Unfortunately, I have to step aside again just when this Isiah trial is getting interesting. Tales of alleged racial and sexual slurs and romps with interns will have to go on without me for a while.
That is because my wife and I are expecting Baby Berger No. 2 any time now, with the offshore odds heavily favoring Sunday as the delivery date, according to a source close to Tim Donaghy.
The timing is good, considering I am able to burn the rest of my vacation time while helping out with the new tot and will be back just in time for the Knicks to open training camp in Charleston. I predict that the Artest speculation will be in a major lull by then, but the Kobe situation – as in, whether or not he shows up at Lakers camp – will bear watching.
I’ll be keeping one eye and ear on that stuff as best I can in between feedings and diaper changings; my home life is a bit more progressive than what we’ve heard about the workplace environment at the Garden thus far in this trial.
My pals Bob Glauber and Judy Battista of the Times keep sending me emails in which they pretend to just be checking in to see how life is treating me. I know they are probing for updates on the baby, and the fact that my name hasn’t been in the paper during one of the most sensational Knicks soap operas in recent memory makes them think something has happened.
Nope, nothing yet. Just waiting.
My wife recently reminded me of my preoccupation with work during times of crisis when she recalled how I was on the phone with Chad Pennington on the morning of July 23, 2004. As I was asking Chad if he wanted contract talks to continue into training camp, Mrs. Berger was doubled over in the early stages of labor. Jason Berger, now 3, was born later that day, but not before I'd send in my 393-word story about Pennington.
Three years later, Mrs. B is about to have another one and No. 10 is dealing with another difficult injury.
I remember typing away in labor and delivery, thinking (but not saying) that having a baby was nothing compared to what I went through writing the Monday Night Miracle on deadline back in 2000.
But I digress.
I hope you can keep the comments going in my absence. I’ll miss the give and take, so like Neil Best, the chances are good that I won’t be able to stay away without posting here and there and thanking you for reading and providing your insight and opinions. Without you, there is no blog. Now I gotta run, because without me, there will be no burp cloths.
P.S. Any readers out there with two younguns? Advice, advice, advice would be appreciated. I am going to need it.
Comments (4)
Nice to see we have to talk through your blog now, Berger.
I think every sportswriter with children has a wacky newborn story. I was bottle feeding little miss Emily with one hand and holding the phone with the other just as word was out that Bill Parcells was about to join the Jets as head coach.
Emily is now 10, and I'm her soccer coach ... okay, bye.
congrats ken on baby #2.
hey, think greg oden can still have a successful career after missing his entire rookie year due to microfracture surgery?
Geez Ken, I'm 8 weeks from having my first, and am looking for guidance myself. Given the due date, I'm going to miss going to the Knicks home opener, which saddens me greatly. I don't know if I'll be going to many(any?) games this year (It's a 3 hr drive.)
Alan shared the good news; congrats.