34. Turning the Tables on the Media with Emmy Award Winner Randy McIlvoy
Randy McIlvoy, Sports Director and anchor of KPRC 2 Television in Houston, is Laura’s very special guest on the podcast this week. A four-time Emmy winner, Randy has received numerous additional nominations, as well as honors from the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Association. He and Laura have known each other for quite some time, but this is the first time that she has had the opportunity to turn the tables and be the one to interview this celebrated interviewer.
Randy begins by sharing his own history in sports, his development into sports reporting, and his tips for athletes who are interested in doing so themselves. He then discusses many aspects of his job including the most important character trait for it, the most difficult aspect to it, the importance of establishing relationships, and his advice for athletes preparing for interviews. Randy also reviews some of his most memorable moments in his job over the years, and offers his perspective on the sport that has transformed the most, the quality he feels elite athletes share, how COVID has impacted his work, and the sporting events he would like to cover that he hasn’t yet. The mutual respect between these two remarkably successful individuals is palpable during this conversation that is as comfortable as it is revealing, providing a behind the scenes glimpse into the world of sports reporting and the joy that can be found in making your passion your occupation.
Episode Highlights:
· Randy’s history in sports
· His development into a sports reporter
· Randy’s tips for athletes wanting to get into reporting
· The most important character trait for his work
· The most difficult aspect of Randy’s job
· The importance of developing relationships
· Advice for athletes preparing for interviews
· His favorite sport and game he’s covered
· Keeping viewers excited
· Randy’s memorable stories
· His play-by-play experience
· Interviews that made Randy nervous
· The quality he feels elite athletes share
· What has surprised him the most in interviews
· The sport he believes has transformed the most and become the most competitive over the years
· The ‘Tiger Factor’
· How COVID has changed covering sports
· The sporting events that Randy would still like to cover in person
Quotes:
“My dream was to play college baseball.”
“Breaking into TV, you know, I would have been willing to do whatever…I wanted to cover sports, I wanted to tell stories.”
“You’ve got to have a skillset that’s a little broader now that can kind of separate yourself from others trying to get after these jobs.”
“You can’t just sit back and let it come to you…you’ve got to grind. You’ve got to always look to improve what you’re doing.”
“You could easily let this job that we do, this profession, kind of consume you if you don’t find a balance.”
“Act like the camera’s not there.”
“Just have a conversation with the person asking the question.”
“You do know we just witnessed one of the greatest all time moments in college football history, right?
“It can get monotonous if you let it…you’ve got to go find stories.”
“You’re constantly in the planning stages.”
“I almost drove off the road.”
“You seem to experience everything with the athletes.”
“I’ve got to act like I’ve been here before.”
“You’ve got to be committed to what you’re doing.”
“You’ve got college golfers that come out and are just lighting it up.”
“The athletes were becoming a bit of the reporter for you.”
“You miss the contact, that’s what you miss. You miss the face-to-face stuff with them.”
“The Olympic Games would be cool to cover.”
Links:
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
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References:
8. Celebrating the Olympic Games with broadcaster Ted Robinson
Given that today marks what should have been the fifth day of competition at the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, Laura welcomes to the podcast the broadcaster who has covered a total of eleven Summer and Winter Olympics, Ted Robinson. In addition to his extensive experience with the Olympics, Ted has, among other roles, been the radio voice for the San Francisco 49ers, and covered tennis from the U.S. Open to Wimbledon for three decades. Today’s conversation is a fascinating and entertaining one which honors the Games that everyone had hoped for this summer, and now excitedly look forward to next summer.
Ted shares both how he started in broadcasting and his vast experience in the field. He discusses the athlete who has had the greatest impact upon him, looks at the mindset of a defending Olympic champion, and relates some memories of his most unexpected Olympic moments. He also offers his perspective on the most common trait found in the most successful athletes, details the reasons why he continues to call sports, relates some of the crazier Olympic moments he has encountered, and explores just what makes good sports drama. You can hear the passion in his voice as he shares his remarkable experience and insight with Laura, and you will undoubtedly come away with the same high degree of respect for Ted Robinson that he and Laura so clearly have for each other.
Episode Highlights:
Ted’s broadcasting career and how it started
His experiences with being asked to call sports with which he was unfamiliar
The most impactful athlete for Ted
The significance of David Boudia’s gold medal moment
The mindset of a defending Olympic champion
Ted’s memories of unexpected Olympics moments
The profound nature of being able to compete for your own country
Ted’s perspective on the quality that is common to all of the greatest athletes
Apolo Ohno’s perfect race
What keeps Ted calling sports and what he has learned over his many years of covering individual Olympic sports
Some of Ted’s crazier Olympic memories
His perspective on what makes for good sports drama
The events Ted would like to call that he hasn’t already
A fascinating fact about Ted
Quotes:
“I was completely channeled from age 17 on to do what I am still doing into my early 60’s now.”
“There are Olympic sports, and there are sports in the Olympics.”
“Suddenly, you understand the formula, you lose your fear…you’ll handle it…it helps your employment greatly.”
“I’m going to work the Olympic games until I’m disinvited.”
“In that moment you realize that all these things you have done are not just for you, it’s, like, for your country.”
“The ability to be ready for the moment.”
“As soon as…the competition starts, I love it, I love it, and that’s what keeps you going.”
“Crazy things happen in the Olympics – good and bad.”
“We were lectured very sternly by NBC going to Athens that we were really not supposed to wear things that identified us as Americans. I purchased Canadian t-shirts.”
“When you understand that the lights are at their brightest and you still see an athlete perform – that’s the moment…that’s what you come back for.”
Links:
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