The Things We Used To Dream

When you are a child you dream crazy dreams. You have innocence about you and think nothing will ever stop you from reaching that dream. As we grow up we realize that living your childhood dream is unlikely. Life gets in the way and your innocence is shattered by reality. As a college student getting ready to enter the real world I am realizing the reality of what it takes to make dreams come true. That being said, I am still living out my dreams, one of the last things I got to do with my internship was go to the Patriots vs. Texans football game.

 

Photo By: Nikki Romanuk

I was really excited about this because I am a huge Patriots fan, as most of you know, and was determined to see that it was like to step onto the field for Monday Night Football. The weather looked grim before the game, although it was an unusual warm 60 degrees, it was also raining. But as Walt and I got to the stadium the rain was slowing down, and I knew something magical was going to take place.

If you follow football the Texans had a winning record of 11-1 and the Patriots had a 9-3 record, everyone knew this game was going to be a good one. 

Darren Haynes took this picture for me!

Walt and I left the studio at 4 P.M. for an 8:15 P.M. game. Considering the game was on Monday Night, we did not want to get stuck in traffic, so we left early. Once we pulled into Gillete Stadium, we unloaded the car and prepared for the night. Walt and I made our way to the field to drop off some equipment, and I could not help myself, and walked out on the gridiron. If you are a football fan, you know how loud a stadium can get, but when I was on the field, there was a peaceful silence. A person, like me could only imagine what the night would lead too, but for that moment, it was nothing but peace.

Walt and I ran up to the media room and got good seats to relax in before kickoff. We had to eat and socialize; I also had time to check out a press conference with Matt Light, a former Patriot player who was being honored. Because we had so much down time, I decided to go down to the field with channel 7’s Darren Haynes. Now that the fans were filling the stadium and the players were warming up, I knew it would be a different atmosphere!! And the word Different was an understatement. The fans took away that peaceful silence and filled it with crazy excitement. I began to feel the rush the players do before the game! Darren and I walked the sidelines and felt the rush of the crowd.

Photo By: Nikki Romanuk

Darren then left me to go upstairs to the press box, when I decided to stay on the field until I got kicked off. Needless to say I did not get kicked off and got to talk to Greg Glassy a camera man for channel 7. I also had some more time to hang out with Walt. The announcer came over the loud speaker and announced the Houston Texans. The players ran onto the field and the crowd was filled with boos! Then the announcer came over the loud speaker and announced the New England Patriots. Fireworks came shooting out, the minute men shot their guns, and the crowd cheered so loud the stadium shook, being on the field for all of that was one of the craziest experiences that only few NFL fans get to experience

After the singing of the National Anthem, the game was about to begin. I stayed on the field for Kickoff memorized, by the gigantic athletes that were in front of me. Something all people should know, up close and personal these guys are HUGE! You would only realize the size of these men if you were close!

After kick off I decided to walk back to the press box and watch the game with Darren, partly because I wanted to see the whole field and partly because I feared for my safety. There was no telling if the players would go out of bounds and where I would wind up. I got up to the press box, which had an unusual chatter. Normally you are not allowed to cheer in the box, but since the Patriots were dominating, and it was Monday Night Football, the media was crazy! Darren pointed out some cool things to me, one of them being a man wearing long bright orange gloves. This is on the field during commercial breaks, so the players know they have to wait before starting a new play!

During the game, I was trying to write my script for my package. Something that was not easy for me to do. I talked to Darren about it, and then ran into Levin Reed, another sports anchor who sounds like Mufasa from the Lion King. After getting advice, I felt ready to go after the game. 

Photo By: Nikki Romanuk Of Patrick Chung

One thing I should mention is I was told to be more confident on camera. I had no idea where I was going to find this confidence, and then I thought back to the film Big Daddy with Adam Sandler, and remembered that I needed magic sunglasses to give me confidence. Now I cannot wear sunglasses on camera, so I decided to go with a necklace my Mother gave me. It totally did the trick. I felt very confident in myself.

Okay, back to the game. The game was over and the Patriots won something I doubted. I had my script written, and was feeling confident. I just had to get some post sound, and meet Walt, and then I would get a chance to shoot. When walking down to the press conference room I ran into an old friend Wayne, which made me, feel more secure about myself. Just a side note, Wayne works for the Sports Hub (a radio station) and I had met him during my intern days at Mix1041 (another radio station). After doing the locker-room stuff, which I was getting really good at, it was time for me to shoot. 

