tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-248623752024-03-13T00:52:58.912-05:00Extra Innings w/ DJThe Life and Times of a Sports ProducerDJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-52876873770152773192007-04-15T23:23:00.000-05:002007-04-16T00:01:45.400-05:00My list of people at Capstone Presentation...This could get crazy...I've been thinking of this for my entire tenure here at Westminster. Who would I want to be at my capstone presentation, and why? Obviously I want my mom there, I'd also like my girlfriend and her family...All of my friends, Denny Wolfe, and a few select teachers from my days as an East Palestine Bulldog. But here are a few I'd really like to acknowledge and invite to my presentation. (In no particular order.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYEawziEpX88Aifs4UBSZM3lgdy8rS0upL0Q29woUtpKfcKoeXYrrhHytJO3ancli1Ktex12oUPLmZWH1sAMq6vEJcuu6T9se2iLNXnxquHKh0F5_4fyYLVYHMtEz0dWVFtzMNw/s1600-h/Barner.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYEawziEpX88Aifs4UBSZM3lgdy8rS0upL0Q29woUtpKfcKoeXYrrhHytJO3ancli1Ktex12oUPLmZWH1sAMq6vEJcuu6T9se2iLNXnxquHKh0F5_4fyYLVYHMtEz0dWVFtzMNw/s320/Barner.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053885182434950162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dr. B- This was a no brainer...If it weren't for Dr. B, I wouldn't be here today. From the second I stepped on Westminster's campus, I felt home, but when Dr. B told me how sports savvy the radio and TV stations were...I was in, hook line and sinker. Over the years Dr. B has proved to me that broadcasting, or doing anything worth while requires not just pure talent, and heart, but hard work and studying. All the talent in the world doesn't help you remember a visiting teams roster, but studying and understanding stats will. Bottom line, if Dr. B hadn't given me a chance, there's no way I'd be preparing for this speech.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpqvRBMUNfRGRSBSU-zawyaEMPN7MZ6jGxIWukCLuLmm6SaNqDF_MFsHCy8_LkyGBO3G7AaaLkKZURuNpiC0fsryPRoZDp_RkFRLTM1IAfVWbVUOfLZuhCzXT27JZsnJvApqbhg/s1600-h/hdafler.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpqvRBMUNfRGRSBSU-zawyaEMPN7MZ6jGxIWukCLuLmm6SaNqDF_MFsHCy8_LkyGBO3G7AaaLkKZURuNpiC0fsryPRoZDp_RkFRLTM1IAfVWbVUOfLZuhCzXT27JZsnJvApqbhg/s320/hdafler.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053883554642344930" border="0" /></a><br />Coach Dafler- Coach has not only been an excellent Athletic Director here at WC...but a great person. Without a doubt the best color announcer a play by play could ever ask for, Coach kept me laughing when I needed it, and knew when to take it down a notch. I could always count on him to know what was going on when I had no clue. (Though I'd never tell anybody that, I knew he thought I was crazy sometimes.) I'd like to show him what I've become because of his contributions.<br /><br />Coach Terry Verrelli- Over the first semester, Coach Verrelli and I had constant communication going back and forth. A year of Wilmington football that nobody<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-WNp5B4siihLz9YOlh3N8neMjWwXy53tjKVZWBnvKaEChjOP-FzKHC_MkYmDVfEJPuwNmoLb8BWt3f1pSQRPmjf4P54M8vKQGjoUPuptuealiAJU_aBcfKiipxB9eSA2OJZjng/s1600-h/Verelli3_small_000.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-WNp5B4siihLz9YOlh3N8neMjWwXy53tjKVZWBnvKaEChjOP-FzKHC_MkYmDVfEJPuwNmoLb8BWt3f1pSQRPmjf4P54M8vKQGjoUPuptuealiAJU_aBcfKiipxB9eSA2OJZjng/s320/Verelli3_small_000.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053886569709386802" border="0" /></a> will soon forget occurred on the same year I did my senior project...The Greyhound Roundup. Coach gave me all the soundbites week in and week out, he gave me his time, his players, but most of all his respect. He was the first Coach to actually see me as not just a student, but a reporter. If I messed up a question, he would make it so it made sense. A great coach, a great leader, a great man. He helped me to where I am today.<br /><br />Bob Hannon & Bill Castrovince- I've met many sportscasters, many reporters, many people in general in my life, but these two gentlemen take the cake. They taught me more things about the business than I'll ever be able to account for. From my first day to my last, they never took it easy on me, because they knew I wanted it to be real. I wanted to be the best I could be, and get the most out of my internship, and I did. I'd gotten nothing but compliments when I left for the job I had done, but it really wasn't a reflection<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3h_crqyOs96xl6IlM4L1N5klj5JdfQlw87WMF0Qjx94TidtCY2uZF5ayLXktslJ7Lcokp4Hyyd2j9QU8mPejYmnL2G9fXS_2Gfi98Q8kLdpulzr1uY9S9YpWok0GYj-p3zG0NQ/s1600-h/Bill+Castrovince1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3h_crqyOs96xl6IlM4L1N5klj5JdfQlw87WMF0Qjx94TidtCY2uZF5ayLXktslJ7Lcokp4Hyyd2j9QU8mPejYmnL2G9fXS_2Gfi98Q8kLdpulzr1uY9S9YpWok0GYj-p3zG0NQ/s320/Bill+Castrovince1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053884478060313602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOVYiCTnHGSO-aQoHyLqm_ojfKoM0OgFRPKK-apdbtOBDK2kNa4ZFMVCYmBFeEF5aO4Vpfh5jQ9JKEnL0WpuRNBlyJ4K18PBZXUkNNngXFL3_zST8Ms_vCk3-lga37jM6NWEK_w/s1600-h/Bob+Hannon1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOVYiCTnHGSO-aQoHyLqm_ojfKoM0OgFRPKK-apdbtOBDK2kNa4ZFMVCYmBFeEF5aO4Vpfh5jQ9JKEnL0WpuRNBlyJ4K18PBZXUkNNngXFL3_zST8Ms_vCk3-lga37jM6NWEK_w/s320/Bob+Hannon1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053884039973649394" border="0" /></a> of me, it was a reflection of them, and what they had molded me into. They made me realize that anchor/reporting was fun, but wasn't the only thing out there. They showed me to be creative, yet structured at the same time. Basically they showed me Sports Broadcasting. With their busy schedule I know it's half-near impossible for them to show up, but if they did it would mean the world to me.<br /><br /><br />I also wouldn't be mad if they brought my internship crush Angee Shaker.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-aDr6m3IofG7U2zSLA2IwLUGBrBemuW_BRQVxlrKBM_ZlNhGZV_A10gthGTzKgcboHTk8IEVoT4WNqGCEXOhv8QvUsfV4zsdpAviNsLX5Jo9nDApY8IMavXuDNFXGu_tZ0Mi-g/s1600-h/Angee+Shaker2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-aDr6m3IofG7U2zSLA2IwLUGBrBemuW_BRQVxlrKBM_ZlNhGZV_A10gthGTzKgcboHTk8IEVoT4WNqGCEXOhv8QvUsfV4zsdpAviNsLX5Jo9nDApY8IMavXuDNFXGu_tZ0Mi-g/s320/Angee+Shaker2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053885483082660898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />But most of all I'd like to invite whoever reads this blog, whoever has followed me in the past, even if it's just for watching a package, or to say hello to me when I'm out and about. I want to invite you! Please accept my invitation to the Mueller Theater on the campus of Westminster College on April 30th at 6 PM. I'm going last so hopefully you'll be able to make it for my classmates and stay for mine!<br /><br />Until next time, I'm DJ Yokley.DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-57353379323595076842007-04-15T22:35:00.000-05:002007-04-15T23:23:02.126-05:00The Job Search Site.....SearchWe've been asked to scavenger out on the web for a job search site. I feel this is necessary because we never know how long we'll have a job, or when we'll find a better one; so it's nice to be able to gather all our acorns here before the dead of winter, or in our case spring. I've enjoyed looking at my classmates ideas to these search sites, however, I've found one that I really enjoy. Iwantmedia.com provides not only where the jobs are, but where you can find some in the near future. It also has various links to other job searches...and my favorite part...who's laying off and how many they have/had laid off. It gives you a heads up if you're in that particular company, and a chance to look for other options if you've just applied. It also holds a link<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www2.blogger.com/www.iwantmedia.com"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 74px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkcni_dC3mCSkcO_k08w0WMmTp0ClJqG2pfpeUIoQndwvawHKJMR3qtNmgMMVbKRU_uxpwouZjpo_7D3TU1IegM3WwiW-MzSbD6u6WgWQxCL-3x6xQVTI6qADiCF1NVqSI0qavg/s320/IWM-NEW.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053869948185951186" border="0" /></a> to archives of all media related interviews of all mediums.<br /><br />This site is really useful to me because it serves as a "homepage" to go back to and use as I go from link to link. It also has timely updates so you never are caught with a job posting that is outdated. Hope you get some use out of it, as I did...until next time, I'm DJ Yokley.DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-14051149228513798202007-04-15T22:03:00.000-05:002007-04-15T22:32:21.403-05:00On top of the old E-Portfolio...I'd like to be able to tell you what's at the top of my e-portfolio...but I can't. I'm not going to make one. I AM, like so many times I've done before, going to follow in the great Liz Farry's footsteps and create a webpage...The reason behind this is that I feel it is more practical to put a webpage together, and have one that people can respond to and look at on their time, and you really can't LOSE a webpage. You may lose the link, but those can always be restored. Also, I feel a lot more creative freedom with a webpage as opposed to a link-strung e-portfolio.<br /> I may, however, make something off of my webpage, in case something were to happen with internet access, but with my current goals in mind, an e-portfolio didn't seem very sensible to me. The main thing that I have to put together a "demo reel." What I want to put on there is nothing that I have done so far besides a few exceptions... I'd like to put my swim package, my football dance package, and my mothers story on my demo reel. I've got a couple ideas for the summer and fall already that I'm going to do in advance, and put on so I have something to send to ESPN in August when I'm applying for the PA job. However, by the time I get back from my trip to Denny's in June, my opinion of what's good enough for my reel may have changed. We'll see...I'll make a link to my Resupage when it's near completion...keep it linked...until next time...I'm DJ Yokley.DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-11775301023750124582007-03-25T22:38:00.000-05:002007-03-25T23:32:17.940-05:00WTAE Trip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsimHmmlDWVuECN5i92HlbeKnM5ML6-VmYlEekN2ZprEp76K25FLzxqRKddNOJQnMaLcsAwdfm-qpyyzekV6vHRuz-jqL54upDJ-FQqPlknPXIpRFdzQD05V5xzPuUmU_EhZvKgg/s1600-h/wtae.