It's coming up on one year since the format flip of O-Rock 105.9 cost me my job. It's the first time since 1991 that I've been off the air for a year. I truly thought it was my destiny to spew my thoughts into a microphone and try to hold the attention of my listeners. Perhaps, for a limited amount of time, it was my destiny. I no longer feel like I have to be on the radio to be happy.

Radio itself has clearly changed. The industry that formerly took the time to nurture talent and encourage creativity has now shifted to the bottom line. It seems that little else matters besides turning a profit. However, I have changed as well. I no longer feel the need to be validated by an on-air presence. I am perfectly content to put in my 9-10 hours a day at my job as a season-ticket account executive for my favorite sports team. On a day in which we have a home game, that turns into a 13-14 hour day...and you know what? I don't mind a bit. I find myself validated by seeing people whom I helped find seats or a ticket plan that worked for them. Seeing their happiness, the looks of joy on their childrens' faces, hearing them cheer for the Magic and knowing that I did my best to find them a great location satisfies me and inspires me to keep doing it day-by-day.

Don't get me wrong...I still love it when people ask about my radio days. Frequently, usually a couple of times a day, someone I'm talking to on the phone will ask if I'm that Drew Garabo. It's refreshing and rewarding to hear that I've provided insight and/or laughter to someone's life and helped them get through a long night of work.

By my standards, I had a great radio career. I made plenty of money, met some great people, ate sh*t-tons of free food, and got to spend time with females who likely wouldn't have given a dork like me the time of day had a microphone not somehow been involved. I never considered myself the typical "radio guy," however, and I took pride in that. Granted, my ego clearly became enough of an obstacle to cause me concern...but it never grew to obscene proportions.

There were so many highs and lows throughout my career. The last year was such a low that it absolutely diminished my desire to ever return to radio on a full-time basis. I was constantly frustrated with my situation and I had no one to blame but myself. I truly thought that working with Savannah would be the ultimate radio-dream-come-true but it turned out to be a disaster which not only resulted in a loss of employment, but turned our once-strong friendship into a casualty. I am as much at fault for this as she is and while it would be simple to reach out and check in with her, I am uninspired to do so. I wish her good health and happiness but I just can't seem to find it within myself to text, call, or even email her to say so.

My competitive drive to be the best also cost me more than a few friendships. I wish I had been more mature in some situations and held my tongue a tad more, but there's little I can do about it now except commit myself to preventing future missteps. I'm delighted that Daniel still emails me from time to time and that I can see "The Doc" at Magic games or at the RDV and chat with him.

My job now is quite competitive as well, but it stays on a respectful level. We all want to sell everything we can, every day, but we do so in an ethical and supportive environment. The little burst of endorphins I still get after even the smallest of sales boosts my spirits and inspires me to keep after it. I try to make about 75-100 outbound phone calls a day to individuals and businesses in an attempt to sell more seats and get more people to games. Frequently, I'll send out bulletins on myspace and update my facebook status so I can try to utilize every social networking tool at my disposal. I am now a sales professional who puts in an honest day's work every day.

The only downside to this shift in my life is that I don't spend as much time with my son as I used to. When I worked mornings, I would be able to get off work, work out, and then pick up Xander from school and play with him all afternoon and evening. Now, I have precious little time with him in the morning and a few hours when I get home around 6:45-7:00. On game days, I hardly get to see him at all except for when I pick him up from school and take him to daycare. I know he understands as well as a 5-year-old can understand, but it still makes my heart hurt a little bit when I realize how fortunate I was to get to spend so much of my day with him.

Ending things on a positive note, I have to share something that made me laugh out loud a few weeks ago. The Magic rolled out an all-inclusive all-you-can-eat 10-game plan called the "Stuff Yourself" plan. I crafted an email blast and sent it to people who had attended Magic games in the past. I got some good responses and sales from the blast, but the most priceless response came from this dude named David. He replied to my email by saying the following:

"I never liked you on the radio and I don't want you spamming me, so why don't you go STUFF YOURSELF."

Brilliant. I forwarded it to nearly everyone in the office and we all had a chuckle or three. I knew it had to happen sometime and I'm glad I was able to laugh when it did. Go Magic.

