Where They Were Then: Sportscasters

Product Description

15 sportscasters who made it to the big leagues. 15 different paths to success. 15 unique, unbelievable, and previously untold stories.

“This is fascinating stuff.” —
Bob Costas, Hall of Fame broadcaster

“Hilarious… impossible-to-believe stories.” —
Darren Rovell, Sports Business Writer, ESPN, CNBC, The Action Network

“A fun and insightful read…” —
Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic gold medalist, author

Where They Were Then: Sportscasters features first-person narratives of the early career paths of some of America’s most popular sports broadcasters, including
Scott Van Pelt, Trey Wingo, Kenny Mayne, John Buccigross, Heidi Watney, and Stan Verrett.

Today, these broadcast stars cover the world’s biggest sporting events. But when you read
“Where They Were Then” you’ll discover that their job descriptions used to be quite different. Instead of World Series and Super Bowls, they covered “events” like ostrich racing, mountainside furniture racing, and whatever was going on at the local rodeo.

You’ll also be inspired and amazed by the lengths to which they had to go to begin – and advance – their respective careers in one of the most competitive businesses imaginable.

Each story promises to enlighten and entertain. Among the tidbits within:

*Which famous sportscaster…

-Did an entire TV segment with an IV in his arm?
-Was chased out of a Las Vegas hotel while working on an undercover prostitution story?
-Helped promote Shaquille O’Neal’s rap career?

Author – and former ESPN anchor –
Scott Reiss provides a unique backdrop to it all, having anchored sports at the national, regional, and local levels. He shares highly-entertaining, personal tales of life in the formative stages of TV sports, and ties together these individual accounts with commentary and additional insight.

Whether you simply love sports, want to learn more about your favorite sportscasters, or appreciate unlikely success stories, reading
“Where They Were Then” will be time well spent.

Review

“This is fascinating stuff. And I am sure I would have followed in a similarly circuitous path had I not happened upon some rather incriminating photos of NBC executives at a network junket in 1979.” —
Bob Costas, Hall of Fame broadcaster

“I know the hard work it takes to be the best on the field and this book makes you appreciate what it takes to be the best in the broadcast studio. A fun and enlightening look at the careers of some of the all-time greats.” —
Jerry Rice
, Hall of Fame wide receiver

“Learning the hard work and sacrifices the voices of my ‘sports life’ have gone through makes me love and respect them all so much more. Great read.” —
Darius Rucker
, Multi-Platinum singer & songwriter

“As an athlete I was on the other side of their experiences, answering their questions and giving them something to talk about. But reading their stories taught me they had the same determination, tenacity, endurance & belief in themselves as the athletes they report on. A fun and insightful read from a different perspective in the sports world.” —
Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic gold medalist, author

“The rise to the top is never a straight path, but one thing it always is, at least in the world of sports broadcasting, is hilarious.
Where They Were Then brilliantly memorializes some of these impossible-to-believe stories from those who turned into the biggest names… in their own words.” —
Darren Rovell, Sports Business Writer, ESPN, CNBC, The Action Network

“This is a great read for all sports fans. Sharp, witty, and insightful, Scott Reiss has compiled REAL stories from many of our favorite media personalities.” —
Andrew Luck, Pro Bowl quarterback

”
Where They Were Then is an inspiring and informative book written by first-rate sports broadcasters who share with us their career journeys, from apprenticeship to professional. Regardless of your current line of work, this is a must-read for those who appreciate the value of working toward mastery of cr