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan, a forensic blood spatter/pattern analyst with the Miami PD.

Oh ... but there's a twist. Dexter just happens to be a serial killer. A killer with a conscience, he does live by a strict code. He only kills very, very, very bad people.


Watch the YouTube Clip and become acquainted with Dexter!

Just when you think you've figured it all out ... SURPRISE! Another Twist. Just when you think you know where the show is going ... JUMP BACK JACK! Another Turn.

Now is your opportunity to experience the same thrills as I have! The writer's strike has afforded CBS to truncate the entire first season into a run beginning this Sunday, February 17th at 10pm.

You get the "cleaner" version here. Trust me on this one. Give Dexter a chance this Sunday night. I have a feeling you'll be back for more. So much so, you may even have to subscribe to Showtime to catch Season 2 after you've been captivated by all 12 episodes from Season One.

Enjoy!


Randy Gupton, fivesecondstoair.blogspot.com

THE SWEETEST WORDS

There are moments in your life that remain in your heart forever. One of those is when she says "I do." Another is the sound of your baby's first cry. Fathers always seem to become animated when their children speak for the first time.

And for years and years since babies have been born, probably 98.9% of the time a baby's first words are always "Da-Da." It's happened with our two previous children. Now, add my latest born to the list.

While on vacation in Boone this past weekend, my sweet little Twilight, Catherine Grace, uttered her first words. Now, you have to consider the problem with this: she's only eight months old. My other children haven't spoken quite this early. But ... there she was, uttering a proud father's favorite two words from a baby.

At first, I wasn't sure. It was late evening, and my eldest daughter and I had gone for a walk around the campground of Julian Price Memorial Park off the Blue Ridge Parkway. I carried Catherine on my shoulders in a baby back-pack. We stopped for a brief moment of rest. As we got back up to walk -- I heard it for the first time: "Da-Da."

Instantly, I gravitated to the words. "She said it." I thought to myself. "But -- maybe it was just babble." Naturally, I began to attempt to get her to say it again. "I love you. Can you say Daddy? Da-dd-y? Come on, baby, say Daddy."

Well, the more I talked, the quieter she got. So, Caitlyn and I stopped for one last rest before heading back to camp. Again, right before we got up, I heard her say it again "DA-DA!"

Confident, and full of pride, we headed back to camp where I proclaimed "Folks, I know you're not going to believe this -- but -- we have our first words. She said Da-Da."

Now, this always comes as a blow to any mother. "Yeah, Right." said my beautiful wife. Well, we just sat around the campfire for a little while -- and there she spewed off those beautiful consenants and vowels again! "Da-Da."

I ran up and kissed her -- praising her. She lit up with delight as she recognized how much attention she was getting. So again and again she started to repeat it. "Da-Da." And .... again and again she got praised.

And there you have it my friends: the precious first words of my third born child. Yep. She's a Daddy's girl. They all are.

Randy Gupton, fivesecondstoair.blogspot.com

SHRADE-DAWG AT HIS BEST

Okay ... This is CLASSIC Brian Shrader. This clip is absolutely hilarious.


Shrader and I go way back to the days at WPTF. You have to wonder, however, if Shrader has missed his real calling -- comedy. If there is ever an opening at FOX's "The 1/2 Hour News Hour" -- I say Shrader jumps the WRAL ship.

Now if we only had KRAP-4.com again. Ahhhh ... those were the days!

Randy Gupton, fivesecondstoair.blogspot.com

Action News 5 Still Lives.

When people find out I'm a former News Anchor and Reporter, there are usually two questions that come up: (1) Why did you get out of the business? and (2) Why did you go into it?

Well -- the short answer to the first question is this: Money & Family. Being a News Anchor and/or reporter is always taxing on family life. In addition, unless you're really, really, really good -- and willing to start out in places like Florence, SC and stations in Montana -- then you're not going to get paid very much.

The answer to the second question? That usually takes a little longer to explain. Check out this clip from WRAL-TV 5 News on November 28, 1988. I've always considered some of my best work Breaking News. This clip I recorded on that day in 1988 (one of my friends now has the tapes -- which I wished he'd return). I still get goose bumps when I watch the beginning of this newscast.

It starts with a young 27-year-old Donna Gregory (now at MSNBC) and transitions to a stellar field anchoring job by the WRAL icon, Charlie Gaddy.

This tragedy -- and broadcasting's impact on bringing a community together is why I got in the business. And ... it's videos like this one that make me cherish the opportunity I had to live my dream.

Enjoy!

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Editor's Note: I've been preoccupied with some things recently. I'll be getting back to daily blogs very soon!
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SHE REMEMBERED.

(Raleigh, NC) Former CNN and WRAL-TV "Action News 5" Anchor Bobbie Battista.

The older I get, the more complete my life becomes. Sure, I have the most beautiful and downright sexy wife in at least fourteen states -- and I have three absolutely adorable daughters. And for me, life couldn't be more perfect.

Less than two weeks after the birth of my third daughter, Catherine Grace, I was invited to attend the WRAL Reunion newscast by my friend and broadcasting mentor, Tom Suiter.