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsimHmmlDWVuECN5i92HlbeKnM5ML6-VmYlEekN2ZprEp76K25FLzxqRKddNOJQnMaLcsAwdfm-qpyyzekV6vHRuz-jqL54upDJ-FQqPlknPXIpRFdzQD05V5xzPuUmU_EhZvKgg/s320/wtae.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046085575135671522" border="0" /></a><br />A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to head out to WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh. It was a really eye opening experience for many of the underclassman, but I feel that we, the seniors knew what we were in for. We know that anchors have a completely different personality than reporters, and producers and directors are built in two different ways, they either shoot you straight, or they dance around your question. There is no gray area that you can work with...It was nice to see Channel 4 from the inside, and it was awesome that Sarah Bowers got us in and we could see her in her actual environment.<br /><br />I'd really wished I could just have seen and talked to the Sports Director, or head down to the ESPN Radio studios. I realize that would have been out of the way, but I think that would have really helped me out seeing what kind of people work in sports talk radio, and ask them why they didn't go after television. I'd also like to know what the writing differences are in sports radio as oppose to anchoring? Knowing that people hold onto your "views" and every word, instead of being distracted by what they are literally viewing. Don't get me wrong, I know more than anybody that people hold you accountable for every syllable that comes out, but at the<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8_ddo98feZbAvGDtPJuZ9SKCRd_1RMEEoaqQLIRaWB8oNGryLJj3Q2xNdjeLVJXgP8fN0AmSFyqPg9ABKBtZNnXMVYBpGxKGNVT3r7-WcyAQ2ezDn5S4eiANyCaZEQ8uC4P3nw/s1600-h/wendybell.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8_ddo98feZbAvGDtPJuZ9SKCRd_1RMEEoaqQLIRaWB8oNGryLJj3Q2xNdjeLVJXgP8fN0AmSFyqPg9ABKBtZNnXMVYBpGxKGNVT3r7-WcyAQ2ezDn5S4eiANyCaZEQ8uC4P3nw/s320/wendybell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046086240855602418" border="0" /></a> same time, with radio...there's nothing else...it's just words.<br /><br />All things considered it was a great experience for everybody. It was fun to see the underclassman so starstruck in the newsroom...it really made some people open up...especially evening anchor Wendy Bell...thanks for clearing up the difference between TV and reality Ms. Bell...I surely won't forget you!<br /><br />Until next time...I'm DJ Yokley.DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-52701362398336662382007-03-25T19:52:00.000-05:002007-03-25T20:09:37.526-05:00Checklist....This assignment for me may be a little different than my classmates because I don't graduate until December, so I'm going to stretch out my checklist of things to do between now and the beginning of next semester...here we go!<br /><br />By April-<br /><br /> -"Complete" E-Portfolio<br /> - Complete Capstone Farewell Vid<br /> - Complete Capstone Presentation<br /> -Assemble Resume Tape/Resume<br /> -Produce 2 quality, non-dated sports stories...<br /> <br />By May<br /><br /> -Make plans for a few days with Denny<br /> -Edit, make any changes to the sports stories<br /> -Assemble writing samples<br /> - Assemble a "Demo-reel" to take to Denny<br /> - Talk to Bob about creating a production tape at 33<br /><br />By June<br /><br /> -Get up to Bristol<br /> -Meet/Talk to whomever I possibly can<br /> -Do whatever it takes<br /> -Get feedback on Demo Reel/Writing Samples<br /> -Edit, edit, edit....<br /><br />By July<br /><br /> -Have a firm grasp on everything I need/could possibly pop-up for ESPN resume<br /> -Double check<br /> -Triple check<br /> <br />By August<br /><br /> -Application in mail, along with demo reel, and writing samples, and of course my resume<br /> -Start prepping for Coaches Corner to free my mind of stress....<br /><br />So as you can see, the next 5 months are going to be as hectic as I've seen so far in my 22 years. However, that's not going to stop me from achieving my goal...this is what I want more than anything, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I'm going to have my finger prints all over that brass ring when it's all said and done.<br /><br /> Until next time....I'm DJ Yokley.DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-7837969688186548562007-02-18T23:49:00.000-05:002007-02-19T00:47:33.821-05:00I want to be a Toys R Us kid!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4Gs5Mwvdib1XAsGwo_6PCon9noZZrTHWN9SGzW_cblZzXZsuTvULmg_b8Gzo-ZQUKo0NE2cWiinZjPzUDq30Qzr2ZzerS5QZiWKOZAdR1d9-1sA5OnVwznEF4SE0YiJEdZX9ig/s1600-h/ddannyj.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4Gs5Mwvdib1XAsGwo_6PCon9noZZrTHWN9SGzW_cblZzXZsuTvULmg_b8Gzo-ZQUKo0NE2cWiinZjPzUDq30Qzr2ZzerS5QZiWKOZAdR1d9-1sA5OnVwznEF4SE0YiJEdZX9ig/s320/ddannyj.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033117137789312674" border="0" /></a><br /> So the day has finally come that I have to pick the topic for the weekly blog. I decided that we're going to do polar opposites off of last week. Instead of what will you do with your last years on earth, I proposed a "What did you want to do when you were a kid, and how did that influence your decisions to be what you are today?" I'm also going to throw an extra twist in there, that of, what I do anything different?<br /><br />When I was 4 I started playing T-Ball...ever since that first practice I had always wanted to be a professional baseball player. For 14 years I made that my<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9q7iedSPHP3K8wvI_8yxg_0zHb5hcdqmt07rizWd8wngmH49qnuHw4M5wQ-DOrrW-oWUPB7I3ARLl579YeKbVtsWenTfC_mdn_00RG1_5Na_gAHbdUOcXoI66ichS4t4XRunMuw/s1600-h/danny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9q7iedSPHP3K8wvI_8yxg_0zHb5hcdqmt07rizWd8wngmH49qnuHw4M5wQ-DOrrW-oWUPB7I3ARLl579YeKbVtsWenTfC_mdn_00RG1_5Na_gAHbdUOcXoI66ichS4t4XRunMuw/s320/danny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033117352537677490" border="0" /></a> dream, I trained, and trained and trained...I got award after award, won a few championships here and there, played at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, but never even so much got a glance from a scout. I guess being 5'5 didn't help me, but I did learn something along the way. If I put my mind to something, it usually comes out pretty impressive. If nothing else, baseball gave me confidence along the way.<br /><br />When I was a freshman in high school, I had to take a physical science class. (Boring, right?? Stay with me.) My teacher happened to be the Athletic Director, and was more interested in finding opponents for the upcoming football season than he was in educating a bunch of teenagers on where lightning comes from. Granted, I wasn't performing all that well in the class, so my mother suggested I ask for extra credit. The next day I went in and asked, and to my surprise he said that if I announced the freshman basketball games for him that he would overlook my test scores. In a heartbeat I said yes. That was also the last time for about 2 weeks my heart beat at a regular pace. What had I gotten myself into?? Announcing...in front of people...that knew me!!! The game finally came, and I stepped into character as the PA announcer, I had heard the Chicago Bulls announcer and tried to imitate him, much to the fans (and my own) delight I did well. I then went on to be the varsity announcer for 3 years and probably had one of the more recognizable voices in East Palestine History.<br /> <br /> The reason that I shared this, is because that one day in SCIENCE class changed my life forever. From the time I put down the mic on that cold November night, to this very blog I have known what my talent really is...sports broadcasting. Had I never taken the chance and said "yes" to my 'extra credit' then I probably would not be here today. My life has taken many twists and turns (many more to come,) but the one constant has been broadcasting. It's my outlet, it's where I feel successful, it's where I feel proud. I'm fortunate enough to recognize this as my lifetime occupation. Being a baseball player taught me the art of communication, it taught me leadership, and responsibility. Being an inspired baseball player never truly made me a great baseball player...being an inspired baseball player hopefully will make me a great<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8XVKGByrnDYt0c2RMIf7L-VcKBqrll0ya-0uMv1RDmo-2eHA7esWpytW2VZ_yHyIJ6C0VaFTxT3cOypf_rvAQByu7KQwTrx90Jw96LShPdlTXZuMeaB2XnilOAoxtzgoW4hanQ/s1600-h/venkman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8XVKGByrnDYt0c2RMIf7L-VcKBqrll0ya-0uMv1RDmo-2eHA7esWpytW2VZ_yHyIJ6C0VaFTxT3cOypf_rvAQByu7KQwTrx90Jw96LShPdlTXZuMeaB2XnilOAoxtzgoW4hanQ/s320/venkman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033117631710551746" border="0" /></a> employee in the broadcast business. So would I do anything different, or change anything about my past?? Aside from letting Mike Speery "borrow" my Peter Venkman action figure when I was 5....not a thing. Until next time...I'm DJ YokleyDJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-85875054133920802062007-02-15T00:38:00.000-05:002007-02-15T01:48:14.842-05:00Sweet Sweet 70<span style="font-size:130%;">"Imagine waking up tomorrow morning in your 70s. What is the one thing you refuse to let yourself miss out on in life and just have to do before you’re gone?"<br /></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">-Amy "Hungry Like the Wolf" Lavallee</span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCDOVTCysOMvC9a-Lu_P7EMNCJr5WnhmrBM-C-89Vs65uMcK5X1oijiv7nkZ0kof0UxtrcER5ABsS6HXW0adNgVcFq4rjeMGdSaRHwjk9mi_uGKj-pnji2ZMUiEL0eCfHMwPquw/s1600-h/book.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCDOVTCysOMvC9a-Lu_P7EMNCJr5WnhmrBM-C-89Vs65uMcK5X1oijiv7nkZ0kof0UxtrcER5ABsS6HXW0adNgVcFq4rjeMGdSaRHwjk9mi_uGKj-pnji2ZMUiEL0eCfHMwPquw/s320/book.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031647722103168642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> First and foremost, I'd like to thank Amy for making me think about this. We are just gettin</span><span style="font-size:100%;">g ready to enter the work force, and now we're writing about being done! SWEET! If I keep t</span><span style="font-size:100%;">his up I'll never have to work a day in my life. OK...So what do I refuse to let myself miss out o</span><span style="font-size:100%;">n</span><span style="font-size:100%;">?? Well after all is said and done and I actually have time to do things...I'd like to write a book. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">A book about the "adventures" I've experienced in life. I don't mind if nobody reads it, because I'll be able to look back on things and finally put everything in perspective. I hear all the time</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> from players and coaches that there'</span><span style="font-size:100%;">s no time to look back on things until it is all over...they're right! If you let yourself get caught up in the past, you'll miss the present. I like living the way I</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> do, very spontaeneously. Mostly because I know (And Mr. Weaver preaches) once I start having a family and settle down, I'm not going to be able to do these things. I'll have a whole new set of plans and focuses then.<br />If you would have told me I would want to write an entire book when I was 15, I would call you a liar. However, I've found that writing is a great way to communicate, and a very good <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDD38gZp4zaPEagBwz9l8Y_vejX93fNfXed4N8sVjhVoIPsDHV1IAceanKV7SqXtXq6bn1bdoswVdoQd967gjvgULR4OzeZnfU_7uH8weLJWwSvhzaa5APXbXszSrWmpMa0H4Mg/s1600-h/seinfeld46.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDD38gZp4zaPEagBwz9l8Y_vejX93fNfXed4N8sVjhVoIPsDHV1IAceanKV7SqXtXq6bn1bdoswVdoQd967gjvgULR4OzeZnfU_7uH8weLJWwSvhzaa5APXbXszSrWmpMa0H4Mg/s320/seinfeld46.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031648091470356114" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">way for me to express myself. I actually have been reading books (no pictures) to pass time and s</span><span style="font-size:100%;">tay "alert" as my girlfriend says. So nothing would be more appealing to me</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> right now than to write a book about nothing and everything at the same time. It worked for that Seinfeld guy, maybe I can make something out of it. Hopefully when I'm that experienced in life I'll still have the love I do for writing that book (and enjoying life.) Until next time...I'm DJ Yokle</span>y.</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-20141685592357780972007-02-08T11:35:00.000-05:002007-01-28T00:10:00.279-05:00If I had a million dollars...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinH5g8n_WKapuxshutQTupsiQP6CDJniGWgTzVFtMDhKQ62UMm8hbLVf2Z62AVUM0CFVhPZp0bPOGnJx4OeUTTjkRmWTnamAh7ub8Am_VV-lOUWnKqSzzbjrbbDZuvfHrVeWLHg/s1600-h/drevil_million_dollars.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinH5g8n_WKapuxshutQTupsiQP6CDJniGWgTzVFtMDhKQ62UMm8hbLVf2Z62AVUM0CFVhPZp0bPOGnJx4OeUTTjkRmWTnamAh7ub8Am_VV-lOUWnKqSzzbjrbbDZuvfHrVeWLHg/s320/drevil_million_dollars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029206741864996418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This week's assignment, courtesy of Michael Michael "The Motorcycle" Wolenski, is "What would you do if you had a million dollars?" ( Or...One Millllion Dollarss as Dr. Evil would say.) A million dollars?? It's hard to think what I would do with 10 dollars sometimes being a college student! Nonetheless, If I had a million dollars, I would pay off all my debts, including my parents payments on their house and vehicles. I would then give $10,000 to the Big Brother Big Sisters Orginization. I was a big brother for a couple years and it was not only a great experience for myself, but when I see my "little brother" roaming around he stops me and tells me how much of a difference I made for him when he didn't have much. If I could make that feeling by not giving any money, I could probably make a big difference with ten grand. I'd then put the rest of the money into a bank account and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj8E-g0s6cgzMvIzAXoS9FB6pHK-5L59oJ9QrM6R1Aiw0fzUZonEISpl5h0Hkxh1lvsY3I5elZ9OtX3-lFgnBISdWe_v_QZagmVIOHetYPgfw9ioHtHI5PtmdJ3J4t4jDWopDUA/s1600-h/bbs.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj8E-g0s6cgzMvIzAXoS9FB6pHK-5L59oJ9QrM6R1Aiw0fzUZonEISpl5h0Hkxh1lvsY3I5elZ9OtX3-lFgnBISdWe_v_QZagmVIOHetYPgfw9ioHtHI5PtmdJ3J4t4jDWopDUA/s320/bbs.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029206273713561138" border="0" /></a>pick up the interest on it until I was ready to move and buy a home, and new vehicle. By then, the interest could pay for the car by itself...The reason I wouldn't retire or do anything out of the ordinary is because I feel that my life is complete with what I have in it, I've worked hard, climbed so many ladders in my years, that I feel I'd be cheating myself or selling myself short if I just call it quits at 22. I like the chase, the excitement of will I meet the deadline every week, that keeps me going!! Giving that up would be like giving up a big part of myself, and I wouldn't be able to do that! So what would you do with a million bucks? Until next time, I'm DJ Yokley...DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-87837849572552480282007-01-27T22:12:00.000-05:002007-01-28T00:10:00.307-05:00Why Sports, Why???Alright, so call me an overachiever, but this is a post that just had to be put up. Working today at a well-known wholesale discount juggernaut, I was asked the question as to why I like sports so much. Not exactly in those words, but "What's so great about sports, that you want your whole life to be centered around it?" Granted the person who asked the question did not graduate high school, and still enjoys prank phone calls to his own department, and lives in his parents basement while living his life through a computer game where he believes he is indeed a "dwarf." Nonetheless, that question, "Why sports?" got me thinking...<br />Why sports? After a long thought process, and reading a page out of my idol Mike Greenberg's novel <span style="font-style: italic;">Why My Wife Thinks I'm an Idiot, </span>it all made sense to me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81y-roQu5wEUe6cUjaQxSQ_H3BFlpeTlXs5weVL9kP8Y6HRXtPAmHBro0BwcukXcwsRRh_l5q2HEI1LMIdDpudLlF_LxdTxwOvJ1hYDau2QubvpB5nQ6z1aFeMEUfOl7Ig7PYGg/s1600-h/michael-jordan-wallpaper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81y-roQu5wEUe6cUjaQxSQ_H3BFlpeTlXs5weVL9kP8Y6HRXtPAmHBro0BwcukXcwsRRh_l5q2HEI1LMIdDpudLlF_LxdTxwOvJ1hYDau2QubvpB5nQ6z1aFeMEUfOl7Ig7PYGg/s320/michael-jordan-wallpaper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024933363016363362" border="0" /></a><br />-Some of my friends enjoy taking <span style="font-size:130%;">shots at a bar</span>. I enjoy watching <span style="font-size:130%;">Michael Jordan ta</span><span style="font-size:130%;">kin</span><span style="font-size:130%;">g</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> shots</span>...with 20 seconds on the clock, everybody in the world including the home Utah Jazz knew he was going to shoot the ball...they couldn't stop him, <span style="font-size:180%;">nobody</span> could stop him. With 6 ticks left, drain a bucket with a defender in your face en route to your 6th NBA Championship. After all, he IS Michael Jordan.<br /><br /><br /><br />-When some people talk about GREATNESS, they often talk about the feeli<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf57R7Rta5ZVF4QSTasvvfjefN91ziewNMjrfMHZ-xtjxO6tQj43EqDJTdb9sv-LJ4Vut1sV1LMvxD9qUL0EdO_MSddbsS_pUvQydw71r2_WXrpfpO4ldF9pA7i90T-Qdt98sT6g/s1600-h/wayne.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf57R7Rta5ZVF4QSTasvvfjefN91ziewNMjrfMHZ-xtjxO6tQj43EqDJTdb9sv-LJ4Vut1sV1LMvxD9qUL0EdO_MSddbsS_pUvQydw71r2_WXrpfpO4ldF9pA7i90T-Qdt98sT6g/s320/wayne.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024933698023812466" border="0" /></a>ng after finals. When I talk about GREATNESS it wears the number 99, owns 40 regular-season records, 15 playoff records, 6 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHL_All-Star_Game" title="NHL All-Star Game">All-Star</a> records, won four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Cup" title="Stanley Cup">Stanley Cups</a> with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a>, and won 9 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hart_Trophy" title="Hart Trophy">MVP</a> awards and 10 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Ross_Trophy" title="Art Ross Trophy">scoring titles</a>. He is the only player ever to total over 200 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_%28ice_hockey%29" title="Point (ice hockey)">points</a> in a season (a feat that he accomplished <span style="font-size:130%;">four </span>times in his career). In addition, he tallied over 100 points a season for 15 NHL seasons, 13 of them consecutively. Still think you're great?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />-Determination is something that can be used loosely, however when I think of myself as being determined, I immediately find myself thinking about Joseph Clifford Montana Jr. (AKA Joe Montana) and his determination against the New Orleans Saints. Down by <span style="font-size:180%;">28 <span style="font-size:100%;">at the half, "Joe</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RXG2CTg5prh5mlmJP0ZLzXS35WZlQgXDkHsf5l_KZcNCy6jEQpEI1iTHYWaHPZ2WSqXSAB47Eg9eyNWeUk4ISOT3CqPRGCiqHpu2vS5ksqMIEezfUSnxNUgaMBd1eTjKROJBMw/s1600-h/Joe+Montana_jpg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RXG2CTg5prh5mlmJP0ZLzXS35WZlQgXDkHsf5l_KZcNCy6jEQpEI1iTHYWaHPZ2WSqXSAB47Eg9eyNWeUk4ISOT3CqPRGCiqHpu2vS5ksqMIEezfUSnxNUgaMBd1eTjKROJBMw/s320/Joe+Montana_jpg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024941287231024514" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Cool" led his teammates to a 38-35 victory. A feat that still stands to this day. Let's not forget </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">1981 when Montana led San Francisco to a 13-3 record, the best in the NFL. In one of the most memorable games in 49ers history, he led the 49ers on an 11-play, 89-yard drive, ending with a dramatic touchdown pass to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_Clark" title="Dwight Clark">Dwight Clark</a>, which came to be known as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catch_%28American_football%29" title="The Catch (American football)">The Catch</a>," for a thrilling 28-27 victory over the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas_Cowboys" title="Dallas Cowboys">Dallas Cowboys</a> in the 1981 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFC" title="NFC">NFC</a> Championship game. Two weeks later Montana led the 49ers to a 26-21 victory over the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Bengals" title="Cincinnati Bengals">Cincinnati Bengals</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XVI" title="Super Bowl XVI">Super Bowl XVI</a>. Not to mention a Superbowl MVP.