A note on enthusiasm

The person who is your media contact at a game isn’t often dressed as a Taco and armed with a bullhorn throughout that game. But Tyler Zickel, Lake Elsinore Storm Assistant Director of Marketing/Digital Media Coordinator is something of an exception.

Enthusiasm is something that is appealing to me. When it’s done right and genuinely, enthusiasm is contagious. People who have real, unbridled enthusiasm are people who always have my respect.

Taco, mask, and bullhorn. How can you not get pumped? By Owen Main

On Tuesday, I was supposed to find Zickel at the game to set-up a post-game interview. I ducked my head into the operations room near the press box and asked where I could find him.

“Have you been watching the game?” asked a Storm employee.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Have you seen the guy dressed as a taco?”

“Wait, THAT’S Tyler?”

Zickel has enthusiasm. He’s the kind of person whose college probably begged to give tours of their campus. On Tuesday night, he had a microphone, was dressed as a taco, and probably directly engaged each of the 1500 fans at Lake Elsinore Stadium at least once or twice. He managed the honorary first pitch. He made sure the kids there had the giveaways. He made sure the veterans at the stadium were honored, and he led a 9th-inning rally chant with a bullhorn.

Tyler Zickel is all high-5’s and smiles for Lake Elsinore.

He even found time to take a selfie with me and make sure I got my interview after 3 1/2 hours of being “on stage.”

As I walked with him to the locker room ten minutes later, Zickel waves at the last remaining fans making their way to the exit. His smile is as big as it was in the first inning, despite the taco costume surely not being quite as fresh — game time temperature was around 90 degrees.

“Thanks for coming out! See you tomorrow!” he chirps cheerfully to the fans, who seem to know him by name.

Yes he will see them tomorrow, and everyone will be happier for it.

Much respect.