Logging Extra Hours and Work

This week, the show was pushed back to midnight, due to the Habs game and post-game coverage. The regular host Matthew Ross wasn't in this week, so with Moe Khan filling in for him, I got to play an even bigger role in the show. I was heavily involved in prep work and putting together a run-sheet for the two-hour show. As the Habs game was going on, I was cutting clips from the game to be sure they were ready for use during the show. I also looked at a lot of Super Bowl news. As we were covering media day of the Super Bowl, there was a lot of stories to follow. There were allegations against Ray Lewis for taking a form of performance enhancing drugs, so I had to be quite diligent in my research to ensure I didn't get any facts wrong, or make him out to be guilty of that. I went by what a report from Sports Illustrated said, but I made sure to attribute anything they had on the story. I also got to do my weekly top 10 list, as well as looking up interesting prop bets for the Super Bowl. Given the station's affiliation with mise-o-jeu and other sports gambling sites, we had to come at the Super Bowl in that way for a little while. That was probably the most fun part of the show, as I got to do some lighter research for that. The main challenge of this show was helping assemble the run-sheet and ensuring that the producer was up to date on all scoring changes in hockey and basketball games, as well as keeping an eye on injuries from any of the games. The fact that we were one less than usual put a little more responsibility on me, which I was happy to take on and help out. I feel like I'm getting some valuable experience and am very appreciative of being given airtime. It's one thing to just be an intern, but it feels especially good to feel I'm a part of the show and can contribute in my own way. This Sunday will be a Super Bowl post game show, so I'm very much looking forward to that show.

Tweet 10 Reasons PK Subban Signed

First Taste of Habs Postgame Coverage

With a new NHL season having started, there is a lot more work to be done at the station. It requires more production work, which I assisted in yesterday. I had to grab clips from the game and from the news conference following the game with Michel Therrien. We needed some clips for the show, so I had to help out in preparing for the show in that way. I'm getting a little more responsibility in the production department, so that will be something I'll have to prepare for in the coming weeks. As for my creative aspect, I did my weekly Top 10 list, which was the top 10 PK Subban contract demands. Again, this is just a chance for me to test my creative side and get some practice on air and show my sense of humor. It's a great quality to have in radio and connect with the listeners. On the program, we had a sports journalist named John Hoven from Los Angeles. In Matthew's interview with him on air, he went into his coverage of the Kings and how he earned his name in LA. He had him on the program in the past, but he did a good job in giving the listeners some background on him and letting them appreciate his expertise. As for me, I had my usual research work to do, looking up stats, and cutting clips for the show's website. I also got to give live in-game updates for scores around the NHL and the NBA. The real challenge is to give score after score, changing the way you give the score to keep the update interesting. It tests your way with words and how you project to the listeners. It requires some thinking on the fly as well, to throw in a comment or two for each score. This Sunday, there is no show, due to the Habs game taking place during the show's usual slot time. I will be there on an extended shift Tuesday to help with the Habs game after that. I look forward to it.

Tweet 10 PK Subban Contract Demands

Tricks in Radio

Last night, I had to do some of the less glamorous tasks of an intern. As the show had many callers, I had to help with answering the phones. It was understandable, as it was a very busy show. One thing I did pick up on and which I quite liked was Matthew letting two callers with very different opinions get on the line at the same time. I thought it made for interesting radio, as both callers had strong opinions. We even got compliments from other listeners who liked the fact that the host and producer did that. It's a good learning experience for me to see that, because in this age of radio, you have to be really creative and look for ways to make your show stand out. There isn't much room for error with the jobs in radio being reduced. I also had to do a little more research on the fly, as there were so many debates/arguments over certain facts throughout the show, so I had to be really quick in looking up the facts and figures that were needed. I also got to break a story, as the Sacramento Kings were sold to a Seattle-based group with intention to relocate. Obviously, I took it from the internet, but it felt good to get to the story first and break it myself to the host, Matthew. It shows that I'm constantly working throughout the show, no matter what my role in a segment is. The main segment I got to participate in was when we recapped the pair of NFL games yesterday and started to give an early forecast of the Super Bowl, i.e which story lines to watch, the lines and an early prediction. I usually help in the NFL segments the most, as Habs segments are usually filled with callers. All in all, it was a solid shift and I look forward to the next one.

