First chat with Denny...

Let's set this up by saying that every now and again there comes a person who you can count on to be straight with you and tell it like it is. This person will go above and beyond the call of duty to help you out no matter the circumstance, and try to help you accomplish what you need to do. I've been talking to Denny Wolfe for about a full year now through E-mail. He's been everything helpful and very truthful, without talking down. I remember calling him Mr. Wolfe in the first e-mail, to which he replied "Never say that again, I'm only in my 30's..." Since then Denny has been a really good source for what the world of sports is like away from Westminster. Actually, he's made me realize that anchoring/reporting may not actually be the route I want to take. I'm a huge fan of NFL Countdown, and I love their features (not because it's Denny's job) for their creativity, and freedom that they give the producers to create a story. Other networks all look the same, 2-3 minutes of what I like to call A-B-C coverage...meaning that they tell the basics, Who the subject is, what the subject has done, and what he/she is doing. With ESPN's coverage, they have 3-4 minutes of a story...why a person is doing what he's doing, background, they also let the subject tell the story, giving it a sense of reality, as oppose to a reporter sounding their 2 cents.
So why give up my dreams of being an anchor? Money? Easier? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I feel that story telling is one of my best qualities. I also like being creative, and having the option of how to tell the story. What angle to take, and how to go about getting that angle. Also, who doesn't like being the boss. I like having fame, but that comes with a price, I'm sure Chris Berman can't go anywhere without having grown men interrupt what he is setting out to do! I don't think I'd be as polite as some when it came to interruptions during dinner. This way I can be like that professional wrestler who wears the mask, you never know what he looks like, but you appreciate what he does! (At least I do.) Denny told me how much time goes into his week...80+ hours to be exact, that would scare alot of people away from the job, but it actually makes me want it more, anybody who knows me understands that I love challenges, and the fact that I bust my hump to put the best work on the air. Having a persona like Denny's to live up to and to guide me through this process would be nothing but helpful. Westminster BC majors have a tendancy to be creative, but I feel like Denny and I are more alike than many. He's pretty outgoing, and everybody knows I am, he's a straight-shooter, as am I, and he's got the never-quit attitude, and if you're familiar with me at all, I'll be damned if anybody outshines/outworks me to take what I want. In this case, I have to start from the bottom, I have come to the conclusion I will try to be a P.A. and hopefully become a producer for ESPN somewhere. I will make it, it's just a matter of time! So Denny, if you're reading, thanks for everything so far, the best is yet to come! Thats all for now, until next time...I'm DJ Yokley

P.S. Yeah, that's Denny with Boomer and Ben Roethlisberger!

The journey continues...

It's been a very hectic couple of weeks between just regular class assignments, TV, and radio. Let's start with probably the most exciting event of the weeks. Being live on 3 million homes across the state of Pennsylvania. The Westminster Cable Network and PCN combined and made a successful showing of the Sharon/Wilmington game. Chris "Chucko" Norris, and Christina Roseta were in the booth with me, and it really was probably one of the better games that I've seen on tape from start to finish. The only other game I'd say that beat this one would be the New Castle game earlier in the year where New Castle was favored by so much, but ended up losing. It was a very exciting game, and you could tell because Dr. B and myself were really getting into it. Nonetheless, Wilmington/Sharon wasn't such a good game, the Hounds beat up on the Hounds 42-7 and had their reserves in by the 4th quarter. I'd really like to do more games like that where there's alot on the line, it's the kind of rush that's only comparable to kicking a game winning field goal, or in a tie ballgame, hitting a walk-off homerun. Bottom line, it's an experience I won't soon forget.
Another milestone in my career has been a nearly flawless production of Titantown Sports...twice!!! Setting goals earlier in the year I spoke of this being one of my biggest things I want to do before the year was out. While I'll never say I did perfect, I feel as if the past 2 weeks of Titantown Sports have been very sound. What I consider nearly flawless may indeed may be average for somebody else, or it could be the best some have ever seen. That's what's so difficult about this business, it's all about the eye of the viewer. From my perspective, here's what has to happen for a good segment:
5. Good/creative transitions (not saying changing gears, or taking a step up)
4. No verbal errors (Stuttering, misreads, any other mishaps)
3. Solid content (Something people want to watch/are interested in) Not just filler junk to say you are on TV
2. Highlights/Video (Makes things more interesting and gets people's attention)
1. Writing - If you don't have good writing, it doesn't make a difference how much on-air talent you have, it'll flop. Writing is the most important part of a production in broadcasting, it makes or breaks a segment. How well can you set things up, and how well can you follow through with what you do set up?
I hope this helped somebody, beause it's been a good source of keeping my shows successful through my tenure. That's all for now, until next time...I'm DJ Yokley