As our Disney annual passes expire at the end of the year, we decided to brave the day-after-Thanksgiving crowds and hit the Magic Kingdom last night. There's just something so special about that place during the holidays, especially at night when there's a little chill in the air and your five-year-old son is full of spirit and energy.

He decided that he's ready for the Mountain rides. He's already experienced the borderline-racially-insensitive Splash Mountain with a hearty "zip-a-dee-doo-dah", and last night was his first voyage to the Mountains of Space and Big Thunder. The choo-choo-themed roller coaster was first up. No screaming, no tears, no problems other than a 40-minute wait time (which was posted as a 70-minute wait so I'm not complaining). We were undaunted by the posted 40-minute wait time of Space Mountain and hit that next. Again, nothing but thrills. This kid is definitely turning into a boy right before my eyes.

The biggest scare/thrill of the day was found on the tram back to the parking lot (Grumpy Row 113). Right as the tram driver sounded the "all clear" horn twice, our stroller decided to take a leap from the tram to the parking lot. I knew the tram was about to take off and that I had one chance to grab that sucker before I turned into loser-Dad ("excuse me, my stroller was left behind..."). I balanced with one foot on the tram and one on the pavement as I felt the tram take off and heard the surrounding tourists yell "WAAAAAIT" to the driver. In true Indiana Jones-like fashion, I clutched the stroller handle with one hand and pulled myself back into the tram with the other as my wife and son looked on in horror/amazement.

It certainly wasn't worth dying over, but I definitely didn't want to wait for the tram to stop before going back to retrieve that darned stroller. Good times.

In light of the wacky economy, the Orlando Magic is unveiling a great way for you to get to 10 great games AND save money on food and drink! It's our 10-game Stuff Yourself plan. For $200 a seat, you get a guaranteed seat to 10 fantastic Magic games (including the Celtics!) and ALL YOU CAN EAT hot dogs, pretzels, and popcorn as well as ALL YOU CAN DRINK soda and water! These plans are selling like crazy but I can still get you a fantastic location. Call me ASAP at 407-916-2934 and I'll hook you up! Here are the games in the plan:

12/3 vs. Minnesota; 12/25 vs. New Orleans; 1/6 vs. Washington; 1/29 vs. Cleveland; 2/4 vs. LA Clippers; 2/22 vs. Miami; 3/3 vs. Phoenix; 3/25 vs. Boston; 4/1 vs. Toronto; and 4/15 vs. Charlotte.

Ever since the inaugural Magic season way back in '89, I have loved opening night. The promise of a new season never fails to make me giddy with excitement. I had to miss last season's home opener as it fell on Halloween and trick-or-treating won out over pick-and-rolling.

This year, it falls on Wednesday night, October 29th. It's our 20th-anniversary season. The entire 1989 team (minus 4 players) will be honored before the game. At halftime, the Sugar Hill Gang will perform "Rapper's Delight." Oh yeah, and the Southeast Division Champion Orlando Magic will take on the Atlanta Hawks, who took the Celtics to 7 games in the first round of the NBA Playoffs last season.

Here's where I need your help: each of us ticket sales reps and account executives have been assigned a goal for selling opening night tickets. With four days to go, I'm going to need your assistance to reach mine. With my friends and family discount, I can save you ten bucks per ticket with no taxes or surcharges. Good seats in the upper bowl are going for only 17 bucks, great seats in the lower bowl for $60-$70.

Many of you have already helped me out tremendously by getting partial and full season tickets after reading my myspace blogs and bulletins. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate that! I'm excited to see you at games this season. Now...here's how I can help you.

If you know anyone interested in opening night, send them my way (dgarabo@orlandomagic.com or 407-916-2934). Tell them to mention your name. The person who sends the most business my way will get my lower bowl tickets to one of the Celtics games this season PLUS a courtside tour before the game! You'll get to sit mere feet away as Patrick Ewing works with Dwight Howard on his free throw shooting and jump shots. You'll marvel at how many 3-pointers JJ Redick and Hedo hit in a row. You'll put your seat back in the upright position after we're done so the security guards don't yell at me (please).