</span><br /><br />You see with me, it's not an obsession with sports as much as it is a passion. Greenberg says in his book that:<span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><br /><br />"</span><span style="font-size:180%;">S</span>ports is like war without all the dying. Imagine how intriguing war would be as a spectator sport if, when it was over, everyone shook hands...The strategy, the passion, the courage, the stakes: war is magnificent theater until you count all the bodies.<span style="font-size:180%;">"</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_flyuMkUioQ83KJcwOzehvhsg2whSqMRSksYqbIo6d8cdtH3srTs055uM5iX2CLQVFXJoUqrjNxpaf_zfbqXWt-0dP182yccMXry6xzNVuUe_u_h8ysxAed3HZ1_sx-PHLr_OA/s1600-h/Mike_Greenberg-radio.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_flyuMkUioQ83KJcwOzehvhsg2whSqMRSksYqbIo6d8cdtH3srTs055uM5iX2CLQVFXJoUqrjNxpaf_zfbqXWt-0dP182yccMXry6xzNVuUe_u_h8ysxAed3HZ1_sx-PHLr_OA/s320/Mike_Greenberg-radio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024941858461674914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"> <span style="font-size:100%;">-Mike Greenberg<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I couldn't have put it any better. However, it's not</span></span></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> my job to be these men. I don't want to be them, I want to tell their story, I want to be that guy. The guy that makes them look them look great, instead of just good. Who made Michael Jordan "Michael Jordan?" The media, the producers who run his shot over and over. I want to be the guy that takes an athlete and creates a legacy. Who is to say that someone at ESPN isn't Michael Jordan's hero for making him a hundred-millionaire??<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br />So by now you may ask the question of what my reply was to "</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">What's so great about sports, that you want your whole life to be centered around it?"</span><br /><br /> .....................everything......................DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1169865193009799702007-01-26T20:56:00.000-05:002007-01-26T21:33:13.050-05:00If you stole my sunshine...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/1600/548559/freds_excellent_eclipse_img.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/320/761765/freds_excellent_eclipse_img.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">"Y</span>ou are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know dear, how much I love you...please don't take my sunshine away.<span style="font-size:180%;">"</span><br /><br />The pre-mentioned was a song that my grandmother used to sing to me when she was rocking me to sleep. Ironically this week we were given the assignment to show what we could do in a world without broadcasting. For example, if we weren't BC Majors, what could we bring to the table of a job market. This may be the only assignment we've had that has really shaken me up. I've kept a pretty steady hand throughout the capstone experience, except when Mr. Weaver threw us a curveball with this one, it kind of tripped me up. No Broadcasting??? What would I do??? Would I be meaningless??? No chance! You see, the way I've been programmed to think is when there is an obstacle in your way, you have 3 choices. Stop what you're doing, and give up, avoid the problem by going around the obstacle. Or claw, scrape, climb, destroy your way through/over the obstacle learning everything you can so if it ever shows up again, you'll know it's number. Guess what choice I took?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/1600/486231/images.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/320/331730/images.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /> If there were no Sports Broadcasting/News I have skills I can bring to the game that would help me succeed. First and foremost I have confidence. Confidence without cockiness is key, because no employers hire employees that are cocky, yet at the same time they don't want a pushover either. They want somebody to show them that they can do the job, and do it well, and when I do things, I make sure people know it's a quality product. Secondly, I would bring maturity and stability. It is important for an employee to show his/her employer that they are reliable, and have the maturity level to think on their feet without losing their head. I'd also bring my education, life's experience, and diligence. However, I'd also bring something extra to the table that others may not even think of...humor. A sense of humor is key, I don't want a best buddy to be my boss, however, initiating and knowing a positive relationship in the workplace has never done any harm for anyone and shows people that you are a real individual, and a thinker as well.<br /><br /> Hope this helps everybody, because thinking of this has made me more inspired than before. Until next time...I'm DJ Yokley.DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1169862930474757692007-01-26T19:59:00.000-05:002007-01-26T20:55:30.496-05:00Back to the Future...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/1600/530482/Back_to_the_Future_II.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/320/754231/Back_to_the_Future_II.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />In our first class of the semester we found new careers, old careers, dream careers, and feared careers that were amongst us all. We as a class decided to go back to the (10 year) future e-mail and revisit perhaps what we have changed and what has stayed the same over the past semester. *Warning* PERSONAL JUNK IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH...<br /><br /> Dr. Weaver,<br /><br /> It was so good to hear from you, I hope all is well with the ladies at home and hope the teenage years for them haven't run you down that much. Life is good here in Bristol, I've been here for 9 years now working for ESPN as a features producer on NFL Countdown and Baseball Tonight. Denny Wolfe really helped me when it came time to pick who landed the P.A. jobs here the the Worldwide Leader. We're actually really good friends now, it's nice to have that common bond of Chuck Chirozzi flashbacks. I just wanted to thank you for giving me the inspiration, the motivation, and the realization that the sports broadcasting business is a rough one, but one that I love with all my heart. Without you or Dr. Barner, who knows what the hell I'd be doing today. Luckily for me the other love in my life, my wife, has been very forgiving and understanding of the time that I'm "on the road." Speaking of my wife, she's currently pregnant with our second little person, we have a son already, his name is Trey, and I've already got him scanning the wire for breaking local news (Not really.) It's been nice talking to you, but I've got to catch a flight to the West Coast, but please stay in touch, it's been too long.<br /><br /> -DJ<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/1600/176224/Funny%20Hard%20Work.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/320/398771/Funny%20Hard%20Work.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I know it's not the most detailed description of what I'll be doing, or where I'll be at, but this is honestly where I see myself, and where I have a passion for being in 10 years, and if this comes to be, I won't be surprised in the least, because I feel it's what I'm meant to do. It may not be easy, but nothing worth while ever is! That's all for now, until next time...I'm DJ Yokley.DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1168907369924739662007-01-15T18:11:00.000-05:002007-01-15T19:42:29.890-05:00All bend, no breakYet another break is wrapping up and I have to say that it was probably one of my most productive breaks I've ever had. I stayed in touch with Denny over break, and even sent some goodies up his way for he and his wife for the holidays. I also have been following th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/1600/465618/LT%20Photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/320/257071/LT%20Photo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>e Titans over break and have kept up to date on what they've been doing, and who they've been beating. I also have been talking with Bob Hannon over break and had the chance to have him review my Senior Project and give me some feedback as to what to do to make a more clear and concise product. I also sent Denny the link and asked him to supply feedback, but as you may or may not know, it's kind of a busy part of year for Mr. Wolfe up in Bristol.<br />Also, I've been working on my E-Portfolio, and making it creative and presentable to what I'm going to be putting myself toward. It's an ESPN Themed homepage that gives the audience the option of seeing my anchoring, producing/reporting, and/or writing samples. I'm also going to connect more buttons/links to it and make it look extremely professional. Because after all, if it catches somebodies eye up at the top and even intrigues them the least bit, then it gives me a chance (Having some connections doesn't hurt either.)<br />I've also taken a look back on last semester and realized some things I want to correct this semester. First and foremost, I'd like to involve my writing more in my segment, whether it be for more packages, or better scripts, whatever it may be, I want to start hitting "homeruns" instead of little singles or sometimes doubles. I want to be able to have people close their eyes and have a picture painted for them, as oppose to relying on video for emotion. I'd also like to focus more on some feature pieces on sports. Maybe a hard-hitting, or even a funny story or two to show off my talents. Let's see this workout before I plow down any other obstacles, and as always, I'll keep you posted...Until next time, I'm DJ Yokley<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/1600/966583/tressel%20leading%20team.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/320/426165/tressel%20leading%20team.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /> <br />P.S. Congratulations to Jim Tressel and THE Ohio State Buckeyes on a great year, at least you beat M*ch*gan!DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1165809178751023942006-12-10T21:19:00.000-05:002006-12-10T23:09:27.486-05:00Senior Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/1600/785952/03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/320/731026/03.