How to do a remote broadcast

As a member of the WRHU Sports Department, I have had the opportunity to do a lot of in studio work, but one of the coolest things that I have had the opportunity to do is on-site, or remote, broadcasts.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of traveling to Towson, Maryland to broadcast the CAA Women's Lacrosse Championships as the Hofstra Pride qualified for the tourney as the three seed and were matched up with the James Madison Dukes.

When you travel on the road, bringing all the necessary equipment and knowing how it works because it's essential to know how to connect and work all the equipment.  If you don't you will not be able to connect with studio and in the real world, if you mess up a live broadcast, you will be fired when you return home.

I have identified five things that are essential to a remote broadcast:

1) Mackie Board
2) Hotline
3) Headsets
4) XLR's
5) Zoom

The Mackie Board is what the entire broadcasts runs through.  The signal that you send output on air, and your connection that gets in-put back to studio all gets fed through the mackie board.  The board controls your audio levels as well, meaning once you connect with studio, you communicate with the engineer to figure out whether your levels need to be changed or not.

The hotline connects to the mackie board that through a phone line is connected with the studio.  A broadcast can either be done through the hotline, or hotline is used simply for "talkback," which is the term used to describe being able to talk to the in-studio engineer through your headsets.  You plug in a phone line in the hotline and connect that to a phone-jack located something at the remote site, dial studio through the hotline, and if there are no issues, the connection should work.

The headsets are simple and relatively self explanatory, but important nonetheless.  Your headsets allow you to hear studio, hear yourselves in your ears, and also is the tool through which your voice gets transmitted onto the air.

XLR's are the wires that connect all the equipment to the mackie board, and if your don't bring enough XLR's with you on a broadcast, you will not be able to connect.  They are the blue wires shown in the slideshow.

Finally, the zoom is a portable recording device that allows you do interviews on site and send the audio files back to studio.  Simply, an XLR connect a mic to the zoom, and the audio recordings get saved on a SD card, and all you do is once the interview is complete you pull the audio off the zoom and send the file back to studio.

The most difficult thing about remotes is when something goes wrong and you have to troubleshoot.  A multitude of things can go wrong, but the most important thing is that you communicate with someone on your on site location before hand and make sure they have broadcast capabilites.  For example, when I was in Maryland, we knew before hand they did not have phone lines, so brought wireless internet with us and did the broadcast over Google Voice, which is not the preferable way to do a broadcast, but it got the job done.  As long as you prepare beforehand and don't go to the remote without any knowledge of the equipment they have, in most circumstances you will be able to connect and successfully air the broadcast.

My last thing for you in this post is that if you are interested in radio and have an opportunity to do any sort of remote broadcast cherish the experience and have fun with it because you'll never know how long it will last.  

New Video

My Spring Break Project

My spring break was one of the most entertaining break I have had in a while.  And coming from a college student that could mean a variety of things.  I was able to cover the New York Islanders as a reporter for the first time all season during their final home game against the Winnipeg Jets.  I went to morning skate with the team Thursday morning, and recorded a feature interview with Matt Donovan, a rookie defenseman for the Isles.  During the game I spoke with Andrew McDonald and Matt Martin, for the in-game intermission interviews, which are always exciting because they players have just left the ice, and are still in the zone for their previous twenty of play.  Fourtunately the Islanders won and I was able to talk with many of the players in the post game press conference.  Here I have posted an interview with defenseman Steve Staios who played in his 1000th career game that night.

I also had a chance late in the week to travel with the Hofstra Men's Lacrosse team as they took on the UNC Tar Heels this past weekend in the ESPNU Warrior Classic.  I was the color commentator for the broadcast in a game that was broadcast on ESPNU, and I was able to meet and talk with some of the on-air talent for ESPN, while picking their brains on how best to get into the broadcast booth and how best to have a career as a sports commentator.  In my slideshow you can see my pictures from the events, with photo's from the Nassau Coliseum and Charlotte, North Carolina to come shortly!

Some may say that spring break is for relaxation, which I believe it is, but this past week I gave up the glory that is vacation to get invauable professional experience that I will never regret. 

Tommy Sullivan: Man, Myth, and Legend

Another Podcast

A little Lacrosse on the Faceoff Dot

Craig Camara: Goaltender Hofstra Roller Hockey

Normally when you picture hockey, you can hear the skates scratching on the ice, the zambone making the playing surface nice and smooth during intermission, and the goaltender getting snow washed by an oncoming forward in the crease. But this particular player does not play his favorite game on the ice, he plays it on the hardwood.