At first, I thought he was joking. This was something that I had daydreamed about for years. Kind of like a Southern Baptist "Homecoming" at church -- I always dreamed of a reunion of sorts for the lengends of the old Action News 5 team.

Tom wasn't joking, of course. More heartfelt was being told by this icon I was the "first person" he thought of when they told him about the reunion newscast.

That's the great thing about Tom Suiter -- he has always championed the little guy. Tom has been more than kind to me over the years. He is a big reason that I pursued my passion for news and broadcasting in the manner I did. I credit him with much of the enthusiasm I had, and helping me channel the energy I had for the business in a more positive fashion. (You see, I was often the outcast in junior high and high school. I annoyed the absolute crap out of just about everyone when it came to my WRAL fetish.)

Still, Tom showed an extreme amount of patience with me throughout the years. I'm sure he became annoyed as well with my over indulgence and exuberance. Being the professional he was, Tom still put up with me -- even to the point of letting me intern on WRAL's Football Friday for three different seasons.

Tom's kindness means more to me than many will ever know. He is really a humble guy. Being invited to this function meant more to me than going to meet practically anyone. These were the legends. They were my heroes. Tom knew that. He would probably cringe at this -- but -- he too, is one of those heroes.

So, how did I become so insanely crazy over a local television news team, anyway? Well ... it starts more than 25 years ago. The "News People" -- Charlie Gaddy, Bobbie Battista, Bob DeBardelaben, and Tom Suiter were the stars of Action News 5.

These anchors appeared larger than life to almost anyone. In a small town like Henderson, their star power was only magnified. Sprinkle that on top of an impressionable child all of 5 or 6 years old -- and you have in the makings something that made these people more recognizable and important than any movie star of the time could dream of being.

I remember every evening sitting on my Dad's lap -- enjoying the early evening lineup of "The Andy Griffith Show," and "Gomer Pyle USMC." Then came the real treat -- Action News 5. At an early age, my heart melted for Bobbie Battista. The blond was a bombshell to me. I lived for seeing the 6 o'clock news more than I did my favorite cartoon -- Scooby-Doo!

Then, the unthinkable happened. My Dad came home one evening to tell me the news. I remember it. Honest to God! I remember it like it was yesterday -- "Son, I've got some bad news." We were in the Kitchen. I remember asking him "What?" He told me "Bobbie Battista is leaving channel 5."

At first, I didn't believe him. Forget the fact I was only 7 years old. I just simply thought it was a joke. Finally, reality set in. Silly as it may have seemed, I started to cry. You know, even though she was heading to CNN -- no one knew what that was in 1981. In my mind, I would never see her again. You could have told the biggest Elvis fan the King was dead and not gotten a bigger sense of loss from them as I had that day.

Little did I know how things were about to change in a big way.

My Aunt happened to work at the Wake County Courthouse and regularly fielded calls from Reporters about different court cases. One day after announcing she was leaving, my Aunt received a call from Bobbie inquiring about one of those cases.

After helping her, she asked her if she had a minute to share something with her. She told her how devastated I was over her leaving WRAL. Obviously touched, or just simply trying to be a good TV Personality, she suggested my Aunt bring me by to meet her before she departed for Atlanta.

I'll never forget rushing from Henderson to Raleigh the evening of Bobbie's final WRAL newscast. We met my Aunt, who had purchased two long-stemmed red roses for me to give to Bobbie.

Off to the races, I remember waiting in the lobby of WRAL's Western Boulevard studios during the 6 o'clock news. After it's conclusion, I saw the others leave one-by-one -- Charlie Gaddy, Bob DeBardelaben. Finally, she appeared.

A rush of emotions came over me. Obviously awe-struck, I clammed up. Go figure. Shyness overtook me and I simply didn't utter but a few words here and there.

Remarkably, Bobbie crouched down to look at me on my level. She talked to me asking me who knows what all. I gave her the two roses. Ever the humble, gracious host, I remember her laughing with my Mom and Aunt.

Finally, it was time to go. I ran to the door. To my shock and surprise, Bobbie crouched back down opened up her arms and said "Come give me a Kiss."

Now, folks, let's think about this -- Bobbie Battista was -- in my eyes -- a superstar. She was larger than life. A bigger fixture than Catherine Bach in Daisy Dukes. More beautiful to me than Farrah Faucette, Jacqueline Smith, or Linda Carter. And here she was, arms open allowing me to plant one on her.

Shy that I was, there was no way I was going to pass that up. I ran back to her and kissed her on the cheek. Probably red as a beet, I remember the laughs and the "Awwww" that I heard from Bobbie, and the few people around.

That small encounter in 1981 would have a profound impact on the direction my life would take going forward. I never lost my love for the news. I especially never lost my love for WRAL.

So, in 1989, when Tom Suiter was flying in on Sky 5 to then Vance Senior High School, I made sure I was in a place to meet the "Legend." Tom would help cultivate my interest even further in broadcasting. I'd love to share that story here -- but -- it'll have to wait for another post.