Thanks very much for your help and consideration. I'm trying as hard as I can to fill every seat in the Amway for our home opener and we're almost there. You help me, I'll help you. Thanks a billion!

I cannot believe that if the Red Sox win tonight, I'll get to see them tomorrow night for game 7. I thought this series was over when Tampa was up 7-0 with 7 outs left in the game. Just like the scrappy Sox of a few years ago, these guys refuse to lie down. They're without Lowell, Schilling, a healthy Beckett, Man-Ram, and they have no business even competing with the red-hot Rays.

Still, here we are on the brink of game 6. I had registered through the Rays' website for the opportunity to buy game 6 tickets. My friend Tommy is such a huge fan, he paid 300 bucks for a pair of outfield seats to tonight's game off of StubHub. I got an email informing me I didn't get chosen, but if there was a game 7 I may be able to get advance tickets online. Sure enough, within an hour of JD Drew's game-winning single I got an email informing me that I would be able to get game 7 tickets through ticketmaster's website via a password. Same thing we at the Magic do for our plan-holders.

So, right at 5...there I am ready to go. I was logged into my ticketmaster account, which I set up when the Beastie Boys were SUPPOSED to come to St. Pete with Rage Against the Machine. You fellow Beastie fans know that Mike D met a pothole while bicycling in NYC and the ensuing shoulder breakage forced the cancellation of the tour. I did get a full refund, which I will also get if the Rays can overcome the shock of letting the World Champion Sox back into the series and win tonight's game. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

I was prepared to find only deep outfield seats and I wasn't sure if that would be good enough to get me to drive to the Tropicana. To my surprise, the best 4 available that popped up were along the third-base line. They were well less than 100 each, so I had no problem grabbing 4. Based on comparable seats on StubHub, I'll be able to recoup my entire investment by selling a pair and watching the game!

Of course, that's the best-case scenario. Worse than the Sox losing tonight would be if they won and I couldn't find a buyer for the seats. I'd go find a couple of bums and sit them next to me and my brother-in-law and root for Papi to take another one deep.

Let's have lots of positive energy out there for Red Sox Nation, yet no disdain for the Rays. They've done an amazing job this season and if they do go to the Series, I hope they win it. I hope even more that Josh Beckett goes balls-out tonight and shuts down Upton and Longoria. I've never been to anything close to a playoff baseball game; seeing the Sox/Rays game 7 would take the cake!

GO SOX!

Once the Red Sox won a few World Serieses, rooting for them didn't have the same charm. Still, I felt obliged to honor my hometown team. Then, this ragtag bunch of misfits designed after the "idiot" Red Sox team of 2004 came along. They dropped the "Devil" from their name and, metaphorically speaking, added some Jesus to their game. I went to the Tropicana for my first non-Fenway MLB game this past year and loved it. Good people, good food options, good times.

Now, as they have "my" Red Sox on the ropes of elimination...I can't help but be happy for a franchise that was having fan attendance issues. This World Series run is going to sell them some seats. They now have a great product to put under their dome and they'll reap the rewards.

Seeing things from a ticket sales point-of-view hasn't completely changed the way I watch sports, but it has given me a lot more appreciation for what goes on behind the scenes to make games happen. I can still say I'm a major fan as a spectator and working hard to get people to games makes me enjoy the experience even more.

A bunch of you have made me look really smart at work and I appreciate that. Today, my boss asked us A.E.s to tell him about any grass roots marketing we've attempted. I used my myspace bulletin success and came out looking good. I know I sent out quite a few bulletins, but I have to utilize every tool at my disposal to compete with a top-notch bunch of account executives.

With that, I'm going to get a good night's sleep because a few of my myspace friends are calling me in the early morning (I get in at 8) to get a few 7-game plans for less than 100 bucks a month. Interested? Holla at me.

First and foremost, thanks to you guys who have reached out to me so I could hook you up with some partial season ticket plans for this season. I'm happy that you're on board for what looks to be an amazing 20th-anniversary season. You're going to see some legendary moments from the past and present and you've helped me maintain my status with the Magic. Good looking out.

