Roger Millions

Posted on April 20, 2009

I have been pounding into my students at the College of Sports Media, that you never use foul language in the studio or around a live mike. One day you’ll get burned. Sportsnets Roger Millions provided an excellent example last week. And my heart goes out to him. In what the electronic media calls a “look live” Roger fed an on camera standup from Chicago to Toronto about two hours before the show it was intended for. During one of his standups, he uttered an obscenity, dealing with male oral sex. Use your imagination. It obviously wasn’t supposed to be used. But once the tape was taken in back at the studios in Toronto, communication broke down. The offending standup made it to air. Who is responsible? Well there’s plenty of blame to go around. First of all Roger should have known better, but he didn’t do what countless others have done in the past. Of course I have. Secondly, the broadcast associate, who took in the feed should have “red flagged” the offending take. Thirdly, the editor should never have cut it in the first place and last but not least, there’s the producer. The producer of the show is responsible for everything that goes to air. In my humble opining, Roger should be suspended. The B.A., editor, and producer should all be fired. Simple as that.
What happened last week is simply inexcusable, and indefensible.

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Teaching

Posted on April 13, 2009

I’ve had the privilege of teaching for the past 15 months at the College of Sports Media. It’s a school that is training young men and women for a life in the world of television and radio sports. I teach on the T.V. side everything from writing to presentation, hosting and anchoring. Stuff that I continue to do for various companies.
I have to admit I was very nervous when I started this job. I didn’t know wether or not I would like it, or if I’d have the patience to do it. But it has turned into one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. To work with dedicated people who want to be in the sports media, and to see them improve on a regular basis, is a payoff like no other. I am currently working with about 60 students ranging in age from 18 to 45. Yes I did say 45. The most common reason for wanting to be a sportscaster? “It’s always been a dream” is a common refrain.
Ninety five percent of the students are dedicated, and hard working. The other five, well lets just say they have a sense of entitlement. They feel that they can show up periodically, and because they pay the money to be here, they’ll graduate, get a job, and make millions. Are they in for a surprise! But I think that is the nature of many of todays young people. Thankfully they are in the minority, and hopefully will have no effect on the industry going forward.
These are difficult times to be in the media, with consolidation and downsizing, but the industry will always have room for talented people. Let’s hope some of them graduate from the College of Sports Media.