Fast-forward to November 17, 2006. I return to the Western Boulevard studios and sit in the all new digital WRAL newsroom. About 15 minutes before the "reunion" newscast, I again became awe-struck. There they were -- for the first time in 25 years -- Charlie Gaddy and Bobbie Battista reading over their scripts for the special newscast.

I soaked it in. Every bit. Over on the other side of the studios, in the WRAL Weather Center, the venerable "Biggest Name in Weather" -- Bob DeBardelaben was looking around. A lot had changed in the 17 years after Bob retired. There was no "Doppler 5000." A "Viper?" What's a "Viper?" Heck, when Bob retired, color radar hadn't been out that long.

Then, two minutes to six, the legends walked over. Charlie and Bobbie, side by side, IFBs in place -- a producer making sure Bobbie's was firmly taped to the back of her jacket -- watching and listening as Pam Saulsby (Gaddy's last "TV wife") wrapped up the 5:30 edition.

After a montage of clips of Action News 5, the familiar 21st century "WRAL News" opener started. And there they were: "Good Evening, I'm Charlie Gaddy." "And I'm Bobbie Battista."

I swear to you, I had chill bumps. Was I dreaming? Did Jim Goodman really pull off something I had simply dreamed of during boring lectures at UNCG and biology classes in High School?

Wrapping up the newscast, new met old as current members of the WRAL News team stood behind the legends to close out this special. Afterwards, I managed to take some candid shots and capture some video footage of these legends talking with the people in the newsroom.

Once we made it over to the reception afterwards, I captured some more shots. Then finally, when things had settled down a bit, I made my way over to Bobbie.

25 years later, I wanted to thank her for taking the time to meet a 7 year old child. I especially wanted to let her know how she had helped me develop an efection for the news -- and give her some credit for helping me become successful.

I shared with her my story. With a glowing smile, she said "I remember that!" She remembered. Bobbie Battista, one of the original anchors of CNN, a WRAL Legend, and a hero of my childhood said she remembered me coming as a child on her final newscast -- and the roses.

Whether she did or not, I'll never know for sure. Later on, however, when I came back to ask for a picture with her, she began telling everyone at her table of me giving her the roses. Flattered, I probably blushed a little.

With her husband snapping the camera for me, she wished me well, and I thanked her for her gracious nature again. Tom walked me out, and that was it.

I walked away from WRAL awe-struck once again. As I reflected on things, it hit me how fortunate I am. I've lived my dream. I became what even teachers in High School said I would never become. I anchored and reported news in the 43rd largest radio market in the country.

There are many people who "dream" of doing something. They may even go to school and get a degree to help them achieve that dream. Unfortunately, many never even get close to it.

My dream was to be a news anchor and reporter. I did it. I lived my dream. I did it with help from people like Tom Suiter. When other kids were focused on what to wear and what date they were going on Friday night, I was reciting phony news scripts in the mirror of my bedroom.

And -- it paid off. Life has only gotten better through time. I'm married to a beautiful, beautiful woman who loves me and I cherish very much. My three daughters are my life. I love them with every fiber of my being. I love the career change I made -- moving into Human Resources -- and I never really look back on broadcasting. It's not something I have to prove to myself anymore.

I feel as if I am living the good life. And -- to top it all off -- I got to relive a part of my childhood that put me where I am today. That is both humbling, and exciting all at the same time.

To top it all off -- Bobbie Battista, WRAL Legend -- She remembered.

Randy Gupton, fivesecondstoair.blogspot.com

GOODBYE, MAX.

"You don't want the federal government to be your first-responders. The government can't do everything for people and it shouldn't, or else you create a culture of dependence." -- Outgoing National Hurricane Center Head Max Mayfield

Max Mayfield is ending his tenure as head of the National Hurricane Center. There are rarely few people that are heralded in Public Service the way this calm, resolute man has been.

There for us during some of the most active Hurricane seasons the last few years, Mayfield exemplified a professionalism that every American could appreciate.

His warnings 48 to 72 hours out before Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast fell on deaf ears. Still, 12 hours before landfall, Mayfield made one last ditch push to the Governor of Louisiana to warn of the impending doom to New Orleans.

Still resolute in his predictions, Mayfield faced red tape from all levels of local and state government. He would later say that final phone call had to be made before he put his head down at night. I recall an interview in which Mayfield wanted to make sure he had done everything possible to avoid as much death and destruction that was sure to be forthcoming.

In the days after the disaster, Mayfield was the one person that was immune from the finger pointing. He was virtually the only person government officials were praising. It was with good reason.

Now, Mayfield can leave the post he's held while still raising the flag of impending doom. In an article (link below) Mayfield warns of the resistance of builders, residents, and local governments to prepare for a larger disaster than Katrina.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hurricane3jan03,0,3253020.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Mayfield believes this will happen somewhere in the Southeastern US within the next 10-20 year active Hurricane cycle the Gulf and Atlantic is experiencing. The dire prediction by Mayfield: 10 times the number of deaths that Katrina heralded.

Residents of all Coastal states owe a great deal to Max Mayfield. He truly embodied what public service should be.

Randy Gupton, fivesecondstoair.blogspot.com