Travis' Top 12 Most Influential People other than his family

The end of the 2008 calendar year is upon us, and almost every television network at some point will have a countdown show to celebrate their moments of the year. In spirit of that, here are my top 12 most influential people, so far. All of these people share a piece of my heart and I could not even think what I would do without them. The list was very hard and frustrating to construct. If you are reading this, and your name is not on the list. I am truly sorry. I cannot please everyone. Read and enjoy.



The Top 12 Most Influential People in Travis' Eyes:

12. Betsy Kreger and Leeanne Mancini, My Two Favorite Female Friends--I met Betsy through Ashley, a former girlfriend of Adam's, an individual you will meet later on. What struck about Betsy was that she demonstrates motherly instincts. I know she will probably kill me when I mention this! :P She has roommates that, at times, would cause her to go completely insane because of their antics. Almost every day, I would have breakfast with her. And almost every day, she would boister why her friends are driving her mad. I did find humor in her rants, along with her displeasures about some of her English professors. I told myself, "Man, she is going to be a great mother someday." I appreciated her company because not only she was nice, kind, and attentive to me, but also tolerated my rants and complaints about life in the Department. If I saw someone, for example, conduct something stupid and moronic, the next day at breakfast, she helped me regain some of my intelligence back. If I have a longer, committed relationship, Betsy prepared me in absorbing all of the complaints and drama from the significant other. Leeanne Mancini is my favorite cheerleader of all-time! She helped me in changing my overall opinion about cheerleaders in general. Before I met her, I thought every cheerleader was stuck up, airheaded, and did every guy imaginable. I know that is mean, but thankfully, I do not think like a pompous jackass anymore. I was working in the laundry room during my senior year and dragged a bag of laundry along the floor. The weight room was adjacent to the laundry room, but I had to go through it to the women's locker room to drop off their laundry. Leeanne worked in the weight room and she smiled at me and I smiled back. After I dropped off the laundry, I introduced myself formally, even though she already knew me. We started talkin and enjoyed each other's company. From that day and on every Tuesday and Thursday, I would visit her in the weight room. What captivated me about her was her curly and free-flowing hair. Her smile went for miles and miles, and she greeted every person that she knew. Even if she did not, she will greet them anyway. She treated people with respect, an attribute I really admire in anyone. We shared some common interests, we both football and the Steelers. I really appreciate to have her as a friend because she also helped me in refining my listening skills. I think your listening skills are enhanced when you are listening to people that truly matter. I tell myself, "Boy, she would be a great girlfriend for a guy because she is caring, smart, fun, has a great sense of humor, and tries to not take life seriously." I knew we had a special friendship when I arrived the Wiley Stadium for a Prep Rally as part of Homecoming. She was on the sideline preparing for the routine with her cheerleading friends. She was shivering on the sideline, as the temperature dipped. As I saw her for the first time in few months, she warmed with glee. I looked down at her and she looked at me and I saw a sparkle in her eye. "Travis! You came! You came! I am so glad that you came!" I felt great to see her once again and the expression on her face made me feel great and bubbily inside.

11. Michelle Yackovich, Mount Pleasant Head Trainer and her Student Staff--Michelle was the head honcho, or honcha ( I think that is a word?). If I became dramatic or a worry wart, she would be the one to bring me back to Earth. I communicated to her what she needed on the equipment bus before every away game. If I did not, my head was hers. She's tough, somewhat imitidating, and does not take crap from anyone. If you gave the proper respect to her, she will return the favor. I might have lost my head if I did not have her to keep me in line. Her assistant trainers during my tenure kept me company during the road trips. Every single one of them demonstrated character and their maturity makes their beauty more complete. Michelle, do not listen to what Cecil says. The green golf cart is yours and always will be, if so not already.



10. Coach Mark Lyons--If you have read my first entry of ny blog, I showed much disdain for Coach Lyons. Lyons coached my high school team during my sophomore, junior, and senior years--compling a 8-23 record in that span. Coach Lyons did indeed put fear into his players eyes and made the football booster feel uneasy with his tyrantic demeanor. His "tough love" strengthened my skin. I tolerated it a lot, to the point where I wanted to throw the water bottles down and walk away. I did not. I did not because managing was my only gateway to be with the team and enjoy the sport, for free. Even though, I did not see firsthand Coach Lyons appreciated my commitment, I knew deep down he would become even more agitated if he did not have someone help him with the equipment. Coach Lyons may not have a lot of people on his side. His ruthless aggression towards me taught me that people will ride on you to get stuff accomplished. It is up to you to how to react to it and push through to get it done.



