Broadcasting Face To Face

Teenagers these days don't hang out with each other.  Rather, they stay home and talk virtually through their smart phones and devices.

A mother recently told me this about her teenage daughter.  Aside from being quite scary, this also gives us a great insight into he psyche of the younger generation of professionals, and broadcasters.

Technology is a terrific way to create, build and expand your brand as a broadcast professional.  Sports broadcasters are able to network and share like never before.  This is not just a good thing, but a GREAT thing for building your broadcasting career!

Don't think for a moment, however, that you can lay at home on the couch and "virtually" network your way to the sports broadcasting career of your dreams.  For this, you'll still need good old-fashioned people skills.  You know, those communications abilities you paid the school tens of thousands for.  Just ask our friend, Dan Miller.  His advice for landing that dream job is priceless. 

New technological advances are wonderful for building and growing your sportscasting business, but don't be fooled into believing this alone is enough.  You still must get out there and make it happen.  And that means flipping off the phone and getting out there with real people.
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Cat Attacks The Closer

Minor league baseball life is not glamorous at all.  At least most of the time.  As a result, minor league broadcasters often find humor in the smallest things.  You are in a season-long bubble and trivial events can seem SOOO important.

  

One such story involves a minor league team’s closer, who spoke often of how he was being groomed to be the eventual big league closer.  He was riding buses in the Bush Leagues simply until the time was right for him to assume his role in the Major Leagues.  Just ask him – or not – and he’d tell you.  He was a good guy with a jovial nature. 

    

I recall one late-night stop after a road game.  The team was hungry after playing a game, and the bus pulled to the side of the road, between a half-rate fast food joint and a convenience store.  Those are your options boys.

Half of the weary team ambled into the convenience store.  After about 30 minutes, most of the players were safely back in their seat on the bus, ready for the long trip ahead.  All the players except one.

A few minutes later the door to the convenience store popped open and out darted a stray cat, which darted across the street and into the darkness.  A moment later, the team’s closer slowly stepped out and up into the bus.  The right sleeve of his multicolored summer shirt was ripped, nearly torn from his torso.  He looked as if he’d been involved in a bar fight.  The team erupted in laughter.

“I found this cat in the store,” he explained  “I tried to rescue it and get it home safely, but while I was cornering the cat near the chips I caught my shirt on the rack and ripped this huge hole!” 

 

Although a bit sore, the team’s closer was back on the mound the next day.  Even more ridiculous than that....inside the Groundhog Day of minor league baseball, this was a big deal to us.
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Pimping The Home Run

Pimpin ain't easy....unless you are a baseball slugger.

Late one night in the 90's, a professional hitting coach explained to me what it means to "pimp a home run".  We stood in a sports bar, watching a bank of televisions, as he explained that "pimping" is simply showboating after connecting on a round-tripper.  "Pimping" is hitting the home run and then going through a rehearsed, choreographed mini-dance or routine, he said.

"Pimping" was made popular on TV during the 90's, by guys such as Sammy Sosa, who did the leap across home plate.  Barry Bonds would drop the bat and stare, as he took a few slow, pronounced steps toward first base.  Jeffrey Leonard rounded the bases with "one flap down" as his left arm hung limp.

Perhaps the best long-ball pimper of the era was Rickey Henderson, who would do a quick two-step and give a quick tug at the chest of his jersey.  The coach even shared that he would attend Rickey's "pimping practice" sessions back in Oakland, where Henderson would "teach" young players a series of "pimp moves".  In fact, Henderson had so many he had to name them...routine number one, routine number two, etc.

As the coach explained this to me, he glanced casually up at a TV showing a home run during the evening baseball highlight show.  "See, that's a number two," he quipped, matter-of-factly.

In honor of the great Rickey Henderson, we'd like to share this over-the-top, unbelievable act of pimping a home run....enjoy!

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You Are Hired!

Want to find that perfect job in sports broadcasting?  Here are some outstanding thoughts from our friend, Dan Miller.  Very relevant, don't miss this stuff.

"You're Hired!"   
      
Here are some interesting stats from the July/August issue of INC magazine.  The questions and comments are Dan Miller's.

New jobs in April – 119,000

Who did the hiring:

• Companies with fewer than 50 employees – 49%
• Companies with 50-499 employees – 48%
• Companies with 500 or more employees – 3%

Question:  Why do job-seekers continue to make companies like Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, IBM, Facebook, Wal-Mart, General Motors and UPS their prime targets?
You increase your odds dramatically by targeting smaller companies.

What 2012 college graduates say the top priorities are when looking for a job:

• Job Security – 33%
• Salary – 23%
• Health Care and other Benefits – 23%
• Company Culture and Perks – 18%
• Company Size – 3%

Question:  Are you kidding me?  Job security is #1??   Haven’t you seen what happened to your Mom and Dad?  You’d better be looking for a place where you can refine your skills and show your value.  But your job isn’t going to have “security” and guaranteed “salary.”

If you really want those – start your own business.  72% of college students now say they want to start their own business.  Companies are gun-shy about investing training in someone who isn’t going to be there 18 months from now.  “Security” goes both ways.

Portion of employers that have rejected a job candidate because of that person’s social-media activity – 34%.

Top 4 reasons those candidates weren’t hired:

• They posted inappropriate photos or information
• There was evidence of drinking or drug use
• They had poor communication skills
• They badmouthed a previous employer

Question:  Most companies will Google you before they look at your resume.  Are you comfortable with your “online” resume?

