How's that feel? Ever wondered what it's like to run over a catcher … miss free throws with a ticket to the Big Dance on the line … be trapped in a steel oven for three hours? Of course you have; so have we. So we asked the people who know to tell you about those experiences—and many more—in our third annual "How's that feel?" issue

Sporting News, The, August 5, 2005

... to have YOUR NAME turned into a verb?

By Kevin Pittsnogle

West Virginia senior center

People have made fun of my name since I was little. I would get, "Hey, Pitts" or "What's up, Pittsnoodle?" or kids would just call me random things. But it would always have something to do with my crazy last name. I don't think I've ever been called Kevin. It never really bothered me, though. I don't really get embarrassed by much.

I was sitting at home watching SportsCenter one night and I see this guy holding up a sign, and it read: "You've been Pittsnogled." I just started laughing. People have been ripping on my name for as long as I can remember, but to see it on TV? It was wild, and it just sort of grew from there.

The next thing I knew, my name was everywhere. At the beginning of the year, when I wasn't even starting, I never would have imagined my name becoming the catchphrase of the NCAA Tournament.

... to play hockey in EUROPE

By Marty Turco

Stars goalie

The biggest difference between the NHL and the Swedish Elite League was the travel. Instead of going the night before, you take a four-hour bus ride the day of the game. And there aren't all the perks of the NHL, like someone carrying your stuff and having everything you need waiting for you at your locker when you get to the arena. But that's not a big deal.

The adjustment to life in Stockholm wasn't that difficult either. It was a big city, a really interesting city, and easy to navigate. And communicating wasn't a problem. It's not like when European players come to the U.S. and everybody only speaks English. They'd prefer to speak Swedish in Stockholm, but everybody can-and will--speak English.

Well, the coach spoke in Swedish, but I don't listen to coaches anyway.

... to catch a KNUCKLEBALL?

By Doug Mirabelli

Red Sox catcher

For me, the frustrating part is embarrassing myself.

Last year, there were a couple of times when Tim Wakefield was so good and the ball was moving so much, I just couldn't catch it. It's frustrating because you're chasing the ball all the time. And I feel bad because maybe it's a strike three, yet now there's somebody on first base because I missed the ball.

The people in the stands don't realize how much that ball is moving late. So they don't understand. They just see you missing the ball and think, "Come on, catch the ball!" Believe me, there is nothing more I'd rather do than catch that ball.

There are times when the ball moves so much and I do catch it, but I don't think I've caught it and I start running to the backstop. Then I look in my glove and realize I caught it. Because there are men on base, it's scary for a second, but then I'm so happy when I look in the glove and it's there.

A lot of times, the ball will break three different times before it gets to me. That's when he's really got a good one. That's why I can't be reaching for it too early and have it break at the last second. I've got to catch it on that last break, catch it somewhere close to my body.

When I do catch it, I don't really feel anything. It doesn't come in hard enough, and I use a big glove--a fast-pitch softball mitt. So the feel of it is actually lighter than with a normal pitcher. It just kind of goes in there and sticks.