Dispatch From WBSC in Dallas

A side-quest featuring international softball.

Dear C,

I’m writing this in the middle of the WBSC Softball World Cup Qualifiers in Dallas. (A friend of mine needed help and the money wasn’t bad.) Team USA has slaughtered everyone they met so far, but the other games are fun to watch. The Irish fans are great. One dad has a drum and they alternate between chanting and singing. I wish that I could tell my grandmother about it. Shooting for them is different. They want images to publish during games so we take turns coming in early, which can be stressful. I’m used to staying out the whole game. And we’ve had to get creative with some of the places we shoot from. It’s nice being just a photographer, though. I don’t have to make the graphics or cut tape or write copy. The’ve had some trouble with their scoreboard and I don’t have to go out and fix it. That kind of thing. It’s odd to feel people stressed around me and not feel that same stress. Nothing like I feel at a normal job.

I had another letter that I was going to send, something that has been sitting in my drafts for a long time, but this ended up taking most of my attention. Which is also why this letter is so short.

I love this guy. Positive the entire time. And several of the adults are drinking. (Also wild for me.)

This is the 18 and under division, group C. The top two teams from this tournament will head to the World Cup Finals next summer. (For somebody used to the high school time scale that is just wild to me.)

The venue is new to me too. It’s at an apartment complex..? A friend of mine lived here in college, we used to go to her place to watch HBO.

The tournament offices are on two vacant floors of a building right behind the field. I love it.

The WBSC offices, broadcast control, commentary, etc. are all curtained-off sections of this empty floor. You can see our workspace in the corner there.

Sometimes the elevator doesn’t work…

Be right back. Canada v Australia is starting soon.

The Canadian pitcher just threw a perfect game.

Okay where was I…most of what the WBSC wants from us is stuff for graphics. DSC wants us to document the event. The challenge is getting one without missing too much of the other. But I still like it.

I’ve got some tape in here of the Irish fans. If I can get that cut this morning I will include it.

Look at that I had the time. Listening back I’m sad that I didn’t catch any singing.

Maybe I’ll see you soon? I hope so.

Love,

J