MICHAEL RIKER
Dear Mr. Trout,
My name is Michael R. and I'm from Queens, New York. I am 29 years old and been an avid sports fan since I can remember. I loved playing sports as well as watching it on television.
My father used to take me with all the guys he used to hang out with at his favorite place after work…..Dunkin Donuts. He used to ask me all types of sports questions, and I would answer them correctly every time. His friends would be amazed that a five year old would have such a vast knowledge about sports. My father was in his glory, proud about his son's gift. Every morning I would get up with him at six o'clock in the morning to pick up the newspaper so I could go right to the sports section to read the box scores of the games.
In fact, I still do that to this day. I feel like my morning hasn't really started until I read the sports section of a newspaper. But what intrigued me more than anything, were the people who were broadcasting the games. I used to think what a great life they had. They would be there watching the game LIVE! Not to mention entertaining and informing the people watching the game. Their job was sports! What could be better? Nothing as far as I was concerned.
I used to love to watch all the great sportscasters: Marv Albert, Dick Enberg, Pat Sumerall, and the list goes on and on. So when I was 10 or so, I used to turn down the sound on the television and do my own play by play. My mother used to walk in my room and ask, "Who are you talking to, Michael?" I would even progress to recording myself on a tape recorder and keeping statistics of the players at the same time.
So you see my dream has always been to be a sportscaster. I've made some mistakes along the way and I've had some pitfalls and tough times in my life which have caused me to pursue my dream later than I expected. But I am hoping with your help and the support of family and friends, especially the love of my life, my girlfriend Geri, my dream can come true.
I thank you for your time in reading this letter.
