Today, I would be leaving for the Final Four. Bags packed and headed to Atlanta. Instead, I just scrubbed every bathroom in my house, did my 100th load of laundry, watched my kids pull pranks on each other for April Fools and started my 3rd puzzle.  And the amount of dishes I've done! Don't get me started. Thats what we should be hoarding- dishwasher detergent, not toilet paper! Im a glass half full type of person though and so I think for my own sanity I have had to find the silver lining through all this. First off, fortunately my immediate family is healthy and my father is on the mend, recovering well. Thank you all so much for the well wishes!  Also, this new found free time has really allowed for amazing family time and brotherly bonding.  For someone who spends a lot of time on the road, missing family activities, my kids school functions and their games and tournaments, it has been nice to have this time together.  I refuse to take it for granted. We wake up every morning at 8, eat breakfast as a family and go over the school schedule for the day.  We reconvene for lunch and then when all their work (and my housework) is done, we try to get out as a family, playing lax or basketball in the yard, going for a walk or a bike ride. Anything to get some fresh air. Fortunately, my boys have each other and while they are of different ages they have found their common ground because they have to. They are each others only friends and playmates right now.  There are epic Fortnite and Madden battles going on, movie marathons, youtube session, Tik Tok making and intense bedroom basketball games.  Our evenings have completely changed too. No shuttling kids around from sport to sport, no homework and very little ordering in. Now, its all about what new recipe I am going to try with what is left in the fridge while not wasting it all because I don't want to go out and do another grocery shop.  And the good thing is no one can really complain about what I make because we don't have much of choice right now.  Now, if we can just magically snap our fingers and make all those dirty dishes disappear!  But, after everything is cleaned up and put away, we settle down for a family game or movie. Now I'm a huge gamer. I grew up loving bored games, card games, you name it.  And yes I'm very competitive!
Here's our top 5 favorite games to play as a family
1.Rumikub
2.Monopoly Deal (the card game is even better than the original game)
3.Sorry
4.Poker
5.Mexican Train Dominoes

As I've said, I would like this to be an interactive blog, so let me know how you and your families have been keeping busy and send me your favorite family game! 

Stay safe and stay healthy!

The coronavirus has officially hit home. Not my actual home, but my father's. He's single, turning 77 on Wednesday and lives alone in NYC.  Just last week I was having a conversation with him explaining that he needs to start taking this all seriously.  "Enough with the dating, stop taking the subway and limit you work hours!" was basically the conversation we had.  His response... "Really? Why? I can't stop working! I need the money."  Fast forward a week later and he is now quarantined at home, alone, dealing with corona.  Its obvious he has it, he just hasn't been tested yet. Not that he hasn't tried. He had a test scheduled at NYU for tomorrow and they just cancelled. Just like that.  No warning, no explanation.  The hardest part of all this is not being able to see him. To care for him. To know he is ok.  Normally, he's my self-sufficient, hard working,  supportive father who doesn't need someone to watch over him. But, when I didn't hear from him until 4 yesterday afternoon, I panicked. Do I call 911? Do I call the doorman? Should I get in my car and check on him myself, exposing me and my family? What's the protocol? Fortunately, I didn't have to do that.  When I finally did speak to him he didn't sound great. The experimental medicine his doctor gave him has given him side effects and he has a severe sore throat that makes it hard to talk.  No fever though and no shortness of breath, so right now its just rest and ride it out.  I took his doctor's number in case, told him to make sure he checks in with me when he wakes up every morning and send me a list of stuff he needs and I will make sure it gets delivered. I know I am not the only one dealing with a family member affected by this, having to figure out the right course of action, scared for what lies ahead. But I just continue to pray, to be there for my father and my family and continue to tell myself that this too shall pass. Remember, you are not alone. We Are All In This Together.   

The ball is tipped... The first line of "One Shining Moment". Well, 12ET has come and gone and no ball has been tipped, no stadium filled with screaming fans, no bands playing fight songs, no whistles blown, no crowds hovered around tvs, no brackets printed, no announcers court side, and no reporters hovering around huddles.  It just doesn't seem right, No one could ever imagine that we would be experiencing any other kind of madness but March Madness. But here we are.  Quarantined in our houses, begging for a distraction.  I urge you all to celebrate this day. Here are some things you can do:
Go watch old highlights of past tournament games or just your favorite moments
Go outside with your kids and reenact some of the buzzer beaters
Play a family basketball game
Have your children do research on their favorite team or player
Watch your favorite basketball movie
Sing "One Shining Moment"

I leave you now with one of my favorite moments covering the Tournament...
​Can you say Kris Jenkins for the win????

