DennisPillion.com

Media geek out at the Georgia Dome

So, I'm sitting at a table eating my lunch in the press box at the Georgia Dome when I'm joined by Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports and Pete Thamel of The New York Times. They sit right across from me. A few minutes later, Clay Travis and Andy Staples join us.

Without realizing it, I'm sitting with four of the big boys on the national scene who were breaking the Cam Newton scandal story. Of course, they all talked about Newton for a few minutes, swapping stories of who they've talked to and what they said, the crazy NCAA ruling that came down this week and the ripples it might have. Musings about how asking for money is not a violation, but "agreeing to receive" money is.

From there, the conversation transitioned over to crazy Auburn people and media members who only write what their readers want to hear, and how a person can reasonably believe that Newton had no knowledge he was being shopped or that Mississippi State of all places was the only school that Cecil Newton asked for money.

Seated directly behind was Phillip Marshall, lifer on the AU beat and unrepentent Auburn apologist. Marshall is pretty much the epitome of all that the four national columnists at my table were complaining about. His column headline after the NCAA reinstated Newton was something along the lines of "The nightmare is over." Clearly staying objective there, PMarsh.

After about 15 minutes on Newton, the conversation drifted back to the writers' children, how much more difficult the second child's arrival was than the the first, travel arrangements in all corners of the country, normal things like that.

I'm not sure what I expected, but after 20 minutes, the conversation was pretty much like any group of guys gathering around over a few beers. No matter who these guys work for or how many people read their last column, the vast majority of these sports guys are pretty much the same. It's cool to be reminded of that from time to time.

Scoping out ESPN's 3D broadcast of the Auburn-Clemson game

As I was doing my thing at the Auburn-Clemson game Saturday, I got a sneak peek at ESPN's 3D football-broadcasting operation.

The 3D sideline cameras were quite an elaborate setup. The basic principle is that the camera has two lenses, which function more or less like human eyes, providing depth perception. I snapped a couple of quick photos of the operation during the game (sorry they're not great, but I did have a job to do).

As you can see in the photo, the camera is a shoulder-mount, and it looks really uncomfortable. There are more wires running out of it than you'd find in your average Best Buy.

The controls are also noticeably different. It's hard to see in this photo, but there are two handles on the front of the camera, with what appeared to be zoom and focus controls for each lens. I'm not sure how the display works, but I'm guessing each eye sees the image from one lens.

Maybe they've engineered a better way to do it, but it seems like the camera man has twice as much work to do in keeping both lenses zoomed properly and in focus. I have enough trouble using one lens during football games, and would not look forward to operating a 3D camera that had twice as many opportunities to ruin my shot.

Speaking of jobs I would not want to have, check out the camera assistant:

All those cables from the 3D camera have to go somewhere, and that somewhere is this kid's back. He was following the cameraman around all game long, mostly crouching on the field with that ridiculous pack on his back. It reminded me of the Ghostbusters' proton packs, but bigger and heavier (I'm assuming).

There were two large white boxes, the size of an average desktop computer, along with what looked like a power supply and a handful of boxes and gizmos I couldn't identify. As if that weren't enough, there was a short cable connecting him to the camera operator, and a much longer cable dragging behind him sending the feed to ESPN producers. Four hours carrying a heavy load, crouching in uncomfortable positions, while tethered to something at both ends is not my idea of a good time.

Fortunately, I didn't just see how the sausage was made. I also got to try a bite. ESPN had set up a 3D display by the food line in the press box, complete with community glasses, and most of the reporters there tried it out, at least for a series or two.

The people at the Worldwide Leader are convinced that 3D will be the next big thing in watching sports. I remain unconvinced. I only watched a few plays in 3D (again, I had a job to do), and while it was kind of cool to see depth to the picture, I'd hardly call it revolutionary.

All the wide shots of the stadium, or shots from the sideline looked basically the same. The 3D effect was a lot more noticable in shots from the end zone, and close-ups of the action. Fans in the stands looked distorted on those wide shots.

The 3D experience did make me sympathize with quarterbacks a bit more, as blitzing linebackers are decidedly scarier in three dimensions than in two. I also felt like I was playing a video game during replays, wondering why Cam Newton didn't execute the spin move when I was clearly mashing the Triangle button.

The most jarring impact of 3D was felt with the ESPN graphics, which clearly stood out from the rest of the footage. When the ESPN logo came on the screen, it seemed to come from directly over my head, and almost made me duck to avoid these terrifying transitions.

Maybe if I watch a whole game in 3D, I'll like it better, and remember that I don't have to dodge the ESPN logos that fly in from above. Maybe I'll get used to the video game feeling and appreciate the depth and realism it offers. For now, a 3D television is not a necessity - a good thing considering my financial situation - although I still liked watching football in 3D better than Avatar.

Amputee competes in high school wrestling tournament (with video)

Just a shameless plug for the video story I did this past week. It was a pretty incredible find when I was hanging out with a camera at the Alabama wrestling championships and someone told me there was a wrestler competing with a prosthetic foot.