Craig Camara, from Starksboro, Vermont, attends Hofsta University as a Marketing Major, but out of class Camara plays goalie for the Hofstra Pride Roller Hockey Team.

In terms of equipment, as you can see in the photos, there is not much difference between roller and ice hockey (besides that fact of course that he's not a skates).

Due to the rollerskates it is more difficult in roller hockey to have lateral movement in the net, which makes set position much more important versus excelling at reactions and anticipation.  In the photo's Criag displays your typical butterfly style, how a goaltender stickhadles, and shows off the padding that a goaltender must wear in order to compete.

Camara was the starting goaltender for Hofstra's B Team, and in his first year with the team he immediately excelled and will look to have an impact on the Division One squad next season.  Last weekend Hofstra Roller Hockey did not qualify for nationals, going 1-3 in their Regional Tournament defeating Penn State.

Even though its not on the ice, Craig still is able to continue fulfilling his passion for hockey on his rollerskates. In the future he says he will proceed to develop as a player and adapt his game to the different playing surface. Regardless, Craig gets to play hockey, and that's all he cares about.

Winners and Losers of the Trade Deadline

The trade deadline brought alot of surprises.  Ironically, most of the prominent action came before deadline day.

February 27, 2012 was expected to be a day with big moves and teams making that added push to secure a Stanley Cup Championship come late May.  However, most teams made depth moves and there were no major buyers or sellers on deadline day.

For example, the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins traded away three prospects in two separate deals for veteran forward and former Bruin Brian Rolston, and defenseman Mike Mottau and Greg Zanon.

With that being said here are my winners and losers for the 2012 trade deadline:

WINNERS:

1) Los Angeles Kings:  With the addition of Jeff Carter, the Kings made a conscious effort to improve their struggling offense.  The time for L-A to win is now, with top players such as Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar playing at the prime of the their careers.  Carter brings that offensive flair and scoring tough the Los Angeles has lacked.  He offers the combination of playmaking ability with natural scoring ability that is unique in this league.

2) New Jersey Devils: Prior to their four game losing streak the Devils had won nine of eleven games and were as high as fourth place in the East.  At the deadline New Jersey added veteran defenseman Marek Zidlicky, who brings an added offensive touch to their blueline, and at age thirty-five, brings a veteran presence for young defenseman Adam Larsson to learn from.  Smart move for a Devils team that has an aging Marty Brodeur in net, whose career is certainly on its last legs,

LOSERS:

1) Philadelphia Flyers: For such a poor defensive team, they were never rumored at the deadline to be in the discussions to acquire a top goaltender or defenseman.  Philly sits at twenty-seventh in the league in Goals Against and twenty-second in penalty kill which signals to me that help on the blue line or between the pipes is needed.  They picked u Pavel Kubina before Deadline day, however, Kubina has proven that when playoff time comes he typically disappears.  The only time the Flyers were brought up in rumor discussion was in the Rick Nash sweepstakes, which certainly was not the teams top need.  Not the brightest deadline move by a Flyer team that made the Cup Finals two years ago.

2) Minnesota Wild: This team proved in the beginning of the season that their defense and goaltending could carry them for parts of the year, leading the Western Conference through the beginning third of the season.  Since then, however, the Wild have fallen from first to out of the playoff picture, proving that their top line of Dany Heatly, Devin Setoguichi, and Mikku Koivu, could not carry them through the entire season.  At the deadline, the Wild only picked up a young defenseman from the Bruins.

As the season concludes in the last month and a half of the season, we'll see if my analysis holds to be true, but the Trade Deadline always seems to make or break a teams championship hopes, and we'll just have to wait a little bit longer to see what team that is for the 2012 season.

The Rise of Anaheim and the Fall of Minnesota

After an 2-11 November here is the Anaheim Ducks' record after the first two months of the season: 6-13-4, 16 points: Second to last in the West.

On that same day the Minnesota Wild sat at 14-7-3, 31 points: First in the West.

On Sunday, both teams were in action, with the Ducks defeating the Blackhawks and the Wild defeating the Sharks:

ANA 3 CHI 1
MIN 4 SJ 3

Now, three months later, Anaheim sits at 27-25-10, 64 points; 13th in the West, and Minnesota has fallen to 28-25-9, 65 points; 12th in the West.

Analyzing each squad's roster shows that each team were early surprises, with Anaheim's lackluster start and Minnesota's stunning rise to the top of a historically talented and deep Western Conference.