9. Coach Rick Shepas and Staff--Coach Rick Shepas became Waynesburg's football head coach in the Summer of 2005. His bald head can be seen a mile away (HAHAHAHA! :)). You might mistake him as Mr. Clean, but he is a teddy bear at heart. From my relationship with him, we developed a strong working relationship. He never declined for an interview. His answers were fresh and never stale. He understood and valued the role of the media. He cooperated with all the student media, and appreciated their efforts. He is a leader because he takes the time and energy in getting to know the players and their backgrounds. That is an attribute of a true coach. His staff is a branch from Coach Shepas, most notably, Jason Falvo. Coach Falvo was the first coach I met during my school visitation and convinced me to join the team as a student manager. Both, along with all the other members of the staff, invited me as Honorary Captain during Senior Day, to honor my dedication and commitment to the team. It is a day I will NEVER EVER forget and it felt really good to run through the sign and lead the team to the field!

8. Coach Dennis Miscik, Coach Dave Capozzi, and the rest of the Baseball Staff--A former minor league pitcher from the Houston Astros organization, Dennis Miscik coached the Mount Pleasant varsity team during my freshman, sophomore, and junior years. His knowledge and business-like demeanor was very essential to the team's success that produced playoff appearances in all three years. He was vital in teaching me the intracies of scoring a baseball game. His successor, Dave Capozzi, taught me to be emotional and love what you do, as he demonstrated those attributes while coaching. I have had both Coach Capozzi and Miscik as teachers and I appreciated their knowledge of baseball, their teachings, and their love for the game.

7. Scott Giacobbi, social studies instructor, basketball and football coach--He stands tall, black-haired, possesses a miltary-type physique. In fact, he did serve in the United States Army. His demeanor in the classroom was fierce, but fair. He demended your attention and cooperation, trademarks of a drill sargant. Mr. Giacobbi believed in me as a student, when I had the distinct pleasure of him as a teacher beginning in the eigth grade. His process was relatively simple: partcipate, ask questions, be attentive, and I will be fair to you, gradewise. I remember vividly of what he wrote in my quote book during my last day of senior high school, proceed and suceed. He was also influential in easing me into student managing, since I cannot play the sport of basketball worth a damn.

6. Bob Gumbita, US History instructor, defensive coordinator of football team--Plain and simple, Mr. Gumbita was a kid at heart. He kept the student body spiritually alive. At times, I thought he was one of us. But, when he needed to, he put on his teaching cap, and taught. He helped me unleash my spirit and love for the school, even though the majority of the body dispised it.

5. Andrea Tomer, a fellow colleague and ex--I met Andrea in person during a school visitation during my junior year. I represented the radio station at a booth and she was the only one that came to it. She's small in stature, about 4'11", but has a huge heart of gold. She has the attributes that I admire in a girl, kind, respect, hard-working, motivated, and sweet. I aided her, for the most part, in the transition from high school to college. I adviced her of everything that she needed to know, good or bad, about the Department of Communication from my prospective. She is one of the first people I mentored. We developed a strong bond for each other and eventually dated during my senior year. Unfortunately, our short and abrupt relationship halted due to our discrepandacy in age and in schedule demands. We still remain good friends and I talk to her when we are both available. She gave me the opportunity to scope what makes a woman tick. Andrea, I have no doubt that you will become the next Katie Couric. I hope you land with Fox News than with CBS.

4. Mark and Luke Payson, Dan Wozniak--This trio do live in the name of the Lord. They are all avid baseball fans and I had a great time reconnecting with them during Homecoming. They are genuine, kind, respectful, funny, and caring Mark and Luke helped me build a foundation on my understanding of the Bible. Mark has helped me in every possible form imaginable. He calls me occasionally to check out how am I doing. He guided me in survival in Intro to Philosophy, as he and Mark painstakingly prepared study notes for me to help comprehend the material. Mark and Luke, became my mentors, as I matured throughout my tenture at Waynesburg University. They made sure I succeeded as well-rounded individual and I became a model for others. Dan and I are good friends and former colleagues from the Department. We clicked because we are both loyal Pittsburgh Pirate fans and we shared the same frustrations the Department were going through. He taught me to keep at it with your aspirations and dreams. Your talent will soon be noticed, but it will take time and effort to reach that pinnacle. This trio's love for people is truely unmatched and thank them every day for their unconditional support.