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />15 weeks...4 months of High School Football...WOW! After 14 consecutive weeks of winning, the Wilmington Greyhounds finally fell to Jeanette. Covering them week in and week out with the Greyhound Roundup made me kind of connect with them, but above all it definitely made me a fan. It also made me a better broadcaster, and watching the faces of the 251 class when I showed them the highlight film I'm in the process of making made me feel as if they learned something too. I've been told that if you can shoot football you can shoot anything, and I hope they feel the same way, I hope that they now feel comfortable knowing that they are experienced shooters now.<br />That being said, the Senior project is nearly complete, all I have left to do is the "Yearlong Highlight." I've done the Roundup now week in and week out and I feel as if it's changed my views on many things. The first thing being that I can't wait to produce, being on-air is fun, but producers are forced to be creative week in and week out, and that is what I like being. I like seeing my efforts shown, and I like being able to highlight other people and not having to worry about myself, or how I look. Who knows??? I'm always up for anchor/reporting, but I know that right now I'm heavily leaning toward producing.<br /><br />As far as the job search goes, I've talked to Denny Wolfe a lot, and he's going to see if he can find me the inside scoop into getting an ESPN Production Assistant job right out of college. If not, I'll either apply for a on-air position somewhere, or possibly network more and figure something else out, but right now I feel confident about the PA job up in Bristol. Hopefully from there I can work my way up the ladder and possibly be a top producer some day for a sports show. The nice thing is that I still have a complete year to get things straightened out between now and January 2008. Thats all for now, as always, I'm DJ Yokley.DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1165803511623863592006-12-10T18:01:00.000-05:002006-12-10T23:04:09.983-05:00Capstone Presentations...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/1600/199103/Westminster_College.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/320/252412/Westminster_College.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The Capstone presentations for Steve Brink, Chris Zinkham, and Kirstan Gides went well. Steve led us through his journey year by year at Westminster, showing us that the adventure we call broadcasting is worth every minute. Chris' presentation was interesting because he had so many nice things to say about the program and was very positive and straight forward. Kirstan showed us that with a BC degree the opportunities are endless and that you can do whatever you want as long as you can network. Together these three put on a nice show that was well done.<br /> I really like the way our capstone presentations are put together. Having everyone together with families is something special. In no way is it a competition, so it's nice to see everyone's parents and family and friends come to see the presentations. It gives parents an idea of what their child brought to the table. It makes us realize how much of a team we were along the way. For instance, my parents will enjoy what Mike will have to say because he's my producer, and hopefully Mike's parents will be interested in what I have to say because I was his "puppet." I think our audience usually gets a kick out of what we have to say individually, and there is a central point that our audience gets to focus on instead of having divided attention.<br /> For mine, I intend on putting together a video montage of my work, everything from Greyhound Roundups, to Titantown Sports, to Packages I've done. I'm also planning on showing a 3 minute music edited highlight tape of the Greyhounds, because they've been a very crucial part of my senior year(after all they did go 14-1.) I'll explain how the broadcasting program here at Westminster made me grow as an individual, and the liberal arts at Westminster made me develop my thoughts more proficiently. I also plan on inviting people that have meant alot during the process of my story so far...keep a lookout for those invites in the mail!DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1164909695347228952006-11-30T13:01:00.000-05:002006-12-10T23:06:47.196-05:00REALizing and identIFying...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/1600/498355/n60901567_20661.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 183px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7459/2585/320/309384/n60901567_20661.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I haven't had much spare time on my hands, so it's time to play catch up with the ol' blog. This edition of Extra Innings is going to take a look back at the senior year of Jason Mackey. Incase you didn't know, Jason is a good friend of mine and taught me much of what I know about sports broadcasting. When Jason first started to blog and for as long as I've known him his goal was to become an on air talent for sports. Week by week it seemed as if Jason was less determined to do what he wanted. Then he came up with a plan to get to where he wanted to be by taking little steps along the way, first moving to DC, continuing his internship, all while making money and staying in school at George Mason. This ended up the best route for him, even though Jas no longer interns at WJLA, he does what it takes to keep his name out there and works 2 jobs at a time just to stay down there and have a chance when it presents itself.<br /> I really admire Jason's determination to do things, actually it's what keeps me going sometimes. He and Denny are living proof that if you want something you just have to go after it and get it. Through all the baseball games, and Coaches Corners, and for The County Line packages, Jason has been determined to put his best foot forward, and that's exactly what I intend on doing. So thanks Jas, and keep up the good work. Goals can be REAL....IF you make them that way.DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1163647777422017382006-11-15T22:29:00.000-05:002006-11-15T22:29:37.440-05:00Not Santa's list...OK, so Sebastian Driver Salazar came into our class today and pretty much turned my world upside down for about 3 hours...For those of you who don't know, Sebas was the sports director when I first got here at Westminster, AKA my idol for about 9 months...Anyway, he told me that if I want to be on-air I should really go for it, and as much as I would LOVE to do on air for the rest of my life, it may not be my strongest trait, and in our business, you have to put your best foot forward and pray that it gets caught in a door somewhere. Right now, I feel that my best trait is being a creative idea man...I have to go with what I feel off the top of my head, and I think that producing would be in my best interest. Not to mention being the boss, I mean, who wants to be second best. Not this guy, I feel I am meant to be the best at what I do, and what I do is sports, and there's only one place that I feel I can harness all my creative energy effectively, and ESPN is it, I truly do believe. So nobody else has the problem I see occurring alot with not only BC Majors, but all majors in college, I've come up with a list of things people can do to succeed in life, and in the workplace. Granted, I only have 21 years experience, so it might just be my parents/professors talking through me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">5. Don't take no for an answer: Basically the rule I've had since I was born, if you want something, don't let anybody try to take it from you! It's your dreams/goals that keep you alive, and make you get out of bed every morning. Whether it be getting your children to graduate, or getting the job of your dreams, NEVER let anybody tell you something is impossible. If you want it bad enough, and you work hard enough, you'll get there.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">4. Find a Forte: Be a well rounded broadcaster, know how to edit, shoot, and write, but then when you master the arts, take something and go! It could be as simple as writing articles, or it could be as difficult as being an on-air personality/producer/director. Whatever it is, find it! The sooner the better, because then you can take your "forte" and use it during an internship, or perfect it during your job. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">3. Money isn't everything: When it boils down to it, would you rather have a ton of money and be miserable, or have maybe not as much, and never work a day in your life. Because when you enjoy what you do, and what you have, it really doesn't matter about how much you make (At least to me.) Besides, if money solved all your problems, broadcasters would still have many questions. Don't get me wrong, everybody loves green, but to be successful, don't let it bog you down, because it just creates problems. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2. See your potential: This goes along with #4, but at the same time this is taking your forte and seeing what you can do with it. Taking yourself as a broadcaster to the next level is probably the biggest step one makes (besides getting married, or buying a house.) How can you as a "typical college student" make yourself stand out from everybody else? Again, the faster you see, and </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">harness your potential, the faster you can take it to the next level, and quite frankly...impress somebody! