I played sports for years and years. And I was lucky enough to never get cut from a team. Until last week. I was released. Put on waivers. Na na na na. Hey. hey. Hey. goodbye.

Four years ago I was recruited and signed to a free agent deal. I was a veteran with years of experience, some name recognition and a little star power if you will. I was immediately put into the starting lineup.

This is where I remained for 3 and a half years. But in recent months the coach started playing me less. And less. All the way up until this past month when I became a healthy scratch. Did not play. (DNP) Coaches decision.

I tried to talk to the head guy about it but I couldn’t really get any face time. Then last week, word came via e mail. He feels the team is better without me. They are going in a different direction. Best of luck in the future.

The team I was released from was of course The Drive radio show airing at 4pm daily on 92.9FM the Ticket in Bangor.

I did everything I could to help that team succeed and win the past four years. I generated revenue and ratings. They can’t say I was not a “team player.”

So this is what it feels like to be a free agent.

There have only been two years since 2004 that I have not been associated with a sports talk radio show in Bangor. I was the starter for The Shootaround with Jeff Solari on The Sports Zone, WZON from 2004-2010. Later I joined Downtown With Rich Kimball as a role player from 2013-2014. Then I signed, as mentioned above, with The Drive in January of 2015.

So what now?

Honestly, my plate is pretty full.

I crank out an edition or two of the Sports Chowdah e mail blast weekly. I share content on the BDN Maine website. I record a weekly segment on WABI TV5 News. I’m bringing Roger Clemens to Bangor. I’m about to start teaching a course at the New England School of Communications; Producing and hosting a Sports Talk Radio Show. Perhaps a little irony here.

I’m pondering a podcast. A Sports Chowdah internet stream. A weekly half hour TV/Web sports show. And even some stuff I can’t really talk about just yet.

2019 promises to be even more awesome then 2018. Will I add radio back into the mix for next year? Who knows. Until then I’ll spend more time with my family. Isn’t that what athletes an coaches always say? As I do I’ll use this experience to teach my kids how to handle adversity, and to be good teammates. Those are topics worth talking about. On the radio. Or off.