bigmike
03/02/07, 01:15 AM
Getting a job as an ESPN SportsCenter anchor seems to be the pinnacle for sports anchors everywhere, how did the job with ESPN come about? Did you actively contact them or did they contact you first?
I had just gotten an agent in early 1996. I saw an article in USA Today about a guy whose job at ESPN was to look at resume tapes. I thought that was cool. So many times we are afraid to apply to big companies through conventional means because we believe our resumes will never be even looked at. But, here was this dude whose job was to look at resume tapes. So, I called my agent and told them to send a tape to ESPN. I never thought about it after that. I didn't think I was good enough. Then, one day in July, my agent called and said ESPN was interested. I was hired three months later
Whats the best advice you got when breaking into the business? Any advice for people trying to break into the journalism field now?
When I saw an interview on MTV with REM lead singer MIchael Stipe and he said, "Don't listen to anyone else because they are wrong. Don't listen to anybody but yourself. Have a vision and stick it out and do it your way." At the same time, like REM, i worked hard, had great energy and enthusiasm, never called in sick, and had a killer head of hair. Be deverse, be energetic, be creative and be nice to everyone.
In 1996 you became the weekday anchor at WRPI-TV in Providence, R.I., have you ever had the desire to move onto a less sports oriented job as an anchor of some sort a la Craig Kilborn and Keith Olbermann? Or, even, would you like to become a bigger ESPN personality like say a Stuart Scott or Chris Berman?
I love music and if I were to do something else it would probably be in that field. I do have a lot of intersts and have thought about doing other things. I don't want to be a big personality. I got into this business for fun and to make money. Not to get famous. I have no interest in fame.
What is a typical day like for John Buccigross when you've got to do say the 11 pm SportsCenter? Additionally, does the hectic life of being an anchor at ESPN leave you with much free time? If so, what do you occupy that time with?
I have plenty of free time. We work 9 hour days, 4-5 days a week. When one anchors the 11pm SC, we meet at 3:30 for show ideas and go home at midnight. We watch games, talk about the show and act like we are in college. I love to golf and work out at the gym. I also like to read, go to ballgames, concerts, and hanging out with my kids. My favorite thing to do right now is hit golf balls while I listen to music on my Dell MP3 player. Last year, I started playing 9 holes with my MP3 player in. I love that. Our job is pretty easy.
How much of the preperation do you actually do and how much is from researchers and writers? Also, on average, how often do you have improvise while on live due to technical difficulties? Do you revel in that opportunity or not?
I do prefer a less scripted show than Sportscenter. THat is why I enjoyed NHL 2night so much. It was more of a freelance show. We have a great research staff, but I prefer to do my own research. I feel I learn more that way. We don't have technical difficulties too often. Our research is watching games and understanding the characters and storylines.
Who was your favorite ESPN anchor before you got to ESPN? Do you have a favorite person to anchor SportsCenter with?
Keith Olbermann, Craig Kilborn, Chris Berman and Dan Patrick were my Mt. Rushmore of anchors before I got here. Scott Van Pelt and John Anderson are my favorites to work with now because our sensibilities are so similar.
You're a big hockey fan, so do you ever see a time when there might be a return of NHL 2Nite? What do you think of the NHL resigning with Versus and was the NHL smart to turn down the worse deal from ESPN and sacrifice coverage for a better deal?
Who knows, maybe someday the NHL will be on ESPN in the future and there will be a hockey show. I really don't know what the impact of the NHL on versus will be. I actually think it might be a little overblown. The hardcores will always find hockey, and all the years the NHL was on ESPN, the league didn't take a major step forward, so maybe it's hard to turn down 80 million a year when no one else is offering anything.
With the trade deadline come and gone, who are your winners and losers of the deadline? Most surprising player that was not dealt? Anyone traded that surprised you?
Ryan Smyth was a shocker. He was by far the best player traded at the deadline. he locks up the Islanders as a playoff team in my mind. They are big winners. The Preds getting Forsberg was huge obviously. Nothing else really titled the balance in my mind. Zubrus was a good pickup by Buffalo and lock them up as the #1 seed in the East..
