The Alpha Dog

This week Fox 25 Sports sent me out to the Patriots media day with Walt, like I said before, it is always an adventure when I am with Walt. I met Walt at the Fox 25 studio Wednesday morning, and we drove over to Gillette Stadium together in the Fox van. Walt is not a Patriots fan so to when we entered the hallways and saw other media people, Walt was sure to yell "how about my boy Sherman." If you are not familiar with Sherman, he is a Seahawk player that intercepted Brady causing the Patriots to lose the game. So as you can imagine, I was scared of how people would react but Walt is Walt and in his words he "is an alpha dog", meaning he does not take crap from anyone.

Walt and I were on our way to the blue floor, which is where the media people meet up and get some food, but when we reached the elevator we ran into people from channel seven who said there was no food. I had met the camera guy from camera seven; his name is Greg Classy and a really nice guy. Greg always tries to get me to ditch Walt and Fox and go work with him at channel seven.

Walt and I decided to skip going up stairs and go to the visitor locker room where the Tom Brady Press conference would be held. We were waiting for Tom to come out, but talking to Greg and other camera people. It is an interesting environment to walk into, everyone knows each other and they are all friends. Walt describes it as being a family because they spend so much time together. I like the environment. Tom Brady comes out and people ask him a few questions, I am able to get pretty close and got some nice pictures. Walt comes up to me and asks if I am ready for the locker room.

I should tell you guys that Fox subscribes to a camera company called LSN who film certain things for us so we can get different stuff, if we did not subscribe than we would not get as much footage as we do. So with LSN filming the press conference, we were able to go to the locker room where Rob Gronkowski would be talking. I am going to be a girl here for just a second and say that Gronk is my favorite player and I have had a crush on him since his rookie year, there is no doubt in my mind we will date one day! Okay back to intern mode. I was able to get pretty close when holding the microphone, but there were not a lot of reporters in the locker room so that was easy.

The next person to come out and talk was Deion Branch. The best way to describe the locker room is this: if you have ever been to a concert and are in the general admission area, and the star comes out and all the fans rush the stage and you get caught up in the middle, it is the same thing. The player comes out and all the reporters and camera people rush the area, if you are not quick enough you don’t get close or you get trampled. I learned this very quickly! I also became very stealthy when it came to working my way up close!

We got a few more players and then the locker room was closed and everyone rushed upstairs for lunch. Like I said before Walt is an "alpha dog" so we ended meeting one of his old interns (who now works for the Patriots) and he took us up a different elevator so we got to cut the line a little. We ate lunch with all the people from channel 7, Greg the camera man, their intern, and Rhett Lewis the 6:00 sports anchor. It was a very entertaining lunch, most of which I just sat and observed what was going on.

After Lunch the Bill Belichick press conference began and we watched it. The last part of our day would be to head down to the practice field and watch the Patriots practice. The practice is only open for about 15 minutes meaning, if the players are late, then we do not get much footage. Lucky for us the players were late and all we got was them walking onto the field. That concluded our day at practice.

I am quickly learning that this field is hurry up and wait sort of deal. Some parts you have to be hardcore and fight your way to the front for the story, other parts you can just sit around and talk to people.  I am in the Studio again on Thursday and Sunday to log the Patriots vs. Jets game, which should be a show down, until then guys!



P.S. Here is the run down of what media day looks like.

Wednesday, Oct. 17

10:30-11:30 a.m.         Media Check-In and Press Box Open (Media will be escorted to the visitor’s locker room from Security Command at approximately 10:45 a.m.)

11:10-11:20 a.m.         Patriots QB Tom Brady Press Availability (Visitor’s Locker Room – Set Press Conference Style)

11:15-12:00 p.m.         Open Locker Room

12:00-12:30 p.m.         Media Lunch as well as Credential and Parking Pass Pickup (Red Level Press Box)

12:40-12:55 p.m.         Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick Press Conference (Red Level Press Box)

Approx. 1:15 p.m.       Media Availability at Patriots Practice until Team Drills (training camp practice fields, weather permitting)

TBD                             New York Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan Conference Call

TBD                             New York Jets Player (TBD) Conference Call

From Tour Buses to Locker Rooms

picture of my press pass

I had got asked to the Patriots versus Broncos game on Sunday October 7, 2012. This game was a big match up because of the quarterbacks Brady versus Manning. I was excited to finally see a football game the way the press watches game. I was even more excited to be at the game and watch it from inside, the weather on this day was supposed to be rainy and cold. I went down to the game with my father and his friend who had tickets to the game. I then looked for a media shuttle bus to connect with the camera man Walt and the anchor Brendon.