On that note, tomorrow is our Select-a-Seat event at the Amway. It's basically an open house with activities, player autographs, and a chance to see what we've got for the upcoming season. 4-game, 7-game (buy six get one free!), 10, 15, half and full season, courtside, you name it. If you want to get seats in the NEW events center in 2010, this is your best bet.

You see, once you're a planholder of any kind, you have priority over the general public when it comes to seats in the as-yet-to-be-named new Magic arena. We start the 2010 season in the new place, but next season we will hasten the seating process. Our current full season-ticket holders have a guaranteed seat already.

So...if you can see yourself in 2 years being in better financial shape (and I truly hope you can) and can afford to drop less than 200 bucks on some seats to 7-10 high-quality games, you'll be doing yourself a favor by stopping by the Amway tomorrow from noon to 3. Family fun, free parking, popcorn, and soda, and player autographs. My man Dwight Howard (pleeeeease remember me, D-12) will be there around 1. There's certainly no obligation to buy anything, but should you feel so inclined the seats in each plan will be tagged. You want the seat, you pull the tag.

Just make sure you ask for me when you get there. Everyone will have a radio, so have them hit me and if you want to look at some seats, I'll do my best for you. I have a good amount of people coming out already, so I beg your patience if I'm busy...but I promise I will help you out. I will tell you exactly how I can get you bumped up the priority list for the new arena.

What a team you're going to see this year! We had our annual Magic University this past week. I had no idea such an event existed before I started my career with the team, and if I had known I would have been beyond envious. We got to ask questions to management, coaches, and players and get to know the "new guys" we picked up. This is a team that is about ten strong and I strongly believe we can surpass last year's 52-win season.

I hope to see you tomorrow at the Amway Arena. If you are only interested in looking at seats, email me at dgarabo@orlandomagic.com and I can still get you a VIP seating invitation for the 10 AM-12 PM slot. Thanks much. I still have a long way to go before I can challenge the top 4-5 salespeople, but thanks to a few of you I'm on my way! 

There are times when I find myself wondering how different my life would be had I chosen another career path. It's not that I second-guess myself, because we all know "everything happens for a reason," right? Had I started as a ticket sales representative for the Magic when I was in myh early twenties, however, I can't even imagine how far I would have progressed by now.

Here comes the second overused cliche of this blog entry: it is what it is. Can't control the past or the future. So, let's look at the present. I started as a ticket sales representative at the ripe old age of 38 six months ago, about fifteen years older than everyone else in my position. Fortunately, they're a great group of people and I honestly love them all. I've busted my butt in my six months of being a TSR and am almost at the 1 spot in revenue for the company.

Now, to you the difference between the title "ticket sales representative" and "Season Ticket Account Executive" may not be all that significant. I fully understand that. However, in my world they're similar yet significantly different. I won't bore you with the details; I'll just say that being an A.E. has been my goal from day one.

The opportunity presented itself a few weeks ago. A lot of us interviewed for an open position and after a strenuous interview process including my first extended time talking to Dwight Howard (accidentally, see a previous blog entry), I found out yesterday that I got the job.

Wow. I'm still blown away. I wanted this so badly but I knew I had only been on the job for six months. Still, with the new events center opening in 2010 and last year's playoff run...my passion for my job naturally comes through and I think real sports fans can relate to it. I hustle my butt off and I've been fortunate to find some great people and help get them in awesome seats for this season.

I'm not too proud to say that I need your help. I have only the last six months of sales experience but I have learned at least one thing: referrals are the key to success. It's all about building relationships. That's something I took a lot of pride in regarding my radio career. Granted, I spent way too much time and energy destroying some relationships too...but I can say I've learned and grown a lot since.

My point is this: you're reading this blog because for whatever reason, you're interested in what I have to say. Maybe I met you in "real life" or perhaps you've listened to me for the better part of your time on the planet. I sincerely and thoroughly appreciate you regardless of the reason you come to this blog and read what I'm spitting out. It inspires me to write more and that is something I love to do.

I frequently utilized my radio show to help me out in times of need. Whether it was to emotionally cleanse myself by purging my thoughts or fears on the air or if I was simply looking for a CD I lost, my listeners have frequently come to my rescue. That is one of the top 3 things I miss the most about having a relatively commercially-viable radio show.

