I didn’t know anybody at the station or know anyone who knew someone at the station. How should I contact the station? Email, phone call, a letter, or just drop in? Hmm…
I chose to mail a letter and resume to the General Manager and the Director of Sales outlining my years of experience as a radio statistician. Yes, folks, I typed up some words along with my resume, printed it, folded it, placed it an envelope and licked the envelope to seal it (yuck). Then I had to drive to a post office to get a stamp.
The Director of Sales, Dean Radla, forwarded my letter and resume to the Director of Operations, David Ostmo. I didn’t know it at the time, but Dean worked for the Texas Sports Radio Network a long time ago. Dave Ostmo was going to be the producer for the Thursday Night Lights football games.
When I spoke to Dave which was a few days later, he told me he was impressed with my background. Well, who wouldn’t be? We talked about high school football in general and during our conversation, he offered me the job! I was super excited and accepted immediately. You are never going to guess where I was when that happened? I wasn’t scarfing down food; I was actually in the parking lot of the same post office where I dropped my letter and resume off!!!
That was the easiest job interview I have ever had!!! Wow!!! I am a television statistician!!! Sweet!!! The first call I made was to my parents to give em this great news!!!
Dave and I always chat before each game as he tells me what stats I really need to focus on; and whatever it is, I add it to my repertoire. All the stats I provide enhances the presentation which makes it sound and look great.
I even have stat freedom…by that, I mean, if I see a trend or a stat that pops out to me, I tell Dave and they have the capability to create a graphic. That is pretty cool!
There is a camera in the TV booth and I am aware when it is on. Don’t laugh, but I have bumped into the camera and the temporary lights several times; sometimes we work in very tight corners.
The cool thing about doing TV is I feel like a “rock star”!!! Everything is setup and ready to go. I just put on my headset and make sure I can be heard in the truck. Then, I am ready to crunch numbers for the broadcasters, the television viewers, and the internet viewers all around the world. And when the game is over, I get to leave, no dis-assembly of the equipment.
There is always food and drinks at the production truck and I don’t have to pay for it; that is very nice.
For the first 3 years, I worked with Ernie Zuniga (play-by-play) and Dean Radla (color). Yep folks, the same Dean that forwarded my letter and resume to the producer of the TNL games and I was and still am very thankful to what Dean did for me!!! Ernie is the morning news anchor and Dean is the General Manager of the KABB FOX 29! In year 4, it was again Ernie Zuniga, but doing color was Wane McGarity (former Clark Cougar, UT Longhorn, and Dallas Cowboy)!!
Wane and I are Clark High school graduates; Wane was class of ’94 and I was class of ’95! Yes, I knew Wane; he was on the basketball team and I was the Manager. We also had a class together. I remember talking to him in class one day; I was kinda making fun of him cause I had never saw him dunk the basketball. Well, when Wane dunked in a game, I bowed down to him in class and did the classic Wayne’s World, “I’m Not Worthy!!” When I introduced myself and told Wane who I was at the first game, I wasn’t upset that he didn’t remember me; it has been more than 18 years ago. But, he did remember that dunk cause he said that was the only time he did that in a game and nobody believes that it happened. It did happen and I was there!!!!
Hector Ledesma (he is one of the sports broadcasters on KABB Fox 29) and Mike Hernandez (he is one of the weather guys on KABB Fox 29) were the side-line reporters.
Last year, I worked with Don Harris (he is one of the sports broadcasters on WOAI News 4 San Antonio) and Chuck Miketinac (he is one of the sports broadcasters on KABB Fox 29). David Chancellor (he is one of the sports broadcasters on WOAI News 4 San Antonio) was the side-line reporter.
Some of my Alamo stadium renovation photos were featured during several games last season. Man, that was awesome and because of that, my face was also on TV.
This year marks my 6th as a TV statistician. Wow!!!
I will have stats, pics, and stories for every High School football game I work this season. Please follow me on Twitter@mdlblog and also like mdlblog on Facebook for updates throughout the season.
Tomorrow, I will tell you another story of how I got started as radio statistician.