Then, I got to interview Chase Newton, his coach and parents, and was even more blown away by the story.

I'm embedding the two videos below and my original post is here. Watch them or we're no longer friends. Just kidding (kind of).

The future of Web video on al.com?

Maybe the headline is a little over dramatic, but we're changing the way we do sports videos at al.com. I've been shooting and editing video there for two years now, but now we're focusing more on telling complete stories with our videos, as opposed to just showing game highlights or post-game interviews.

For example, check out this UAB basketball video I shot earlier this week:

UAB beats Tulsa 65-55 for first place in C-USA

Yes, that overly nasal voice you hear in the background is mine. That's another change that's going to take some getting used to for me. I don't especially like going on-camera or doing voice-overs but it's easy to see how the finished product is more watchable than just highlights with no context added.

Keep an eye open, as I'll be putting together some National Signing Day videos as well as a preview of the state high school wrestling tournament this week.

2010, the year of the (my) blog?

 

 I seem to have picked up a knack for starting years off on a high note. Or, more appropriately, the Alabama football team has managed to find itself in good places each January 1, and I happen to be along for the ride.

I started 2009 in New Orleans' French Quarter, raising glasses with two of my best friends from college, watching a giant fleur de lis descend atop Jackson Square and wondering what the year would hold. I was there, of course, because the Crimson Tide was in town to play Utah in the 2009 AllState Sugar Bowl.

OMG, yay America FTW

Checking in from the press box at Jordan-Hare Stadium where Auburn is taking on Ball State. Don't worry, this isn't about the game or anything. I just have to wonder if it bothers anyone else that Auburn puts the words up on its scoreboard to the national anthem, they shorten "through" to "THRU."

This is my fourth straight week to cover the Auburn and it's bugged me every time. They have plenty of room on the long ribbon scoreboard to spell everything correctly, yet they choose to use text speak. Really?

It's considered disrespectful for me to remain seated or wear a hat while the song is playing, but it's cool for Auburn to chop the words down to whatever the kids are using nowadays instead of the actual English language?

Pete Carroll wants Will Ferrell to join Twitter

Pete Carroll keeps cool on Twitter.

Being from Alabama, it's easy to think being a successful football coach means being as hard-nosed and singularly-focused as Nick Saban. After all, love him or hate him, he is probably the most recognizable person in the state.

Thankfully, the Internet and Pete Carroll have reminded me that it can be done differently. While Saban is busy verbally abusing anyone within a 10-foot radius, Carroll is on a different kind of mission: to get Will Ferrell to join Twitter.

The USC football coach has been tweeting since Inauguration Day, using his social media prowess to welcome our new President, show some love for the Trojans' other athletic programs, and now to entice fellow celebs to embrace social media. It started with this tweet:

"Had dinner with Will Ferrell last night... he's not on Twitter... that must change... Join the campaign to turn him into a tweeter!"

Amusing on its face, but Carroll wouldn't leave a good idea unexplored. He was determined to use his new-found tweeple (Twitter people) to convince Will that the Tweeting bandwagon had room for one more big, hairy, American winning machine.

"Let's campaign to get Will Ferrell on Twitter! Email: [email protected] and I'll pass it along to him."

Foursome has fun, no golf talent

*Published August 25, 2006 in The Robesonian

Some of the best golf talent in the region has been on display at Pinecrest Country Club's golf course this summer in the Robeson County Golf Championship and the Kiwanis of Robeson All-American Golf Tournament.

Thursday afternoon, however, the course played host to four of the worst golfers at any level. I'm writing, of course, about members of the sports and copy desk staff of The Robesonian, who were invited to participate in the Robeson County Economic Development tourney.

I dare say it's been a long time since the course was terrorized by a group so inept as our fearsome foursome of Willis “that was a practice swing” Jacobson, Bob “worm-burner” Sloan, W. Curt “I could almost be respectable if I weren't playing with these clowns” Vincent and myself, Dennis “seriously, keep an eye on this one and make sure I don't kill somebody” Pillion.

It's not just that we finished last. Somebody has to be last in every event. We're all role players, and we could accept that role. Our finish was an embarrassment to last-place teams everywhere.

Quick trip to see the Bobcats not a fiscally sound idea

Published Jan. 3, 2006  in The Robesonian

There I was, just before noon on a slow Wednesday at the office, twiddling my thumbs and wondering how to fill this space.

The high schools' sports had adjourned for the holidays and The University of North Carolina at Pembroke wouldn't play another home game until January.

That's when it hit me like a 2 a.m. Taco Bell craving: The Bobcats had a home game that night against the Chicago Bulls.

I still hadn't been to the new Bobcats Arena, and the team was actually on something of a roll, having won four of its last six games.

My first thought was to try to secure a media pass, but then I had a change of heart. Instead of sitting in a good seat, where I could see the game and enjoy the free food and drinks most professional franchises provide anyone with press credentials, I would buy a seat, pay for parking and really experience things from a fan's perspective. I figured that with the NBA's $10 seats, plus some money for parking, gas and fast food on the road, I could make it a night for less than $40.