What are your awards predictions as of right now for the Hart Trophy, the Calder Award, Selke Award, Vezina, and Stanley Cup finals (and winner)? What one team that no one's talking about is the scariest come playoff time?
Vancouver is the scariest team no one is talking about...THe hart trophy will be a goalie unfortunatly..broduer or Luongo. Maklin will win the Calder, Lidstrom will win another Norris, I don't care about the Selke, Sabres beat the Preds in the Stanley Cup Final.
Lets say you get Gary Bettman's job. What would you do to grow the game back to what it had become in the late 1990's and early 2000's? Is there something you think Bettman's missing the boat on that would greatly improve the game? Also, do you think the NHL could ever recapture the final spot in the "Big 4 Sports" in America or has that ship sailed?
That ship has sailed. The world is too fractured now.
Who of the ESPN personalities is the biggest hockey fan that the public wouldn't peg as a hockey fan?
No one.
You're known for your musical references, some of which the general public don't get. What are some of your favorite bands out today? Also, what were your top 5 albums released in 2006?
Top 2006 albums? I didn't get a bunch of new music. Death cab for cutie, band of horses, my chemical romance, the shins (2007), Gnarles Barkley.. I listen to the Shins new CD everyday. I love Ben Folds, Blink 182, U2, David Gray, REM. I'm listening to a lot of Police lately since I will be seeing them in Fenway Park this summer. They made some great music that is standing the test of time. I think they were one of the first "alternative band" that never got that moniker because of they made such great pop songs.
If you weren't a sports anchor, would you ever give thought to breaking into music journalism?
I'll do something with music some day.
Finally, who has the better 'stache? George Parros (http://cache.viewimages.com/xt/72820820.jpg?v=1&g=editorial_na&s=1), Todd Harvey (http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/nhl/profiles/players/1105.jpg), or Don van Massenhoven (http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20051124/vanm_52382.jpg)?
Parros rules.
A very big thanks goes out to John Buccigross for taking the time to do this. Please check out his hockey column on ESPN here (http://sports.espn.go.com/keyword/search?searchString=John_Buccigross &rT=sports).
I had just gotten an agent in early 1996. I saw an article in USA Today about a guy whose job at ESPN was to look at resume tapes. I thought that was cool. So many times we are afraid to apply to big companies through conventional means because we believe our resumes will never be even looked at. But, here was this dude whose job was to look at resume tapes. So, I called my agent and told them to send a tape to ESPN. I never thought about it after that. I didn't think I was good enough. Then, one day in July, my agent called and said ESPN was interested. I was hired three months later
Whats the best advice you got when breaking into the business? Any advice for people trying to break into the journalism field now?
When I saw an interview on MTV with REM lead singer MIchael Stipe and he said, "Don't listen to anyone else because they are wrong. Don't listen to anybody but yourself. Have a vision and stick it out and do it your way." At the same time, like REM, i worked hard, had great energy and enthusiasm, never called in sick, and had a killer head of hair. Be deverse, be energetic, be creative and be nice to everyone.
In 1996 you became the weekday anchor at WRPI-TV in Providence, R.I., have you ever had the desire to move onto a less sports oriented job as an anchor of some sort a la Craig Kilborn and Keith Olbermann? Or, even, would you like to become a bigger ESPN personality like say a Stuart Scott or Chris Berman?
I love music and if I were to do something else it would probably be in that field. I do have a lot of intersts and have thought about doing other things. I don't want to be a big personality. I got into this business for fun and to make money. Not to get famous. I have no interest in fame.
What is a typical day like for John Buccigross when you've got to do say the 11 pm SportsCenter? Additionally, does the hectic life of being an anchor at ESPN leave you with much free time? If so, what do you occupy that time with?
I have plenty of free time. We work 9 hour days, 4-5 days a week. When one anchors the 11pm SC, we meet at 3:30 for show ideas and go home at midnight. We watch games, talk about the show and act like we are in college. I love to golf and work out at the gym. I also like to read, go to ballgames, concerts, and hanging out with my kids. My favorite thing to do right now is hit golf balls while I listen to music on my Dell MP3 player. Last year, I started playing 9 holes with my MP3 player in. I love that. Our job is pretty easy.