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">1. Love What You Do, and Do What You Love: This is the most important guideline to use as you move along in your journey. Whether it be on air, behind the scenes, writing articles, or something you least expected, but fell in love with! The best part of being on the brink of graduating from college is the fact that there's so much opportunity out there. So many people look at the end of college as a scary process, and stress out. Why stress? Finals puts enough stress on people, why add to the pile? There has to be some part of you that feels confident enough to present to an employer, so why not put on a show? Be able to show a passion for what you do as oppose to just being another employee! Employers in broadcasting when looking for an employee look for enthusiasm, if somebody's excited about their job, they'll perform better than somebody who just wants to fill a position. </span><br /><br /> To sum up everything, and something Denny, Sebastian, Bob, and Bill have all helped me realize...Find something you love, take it by the horns, become the best, and prove to everybody why YOU ARE the best! If you take that advice, I guarantee you'll have a hard time failing at whatever it is you do. I hope this helps...and I hope that those graduating soon take the advice, because there's alot of talent there, and I'm positive they'll be great at whatever it is they set out to do. That's all for now, until next time...I'm DJ YokleyDJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1162566230669583312006-11-03T09:39:00.000-05:002006-11-03T10:14:58.520-05:00First chat with Denny...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/1600/denny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/320/denny.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />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.<br /> 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<br /><br />P.S. Yeah, that's Denny with Boomer and Ben Roethlisberger!DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1162564730459657582006-11-03T09:38:00.000-05:002006-11-03T10:16:38.320-05:00The 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.<br />Another milestone in my career has been a nearly flawless production of Titantown<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/1600/100_0372.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/320/100_0372.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> 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:<br />5. Good/creative transitions (not saying changing gears, or taking a step up)<br />4. No verbal errors (Stuttering, misreads, any other mishaps)<br />3. Solid content (Something people want to watch/are interested in) Not just filler junk to say you are on TV<br />2. Highlights/Video (Makes things more interesting and gets people's attention)<br />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?<br />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 YokleyDJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1161107757928104742006-10-17T12:28:00.000-05:002006-10-17T12:55:58.040-05:00Senior Project(s)So it's time to update you on the senior project, and I've got some bad news: There's no controversy, I'm actually right on schedule. Not that I figured I'd be behind, but the fact is, to juggle all of what I'm doing and still get out 4-5 minutes worth of highlights every week amazes even me sometimes. The only snag I had came last week when the group didn't exactly come back with exceptional video of the Homecoming game. So as producer/sports director, I had to make a decision; Do I put on poor video with no sound/ Do I forego a week of <a href="http://www.titanradio.blogspot.com">Greyhound Roundup</a>. I decided that the viewers deserved better than to be yelling at their monitor and cursing me out because of poor quality. Also, there was supposed to be a special edition of the Greyhound Roundup this week, where I got to talk to Coach Verelli, and some players about where they stand right now. There were a few things that happened beyond my control in this one, so I once again apologize for the viewers of the Roundup. But I do have a little surprise at the end of the year that may make up for it. Not only have I been working on the Roundup, but I have a Greyhound Highlight reel, complete with hard-hitting music, and action from the Blue and Gold machine from throughout the year. I'm not going to lie, it actually gets me a little pumped up, and I'm not even the one playing. <br />The reason I'm doing all of this may not be relevant right away, but as the sports news industry inches closer and closer to full-time news on the web. I'll be ready. By that time, I'd already had a full season of Greyhound Highlights on the web, and that's just another reason for an employee to hire me over somebody else. In the broadcasting industry, it's all about experience, and I'm not just dipping my foot in to test the waters, I'm diving in to see how far I can swim. I may swim, I may drown, but the experience I get will without a doubt, make me a front-runner for the job I want: ESPN. The best way to find out how this would help me nail down this job, is somebody who is already there. I'm going to ask <a href="http://www.westminster.edu/news/weekly/01-02-year/0306e.html">Denny Wolfe</a> in my next e-mail, if he thinks this will indeed help me land a job there, or if I'm just wasting my time. My money's on it helping me, because in the words of <a href="http://www.wytv.com">WYTV Sports Director, Bob Hannon</a>, "It never hurts to better yourself." That's all for now, until next time...I'm DJ Yokley.DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1161106051026138402006-10-17T11:28:00.000-05:002006-10-17T12:27:31.470-05:00What I did in broadcasting this week...This week was pretty big in my broadcasting world, it was a full plate, I had all my shifts, and all my games, not to mention Titantown Sports, let me break it down for you. <br />Monday: Attended regular classes, went up to the newsroom and put together a rundown for Titantown Sports at the County Line meeting. Also put together the Greyhound Roundup (week 5) and put together another weeks highlights on the computer for the Wilmington Highlight Reel for season's end. <br />Tuesday: Performed the 2-Minute Sports Drill solo, and nailed down some sound of Coach Verelli talking about the performance at Reynolds. Started working on highlights for TTS, and picked up some great shots from the Titan game at Thomas More, except for the fact that the Boys in Blue got marched all over by the Saints. I also used my Greyhound highlights, and debated using another set for for time safety. I then prepped for my radio shift at 2, and then had one of the best shows I've ever had, it was full with fun stuff, and had zero glitches. <br />Wednesday: This is the calm before the storm. Wednesday is the day I would prefer to write my scripts, just because I don't have alot to do on these days, but it never seems to work out that way. Wednesday's are nice in the fact that everybody is relaxed, because they still have at least 24 hours to do their thing for Thursday's main event. The question is, do they take advantage? I double check my highlights, and make sure there are no jump cuts (J.C.'s) and make sure I understand the material completely before I can go on the air(there are no IFB's from this century or spotters.) I finish my day by recording the 2-Minute Sports Drill, and head back to get some sleep and rest up for tomorrow's big game. <br />THURSDAY: May as well cause it "Mass Panic" day for some. Thursday is the day people make it, or break it. Mainly because they know that their time is up, and their last chance is to somehow pull off an empty edit bay. A little FYI, there are only 2 edit bay's and about 4 or 5 different people/groups jockeying for position. Live and learn I suppose, today is a day where all I have to do is create a script, and play dress up trying to look like a genuine sportscaster. Oh yeah, and provide Lawrence County with up to date sports news without fudging any of it. The show goes on, and Steve Brink and Megan Alexander do well. I get on and knock down my highlights, and my Extra Innings, and I'm off. All that work for 6 minutes worth of time. It goes by so fast, and the relief is so large that you can almost see the weight taken off my shoulders by the post-show meeting. Aidan is the best at making me feel like everything is going to be fine, especially when the world if falling down, she's the best producer/floor director there is!<br />Friday: Wake up with the crows, and get ready for the morning show I have with Clarissa Hunter. We got to preview a movie (Employee of the Month) and talked about the Steelers. I'm still on the fence as to whether I like the morning show circuit or not, sometimes I feel out of place because I'm so wrapped up in sports that it's often hard to understand anything else going on, but then again, that's the way I like it. Just another happy ending to a long week for this guy, until next time... I'm DJ Yokley.DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1159854523155837912006-10-03T00:48:00.000-05:002006-10-05T12:53:51.403-05:00Broadcast Like It's My J.O.B.For this weeks capstone I'm putting together a couple entries...My first entry will show places for me to look around for jobs and how I'm planning on going about things to get my foot in the door at these places. The second entry is something that I'm putting together because I've found a new inspiration to who's tracks I would like to follow, Mr. Mike Greenberg from ESPN Radio, and ESPN. More about him in the next entry....