When a comedian delivers a killer line at the end of his show, the term, “Mic drop” comes into play. It’s like a baseball player who hits a rocket out of the stadium, then stands and admires it. It is akin to “Elvis is leaving the building.” You just drop the microphone, leave, and no more need to be said.
When I was in high school, I was an equipment manager for my high school football team. I enjoyed it, as many of my friends were on the team. Post-game, there was usually a dance in the gym. My football buddies showed up, just out of the shower and disheveled. I still had on my “uniform”—gray slacks, a Bellefonte Red Raider sweatshirt, and brand new Puma sneakers, color-coordinated of course. Hair in place, and so on. A “Sharp Dressed Man,” as Billy F.Gibbons from ZZ Top once sang. A couple of my buddies started calling me “Elvis.” At my last class reunion, a couple still did.
I hope that my column entertains as Elvis once did. Hopefully, I will give you the “Elvis” feel by the time you are done reading my offerings.
Years ago, during my CHS teaching days, I would write a publication that I named “The Regress” (get it?). It was distributed when something funny happened at Clearfield High, or when I felt that the faculty needed a reason to laugh at something. If you are a teacher, that need happens often.
After my retirement, a new target was needed. So, I picked on my good friend Perry Irwin for quite a while. He did admit later that he enjoyed reading my “witticisms,” as he put it. Then, Nick Santinoceto became a target. When he announced his retirement, I took the song American Pie, and wrote “The Day The Good Subs Died.”
Not that I ever made any money from this, though Nick awarded me the last sub he ever made at his market. I was going to send it to The Smithsonian, but then I got hungry.
Seeing people laugh at what I wrote was reward enough. No need for anything else.
I admit that I was flattered when Gant News approached me about writing a piece for their online publication. After thinking a bit, I agreed to try it. I figure that this project will give my mind good exercise, which I believe is crucially important as one ages. I did have a guru, someone to pattern my work after; I did a stint covering football and basketball games for The Progress, when Fred Kavelak was the Sports Editor. I loved writing for Fred; he never edited my writing, which I took as a supreme compliment. When he was running the show there, every other sports journalist in the region was a 10-point underdog.
So, you can expect to read this on a bi-weekly basis, until I run out of ideas or go completely crazy. Sometimes, you will laugh. Occasionally, you might be moved to shed a tear. Sometimes you will agree with me; sometimes you will not. No matter what, I hope that you will be entertained.
I was tasked with finding a name for this endeavor. I consulted my friend Logan Cramer, whose mind is even busier than mine. He came up with “ The Mike Drop.” I do kind of like it. I can say what’s on my mind, drop the mike, and then “Elvis” can leave the building.
Hope you enjoy it! And, in Elvis’ words, “Thank you…thank you very much.”
Editor’s note: Readers can visit GANT on September 22 to read the next edition of The “Mike” Drop.
