Special Contributor // Natalie Pierre-Maliqi
It’s a school for athletes who would like to plan ahead. It provides an opportunity for NBA players to play the part, test the waters and see if broadcasting is the direction they would like to go after their playing career’s expire.
In just a four day span Sportscaster U breaks down broadcasting basics and teachs NBA players, who already have basketball expertise how to talk about the game they have made a career out of.
“They understand basketball. But trying to say what they know and come out to the camera and really embrace the lens and create a relationship with the viewer is the hardest part,” Dave Ryan, co-director of Sportscaster U said. “And that’s what we’re trying to teach them.”
In the short period of time, the goal of the program is for each player to leave with a resume DVD or link to help them as they being their new careers.
The Cuse connection
Sportscaster U is run out of Syracuse University‘s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, but that is just one of the many connections the program has to the university. Ryan and Co-Director Matt Park are both Newhouse alumni.
Park is best known as the “voice of the Orange” while Ryan is a play-by-play voice for CBS College Sports. But the Newhouse roots of Sportscaster U go even further then the alumni who head the program.
“What we talk about here is just the basic priciples from the Newhouse school, which is on-air personality comes first,” Ryan said. Both Ryan and Park are also act as adjunct professors for the university.
The other S.U.
This is the fourth year of Sportscaster U, but this year is a little different. This years class is bigger then ever before, consist of more active NBA players then in prior years and for the first time ever there is a second program scheduled for late July.
“This is our first year having all active players.” Ryan explaine there’s been a major increase of interest among the NBA players.
Ryan said Sportscast U is still looking to expand to reach other atheletes.
“We definitley have promted the program with a lot of diferent player unions,” but Ryan said the expansion into other major professional sports is difficult because of their seson schedule.
First class of 2011
- Vince Carter – Phoenix Suns Guard, eight-time all-star
- Shaun Livingston – Charlotte Bobcats Guard
- Dahntay Jones – Indiana Pacers Guard
- Andre Iguodala – Philadelphia 76ers Guard
- Ryan Hollins – Cleveland Cavaliers Center
- Matt Carroll – Charlotte Bobcats Guard
- Earl Boykins – Milwaukee Bucks Guard
Alumni breakdown
- Samaki Walker (2008)- Al-Jalaa Aleppo (Syrian team) Forward
- Eric Snow (2008)- Philadelphia 76ers Color Commentator
- Adrian Griffin (2008)- Chicago Bulls Assistant Coach
- Casey Jacobsen (2008)
- Shaquille O’Neal (2009)- Recently Retired (after 19 years in the NBA)
- Malik Rose (2009)- New York Knicks Studio Analyst/NBA D-League’s Austin Toros Lead Color Commentator
- Donyell Marshall (2009)
- Brevin Knight (2009)- Memphis Grizzles Color Commentator
- Tony Battie (2009)- Philadelphia 76ers Forward
- Mike James (2009)- Aliağa Petkim (Turkish team) Guard
- Donyell Marshall (2009)- George Washington Colonials Men’s Assistant Coach
- Anthony Parker (2009)- Cleveland Cavaliers Guard
- Chris Duhon (2010)- Orlando Magic Guard
- Pat Burke (2010)
- Steven Hunter (2010) – Free Agent
- Antonio Daniels (2010)- Philadelphia 76ers Guard
- Gary Trent (2010)
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