<br /><br />Now the search begins, and nowhere better than at the top of the pyramid, ESPN. I've actually been putting applications in at ESPN for a little over a year now and knowing that I probably won't be able to perform at that level, the tables are starting to turn. I'm a year older, a year wiser and a year more experienced with everything. So where do you go to apply to ESPN?? I found that if you go to the main website and scroll down to jobs, they give you the option between sending in your own resume, or creating one on the site. <a href="https://disney.recruitmax.com//main/careerportal/default.cfm?szCareerPortalID=185&szUniqueCareerPortalID=b09b3cfc-72ec-426d-815a-416a9da79328">ESPN JOBS</a>. If you're familiar at all with my blog, you know that ESPN is a goal of mine, and I fully intend on reaching it and working from the bottom to the top if need be. <br /> Another job possibility is with <a href="http://www.foxcareers.com">FOX</a>, and the reason I chose FOX is because of the creativity, and the networking that can be done there. FOX is probably the second-most well known sports network on the planet. Especially with the growing interest in competition against ESPN's SportsCenter. I feel that FOX is mainstream and that's where I see myself in the longrun. <a href="http://www.westminster.edu/student/Orgs/radio/checklist.cfm">Dr. B's checklist</a> for success explains a lot about how to go about things, and I've really embraced this list, and up to now, have had much success of my own. I feel the most important rule is "Develop your own personal strengths." The reason I feel that is because in a competitive industry like broadcasting, if you're fake, or you don't know your material, it shows. If you're yourself, and can standout from the crowd, more often times than not, you will prevail. <br /> I'm not into the whole newsletter thing where a group of analysts tell you some potential jobs, and jobs that are out there. If I'm going to pay money, I'd rather get an agent (which I know is considerably more) because they know their way around the business, and I may be able to feed of the network that they have already created. So in that case, I'd have to do some extensive research on agents, I've done a little bit, and one that stands out to me is <a href="http://www.agentassociation.com/">The Association of Talent Agents</a>. This way, I know what I'm getting and I have a representative to fill in the holes as oppose to me going into a job blindfolded. The site also shows the actors and talent of today and where they've gone to get agents. <br /><br /> However, knowing that I won't be able to afford an agent right off the get go, I find <a href="http://lostremote.com/media/jobs">lostremote.com</a> to be an excellent source to find jobs all over the country, and even the world. The thing I like most about lostremote is that it is not very specific or as I like to call "home-towned" because it gives you the big picture as oppose to the slide-show that we often are exposed to being close to Youngstown. Nothing against the small market, but if I'm still young and if I don't try to get to the top now, my fear is that I never will. <br /><br />Thats all for now, stay tuned for the Greenberg post, Until next time, I'm DJ Yokley...DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1159247706004275442006-09-25T19:38:00.002-05:002006-09-26T00:15:06.006-05:00Catching the changeup...So this week's blog is not exactly about my future, but about the past. We are to discuss classes that stoodout here at Westminster in both broadcasting and outside the major. Since I'm a transfer from Ohio Northern University, this brings me to a slight disadvantage as I haven't had as many classes to choose from. The broadcasting class that has taught me the most and what I've gotten the most out of has been Broadcast Journalism 2, just for the simple fact that it<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">forced </span>me to be involved in every bit of the BC Major here at Westminster. I learned more from being in class with the upperclassmen than I ever would being the upperclassman myself. I wrote for the news, I did a news story, and I really broke the door down on Titantown Sports. Mr. Weaver was the professor in this class, and he really challenged me to create myself as an anchor/reporter and told me that it's all about experience and even after I thought there was no possible chance anybody would ever let me anchor after my first week, Mr. Weaver pushed me to better myself, and that's what I did, but without BC Journalism 2, I don't think I'd have the talent, courage, and definitely not the same amount of experience that I have today.<br /> The class outside the major that has made the difference for me has been the Minority/Majority class taught by Dr. Kitzerow. This actually was a class that I would probably never had taken, but with no options left I asked Dr. Kitzerow if I could join her class, and she approved. M/M taught me how to walk in anothers shoes, how it would feel to be singled out, and if I were ever singled out, how to survive. This class helped me realize how blind I was to society's deprived, and how one person can make all the difference sometimes, which being a broadcast major, and a human in general makes you want do make that difference. So thank you Dr. Kitzerow if you're reading, you truly made a difference to me.<br /> And finally, I had to choose a Professor that made my years here worthwhile. This wasn't too difficult, this person has gone from being extremely intimidating, to being the most outstanding professor, and broadcast partner I've had. This person has taught me more in 2 years in broadcasting than I'll probably learn in my life, not to mention he knows a thing or two about friday night stadium menu's and who has the best! Dr. B is the man!!! He's done so much with the broadcasting program that we're enrolled in, more than I'll ever know. He gives out opportunity after opportunity to students to prove themselves, and to let their creativity shine through. He also keeps contact with his students that graduate and make sure they are doing well, and gives them updates, and asks for them in return. Dr. B doesn't just stay with us for the years that we're here, he stays with us wherever we go because if it weren't for him, there would be no "heads and shoulders above the rest" broadcast program. And I guess I'd still be at Northern.....so thanks Dr. B<br /><br /> until next time.....I'm DJ YokleyDJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1158807993274642412006-09-20T22:02:00.000-05:002006-09-21T00:18:21.866-05:00Get involved, get better....<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Coming into this year, I told myself that I want to be the best Sports Director that <st1:city><st1:place>Westminster</st1:place></st1:city> has ever seen.<span style=""> </span>It’s easy to tell yourself things, proving them is another story.<span style=""> </span>So I got an early jump last year at the conclusion of the school year on how things were going to change, how Titantown Sports would be able to compete with any collegiate broadcast, and perhaps even some small market sportscasts as well.<span style=""> </span>So, what was I going to do to have my ‘casts be separated from those of the past?<span style=""> </span>For starters, I was going to follow where Sebastian left off, I was going to make sure when people thought of covering Westminster Sports, they saw my face.<span style=""> </span>Sebas taught me that it is more important to be involved than it is to be just an anchor.<span style=""> </span>Getting involved meant to me, covering all the events possible that my schedule allows.<span style=""> </span>So far, I feel I’ve done a pretty good job when it comes to filling up my schedule with Broadcasting activities.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">2-2 minute sports drills a week</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">2-Color commentated games a week</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Titantown Sports (full time job)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">2 Radio shifts</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Greyhound Roundup</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Pregame for College radio</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p>By no means am I complaining, because I love every second I’m broadcasting, I really am living the dream when comes to doing my “job.”<span style=""> </span>So when I thought about what I wanted to do for a senior project, I jumped at the chance to follow one of the best teams in <st1:state><st1:place>Pennsylvania</st1:place></st1:state>, led by one of the greatest coaches in the history of Pennsylvania High School Football, Terry Verelli.<span style=""> </span>Covering the Greyhounds and doing the Greyhound Roundup takes more than just a knowledge of sports, and football, it takes a passion, and week in and week out I try to provide my viewers with the passion that they show their teams.<span style=""> </span>The “Roundup” will help me in my pursuit of my goals because I’ll be able to show off my raw talent of editing, producing, and being talent all at the same time. I feel my senior project will be completely different from anybody else’s in the sense that it’s really not about me, but it does showcase me. Not many people have had the opportunities that I’m receiving right now, so I’m taking full advantage of this privilege.<span style=""> </span>If you want to see what I’m talking about, you can check out the Greyhound Roundup at <a href="http://www.titanradio.blogspot.com">www.titanradio.blogspot.com</a>, or <a href="http://www.titanradio.net">www.titanradio.net</a>.<span style=""> </span>Something I’ve been thinking about for a wrap up of my senior project is something I’ve kept pretty low key until now.<span style=""> </span>I’m going to make a highlight tape just full of Wilmington Greyhounds, and specifically for the football team, namely the seniors.<span style=""> </span>After that’s complete, I’m going to make a feature/highlight reel for the 2006 football season narrated by myself, with commentary from your favorite Greyhounds, and of course Coach V.<span style=""> </span>So the timeline for the Hounds Reel is one week after the season is over.<span style=""> </span>The feature reel is going to be a pet project that will probably take me a good chunk of the whole year to complete, and something I will unravel at my presentation (So you may want to make the trip, it’ll be worth it.)<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p>Our second assignment was to come up with a person we’d like to interview for an alumni research project.<span style=""> </span>Right off the bat I called dibs on Denny Wolfe, I know Denny through Jason Mackey, and Denny and I have kept contact through e-mail pretty steadily.<span style=""> </span>Denny is a producer at ESPN in <st1:city><st1:place>Bristol</st1:place></st1:city>, and I would love to do what he’s doing, but at the same time, I’m really striving to be an on air talent, preferably an anchor.<span style=""> </span>I was told many things by all types of people about being talent on <a href="http://espn.com">ESPN</a>, but a couple things that keep recurring in people’s advice is that I need 3 things to get on ESPN:<span style=""> </span>Good looks, good wit, and a good agent.<span style=""> </span>I’ll have to ask Denny how he feels about that situation, and if its true.<span style=""> </span>If it is, I guess I better start looking for an agent (Kirstan.)<span style=""> </span>I believe that talking to Denny has given me insight as to how what I do now really effects how things will happen in my future.<span style=""> </span>If I take things for granted now, and just go through the motions, it becomes habit, and bad habits are extremely hard to break.<span style=""> </span>So if I work hard now, and get used to it, the climb from the bottom to the top of the ranks at the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network won’t take so long.