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his long day of troubleshooting. There are other things the public doesn't know. "I have tattoos," he laughs. "I enjoy Widespread Panic, I cheer for the Tar Heels when they aren't playing UofL, I pull for UK when they're not playing Louisville. I may not be the most sweet and sensitive person people know, but I think there is a nice side to me. I am however, not what people think – and I like that." We like that, too. Never knowing what side you're going to see is what keeps him approachable and unpredictable. Which, in turn, keeps him the best. He lives by the philosophy of keeping things fresh, because "when you're completely predictable, there is no reason to pay attention anymore," he concludes. And unpredictability is what put him on the map to begin with. On September 10, 2001, while vacationing in New York City, with a scheduled departure the next day, he woke up on September 11 to CNN images of the frst plane hitting the tower. Amidst the confusion, still thinking he was going to be back in North Carolina that evening to report on the 11 o'clock news, curiosity got the best of him and determination soon followed as he headed toward the scene of the commotion. During the cab ride down he found out it was a commercial plane. That's when he said he knew it was something big. But the cab driver wouldn't take him any closer at the risk of getting caught in the mayhem - he still owes that driver $15. He managed to catch the last train to the World Trade Center stop. With chaos running rampant, barricades were the NYPD's attempt to maintain order near the disaster. Flack's patriotic side wanted to get past; his journalism side needed to. Having worked for a CBS affliate, he spotted a fellow CBS colleague, Jon Frankle. Showing him his badge and making his way through the barricades he soon found himself in the hallowed chaotic site of Ground Zero. Never one to sit idly, he immediately started working on how to get this story out to the masses. Using his journalistic intuition he didn't hesitate for a moment. "I did what I knew best, I started reporting. I started calling into my newsroom in North Carolina and doing 'phoners'. People were huddling around cars listening to radios. That's when I heard about the plane hitting the Pentagon. That's when I knew we were under attack." Despite the emotional toll of the environment and eventually being separated from his fellow CBS correspondent, he remained focus on the job and bought disposable cameras to start shooting pictures. From there he talked himself into the Early Show headquarters asking if he could help in any way. At that time, the lowest ranking correspondent on the show Mika Brzezinski - who is now 30 T h e V o i c e o f L o u i s v i L L e | w w w. v o i c e - t r i b u n e . c o m fA L L 2 0 1 3