First off, what have you been working on lately – where can fans find you and your work and what;’s next?
My primary ESPN job is SportsCenter. 11 PM Eastern time. I went to ESPN in September 2019 hoping to make the transition to a play-by-play broadcaster. I would like to still make that transition. But I love doing SportsCenter and doing the show and it is the highlight of my day.
I spoke to Vito Stellino recently who talked about how the fun of covering sports has diminished for him – it being so hard to really get one on one time to get to know athletes. Basically, that now it’s all about the press conference. Do you feel the same way? How do you cut through that to really get to know athletes today?
I can understand that sentiment. At least when it comes to hockey, I’ve been able to cultivate and maintain lots of relationships in the game so I can get plenty of on-on-one time with players and coaches. That’s probably the product of my position in the company I work for, I admit. Part of it is also income and class. There was a time athletes and journalists probably made similar money. Or at least in the same neighborhood. Now obviously that is not the case. Money and status has become the primary value in America. That is not a good thing.
As a Pittsburgh guy, how have those “Pittsburgh roots” helped you in your media career? What about growing up in Pittsburgh helped shape your approach to covering spots?
Being born and raised in the Pittsburgh area taught me to be a grinder. One respects authority and one is a perfectionist with no excuses. That can make for a difficult existence at times. We blame ourselves a lot. But we still prefer to live that way because we believe it will bring out the best of us in the end and it will help others in the end. There is no place I would rather be from. It truly is special and creates a different breed of people filled with genuine kindness. A different kind of kindness.
Who helped mentor you early on and shaped your approach to the way you cover sports? and how? Any Pittsburgh influences there?
Pittsburgh was a great market for a young kid like me dreaming of becoming a broadcaster. The personalities of Bob Prince And Myron Cope; understanding it’s entertainment and fun first. Jack Fleming was a national network quality announcer who did the Steelers games On the radio when I was a kid. The seriousness of Sam Nover and treating the craft with concentration and attention. The irreverence of John Steigerwald and how he covered the game with ease and cynicism. And even recently Paul Steigerwald, with the Penguins, who evoked a love, commitment, and attention to detail which is right up my alley.
From your perspective, how has social media impacted sports coverage today? How has it affected the way sports journalists cover athletes when they can brand and get their own stories out on their own?
Social media has made people more narcissistic and self important. It certainly has weakened the media member. But change is inevitable in life and we must figure out and change with it. Journalists must learn to connect with athletes differently. I think it likely has always been a smart thing to do, figuring out ways you can connect with the athletes as they get younger and younger. It can be done. I continually connect with young athletes despite my advancing age of 54.
In tandem with social media is the increasing intersection of sports and politics. Is the “newness” of this exaggerated, and from your perceptive, is this long-term good or bad for sports, and why?
I think there is definitely a more political and sports intersection. I think many in the media do it just to belong to the “cool” group and perhaps they think it helps job security. I wonder about their true convictions. Social media is largely shallow, reactive, and tribal. Three things I despise. I don’t know if it’s good or bad for sports. Things will heat up and cool down in all aspects of life and I imagine in the end the competition and the games will win out.
Who are some of the athletes you’ve come to appreciate most over the years, and why?
I appreciate the thoughtful, competitive, and tough athletes. And I love the athletes who are able to talk about those emotional, interesting moments. Joe Greene, Andy Russell, Dwight White on those NFL Network’s “America’s Game” are mesmerizing to me. When any Steelers Super Bowl film is on “America’s Game”, I never turn it off. Pittsburgh Steelers content grabs me like nothing else in sports. They are the only team I get nervous watching. All the other sports have faded away.
What stories you’ve covered ave impacted you most – been the hardest or most memorable for you to cover, and why?
What we do is not very difficult. It’s just sports. Before I got to ESPN I worked in Rhode Island and our local Little League team made the Little League World Series. I thought we would be there for a day or two and then they would lose and we would go home. They ended up making it to the finals, that was a really cool experience. I like the small and intimate and heartfelt community based experiences. The games and the job for me is about heart and competitiveness and fun.
You sit on the advisory board for You Can Play, a campaign dedicated to fighting homophobia in sports. Do you think things have gotten any easier for the LGBTQ+ community in sports? Why/why not?
Yes, I do. Maybe there are people out there who are extreme bigots and homophobes but I really do believe they are in a very small minority. Maybe I’m too much of an optimist but I’ve never come across anyone who cares. Why would that matter? How does it relate to your job? People respect craftsmanship or at least they should. That’s the ideal aspect of humanity I suppose. Learning to love and respect the craftsmanship in each person no matter their endeavor.
As a media personality who has seen/experienced a lot at the highest levels, what advice would you give young sports journalists trying to enter the field today?
Stay current. Embrace change. Pay attention to the details. Connect with peoples’ emotions. Love everybody’s culture. Don’t judge. Forgive. Be careful with your words. Look for the best in everybody. Try to stay ahead of the technology curve which is exponential. Patience, after love, is the most important word.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