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> Until next time, I'm DJ Yokley...DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1157944059968503242006-09-10T20:39:00.000-05:002006-09-10T22:41:45.220-05:00With a little help from my friends....Class Thursday was interesting to say the least. We went around the table and read e-mails we contributed pretending it was 10 years from now. Our class really puts the BROAD in Broadcasting, because every single one of us are going in different directions. <a href="http://mikewolenski.blogspot.com/">Mike</a> wants to own his own business, <a href="http://leanneveres.blogspot.com/">Leanne</a> wants to marry a russian, <a href="http://sbrink02.blogspot.com/">Steve</a> wants to be radio sports talent, <a href="http://www.amylav.blogspot.com/">Amy</a> wants to write, <a href="http://stevinelson.blogspot.com/">Stevi</a> wants to get into the magazine thing, <a href="http://kirstangides.blogspot.com/">Kirstan</a> more or less wants to be into the entertainment business, and <a href="http://aidanmewha.blogspot.com/">Aidan</a> wants to be a producer for a sitcom. So the question pops up in this blog as to who I share common ground with...<br /> I know what you're thinking, and no, I don't want to marry a Russian. I personally believe I have the most in common with Aidan, mainly because we share a dream of making it "big" or on a national level. We both have the mentality that we're going to get to where we need to be no matter what, so you're either in the car or we're going to A) Pass you up, or B) Run you over. Don't get me wrong, it's not a "kill or be killed" motto, it's more or less an I'm going to get there and you're going to like it motto. I was talking to Mr. Weaver the other day and I explained to him how I felt I had to defeat all doubts and misbeliefs in myself before I expected anybody else to. Now that I feel as I'm going full speed ahead, all the doubts have diminished, I didn't have to psyche myself out of them, because with the more experience you earn, the more confidence you're rewarded. And you can ask any broadcaster, confidence is the key to success. I've known Aidan for going on 3 years now, and she and I share the same confidence in ourselves and our goals (notice I didn't say dreams.)<br />We also had to find someone on the internet to critique....wow did I find somebody that showed everybody who ever anchors, that it can always be worse. This poor guy doesn't know up from down in his notes, the prompter, or the hilights. I'm not sure this guy does much blogging, but I like what he brings to the table and how he critiques people, I would never want to be the one on his site, but I'll definitely check it out again, and so should you <a href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=21494283&blogID=153210904">http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=21494283&blogID=153210904</a><br /><br />Also, I really think that a person I have a lot in common with, despite the different career paths are my predecessor and very good friend and Westminster Alum, Justin Egley. He's gone through the ups and downs of the business, and he's still alive. He is living his dream right now, he's 22 years old and he owns <a href="http://justinegley.blogspot.com/">his own business</a>. Granted, I don't want to own a business, I do want to live my dream as he is, and I believe with my friends that I have, and the network I've created (and a little bit of elbow grease,) it's going to happen. So thanks Justin for showing me the ropes, and having a foot to kick me in the ass when I underachieve, and a hand to shake when I perform.<br />This is a long, yet full week for me as I'll have a Monday Night Sports Drill for the Radio, a radio shift on Tuesday, Wednesday Night Sports Drill, Kickoff of The County Line (Titantown Sports) on Thursday, Game of the Week in Neshannock on Friday. Followed of course by Friday Night Hilites (<a href="http://www.titanradio.net">www.titanradio.net</a>, or <a href="http://www.titanradio.blogspot.com">www.titanradio.blogspot.com</a>) and of course we'll wrap up this week the same way I started it(on the radio) with the broadcast of Westminster vs. Carnegie Mellon. So, this is going to be a test of how fast can I get my hilites up on Friday, so if you haven't yet, definitely check them out and let me know what else you desire on the Wilmington Greyhounds. Until next time, Hugs and Handshakes for you...<br /><br /> I'm DJ YokleyDJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24862375.post-1157507594274540852006-09-05T19:03:00.000-05:002006-09-05T21:15:26.240-05:00Goals, and not the ones you kick in soccer...When we were asked to right about our goals, both short and long term, I had to take a step back and kind of think about it. I mean of course my ultimate goal is to be an ESPN Anchor, but<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/1600/1069642560.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/320/1069642560.jpg" border="0" /></a> what am I going to do to get there? Well I think I've come up with a list of things that could put me a couple spots ahead of average Joe when it comes to getting to "The Big Show."<br /><br />SHORT TERM GOALS:<br /><br />FRIDAY NIGHT HILITES: DO IT, AND DO IT WELL<br />With week 1 of the Greyhound Roundup in the books, I'm actually really pleased with the outcome. (<a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5563167553504791886&hl=en">http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5563167553504791886&hl=en</a><a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5563167553504791886&hl=en">5563167553504791886&hl=en</a>) As always, there is much room for improvement, but just like the teams, this is my week 1 as well and hopefully by week 10 you'll see some amazing stuff out of both myself, and the Greyhounds. I always want to be the best at what I do, even if I'm the only one doing it, I want to hold myself to a professional standard that will be difficult for people to reach if they don't put all that they have into the business like I am now.<br /><br />ANOTHER INTERNSHIP: WYTV, OR OTHERWISE<br />The best thing so far in broadcasting by far has been my internship at YTV. I've met colleagues, friends, and some that I may consider close enough to be family. The educational factor was huge in propelling me into this gung-ho Broadcaster that I have become. I believe that another internship, whether it be again at YTV, or somewhere else would be a good idea in advancing my skills, and building more of a network to draw off of when I do graduate. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/1600/deshea.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/320/deshea.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />FLAWLESS TELECAST: ANNOUNCING, ANCHORING, REPORTING??<br />I said above that there is always room for improvement, and nobody is perfect, well why not try to be?? Who can limit me from my potential other than myself? Nobody, so why not put on the best telecast, a flawless one. This could be difficult because when it comes to my profession, I critique myself pretty roughly, however I feel that if I get to a point where I do a flawless telecast, it's time to retire. This goal may not be reachable in my eyes, but then again, my eyes and ears aren't the ones who matter to me, it's my audience.<br /><br />LONG TERM GOALS: THESE MAY SEEM FAR FETCHED, BUT TO ME, THEY'RE WITHIN GRASP<br /><br />GRADUATE: BE THE ONLY BORN YOKLEY TO GRADUATE COLLEGE<br />This is more of a family goal between my mother and myself. There were some tha<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/1600/NW.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/320/NW.jpg" border="0" /></a>t said I would never make it in a college and some that said that once I got there I would never amount to more than a college dropout because times were too tough, and I didn't like to do homework much in high school. Well, here I am, 3 semesters away from taking that degree and proving wrong the naysayers. It's going to happen, take it to the bank. Besides, without graduation as your goal, you're other goals, just remain dreams.<br /><br />MOVE TO CONNECTICUT: PACK UP, ADIOS OHIO<br />Well here's where the story takes a twist, I'm going to pack up and go to a state where I've only driven through. WHY?? E-S-P-N, 4 letters that I eat, sleep, and always dreamt of being part of. The only way to get there is to be there right? I'm not going to do much damage in Ohio or PA, so I figure that my chances at least double just from being up there around that particular area where the headquarters are. I've told people in the past that I dont care if I ha<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/1600/37604983.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/320/37604983.jpg" border="0" /></a>ve to sweep the floor, as long as I get my foot in the door, it's going to take a bulldozer to get me out. Once in Connecticut, I'm going to take a "Do whatever it takes" policy with broadcasting and getting out to Bristol. I'm hoping to land a Production Assistant job right off the bat with ESPN, and possibly get a weekend anchor/reporter job at a local station in CT just to keep the skills up and get my name out(and to save up money for an agent.)<br /><br />TAKE ON "THE BIG SHOW": BE THE MAN<br />It's not just about making it to ESPN, once I'm there, I have to be the best, the favorite, the <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/1600/2311343688.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7459/2585/320/2311343688.jpg" border="0" /></a>posterboy. I want people to watch Sportscenter at night and say "I'm going to write about DJ Yokley in my blog." When it comes to broadcasting, I'm taking the same motto to it as I did in sports, why do it if you're not going to be the best? So that's what I have to be, and don't get me wrong, I'm not a selfish guy, I'm far from it, but when a kid makes a promise to his mother, he's got to keep it. Some may say, isn't ESPN good enough?? To them I would say, the best have to get better or it'll get worse. In this business there is no "neutral" so you have to keep going forward or you're gonna go backwords. Attitude is everything when it comes to what I do, so if I take a positive attitude to it, I feel as if my chances are pretty good. So I guess I can stop calling ESPN a dream, and start calling it a goal.<br /><br />Until Next time, I'm DJ Yokley.DJ Yokleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00011908808088841495noreply@blogger.com2