Taking a look at the roster of the Anaheim Ducks, they have some pretty recognizable names:

C Andrew Cogliano
C Saku Koivu
C Ryan Getzlaf
LW Bobby Ryan
RW Corey Perry
RW Teemu Selanne
D Cam Fowler
D Lubomir Visnovsky
G Jonas Hiller

With all the prominent names on offense like Selanne, Getzlaf, Perry, and Ryan, in the beginning of the year defense was the problem with the Ducks, allowing over three goals per game.  Additionally in the first two months of the season, Anaheim allowed four or more goals in a game ten times.

Anaheim has now won seven of their last ten, with two of those losses in shootouts, and in those ten games that Ducks have allowed two goals or fewer in nine of those ten.  Coincidence? I think not.

Taking a look at Minnesota, they almost have the complete opposite story: quality defense and goaltending, but a week offense.  Through 27 games on December tenth, the Wild had only given up four or more goals five times and sat alone at the top of the Western Conference.

After 4-1 victory against the Coyotes on the tenth, the Wild would proceed to lose their next 15 of 17, scoring a combined 20 goals in those 15 losses.

Now the prognosticators can sit pretty as both teams, whose first two months were unexpected, on opposite ends of the spectrum at that, and now both teams are closer to where they were expected to be at the beginning of the season.

Thats the NHL for you, in a league that when compared to the other three major sports more lower seeded teams in the playoffs have upset higher seeded teams in the playoffs.  Hockey is chaos and the Ducks and Wild have showed that this season.

Jeff Carter Heading to the City of Angels

Well Rick Nash may be staying put after.

Disgruntled Blue Jackets forward Jeff Carter has been traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Defenseman Jack Johnson and a conditional first round pick in the 2012 and 2013 Draft. 

With Johnson, GM Scott Howson acquires a player that is young, talented, and established in the League, and the first round pick satisfies the draft pick desire that he would've wanted from a potential Nash trade.

Carter had been a overall disappointment for Columbus, recording 15 goals, 10 assists, and 25 points while have a -11 plus/minus rating in only 39 games due to various injuries.  At the onset of his arrival in Columbus Carter was vocal in his lack of a desire to play for the franchise that has been historically underachieving and appeared to be stuck in a state of mediocrity.  Prior to his half a season with the Blue Jackets, Carter was a three-time 30 goal scorer with Philadelphia which prompted them to sign the 27-year-old to an eleven year deal through the 2021-2022 season.  However, following the Conference Semifinal loss last season to the Boston Bruins, the Flyers upper management decided to make significant roster changes, shipping Carter to Columbus and captain Mike Richards to the Kings.

Now in L-A Richards and Carter will be reunited to help an offense that has averaged a league low 2.05 goals per game, but the Kings roster certainly does not lack the talent.  The Kings top six forwards will now include:

Jeff Carter
Mike Richards
Anze Kopitar
Simon Gagne (when healthy)
Dustin Brown
Dustin Penner

Now thats not a bad top two lines if you ask me.  What LA now will need to prove, assuming Carter does improve the struggling offense, is if the defense can play well enough to get them in the playoffs.  Goaltender Jonathan Quick was an all star this season, and now former top-five pick Drew Doughty and veteran Rob Scuderi will be asked to anchor the back line for LA.

But for a quick moment lets take a glimpse at how this trade affects Carter's former teammate Rick Nash.  Howson now will the need the perfect offer, and I mean perfect, to trade his two most talented players within days of eachother.  That's from the upper management's perspective.  Now if I'm Rick Nash, that trade sends me a very specific message: this team (Columbus) is still rebuilding, still unsure of the direction they want to go in.

If I'm Mr. Nash, and I'm approached by Howson with an offer to go to a playoff team, I give him a hug, say thank you, and get the hell out of Columbus.

Nash Sweepstakes Update

News broke last night of the San Jose Sharks possibly being an interested party for the services of Rick Nash.

GM Scott Howson reportedly asked for last season's Calder Trophy winner for Rookie of the Year, Logan Couture, but that was immediately shut down by Sharks GM Doug Wilson.

Rick Nash does have a no trade clause, so ultimately he will have to agree to any deal that Howson agrees too.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=6736

Here's TSN's trade rumor update as of this morning:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=388513

NHL Trade Deadline Approaching

The NHL trade deadline can lead teams to championships.

See the play of Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly for the Bruins during last years Stanley Cup run.

