Joggler's Jottings

by Bill Giduz, editor

Davidson, North Carolina

Reporters love breaking news. It makes them reluctant to go to bed because they're afraid they'll miss something. it's downright exciting to realize you're on a sensational story, tracking a scent the public wants a whiff of.

Anthony Gatto is my breaking news story, the scoop that stirs my journalistic juices.

For about four years he was a quiet, developing story, practicing increasingly outlandish numbers of objects at a very young age in his dad's pipe shop between the glass display cases and racks of meerschaums. But recently his fame has begun to spread around the globe, and there's no end in sight.

He earned the respect and recognition of other jugglers by winning the Juniors Championships at the 1981 IJA Annual Convention in Cleveland. Within a year, he was seen by millions on That's Incredible. He returned to the IJA Annual Convention last summer to compete with the big people in the U.S. Nationals, and placed second only to a pro who has polished his act with more than ten years of practice.

Since then, Anthony's renown has snow­balled. He won a gold medal at a world circus championship and astonished packed houses of spectators at the Reno Hilton Hotel. He is currently performing with a prestigious circus in Australia.

All the elements of a good story are present. The answers to the 'five W's and how' all make for good copy in this case.

The 'who' becomes fantastic in light of the 'what.' There may never have been a better nine-year old juggler than Anthony. There are really two 'whos,' however. Anthony's story is based on that of his father, trainer, and mentor, Nick. With even measures of love and discipline, the former acrobat has been able to pass along a valuable gift to his son. Nick certainly had no idea that Anthony would be capable of carrying it so far.

The 'when' is now, meaning that you and I are here to observe and share his thrilling progress in person, rather than having to read it in a history book.

The 'where' is quintessentially American. Anthony first caught the juggle bug in a typical suburban home, rather than being trained in a performing arts school, gymnasium or under a circus tent. Once his genuine interest was established, the site switched to Nick's pipe shop in a typical American shopping mall. There, dad minded the store and coached Anthony along while passers-by gawked at the incongruity of the activity and the setting. Once a day, Anthony got a quarter from Nick to go next door and play the video games, at which he also has become highly skilled.

A good story always raises more questions than it answers. Indeed, hidden beneath the facts of this story lurk the unanswerable 'why' and 'how.'

Why Anthony? How does he do it? Why did the good Lord store so much talent in this particular, normal, unassuming little boy? How has Nick been able to maintain in Anthony the dedication needed to accomplish the feats we've seen so far?

If we all live and nothing happens, we will see the answer to the most interesting 'how' question. Every juggler who has ever watched Anthony sustain a five club or seven ball cascade has certainly wondered, 'How good will he get?'

Does seven balls at age nine portend ten or eleven in the future? There's every reason to hope at this point that Anthony may break the club, ring, and ball numbers records some day. If he does, his feat will be a triumph for all who watch him approach it during the coming years.

Whatever the outcome, the story will continue to captivate this journalist.

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