Take off their hats...

Incredibly, the pope is still hanging on. If you believe the reports that were coming out yesterday afternoon, coupled with the medical diagnosis, he's had a more improbable run than Yassar Arafat and the West Virginia basketball team combined.

I was just thinking that his death will be like the end of the Reagan presidency for me. (Hear me out: this isn't going to turn into some reactionary diatribe.)

The Pope took office (or whatever the right term is) two months before I was born. He's the only Pope I've ever known. Much like Reagan, who was in office when I was finally old enough to know who the president was, and seemed like he served forever. It was a little jarring when (in fifth grade) suddenly the news showed some new guy sitting at Reagan's desk.

Speaking of things that were jarring, I saw a piece on JP when he first took over as Pope. It was interesting to see how young and active he was-- seemed downright likable at times, screwing around in front of the cameras. Definitely a far cry from what his medical conditions have turned him into.

Incidentally, I agreed to work tonight to help put together an hour-long show dedicated to the Michigan State men's basketball team being in the Final Four. It's supposed to run from 11pm-midnight, right around the time the game ends. Besides the obvious concerns (that anyone who's ever worked in sports media can tell you about) like "what if the game goes into overtime and we can't show highlights for 20 minutes?" or "what if MSU players don't get into the interview room until 11:45?" we now also have to deal with "what happens if the pope dies today?"

That should make for some smooth transitions:

Anchor one: Again, Pope John Paul the second has died at the age of 84.
Anchor two: And speaking of dying, I think tonight's MSU game took a couple of years off my life!
Sports guy: You said it! We can't show you the highlights because CBS is still on the air, but we do have some good nat sound of a guy in our newsroom unleashing a profanity-filled tirade demanding to know why Jim Nantz won't shut up and sign off.


Should be goooood times. Go Big Ten.