The cover of Conversations’ guest, Al Pickett’s, sixth published book.
The last time I spoke with Al Pickett, the voice of so many sports in Abilene, TX, I was sitting in the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame – of which Al is the Chair – in the Mall of Abilene to learn about what makes Texas football, West Texas football in particular, so special.
That bonus episode aired in conjunction with Event No. 8: Why Everything’s Bigger in Texas of the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project as S:3, E:54.
In today’s episode, we give Al the full Conversations with Sports Fans treatment and discuss everything from his early years in Kansas to his moves to Arkansas and, ultimately, Texas.
We also dive into his sixth published book, It Must Be a Big Game: 50 Years of Covering Sports, that aims to take readers on a stroll through memorable moments of Al’s life in the pressbox or sideline. In addition to vignettes of those memorable moments, Al also provides readers with 1-paragraph biographies of all 251 inductees of the Big Country Athletic Hall.
I’m also happy to report that Al’s provided me with a signed copy of It Must Be a Big Game and I’d love to give it away. Simply email me at hilldouglast@gmail.com with your name and email contact by 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, January 25. I’ll conduct a random drawing of those entered and get it out to the winner post-haste.
Alternatively, if you’d like a personalized signed copy from Al, himself, you’re able to contact him at this email address – apickettc@sbcglobal.net – to set that up. Here’s hoping you support an independent author:-)