How much of the preperation do you actually do and how much is from researchers and writers? Also, on average, how often do you have improvise while on live due to technical difficulties? Do you revel in that opportunity or not?
I do prefer a less scripted show than Sportscenter. THat is why I enjoyed NHL 2night so much. It was more of a freelance show. We have a great research staff, but I prefer to do my own research. I feel I learn more that way. We don't have technical difficulties too often. Our research is watching games and understanding the characters and storylines.
Who was your favorite ESPN anchor before you got to ESPN? Do you have a favorite person to anchor SportsCenter with?
Keith Olbermann, Craig Kilborn, Chris Berman and Dan Patrick were my Mt. Rushmore of anchors before I got here. Scott Van Pelt and John Anderson are my favorites to work with now because our sensibilities are so similar.
You're a big hockey fan, so do you ever see a time when there might be a return of NHL 2Nite? What do you think of the NHL resigning with Versus and was the NHL smart to turn down the worse deal from ESPN and sacrifice coverage for a better deal?
Who knows, maybe someday the NHL will be on ESPN in the future and there will be a hockey show. I really don't know what the impact of the NHL on versus will be. I actually think it might be a little overblown. The hardcores will always find hockey, and all the years the NHL was on ESPN, the league didn't take a major step forward, so maybe it's hard to turn down 80 million a year when no one else is offering anything.
With the trade deadline come and gone, who are your winners and losers of the deadline? Most surprising player that was not dealt? Anyone traded that surprised you?
Ryan Smyth was a shocker. He was by far the best player traded at the deadline. he locks up the Islanders as a playoff team in my mind. They are big winners. The Preds getting Forsberg was huge obviously. Nothing else really titled the balance in my mind. Zubrus was a good pickup by Buffalo and lock them up as the #1 seed in the East..
What are your awards predictions as of right now for the Hart Trophy, the Calder Award, Selke Award, Vezina, and Stanley Cup finals (and winner)? What one team that no one's talking about is the scariest come playoff time?
Vancouver is the scariest team no one is talking about...THe hart trophy will be a goalie unfortunatly..broduer or Luongo. Maklin will win the Calder, Lidstrom will win another Norris, I don't care about the Selke, Sabres beat the Preds in the Stanley Cup Final.
Lets say you get Gary Bettman's job. What would you do to grow the game back to what it had become in the late 1990's and early 2000's? Is there something you think Bettman's missing the boat on that would greatly improve the game? Also, do you think the NHL could ever recapture the final spot in the "Big 4 Sports" in America or has that ship sailed?
That ship has sailed. The world is too fractured now.
Who of the ESPN personalities is the biggest hockey fan that the public wouldn't peg as a hockey fan?
No one.
You're known for your musical references, some of which the general public don't get. What are some of your favorite bands out today? Also, what were your top 5 albums released in 2006?
Top 2006 albums? I didn't get a bunch of new music. Death cab for cutie, band of horses, my chemical romance, the shins (2007), Gnarles Barkley.. I listen to the Shins new CD everyday. I love Ben Folds, Blink 182, U2, David Gray, REM. I'm listening to a lot of Police lately since I will be seeing them in Fenway Park this summer. They made some great music that is standing the test of time. I think they were one of the first "alternative band" that never got that moniker because of they made such great pop songs.
If you weren't a sports anchor, would you ever give thought to breaking into music journalism?
I'll do something with music some day.
Finally, who has the better 'stache? George Parros (http://cache.viewimages.com/xt/72820820.jpg?v=1&g=editorial_na&s=1), Todd Harvey (http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/nhl/profiles/players/1105.jpg), or Don van Massenhoven (http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20051124/vanm_52382.jpg)?
Parros rules.
A very big thanks goes out to John Buccigross for taking the time to do this. Please check out his hockey column on ESPN here (http://sports.espn.go.com/keyword/search?searchString=John_Buccigross &rT=sports).