Well, I'm using this blog today because I need something: your help. As a Season Ticket Account Executive, we have insanely-high sales goals. I've done pretty well thus far as a ticket sales rep, but this is on a new level. If I'm going to chase the top dogs in my new department (and I must), I'm going to have to spread my network out there. That's you.

If you know anyone who wants to and is in a position to come to at least 5 home games this year, either send them my way or give me a way to contact them and I will hook you up. I get access to some cool stuff during the season and some great seats fall into my lap during the year. If you help me out, I'll help you out. Quid pro quo, as Dr. Hannibal Lechter emoted to Agent Starling.

If you're under the false impression that you don't know anyone who can afford 5 Magic games, I will say this: 7 games including the Lakers or Celtics for as low as $60 per seat. Sixty bucks total for 7 games! So, if it's not for you that's cool. I get it. But perhaps you know someone who loves live sports and wants to get some priority for our new arena seating? Email me at my aol addy thedrewsho@aol.com and drop me the phone number or email of any Magic fan or local business owner who would join the thousands in Orlando who use Magic tickets for their employees.

Thanks for your consideration. Making this professional jump is requiring me to utilize every single one of my resources. As a Magic fan for 20 years, I've always wanted to see more people at the games. Now, it's a vital component of my success. If you can help me out, I'll do whatever I can to help you out. Pay it forward, if you will.

I will.

The regular season starts in just over a month...the time is now!

As you may have surmised from my previous blog entry, I've met my share of famous athletes. From having Johnny Damon in the studio a few nights after the Red Sox won their first World Series in recent history to running into Bernie Kosar at the Orlando International Airport, I've seen both great guys and a few tools (Jason Kidd, I'm looking at you). I've known a few former Magic players and still have good relationships with Bo Outlaw and especially Nick Anderson today.

I first met Patrick Joseph Garrity about five or six years ago. I don't recall when or where we first met, but we quickly bonded. He graduated from Notre Dame as did my best friend from high school, so we had a common bond there. He was super-supportive when Xander was going through his health issues and took a few moments before a Magic game soon afterwards to stop to talk to Xander and me in the hallway outside the players' locker room. Then, when Pat had a kid of his own we had another piece of commonality.

Pat would always take the time to chat before or after games and during the games would give me a little nod during timeouts to say "what's up." When I started working for the Magic, Pat went out of hs way to high-five me before the start of the second half. Granted, I was usually escorting a group of kids who were standing in a high-five line to slap the players' hands...but no other player went out of their way to give me 5 except for Pat Garrity.

I remember at one point during last season, I realized Pat was in the last year of his contract. He was typically the 9th or 10th player in rotation and would frequently go through a stretch of games where he didn't get any playing time. I knew in the back of my mind that he likely wouldn't be back for the 2008-2009 NBA season.

Sure enough, we got the press release from Joel Glass today: Pat Garrity would not only be absent from the Magic this year, but he is retiring from the NBA. Truly, the National Basketball Association has lost one of its most esteemed, benevolent, and insightful ambassadors. Pat traveled to India and Thailand this off-season as part of the "Basketball Without Borders" program, helping impoverished and underpriveleged youth find joy through roundball.

I have no doubt that Pat's charitable streak will continue long after his last 3-pointer found the bottom of the net in regulation play. I don't think Orlando knew or appreciated the gem we had in Patrick Joseph Garrity, but I for one will always treasure and value the fleeting moments I got to share with him. I will carry with me one lasting memory: Pat's wife, Paula, finding Pat from courtside preceding a game last season. Pat gave his young son a high-five and the look of glee on all the Garritys' faces made me happy for them. Basketball provided a comfortable life for Pat Garrity, but he gave far more to the NBA than he took from it. Number 8, if I had my way your number would be hanging from the rafters of the Amway Arena.

I emailed Pat on facebook when I heard the news today and wished him well. Of course, given Pat's nature, he emailed me back within a few hours and said the Magic got a steal when they hired me. That was a total Pat Garrity thing to say. I hope what he wrote me was right, that he and I haven't shared our final high-five. Even if we have, I feel like my life was at least a little richer having known Patrick Joseph Garrity.