![\"Karen](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/IMG_9390.jpg\")
<\/a>Karen Salkin, back on the Rose Bowl field! Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n
This was the organization\u2019s inaugural event, so I really had no idea of exactly what to expect, and I assume that was also true for the rest of the guests. But nonetheless, so many people arrived early to the Rose Bowl.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never seen lines like that except for events that are offering free beauty services to the first group of attendees! So, way to go, Sports 1 Marketing!<\/p>\n
After they checked us in, (which I thank them for making easy enough\u2014there was none of the drama I often see at big events,) we received a tour of the entire Rose Bowl.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been to this iconic stadium so many times over the years, mainly during my close friendship with the UCLA teams back in the day, and I\u2019ve even been on the field, but this tour was a revelation!<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Rose Bowl Command Center. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
They put us in small enough groups that enabled us to see and hear everything the guide was sharing with us. We visited the Command Center, the Press Room, and the Keith Jackson Broadcast Center. And then came the best part for me, especially on a day that featured absolutely beautiful weather–we got to hang-out on the field for awhile! That was actually the second time this month that I did that, but the other was at night, so it was a different vibe then. And prior to a few weeks ago, I hadn\u2019t been on the field since I was friends with those UCLA athletes back in the late \u201990s!<\/p>\n
<\/a>The view of the Rose Bowl Field from the Press Room. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
After a bit, the VIP guests moved into the Visitors Locker Room for an hors d\u2019oeuvres reception.\u00a0 For once, the food<\/em> was not the attraction for me; it was my surroundings!\u00a0 Even with all my sports experiences, I had no idea that professional team\u2019s locker rooms were so gigantic; that was eye-opening.\u00a0 (Actually, back when I was doing my TV show, I played in a Celebrity Charity Softball Game in Florida\u2019s Tampa Stadium, so I was in a locker room then.\u00a0 But I was just trying to survive in that oppressive heat down there, so I wasn\u2019t taking much notice of my environs.)<\/p>\n The entire group then moved on to the Home Locker Room, which was adorned with all kinds of informative Rose Bowl posters around the entire perimeter, between the ceiling and the lockers. We each grabbed a boxed lunch and took a seat at a table, so the program could begin. *[Please make sure to read my program note at the very bottom of this page, when you get down there. Hint: It\u2019s a grammar lesson. Bet you can’t wait!]<\/p>\n That\u2019s when the highlight of my day came–I got to chat with Warren Moon for a bit about my days doing sports radio!\u00a0 I give him a lot of credit\u2014everyone was clamoring for time with him, so he could have been forgiven if he didn\u2019t engage in a conversation with me, but he totally listened to everything I had to say, and even followed-up with a couple of questions of his own. He even laughed when I told him that my method of color commenting is to discuss the athletes\u2019 looks, say who is cute, and out the ones who really need to fix their hair!\u00a0 (He<\/em> has no worries at all in these categories; he\u2019s still very attractive and has no hair!)<\/p>\n David Meltzer and Warren Moon. Photo courtesy of Sports 1 Marketing.<\/p><\/div>\n The program began with the keynote speaker, Dave Meltzer, who is the co-founder (with Warren Moon) and CEO of Sports 1 Marketing.\u00a0He gave a very interesting talk, which included singing Warren\u2019s praises.\u00a0 Dave pointed-out that Warren was one of the first black quarterbacks, and then quipped that now UCLA has a Jewish one, which is even more rare.\u00a0 (I know that my former sports radio partner has been jumping out of his skin over that development because he always used to lament how few Jewish athletes there are. So to have one in his own backyard must be thrilling to him.) Dave offered us some wise business advice, which I\u2019m sure the assemblage really appreciated.<\/p>\n When he was finished, there was a panel discussion, led by LA Times sports writer Sam Farmer.\u00a0 Ironically, and amusingly, even though he can write<\/em>, he can\u2019t really speak<\/em>, which I have a feeling he\u2019d be the first to tell you.\u00a0 He was a wreck when he was on the stage by himself for a few minutes, and tried to speak to us on his own, but he came to life as soon as he got to moderate the panel discussion. His discomfort was actually quite endearing.\u00a0 He\u2019s the opposite of moi<\/em>\u2014even though I\u2019m now a writer, it\u2019s so much easier for me to just talk by myself, as I did on my show for all those years.\u00a0 That\u2019s why guys have always compared me to Vin Scully! (At least I hope<\/em> that\u2019s why!) Maybe Sam and I should team-up\u2014he can do all the writing<\/em>, and I\u2019ll speak<\/em> for us both, (as I always do for Mr. X.)<\/p>\n (L to R) Sam Farmer, Jeremy Barnett, Warren Moon, and Dr. Hasan Badday. Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n The informative panel consisted of a quartet of successful, informative gents: the aforementioned Warren Moon; Josh Booty, (who\u2019s a former quarterback, and<\/em> World Series Champion pitcher\u2014impressive!); regenerative medicine doctor Dr. Hasan Badday, (the one I most interested to hear); and businessman Jeremy Barnett, (who was the only one who apparently did not get the \u201cbusiness attire\u201d memo.)<\/p>\n I give Sports 1 Marketing a lot of credit for making their maiden voyage just the correct length.\u00a0 Events such as this one often tend to go on and on, but this one ended at just the perfect time.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>