But its not too often were a marquee talent gets shopped around so publicly, and this year we have that with the apparent departure of Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets.  The Blue Jackets have been mired in mediocrity since their inception to the league in 2000.  In 2003 the Blue Jackets traded up to the first overall pick to select Nash, who has been far and away the franchises best player recording 278 goals, 250 assists, and 528 points.

Historically Nash has not had the best talent to play around, his best teammates including Sergei Fedorov, RJ Umberger, and Antoine Vermette.  The Blue Jackets have only made the playoffs once in their twelve year existence, finishing in eighth place in the Western Conference, but they lost to the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings in the first round 4-0.  That season the club was led by rookie goaltender Steve Mason who provided the squad with a 2.29 GAA (goals against average), yet since the season the netminder has never had his GAA finish below 3.00.  Nash finished that year with career highs in assists and points.

Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson was active this offseason in trading Jakub Voracek to the Philadelphia Flyers, along with a couple draft picks for all star forward Jeff Carter, but the move has not paid off, leading to Nash's name being floated around to multiple teams.  The expected contenders for the power forward's services include the New York Rangers, LA Kings, and the aforementioned Flyers, and Howson is asking for one primary roster player, two prospects, and a high draft pick in return for Nash.  Here's what each of those teams have to offer:

Rangers: Michael Del Zotto; The third year defenseman has an offensive fair to his game with thirty points and has a fantastic plus/minus at +28.

Kings: Jack Johnson; In terms of need the Kings may have the most need for Nash, falling out of the top eight spots in the West, including having been shut out in their past two games.  However the Kings may have the least to offer, but Johnson is a proven young top-line defenseman in this league who would join a club who historically has never had a great defenseman in his prime.

Flyers: James Van Riemsdyk, Sean Couturier, Sergei Bobrovsky; The Flyers may have the most to offer with three, young, talented players and also have been rumored of including a first round pick in this package.

If the Flyers are willing to give up that much, and Howson has the confidence to pull the trigger on a deal that may bring negative fan reaction, then Philly clearly leads the way.  Anything can happen in a week's time though, and that's the great excitement of the NHL trade deadline.

BC 3- BU 2 OT INSTANT CLASSIC

Having trouble uploading this video directly here but check out the full highlights from BC's 3-2 victory over BU in overtime.  Simply put, a classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6Q1h5AMmBI&feature=player_embedded

Credit to Hockey East Online for the great video

2012 Beanpot

Sports fans in Boston always have the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, or Celtics to root for.  However, for two weeks in February, the professional sports teams take a backseat to one of the most storied college athletic championships of all time.

Thats right.  I'm talking about the Beanpot.

In one of the most underrated and under appreciated College Athletic events outside of New England, the Beanpot is a tournament between Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, and Northeastern that is played over a two week period with week one being the semifinal games and week two consisting of the consolation game and championship game.

Now in recent years the tandem of Boston College and Boston University have dominated not only the Division One Hockey landscape, acting as the LSU's and Alabama's of their sport.  Additionally Northeastern and Harvard have never met in the Beanpot final.  Either BC or BU has always advanced to the final round.  Take a look at the most recent victory for each school:

BC: 2011
BU: 2009
Harvard: 1993
Northeastern: 1988

As has become the norm the eighth ranked Eagles and the fourth ranked Terriers once again meet in the championship game.  Regardless of how the tournament has become skewed in terms of competition, this tournament must never, and in my opinion will never, lose the grace that it carries because it connects directly with the city of Boston and the faithful Bostonians.

Growing up in Boston, and in a hockey family, I remember always watching these games with mt father and other family and its a memory than many Massachusetts children hold with them.  Unfortunately the Beanpot has lost some of its national shine that it had in its early days, and I wish that more people would appreciate its history, importance, and pure competitive spirit that it brings on of each collegiate athlete that play for the four participating schools.  Hockey players choose of of these four institutions simply to have an opportunity to play in the Beanpot.

Now if that doesn't attract you to the game of hockey, or sports in general, I don't know what will.


Here's some related links for everyone to check out:
http://insidecollegehockey.com/5Polls/1112/polls_1020.htm


http://www.beanpothockey.com/

Photo credit:
http://www.nutmeghockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/beanpot-2011.jpg

The next Winter Classic will be held at the football stadium at Michigan University, "The Big House," on January 1, 2013 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings and Maple Leafs are two Original Six Teams, and it is the first Classic that will include two of the NHL's first six teams.

Check out these links for more information:
http://www.blogger.com/goog_807008709


http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/14549/nhl-dreaming-big-for-2013-winter-classic