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	Sports Commentaries
		Round the Horn - 8/19/07
		...with Chad Andrus. The Dual Role of Broadcasting and Media Relations Anchor, reporter, talk show host, update guy, correspondent, stringer, panelist, play-by-play voice, color commentator, sideline reporter, producer, production assistant, and sidekick. These are all titles or job descriptions that I have held at some point since my sophomore year of college in the sports media world.
		But over the course of the last year I have been able to take on a new and exciting challenge that none of those positions could provide. I’m talking about the dual role of Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations. That’s what I do for the Colorado 14ers in the NBA Development League. When the plans for a new D-League team were first unveiled in the Denver/Boulder area I knew right away that I wanted to be involved as the play-by-play voice of the team. What I didn’t know was the other duties I would be signing up for if I wanted that job. Sure, the play-by-play is the easy part when you’re a lifetime hoops junkie and have been calling games on the air, into a mini-disc or tape recorder, from your seat in the stands, or from the comfort of your living room while staring at the TV for the better part of the last twenty years. No problem, piece of cake. But for anyone who wants a full-time job in minor league sports, the economics dictate that you bring a lot more than the broadcast to the table. From the radio/TV side of things I had worked with plenty of media relations/sports information people over the past 10+ years, so I figured I pretty much knew the drill with writing the media guide, game notes, and setting up interviews. Working in Denver was also a great advantage having been around some of the best in the business with Jim Saccamano and Paul Kirk at the Broncos, Eric Sebastian and Tim Gelt with the Nuggets, and Dave Plati at the University of Colorado. But I also knew there would be two big adjustments from the traditional media world. 1. Time commitment. You can go ahead and block out your personal life schedule from the time your training camp begins until the end of your post-season. You’re busy. Don’t even think about a long weekend in Vegas, a golf trip, or heading to the mountains to rip up the fresh powder. It’s not happening while you’re team is in season. You are responsible for anything that could be a “story” on or off the court for every coach and player on your team, 24-7. 2. Team employee. Obviously this is something that not everyone is cut out to do. Talk show hosts and newspaper columnists are not asked to help create and cultivate a team brand and image. A media relations director sole purpose is to do just that. Your “hot sports opinions” don’t have a place in your game stories, press releases, or your broadcast. Remember what you write and what you say, on or off the air, now comes from “the voice of Team X”. This is why teams now almost exclusively control the broadcast teams doing their games. It’s not about being an objective reporter. That said it’s certainly not a bad thing to take on the dual role of broadcaster/media relations director. I’ve gained a great deal of experience in the business side of a pro sports franchise, and I have a new understanding and appreciation for what it takes to run a successful team. And trust me, when you’re the media relations director, you’re broadcast prep will never be better! As you've already read Chad is the play-by-play and Media RElations Director for the Colorado 14ers. He's also a regular contributor to Denver area Sports Talk Radio and NBA TV. Check out Chad's resume in the SPJ/BMS Multi-Media Database.
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