An uninspired mortgage broker gets an entry-level job at a cable start-up, lands the interview of a lifetime, and ultimately becomes one of the most famous sportscasters in America.A broadcaster spent his early years making meals for players and washing jock straps. Now he is an MLB play-by-play man with three World Series rings.A longtime DJ finally gets his chance to do TV sports, and his New Year's Eve debut was such a disaster he thought his career was over before it began. Now he's one of ESPN's longest-tenured anchors.Those are just three of the amazing backstories highlighting these 15 famous Scott Van Pelt, Kenny Mayne, Trey Wingo, Heidi Watney, Stan Verrett, Neil Everett, John Buccigross, Andy Katz, Kevin Corke, Jaymee Sire, Scott Reiss, Dari Nowkhah, Steve Bunin, Bill Pidto, and Dave Flemming."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"This book uses transparency, humility, and humor to not only shed light on what it takes to excel, but to inspire something in the reader that we all perseverance." —Zach Filkins**, Guitarist & founding member, OneRepublic**There has never been a book with so much TV sportscasting talent inside it. But even better than the PEOPLE in the book... are the STORIES they share. "Where They Were Sportscasters" brings you 15 unique, hilarious, and inspiring stories of how TV's top sportscasters went from nowhere to the national spotlight.Embark on a revealing journey through "TV time," as 15 nationally-known sports broadcasters describe - in amazing detail - how they succeeded in climbing one of the toughest career ladders imaginable.Be shocked and amazed by what your favorite sportscasters had to endure early in their careers. Be inspired by the doubts, fears, and hurdles they overcame en route to the top. Above all, be entertained by anecdotes delivered in the unique styles of some of the nation's most talented broadcasters.Some were fired. Most considered other jobs or careers. But all put in the hard work and pushed forward. "Where They Were Sportscasters" highlights the determination, the struggle, and the one or two pivotal decisions each broadcaster made that helped him or her become the best in the business.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.