NFL Preview to Super Bowl XLVII

Chasing a Scoop

Last night at TSN Radio 690 provided a good example of looking for a break in a big story. Throughout the show last night, myself, Matthew and Moe Khan were scouring the internet, while Matthew and Moe were in contact with their sources to see if Marc Trestman was indeed leaving for the NFL. Some reports were tweeted and pulled. I found that they showed great restraint from reporting something that wasn't yet confirmed. In fact the news wasn't confirmed until 2 am, but unfortunately the show was already over. Still, it's a good example of seeing someone look for a development in a big story, while still doing their job and hosting. Once again, I found they showed responsibility in not reporting it until it had some merit. Too often, sportscasters just throw any report out there, without trying to verify it, in sacrifice for 'the scoop', but I'm glad I learned that there's a way to look for a story while being responsible. I feel it was a valuable lesson for me. As for myself, my job was to look for reports throughout the net about Marc Trestman and do my part in searching for news with the story. I also helped in the sports updates, informing the producer of news and scores throughout the night. I got to do my Tweet 10 list again. It was a lot of fun and challenging for me. Following the show, I posted the segments from the show on the show's website and cut clips from interviews and uploaded them to the station's server for the next day. We had Scott Cullen from TSN.ca on as well as John Hoven from 'Mayor's Manor' in L.A who covers the Kings. It's something I'll be doing every show for them.

Tweet 10 Ways Marc Bergevin kept busy during the Lockout

NFL Picks for Championship Weekend

2nd Entry - Football Frenzy

This shift was a bit of a challenging one. I was battling a cold and sore throat for the show, so I didn't speak on the air as much as I would've liked. However, I felt I was still an important part of the show, as I did a lot of research work. Given that there were four NFL games from the weekend to talk about, I was excited going in, although given the condition I was in, it didn't reflect in my voice. I loved that I got the chance to throw in my own observations from the games. I'm happy to help out the show in which ever way is needed, but it's always a nice bonus when I get to chime in. Matthew Ross, host of GamePoints with Matthew Ross, doesn't have a co-host on Sundays, unlike Tuesdays, so it looks like I'll have a substantial role on the show every Sunday. With hockey back and Habs fever already starting to take over the Montreal sports scene, things will only get busier at the station, so I'm looking forward to that. My pop culture knowledge and creativity got a chance to shine today, as I threw in a Seinfeld clip in relation to the news that Scott Gomez will be bought out by the Habs. I suggested to put in a clip where George Costanza gets a severance package from the Yankees and he describes it as, "The Yankees are giving me three months, full pay, for doing nothing." To which Jerry replies, "They did it for three years, what's another few months?". It's a fun little piece and while it's not much, it's fun to get some creative input on the show, and it's good to know that my opinion is respected. I look forward to the next shift on Tuesday, where I'll have a Tweet 10 List, (see last week's post), this time the list will be, Tweet 10 Things Marc Bergevin did during the NHL Lockout Overall, I'm really enjoying my time at TSN 690 so far and I feel like I'm getting a chance to develop my radio personality, rather than perform menial tasks that have nothing to do with growing as a broadcaster. I'm in deep appreciation for what the station and what Matthew Ross is doing for me.

NFL Report Divisional Round Playoffs

Stefano Habs Notes

First Shift

My first shift as an intern at TSN 690 (January 8) was a lot of fun and kept me busy. Matthew Ross let me take over a Letterman-esque Top-10 list. It turns out the guy that normally does the list is in England for a few months, and in that time, I'll be able to take over the list. It helps me test my sports knowledge and my sense of humor. It's important to come across as knowledgeable on a sports program and being able to make listeners laugh is always a huge bonus. I look forward to the challenge of being able to do this every week. I have posted my first list in the video below, which is officially known as the Tweet 10 list. Also on this show I edited clips from the show from guests Dave Pagnotta of thefourthperiod.com Scott Cullen of TSN and Mike C. Wright of ESPN Chicago. Full segments were posted by me in the form of youtube videos on the show's website, http://gamepointsradio.blogspot.ca/ I also assisted with the show's prep work. This included looking up stats for the NFL match-ups this weekend, as well as determining the top Montreal Canadiens storylines to follow going into the season. Obviously with the NHL back, the station is thrilled as it holds the broadcasting rights. Hopefully this leads to more tasks for me on the show every week. Overall, I'm very pleased with the workload I was given and I felt like I was a real part of the show, and not just the token intern. I was promised a vital role on the show, and I feel like that promise is being kept. Sundays will be even better, as there are less people in studio, which means an important role for me. We will have NFL coverage on Sunday, so that's music to my ears. I'll be ready to go and I'll obviously be following all the NFL playoff games this weekend closely. I look forward to the next 13 weeks in getting more and more responsibilities and growing as a broadcaster.

Stefano Mocella Tweet 10 Excuses from NFL Teams that Missed the Playoffs