Creativity will do more to open the doors for you to be considered than a stellar resume.  What have you done that shows you to be “remarkable” in your job search?

Dan Miller, President of 48 Days LLC, specializes in creative thinking for increased personal and business success. He believes that meaningful work blends our natural skills and abilities, our unique personality traits and our dreams and passions. Dan is active in helping individuals redirect careers, evaluate new income sources, and achieve balanced living. He believes that a clear sense of direction can help us become all that God designed us to be.

You can get free job resources by going to  http://www.48days.com/store/?ap_id=sportscastersclub

Tenure In The Outfield

Baseball is known for its colorful characters and hilarious moments.  Where fact meets fiction, sometimes it’s hard to tell.

Take, for example, one of baseball's best players of all-time.

The story goes that one day, while riding on the team bus to the ballpark, this baseball immortal overheard a teammate discussing longevity in the game and retirement with a young rookie.

Ask he inched closer, the rookie asked him, 

“Hey, you’ve got tenure, right?”

“Ten years?” The star shot back quickly. “I've got twenty years in the big leagues!”

Care to guess who that was?

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Why We Miss Ernie Harwell

Ernie Harwell was a gem of a man.  An accomplished poet, inventor, musician, devoted family man, Christian, mentor…..and yes, a pretty good baseball broadcaster as well.  4 years after he passed away, we miss him today as much as ever.

I covered a lot of ballgames in the mid-90’s, as a 20-year-old college broadcaster at WFUV Radio at New York’s Fordham University.  I’d take the D Train from Fordham Road down to Yankee Stadium, catch a pre-game meal, take in batting practice on the field, watch the game and then collect interviews for use on air.  For a college-aged sports fan, there was nothing better.

During one of my first assignments, I sat in the Press Lounge, preparing to eat my breakfast before the Yankees’ 1:00 game a few hours later.  As I jabbed my fork into my scrambled eggs, a hand tapped my table and a gentle voice asked,

“Would it be okay if I sit and eat with you?”  It was Ernie Harwell.

I contained my shock and excitement long enough to invite him to sit and join me.

Over the next half hour he shared a lot – tales, advice, insight and perspective on the sports broadcasting industry.   Much like the great Marty Glickman, he seemed intent on learning my story and sharing his willingness to help.  We had a great breakfast and he even passed me his phone number, in case I needed a tape critiqued in the future.  Did I?  You bet I did.

Later that season, while broadcasting in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays farm system, I sent Ernie a tape and asked for his thoughts.  Soon thereafter we spoke at length on the phone, and he laid out some concrete, real-world ways I could improve.  He ended the call by saying, “Rick, just keep on keeping on!”

Today I counsel young sportscasters, and one main theme I constantly try to drill into their head is to take every opportunity to learn from a successful mentor.  Ask for insight and most of the time they will provide it to you.

In a day where much of our sportscasting culture is wrapped up around ego-boosting soundbytes, catch-phrases and clichés, its refreshing to think back to a man who was never too big to give back.  

We all miss Ernie Harwell much more than we realize.

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How Badly Do You Want Your Broadcasting Dream?

"You will never reach your goal in Sports Broadcasting."

You've probably heard that phrase about a dozen times, at least if you've been pursuing a career in the industry for a least five minutes.

I recently received an email from a despondent broadcast professional who was wondering when he'd get his big break.  My advice to him was that he would get his big break, provided he was willing to struggle, sacrifice and push through until that day arrived.

Some get the big break sooner than later.  Some broadcasters simply get to a point where the dream doesn't justify the sacrifice.  A great majority of broadcasters tailor their "dream" to create their own breaks and make it fit into their new career framework.

Broadcasters understand exactly what I mean.  For most sportscasters, the days are usually long and hard before one reaches higher levels of success.

For this reason, you need to determine the true "WHY" behind your career aspirations.  Once you do, you need some kind of roadmap to keep you on target to reach your full potential.


These are two books that have been extremely influential and helpful for countless professionals across all industries.  Whether you are struggling through the minor leagues or on top of the world, I'm sure they will help you too.

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success

The Most Difficult Sport To Broadcast

“Baseball is the most difficult sport to broadcast.  I can't believe how tough it is to call a baseball game!”

I hear that all the time....and I couldn't disagree more.

I usually counter by saying, “Yes, but only if you don’t prepare.”

My belief is that, with rigorous and thorough preparation, baseball is the easiest and most enjoyable game to broadcast.  Specifically on radio, calling a baseball game is roughly 10 percent action and 90 percent fill.  No preparation, no fill.  No fill and you are done.

For this reason I’ve always felt I am in complete control over how my baseball broadcast evolves.  Sure I cannot control the action, but I can prepare myself to make the most of the subsequent downtime.

On the other end of the spectrum, hockey, basketball and football present a broadcaster with a much higher percentage of action, compared to down time.  Not that I would advise just showing up and mailing it in, but with hockey or basketball you may, on occasion, be able to wing it.  Baseball offers no such luxury.

I’ve always ranked the four major sports, in order of radio broadcasting difficulty, as hockey, basketball, football and baseball.  They each require unique broadcasting competencies and skills.  No two sports are the same.

How would you rank the most difficult sports to broadcast?

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