Took this photo from the press box

Finding the media shuttle was an experience, none of security knew what the heck I was talking about. Finally I just walked over to Walt and Brendon to the media lot. We then made our way around the back into the stadium, where the players locker rooms are. Before going into the stadium all of our bags had to be searched by dogs. I was nervous about this, not that I had a bomb or anything bad but I did have a banana in my bag and was worried it would set the dog off. After security assured me it would not I was okay. We then walked out near the field to drop off some of the equipment. I say some because Walt says you should never leave your camera just in case there are thieves in the area. You can never be too careful.

My camera guy Walt

Before I go on I should tell you about Walt. Walt is not a big guy, but he has a huge personality! Walking with Walt is like walking with a player, everyone stops him and says hi and chats with him. Walt is also not a Patriots fan so he talks a lot of smack, but makes it so much fun. Okay so after we drop the equipment off we get onto an elevator. The weird thing about the elevator is that there is a lady who rides the elevator and uses a key to bring people to the floor they wish to go on. The elevator is something you see in rich hotels, so that was interesting to me.

Steve Burton, he does not know I took this pic

We get off on the blue floor, where there is food and drinks for us. Walt knowing everyone gets us a table and sits us right down! He then grabs food, a ton of food. He is a pro and knows what is good and what is okay! While sitting down and eating, I meet a ton of reporters including Steve Burton. If you are not familiar with Steve Burton, he is a sports anchor for CBS and also the Patriots anchor. He travels with the team and covers all of the games! I want his job!! Meeting him was amazing he is seriously the nicest guy I have ever met. I spent half time talking to him and picking his brain about what it takes to make it in this industry. I also asked him how he made it.

I should also tell you that on the blue floor is the instant replay box, where the plays are reviewed and a box for the inactive players. The security guard, Paul was joking with me about how he tries to slip money under the replay box door to get the plays to be called the players way! After we all ate, Walt had to make his way to the field for the game. Brendon and I made our way to the press box and found our seats. All seats are assigned, but Brendon and I got to sit next to each other. Brendon warned me of the one rule in the box, NO CHEERING! This is very hard to do if you are a dedicated fan like me. I sat and watched the game tweeting all the great plays and holding my breath so I would not scream.

Brendan, this is from his profile

After the game we had to make our way to the locker room for interviews. Before Brendon and I made out way down there, we figured we would stop at the bathroom. When I was walking toward the bathroom, someone ran into me, almost knocking me over, trying to get my regain my balance I hear Brendon say, “DO you know who just ran into you? John Elway!” sure enough I was ran into by the Broncos owner and former quarterback John Elway.

Coach in a press conference

Going back on the elevator to the media room was not fun. They sort of heard the media people on the elevator like cattle. We were all squished in and made a mad dash to the locker room. Now I know it is every girls dream to go into the locker room, but I will tell you I was not prepared for this at all. And I am not sure I would have ever been prepared for this. First we find Walt in the media room and wait for Bill Belichick to come out and talk to us. Then we decide to make our way into the locker room to get other interviews. I should tell you that I have interviewd Adam Levine, Jonnah Hill and other well known names with out a problem, but the locker room was a whole differnt game!

We were waiting for a player when all of a sudden I, yet again get run into. This time by a wet body, I looked to see who it was this time and there he is, my favorite player, the one I have the biggest school girl crush on, Rob Gronkowski. Now I am going to keep this blog PG so I will just say that I saw his tight ends and he is a whole lot of man! I actually saw a ton of other players backsides and there is no butts about it, I was in way over my head. If I was not fighting the hardcore men in the media, I was dodging the players.

Tom Brady, post game press conference

We soon left the locker room and went back to the media room where Vince Wilfork, Tom Brady, and Wes Welker all talked to the press. I got to say hello to the players and made sure they saw me. Brendon had to write up some stuff so Walt and I packed up and walked back to the van. I was going to shoot some stuff outside the stadium, but I left my notebook with Brendon.

I am looking forward to the next time I can go into the stadium and cover the game. I will know what to expect, and be able to keep my composure! Until next time guys!