Just wrapped up my first weekend among the unemployed. Sweet. Thank God for my wife, who refuses to let me feel sorry for myself, and for my two daughters, two refuse to make me feel anything less than incredibly blessed. Not that my wife doesn’t make me feel blessed. She’s made ungodly sacrifices as I’ve gone from being the …
… sports editor of the Half Moon Bay Review …
… to sports editor of the Review and Pacifica Tribune (concurrently) …
… to sports editor of the Tribune and “correspondent” (read: junior college baseball writer) for the San Mateo Times …
… to executive sports editor of the Gilroy Dispatch, Hollister Haybaler and Morgan Hill Times …
… to copy editor at the Contra Costa Times …
… to slot editor/backup golf columnist at the Contra Costa Times …
… to copy editor at Quokka Sports in San Francisco, the company that pioneered the big-photo-with-linked-text-beneath-it format you see on virtually every sports website today …
… to senior writer/editor at Quokka …
… to co-managing editor of NBCOlympics.com, an NBC/Quokka venture …
… to A’s beat writer for MLB.com …
… to national writer for MLB.com …
… back to A’s beat writer for MLB.com (while writing “ACES”) …
… to part-time host on KNBR …
… to MLB Insider for CSN Bay Area …
… to part-time host on 95.7 FM The GAME while at CSN Bay Area …
… to now. Part-time host at 95.7 The Game. More money going out than coming in. Way more.
Sob story? Nah. More like a roller coaster. I’ve eaten lettuce sandwiches. I’ve been on the sidelines at the NFC Championship Game. I’ve lived in the extra bedroom of friends. I’ve traveled the country covering big-league baseball. I’ve pirated cable. I’ve been given more free cable — Playboy Channel in Spanish? — than I know what to do with.
This is a low. This is a high. Higher highs are coming, and you’re coming with me.
I just got a text from my wife. Her name is Kelli. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, and her beauty ranks about 30th on her list of top qualities. Nos. 1 and 2 might be her sense of humor and her ability to make me feel like I can do anything, now matter how dire the circumstances might seem.
Those two qualities fueled her text, which made me smile Cheshire-wide and tear up at the same time — on a BART train, to less.
“You’re Mychael Frikkin’ Urban,” she wrote. “You can do this.”
And so I will. Starting today.
Check back later for some actual sports stuff, and if you’re reading this between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday, please tune into 95.7 FM (957thegame). I’m co-hosting this week, with my friend John Lund (@johnlundradio) on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
For me the hardest part about growing up was knowing what was important and what was not. Jobs came and went for the most illogical of reasons, so as you say, it is a roller coaster ride. At the end nobody will care how much money you accumulated, or how ‘famous” or “notorious” you were. Years ago an old guy told me its about what you do with your life, and who you spend it with and the clarity of your conscience. Took me a lot longer than most to figure that out. Sounds to me like you have a pretty good start.
Great post. Thanks.
Your wife is right, you can and will do this!
I’m starting a campaign to get you on KNBR fulltime! I’m only one voice but it’s a start. Good luck, really enjoyed your writing and TV appearances during the 2010 & 2011 baseball seasons. Keep it up and hope you don’t have to leave the area for work. NorCal is a great place to be, I’ve turned down other jobs just to stay here close to family, friends and the area.
Appreciate the support, Hector. Truly. Means the world to me.
You worked at Quokka? Man I wish I took a job with them back in the day. Would loved to have shot the shit with you by the water cooler.
You are Mychael Frekin Urban and after I heard about the Giants trade this site is where I came. Not CSBA, not MLB, here, credibility.
Sorry, didn’t spell frekkin properly. Not a word I use often although it might better than the alternative I seem to use.
All that matters is the spirit, not the spelling. Thanks SO much!
Sent from my iPhone
Urbs, no doubt, you’ll be landing on your feet soon. Keep doing your thing, stay authentic, and good things will happen.
That’s quite a journey so far… A lot of places that have seen your gifts come and go. I hope this blog helps you continue your journey in sharing your awesome sports insight and knowledge. I’ll always be a fan no matter who you work for. Keeping my fingers crossed for you Mychael!
Hang in there Michael, I really enjoy your work. My brother Matt has told me some really nice things about you. Better things are ahead.
You’ll going to be just fine. Take advantage of the extra time you will have to spend with your daughters and family while looking for your next job.