Birmingham, Alabama

January 15th – 16th

South Atlanta (GA) vs LeFlore (AL) High School Basketball – ESPN2 – 9pm

I stayed in Cincinnati on Wednesday night after the UC game and flew to Birmingham on Friday morning.

The game was played at Bartow Arena – UAB’s basketball arena.


It’s always difficult doing a high school game – be it football or basketball – due to the lack of information available. Most high schools are not accustomed to dealing with being on TV; so do not know how desperately we need information on the school, team and players. Not to mention the fact that most schools do not keep stats or at least accurate stats.

Even with the challenges of doing HS sports, I always enjoy doing these games as we are there for a reason – one of the players is going to be tomorrow’s star. So that part is cool – getting to see them when they are still a kid.

But the action was not on the court – it apparently was outside the arena – in the parking lot just 50 yards from where the TV truck was parked. After the game, the play-by-play announcer was mugged at gunpoint.

On Friday morning, unbeknownst to me, it was “Be Evil to Nic Day.” All small things, but all annoyed me in a huge way!

First it was the woman in 3C – I was attempting to put my roller board in the overhead bin and it was not fitting “wheels first” as it typically does on that model of aircraft. So I flipped it around to “handle first” and again, it didn’t fit. (By putting getting your bag to fit wheels or handle first, you don’t take up as much room; thus allowing room for more bags; a kind gesture to fellow passengers)

While I was doing this, the woman in 3C was giving me a once over; apparently she didn’t feel that I was first class material. So she proceeded to snear, “It’s not going to fit.” I looked at her and said, “No shit!” She was instantly appalled by my response which made me giggle!

On the flight, I had a much needed nap as I only had gotten 3 hours of sleep.

As I was waiting to get off the plane in Atlanta, the guy in 2C reached into the overhead bin and started to take down my bag. I said, “Actually, that is my bag sir.” His head swiveled around and he said, “Well THAT is where I put MY bag. You must have moved it when you put yours in!” And he being the gentleman, that he obviously was, he shoved my bag back into the overhead bin.

I replied with, “No, I did not touch your bag.” He said, “Yes you did!”
I reached up and grabbed my bag and said, “Whatever dude” and left.

He had made such a scene that when I was on the jet bridge a lady came up to me and said, “Be thankful that guy isn’t your husband – what a jerk!”

Then in the elevator in the Crown Room, this old couple started talking about me as I am 8 inches from them. Seriously, it was an elevator for 4 people and the old man whispered
“Will you look at the size of that bag!”

The old lady said, “That is what is wrong today with carry-on luggage. People taking such large items on the plane”
I just stood there with my back to them, attempting to be nice – I am angry at myself for not saying “I CAN HEAR YOU!” Cuz that is what I was saying in my head.

I attribute all 3 scenarios with me being discriminated against. The 1st two things happened in first class, the other in the airline club. As I usually do on early morning flights, I was wearing a sweatshirt and comfy pants, no makeup and less than perfect hair.

Basically, I look homeless, but I am comfortable! All these people didn’t feel that I belonged in first class or in the club – when indeed, I do! Subconsciously, I think I dress worse when I know I will be in first class, just to annoy people.

And yes, I have an enormous backpack that weighs 37 lbs. I may not be able to walk by the time I am 40, but I have everything I could possibly need to do my job. I also carry my roller board suitcase – which is also typically packed until ready to burst. The more crap you have in your bag, the more mad the TSA agents get when they search your stuff. (But that’s another one of the fun games I play – I’ll save TSA stories for another day)

Anyway, to anyone who complains about the amount of stuff I carry on a plane I have a simple response – “I challenge you to live my life for one week and see how you pack afterwards”

I guarantee you, after you are buying underwear at WalMart at 1am because an airline lost your luggage and you have to be to work in 5 hours, I bet you won’t check your luggage next time!

Ok… so back to my trip home.
On the flight from Atlanta to Columbus, the guy next to me passed out after 1 bloody mary.

He sat hunched over the entire flight. I just thought it was funny.