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I'm not good at pimping myself, and this may be the only time you see me mention it, but if you happen to be in the bookstores this month and see the new "Tom Kelly's Tales from the USC Trojans" that I co-authored (really, transcribed and organized), give it a read. Right there in the store. Then put it back so someone else can read it.
My only regret is there isn't a CD included because to hear Tom's voice tell these stories of his career, his recollections of Trojan history, and all the other stuff he did was pretty cool. The photos that Tom supplied for the book are priceless.
Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com have it listed as coming out in November, which technically is true as far as wide distribution, but it's already in the USC bookstore on campus, and copies were sold (and autographed) before the USC-Washington State game two weeks ago. Upcoming book signings include before the USC games on Nov. 3 and Dec. 1 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. outside the Coliseum in the 710 Experience area (where the radio show goes live and ex-players do signings). There's also a bunch at some Barnes and Noble stores set from Nov. to Dec. in time for Christmas, and Tom has committed to speaking at some various Trojan Clubs around the area, where he'll bring copies of the book to sign.
Sorry, no Pete Arbogast book coming out in the near future, but someone could do a "best of" blog collections if they're able to collect the really, really funny ones and ... wait, I got an idea here...
I also noticed in the editing process of Kelly's book that some chapters were cut out for space reasons.
In the chapter where collegues, friends and family do kind of a "celebrity roast" of Kelly, telling their stories of him, three entries were snipped. My apologizies, but I didn't realize it until after the fact.
Below, they're included. Print 'em out and tuck 'em inside the chapter when you put it back on the store shelf:
Tom Kelly's Tales from the USC Trojans: The Editor's Cut:
From Chapter 12: Kelly's Collegues Speak Up:
John Hefner
Vootage.com producer
Former Fox Sports Net producer
I know this is a story that’s probably been told, but I was there to witness it.
We were back doing the USC-Florida State game in Tallahassee in 1998. They sent us even though a hurricane was supposed to hit near Miami, but not the northern part of the state – the UCLA-Miami game had already been canceled. Sure enough, the hurricane crossed the state, went into the Gulf and made a right turn, heading for FSU. It was downgraded to a tropical storm, but it was still a lot of rain in a short period of time.
On Friday, we went to the stadium to check in at the FSU Sports Information department, and they took us to our announce position. Like fools, we mentioned it to Tom and asked him if he wanted to see where he’d be calling the game.
The FSU SID walked us through the press box and couldn’t have been nicer as he was saying, “It’s so wonderful to have you here, let us know if there’s anything you need … We have an overflow crowd for media requests for the game, so the best place we can put you is right there.” Now he was pointing to a spot outside the press box, on the aisle walkway, with no cover, next to the FSU band -- and in the end zone right outside of coach Bobby Bowden’s office.
Tom was incredulous.
“You mean to tell me you expect us to call a football game from the end zone in the stands, through a driving rainstorm?” he said.
The SID told us it was the best he could do. But again, he was really happy to have us there.
To which Tom replied: “I wonder where they would have put us if they didn’t want us here.”
After the SID left, we told Tom they would be right next to the USC student radio booth. Tom didn’t want to hear that and walked off.
The storm, as predicted, hit in the third quarter, about five inches of rain in under an hour. Tom made it through. But to this day, he’s still mad at producer Mark Shah for putting him outside.
Garry Paskwietz
Founder of the Trojan fan website, WeAreSC.com
Broadcaster partner on Vootage.com
Like most young Trojan fans growing up in the ‘70s, I was raised with Tom Kelly as the Voice of the Trojans. There are so many memories and so many USC stories associated with that voice and you can’t help but think of Trojan football whenever you hear Tom talking about any subject at all. Of course, that is the beauty of Tom, the fact that he can talk about any subject at all and make it sound interesting.
As I got older and started working in the sports industry, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Tom on a variety of assignments, mostly high school football games on Fox Sports West, but most recently as his color analyst on high school broadcasts for Vootage.com. I can honestly say that I’ve had as much fun working with him as any person I can remember. Sure, it is a great thrill to sit next to him and hear that voice as he calls a game, it has been one of great joys of my professional life. But what has been even better than that are the moments before the games, sitting in the truck, listening to Tom tell stories about different places and times involving a veritable “Who’s Who” of American celebrities over the past 50 years. Do you want to throw out a random town? Say Lincoln, Nebraska? Guarantee Tom has a story to tell about an experience he had there and it will probably be one that leaves you shaking your head and laughing. They say that storytelling is an art. If that is the case, then Tom Kelly deserves to be mentioned as a true artist. It’s one of the reasons I’m so excited about this book because it is an amazing opportunity to listen to Tom tell his stories as he wants to tell them. I suppose the only thing better would be the opportunity to listen to this book in audio form, to hear the majestic voice spinning tales of a lifetime of Trojan memories. Thanks for all the joy you’ve given to us Tom Kelly and may there be plenty more stories to tell in the years to come.
Loel Schrader
Former Long Beach Press Telegram sports editor and columnist
USC Athletic Hall of Fame, 2007
The first time I heard him doing an SC game, I thought, “That’s a perfect voice for SC football.” And after I listened to his broadcast, I came to the conclusion he was the perfect broadcaster for Trojan football. And no one brought more passion to the microphone than Tom.
And from Chapter 11:
Longtime Fans:
I was on the same flight home from Hawaii in 1999 with Tom Kelly after a lopsided 62-7 victory over the University of Hawaii to start the season. Carson Palmer was our starting quarterback and we were all smiles about the possibilities of an undefeated season and the potential to play for the national championship.
After I had thought for sure we would go through the season undefeated, Tom stopped me in mid-sentence during our conversation and said: “What do we do if Carson goes down with an injury during the year? Do you think we can sustain a championship season?” I paused, thinking that would never happen.
But sure enough, Carson did go down a few games later at Oregon, the team lost that game and five of the next six.
Tom Kelly was the eternal optimist and a loyal Trojan but he also had a realistic viewpoint of Trojan football.
--Mike Chiaromonte
Irvine, Calif.