3. Adam Smith--My best friend, sidekick, and roommate--I cannot even find an good adjective to describe Adam. I call him "Mini Me" because his short in stature both length and width wise, but we both possess an urge to succeed. We both overcame adversity and both connected in that respect. If you talk to other individuals from the University, he and I are synoymous with one another. Our thoughts are almost identical that it is scary! We became roommates during our sophomore year and the rest is history. I have never met anyone that can relate the struggles that I have gone through in order to be accepted. He had multiple heart surgeries and was a former Make-a-Wish kid. His perseverance, positive attitude, and 'Never Say Die" attitude made an impact on me and on others who have known him. Dude, after a few years of you complaining of how biased the Pittsburgh sports media is, I can concur.

2. Coach Tom Traynor, Bill Hurst, and Jim Beranek--These three coached the Mount Pleasant basketball team during my sophomore, junior, and senior years. They are my adopted grandfather, father, and uncle. Coach Traynor reminds me of the great Phil Jackson, an eight-time winning head coach of the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. An elderstateman of the trio, he possesses a smooth and tranquil demeanor, almost zenlike. His teachings on the court were so articulated that I stood in awe. But, when he needed to show his displeasure about a call, he did not hesitate. Coach Hurst is truly an awesome guy because he took the opportunity in getting to know me and my background. All three of the coaches protected me, but he protected me the most. He is the one that provided me motivation and guidance. To show his admiration, he invided me to his home and to two Pitt Panther games, a "Pack the Pedersen" game where I saw the UConn Huskies and a Senior Day game, Pitt versus Villanova. He also introduced me to Pitt Head Coach Jamie Dixon and Steelers Radio Play-by Play Announcer, Bill Hillgrove. I remember those experiences as if they happened yesterday. Coach Beranek is a guy that kept me in line during the basketball season. I was his right-hand man, as he coached the junior varsity team. He was also my chaffeur, as he tooked me to the high school gym and back home after each practice and game. Like Coach Hurst, he guided me and made sure I had my head on straight. He also helped to stay focused on my job and not "loaf". My basketball managing years are the most memorable because I accumulated a good number of friends from the team. Even though, we did not have the chance to experience the playoffs. The close game Mount Pleasant were invloved in had amazing playoff-like atmospheres.

The moment you have been waiting for. The number one most influential person/people is:


1. Professors Mark Perry and Richard Krause--Mark Perry, a forner radio personality from WMBI in Chicago, stetched my brain and intelligence to unimaginable heights. His course were arduous, rough, and sometimes frustrating, but his teachings made you appreciate the difficulty of the course. He demonstrates a thick Chicago accent, which his students loved to imitate, but he loved to teach. His passion is teaching. He never gave up on a student, unless you are not willing to work. I thought about switching my major during my sophomore year, but Mark helped me change my mind and stick it out. He believed in my potential abilities and influenced me in not to throw in the towel. His hiilarious antedotes about events that occurred in his life made his classes go a bit faster. His teaching style, I believe is award-winning caliber, and should be amulated by students. Professor Krause as a professor is hard-nosed, tough, and fast paced, like a newsroom for a newspaper. I developed my foundation of professionalism from him. He wore a dress shirt and a tie almost every day and his personal life was almost secrete. He was fair and balanced, as he preached that montra to us during his lessons. Professor Krause demonstrates the notion of professionalism in all aspects of the communication field. His endless newspaper experience have taught me how the newspaper industry operates, how to conduct professional interviews, and how to conduct good, quality newspaper articles utilizing AP style. I learned the craft of writing a fair-and-balanced newspaper article. Thanks, Mark and Professor Krause.




I hope you enjoyed my 12 most influential people. As I progress into my life and meet more interesting along the way, I am certain that this list will increase and change.