I'm about to embark on one of the greatest challenges of my career. The adjustment from college to the pros will be different, the move from Saturdays to Thursdays and Sundays will be tough, working with a new crew and forming new relationships within the NFL will take some getting used to. But really the biggest challenge of all will be the balance of work and family.

Everyone always asks me how hard it is being a woman in this business? Having to always prove ourselves, make sure we are taken seriously, and how we block out the constant critics on social media.

But for me, one of the hardest things about being a woman in this business is the balance of work and family, managing the hectic travel schedule and my children's hectic lives. After all three boys under the age of 8 is a handful as it is.

That's what has been keeping me up at night the last few weeks, that is what is causing the hesitation when people ask about how excited I am to be part of the number one crew on Thursdays and Sundays. After all this is what I've worked so hard for all my life isn't it? But I've also worked so hard to raise a family.

Believe me, I realize how fortunate I am and I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity. It's going to be awesome. But I could've used some warning, some advice about how challenging this business would be for a mother.

In our business there are not many shoulders to lean on or brains to pick when it comes to this subject. That's why I've decided to write this blog.

I'm going to spend this first season chronicling that balance of work and family. I'm calling it "Stories of a Sideline Mom".

I hope you laugh, maybe you'll find some of it sad, but most importantly I hope to inspire others along this journey.

Stay tuned for first post...

       

The  college football season is underway and for the first time in 10 years I am watching as a fan.  As many of you know I am moving to the NFL sidelines this season. I am extremely excited about this new opportunity and challenge.  One that is definitely the next great step in my career.  

Still, it will definitely be an adjustment.  The SEC is all I've known since working at CBS and there are definitely things I am going to miss not covering games on Saturday. 

First off, my crew. I couldn't have asked for two better partners in Verne and Gary.  They believe in the role of a sideline reporter and have supported me every step of the way. We have formed such a good rapport on the air but an even better friendship off it.  My producer Craig, my director Steve, all of our production and tech crew, it may sound corny but we really are one big family.  They are all so talented and so easy to work with and the product they put on the air is top notch.

One of my favorite parts of being a college football sideline reporter were interviews, especially with the coaches in the SEC.  Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, Les Miles, Will Muschamp, just to name a few. Each has a unique personality and I always loved trying to capture that and bring it to the viewers.  I don't think Bill Belichick is stopping to chat with me going into half anytime soon.  

Having only done a handful of NFL games, I am really looking forward to hitting all the NFL cities and experiencing the stadiums and fan bases associated with each team. It sure will make my travel a whole lot easier! But Saturday's in the South are tough to beat. The passion, the tradition, the noise, Rocky Top, The Swamp, The Hedges, Death Valley at night, Sweet Home Alabama, Woo Pig Suey, the Grove, Cowbells… I will miss it all.

But hey, I will certainly get a taste of the SEC in the NFL.  From former coaches to former players they are all over the National Football League.   I kick off this season September 7th at MetLife with the Jets hosting Oakland, 1pm ET  on CBS.

People ask me all the time "What do I enjoy covering better football or basketball?".  Here's what I say.  My favorite sport to cover is football. I'm not sure why, maybe it's the fact that I never got a chance to play it as a kid and it intrigues me, or maybe because of the pace of play and the more ample opportunities to do reports and interviews and certainly a much more comfortable workplace for a reporter (except of course when it rains, then I would take a basketball game anytime!) But there is always a caveat to that question.  In my opinion, nothing beats March Madness and the Final Four!

I have been fortunate to be part of this event for 6 straight years and the lead reporter covering the National Championship since 2009.  I like covering this event for the same reason the fans like watching it. There is something so unique about the tournament.  First off it's a month long. Second, I love the hype in the weeks leading up as to who is in and who is out.  Then, teams punch their tickets to the dance and you have some who expect to be there and others you've never heard of.  Storylines and ties in each matchup, Cinderellas looking to keep their historic run alive, stars are born, careers are made, stories written and of course there is that ONE SHINING MOMENT.  Every year before the tournament CBS holds an NCAA Tournament two day seminar.  They start it by playing last year's One Shining Moment video and every time, I shed a tear.  That's why this is my favorite time of year!

Tracy Wolfson is a CBS Sideline Reporter and Host. Follow Tracy on twitter: @tracywolfson