December 30, 2008

Top 5 Exciting Career Moments of 2008

The year 2008 will go down as a year of big changes for me. I left my first full time job to follow my fiance across the country. I covered sports I've never covered before, including ones that I had always dreamed about and ones I had ignored. Here are some of the highlights of a very special year in my career path.


5. Celebrating the Somerset Patriots' Championship


If being drenched in a shower of champagne and Bud Light doesn't sound like a good time, then sporting championships aren't your thing.


As a sports writer, you never want to become part of the story (unless its in a personal blog). So it was totally unexpected that the Patriots included me in their moment of glory. It was magical to be around such unadulterated joy.


4. Seeing my volleyball feature lead the sports section

As a data entry specialist for The Courier News and The Home News Tribune here in New Jersey, I figured my writing would take a back seat to the computer work I was hired to do. I accepted the job to work my way back into a newsroom -- to me, there is no other work environment like it.

When I was asked by a colleague and friend to write a Player of the Year feature for The Home News Tribune coverage area, I felt more than privileged. This was my shot to show my writing chops. But I never expected the article to lead the sports section!

On December 10, Maggie Kowalska of J. P. Stevens High School was the top volleyball player in central New Jersey, the top story of The Home News Tribune sports section, and an extremely proud moment in my career. An audience thousands greater than I had ever reached saw my name in the byline that Wednesday. I hope in 2009 there will be more opportunities to write for the publications.

3. Escorting the Danica Patrick - Milka Duno footage

Like I mentioned in a previous post, there is something truly exciting about seeing something you were a part of on national television. It's why people wave at cameras and scream when they see themselves on the Jumbotron.

Escorting the "cat fight" footage at the Mid-Ohio race in July made me feel important, a part of the team. And it was work that other people recognized. No, I did not shoot nor edit the footage. But I did make sure it and the people accompanying it reached the people who did the important stuff safely and timely.

Sometimes it's the little things.

2. Riding in an elevator with Chris Drury

As a member of the sports media, professionalism is not only expected, its demanded. Being black listed in a press box is easier than falling off a log. In fact, if you fell off a log, you would be black listed (even if only at the Outdoor Games).

It took all of my wits to remain calm and not turn into a puddle of inglorious fandom when Chris Drury of the New York Rangers walked into the elevator after me at my very first NHL game as a reporter.

Drury was drafted by and starred for my beloved Colorado Avalanche before becoming a highly coveted free agent a few seasons ago. He scored the overtime-game-winning goal against Dallas in the Western Conference Finals on my 14th birthday. Yeah, I like Chris Drury.

Since it was a pre-season match up, Drury was not scheduled to play. I couldn't believe he was standing in front of me, in a fantastic suit, holding the hand of a very young Rangers fan I would believe to be his son.

I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. And it was better that way, because what athlete would really want to know that he scored the game winning goal the night of some reporter's 14th birthday (and that was all the verbal diarrhea that assembled in my head at that moment).

Covering the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden is exciting in its own right. But being face-to-face with one of your favorite athletes makes that evening one of the most special events I've ever covered.

Who said pre-season isn't fun?!

1. Being asked to work at Watkins Glen

As a little girl, I recall staying up late to watch Sportscenter on mute so my parents wouldn't know. I was obsessed with the catchy phrases the anchors would use. My high school basketball teammates couldn't stand my regurgitation of any and all ESPN slang, therefore relegating me to the end of the bench.

I have wanted to work for ESPN as long as I can remember. And July 2nd, my chance came.

I'll never forget the feeling of reading the e-mail asking to call the production coordinator about helping out that weekend. A good friend had put in a good word for me, and there was the result, glowing white and black typeface on my laptop.

All holiday plans ceased, googling of the Finger Lakes region commenced, and my IndyCar knowledge came into existence withing a matter of hours. But first came the celebrating.

"Ohmygodohmygodohmygod," and "Nowaynowaynoway," and "AAAHHHHHHHH," were common sounds escaping from my beaming mouth on my twirling, jumping body. Joy. Utter joy. Redemption. Success. Achievement. These are the feelings that I will forever associate with that simple e-mail.

This past year was a lot of ups and downs personally and professionally. The good news is, I'm in a very good place for 2009 to be even better. I plan on making it that way.

Happy New Year.