While broadcasting football and basketball games I always try and find someone to visit with during halftime. I did a blog a few years ago about interviewing people at halftime and I thought I should do an update on my recent halftime guests.

Just a few weeks ago I had Brody Petermann from the LQPV Robotics Team. I am always so impressed with students from a robotics team. They are amazing and I learn so much about robotics and that’s why I like interviewing them. That night at LQPV, the robotics team was having a bake sale in the commons area. I naturally bought a boat load of baked goods on my way up to the press box. I asked Brody to join me at halftime and talk about the robotics team. He brought with him some more baked goods for me. Brody did a great job on the radio with me.

Last fall I met one of my favorite NFL football players, Larry Cole. He was my halftime guest during the Dawson/Boyd and YME football game in Granite Falls. I did a blog about that night. I think that halftime interview was one of my favorites. Larry grew up in Granite Falls and after graduation went on to play with the Dallas Cowboys for many years and had a great NFL career. I found Larry to be a very humble and down to earth person.

Another halftime guest during the football season was Lisa Gillund from Minneota. Lisa is a marathon runner. I have visited with her a number of times on the radio about her marathons. This halftime interview was about her completing her 26th marathon in Chicago. She has run in Boston, New York, the Twin Cities and a number of other big name marathons. I am always in awe of someone that can run 26.2 miles! Lisa is a fun interview.

Another fun halftime guest was Laura. Laura use to teach in Dawson and now is a teacher in Albany. The Dawson-Boyd boys basketball team played Albany over the Christmas break at St John’s University. She had posted on her social media site that it would be a dream come true to be Paul Raymo’s halftime guest. Well I contacted her and we made that happen! Laura was a great halftime guest, she is a very positive person. She mentioned how much she loved the community of Dawson.

I remember interviewing Canby’s Amya Verhelst during a Lancer football game last fall. Amya was involved with 4H and had just won a number of awards at the state 4H Horse Show. I know nothing about horses so she educated me on what goes on at a state horse show. The picture we took in the new press box at Canby was spooky looking. The lighting was really different.

Some of you might be asking who my all time favorite halftime guest was. It was Patrick Ruesse from the Minnepolis Star and Tribune and television celebrity. I didn’t get a picture with him! A number of years ago the LQVP Eagles were playing the Paynesville Bulldogs. The LQPV football team only had one win and were playing a very good Bulldog team. As the second quarter ended and halftime was beginning I noticed someone had entered the press box and I recognized him right away. It was Patrick Reusse of the Star Tribune and star of the television show The Sports Show with Patrick, Sid Hartmann, Dark Star and Mike Max. I loved that show and would watch it every Sunday evening.

I couldn’t believe Patrick Reusse was standing next to me in the Paynesville press box. I introduced myself and asked if he would want to join me on the radio at halftime. To my surprise he said he would. My heart was pounding and I got nervous. I am about to interview one of my idols! The interview went well and I will never forget one of Patrick’s quotes. “How the hell can the Eagles only have one win the way they are playing?” It was a halftime interview I will never forget.

I have had so many halftime guests over the years. And it’s been a blast. Here are some pictures from the past.