An essential resource offering career insight and practical advice from industry-leading sports professionals.
In So You Want to Work in Sports, K. P. Wee has gathered invaluable first-hand perspectives from sports industry leaders with decades of experience in a range of fields, including broadcasting, sports management, journalism, scouting, marketing, analytics, and more. These seasoned professionals share their stories of how they got started in sports and the lessons they learned along the way. Wee shares how veteran sports radio reporter Ted Sobel deals with emotional athletes after a difficult loss; what broadcasters Chris King, Jeff Levering, and Steve Granado have to say about working in play-by-play; what advice Kris Budden has for conducting a quality interview; how respected baseball executive Andy Dolich got to where he is today, and more.
Full of tips, advice, and inspiration for those wanting to gain a foothold in the competitive sports industry, So You Want to Work in Sports is an indispensable resource for students and young professionals alike.
K. P. Wee is an educator based in Vancouver, Canada, with a passion for helping students and writing about sports. He is the author of multiple sports-related books, including The 1988 Dodgers: Reliving the Championship Season; Tom Candiotti: A Life of Knuckleballs; and The Case for Barry Bonds in the Hall of Fame. Wee has worked for the local Vancouver Canadians (Minor League Baseball) and Greater Vancouver Canadians (minor hockey) on the media relations and broadcasting side and hosts a podcast called “The K. P. Wee Podcast.”
Introduction
Instructor’s Note
Acknowledgments
PART I: BROADCASTING/PLAY-BY-PLAY
Chapter 1: WNBA and College Basketball Play-by-Play: Debbie Antonelli, ESPN College Basketball Analyst
Chapter 2: Baseball Radio Play-by-Play: Jeff Levering, Sports Broadcaster
Chapter 3: Sports Radio and Podcasting: Ted Sobel, Radio Sportscaster
Chapter 4: Minor League Baseball Play-by-Play: Chris King, Sports Broadcaster
Chapter 5: Media Relations and Play-by-Play: Steve Granado, Sports Broadcaster
Chapter 6: Sideline Reporting: Kris Budden, Sideline Reporter
PART II: JOURNALISM AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Chapter 7: Sports Photography: Richard Kee, Baseball Team Photographer
Chapter 8: Baseball Writer: J. P. Hoornstra, Sportswriter and Author
PART III: SPORT MARKETING, PUBLICITY, AND SALES
Chapter 9: Sports Marketing: Marsha Collier, Sports Business for Dummies
Chapter 10: Publicity: Steve Brener, PR Director
Chapter 11: Media Sales: Barry Turbow, Media Sales Professional
Chapter 12: Ticket Sales: Russell Robards, Ticket Sales & Fan Experience
Chapter 13: Marketing: Pat Gallagher, Consultant & Senior Executive in Sports
PART IV: SPORT MANAGEMENT/OWNERSHIP
Chapter 14: WNBA General Manager: Ann Meyers Drysdale, Broadcaster and Former Basketball Executive
Chapter 15: Sports Executive: Andy Dolich, Sports Executive for All Seasons
Chapter 16: From Batboy to Potential Owner: Ben Hwang, Former Batboy, Biotech CEO Who Made a Bid to Own the Dodgers
Chapter 17: Baseball Executive: Charlie Blaney, Former Baseball League President
Chapter 18: Baseball Executive: Rick White, Baseball League President
Chapter 19: Major League Baseball Team Co-Owner: Peter Seidler, San Diego Padres Majority Co-Owner
Chapter 20: Sports Management: Jason Takefman, Sports Consultant
PART V: FINDING AND WORKING WITH ATHLETES
Chapter 21: Sports Agent: Ronald Shapiro, A Sports Agent “Life by Accident”
Chapter 22: Wealth Management: Brandon Averill, Athlete Wealth Management Partner
Chapter 23: Scouting in Football: Neil Stratton, Advisor for Aspiring Football Agents and Scouts
PART VI: ANALYTICS
Chapter 24: Analytics in Baseball: Ari Kaplan, Baseball Analyst
Chapter 25: Analytics in Basketball: Marshall Payne, Basketball Operations Analyst
PART VII: OTHER CAREERS IN SPORTS
Chapter 26: Message Board Operator: Jeff Fellenzer, Former Baseball Stadium Message Board Operator Turned College Professor in Sports Business
Chapter 27: Team Historian: Mark Langill, Baseball Team Historian
Chapter 28: Digital Media & Advisor: Chelsea Heyward, Sports Industry Professional
Chapter 29: International Opportunities: Aggie Dent, International Sports & Sports Media/Sports Marketing
Chapter 30: Digital Media Designer: Sydney Noland, Digital Media in Football
Chapter 31: Sports Mascot: Ted Giannoulas, The Famous Chicken
Chapter 32: International Baseball: Ryan Flynn, International Baseball Program CEO
Conclusion: Parting Words of Wisdom
Appendix: Websites
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Written for students aspiring to work in the sports industry, this book is not academically situated in theory or scholarship, but neither does it claim to be. The text is as advertised, presenting advice and insights gained from interviews conducted with professionals, both recognizable names and not, working in various sectors of the sports industry. The interviews read like a career panel aimed at giving realistic, specific, and actionable advice that students can use to prepare themselves for their chosen career through education and training…. [A]ll parts offer an honest discussion of the good and bad of working in a particular sector of the industry…. [T]he book generally provides a realistic picture of how to get started in this field, and the descriptions of various jobs include challenges to expect, making this book valuable for students who may have unrealistic expectations about the industry.Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates. Professionals. General readers
— Choice Reviews
This useful and timely reference for high-school and college students gives advice on sports industry dream jobs…. Multiple contributors emphasize the need to pursue internships, have a mentor, and be passionate about the work. Many reiterate a common theme: “Get the idea of working in sports being glamorous out of your head because it’s a lot of work.” Complete with thorough backmatter (an appendix, additional websites, a bibliography), this contains invaluable information for young people interested in pursuing a sports career.
— Booklist
If you want to pursue a career in the business of sports this is a must read. The detailed insights and experiences from the industry professionals in So You Want to Work in Sports will help you create a strategic plan for success in a hyper-competitive world.
— Andy Dolich, Sports Business Consultant, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL
You don’t need a number or your name on your back to be in the game. Some of us fell into it by accident, some always knew that this is what we wanted to do. The realization that it’s possible to make a living bringing to life what others can only pay to see is pretty great. Why do we do it? The theme that becomes clearer as you read through K. P. Wee’s interviews from all sides of sport, is that we truly love being part of what I call ‘The Fun Business.
— Pat Gallagher, marketing/business executive, San Francisco Giants, Super Bowl 50 Host Committee
This book is one-of-a-kind with a wide variety of sports professionals who are not always visible to the fans; and the wide range of advice they give is a goldmine of wisdom for people aspiring to be part of the professional sports world. Much of their advice goes beyond sports to life itself, probably best boiled down to Aggie Dents pearl: “Follow your passion.” I recommend this book to everyone!
— Nancy Finley, author of Finley Ball and historian for the Kansas City Athletics and Oakland A’s
K. P. Wee has laid out a road map for those interested in working in the business world of sports in his appropriately titled book So You Want to Work in Sports. It offers the real-life experiences of an All-Star cast of sports business professionals who followed their passion to find their place in the sporting world. This book belongs in the hands of everyone who cares to think about a “dream job” and is willing to apply the dedication and work ethic to make that dream come true.
— Fred Claire, former Major League Baseball executive, author of Fred Claire: My 30 Years in Dodger Blue