Photo By Nikki Romanuk of Gillette from the field

I had first thought I was going to shoot my package in the parking lot, but Walt took me right out onto the field. I was filled with the joy a young child feels when they are waiting for Santa to come, nervous and excited. So after watch Aquib Talib (a Patriots defensive player) wheel past and smile at me on a golf cart, (he had been injured during the game) I was ready to go. 

What a sound it was to hear my voice echo through the empty stadium. I was reminded of the dreams I had as a child. And decided that I need to keep those dreams, and dream the way we all used to dream. Because keeping that innocence and excitement is such a magical feeling. My dream night had ended, I edited together my package later in the week, and I am proud to share it with all of you. Before I head out, I just want every to think real hard about a childhood dream you once had, and make that dream into a reality, it is truly a blessing to live out your dreams! Nikki Romanuk Fox Sports! 

Work is Like Buying a Boat!

Photo By: Nikki Romanuk

I am winding down to the end of my internship, which is sad because I feel like I still have a lot to learn. But like a book, all good stories come to an end and I am going to make my last chapters count. I have talked to the people who work here and Walt, the camera guy gave me advice for the real world, he said," getting a job is like buying a boat. You are only happy twice, the day you get it and the day you leave it!" Walt always gives me some crazy advice like that and most times he is right!

 

 

LIFE AT FOX

Fox is going in a different direction when it comes to sports. They are looking for more stories

Photo By: Nikki Romanuk At Boston College vs Harvard game

and not the same stuff the other local news stations are covering. This is interesting to me. It means there will be more high school and college coverage.

Speaking of college coverage, I went to Boston College to watch the a basketball game. It was BC vs. Harvard. I found out about the game last minute, I did not have enough time to research the history of the schools or the match up, so I felt very unprepared. Needless to say I went to the game, which was my first ever college basketball game and it was very interesting to say the least.

Walt and I went to the press conference with the athletic director Brad Bates. This press conference was really important because the Boston College Eagles has just fired the head coach for the football team, and had just hired a new head coach Steve Addazio. This was the first press conference that athletic director Bates  did on the matter. Although I knew very little about the situation, I really learned a lot about Boston College. I learned that the Boston College Eagles are more of a family environment. They thrive on the team mentality, and making young leaders.  The BC Eagles as an organization is one that really considers people and leadership. Something I believe strongly in.

Photo By: Nikki Romanuk At Boston College Vs Harvard Game

Well finally, Walt and I go to watch the game and, I was unaware of the rituals  that BC and Harvard fans have. One of the Boston College rituals was that the band. The Boston college band would dress in Harry Potter shirts and wore bright yellow afros. I found most of the other rituals comical. It was very hard for me to take the game seriously with the all of the rituals going on. Another thing that surprised me about the BC basketball game was the fact the alumni was there and very into the game, almost violently into the game. I get having pride in your school, but being a 50 something year old and talking smack to a bunch of 20something year-old is a little lame if you ask me.

Walt and I stayed for the entire basketball game, BC lost by 20pts. Walt and I later went to the get post audio from the Harvard team. We talked to the Harvard coach and one of the players. It was  a different experience because I did not have to fight to get up front (like I do at the Patriots).

A Stand-up Day

Photo By: Nikki Romanuk Patriots Practice

 The next week I would be able to go to the Patriots practice with Walt again. Going to the practice was becoming my weekly routine. I would go not only to help Walt out, but also to learn about reporting. Walt would also allow me to shoot some stand-ups which I am trying to get better at.

Preparation

Something I am beginning to notice is that I am not good at talking about sports. The night before I write out different ideas and bullet points I will like to talk about in my introduction segment and in the closing segment, but even with preparation and practice I am not a very skilled reporter. The night before I went to the practice which was Tuesday night, I researched the Patriots and the Colts, I read the press releases that both teams sent out, and I read the transcripts from interviews conducted earlier in the week. 

I know that the Patriots would talk about Aqin Talib, he is the new cornerback the team acquired during the bye week, and I knew he would be a story topic. I wrote down bullet points on him and the team, and practiced talking about the team and Talib. I practiced the whole night, fell asleep figuring out what I was going to say, and spent the whole car ride, ( which is over and hour) practicing.

Walt and I drove to practice, but this week the schedule was messed up. Normally we have Tom Brady talk, then open locker-room, lunch, Bill Belichick press conference and practice, but his week we had lunch Bill Belichick press conference, and practice. Tom Brady did not talk and the open locker-room was not until later in the day. Walt and I ate lunch an hung out for a bit, watched the press conference and made our way to the field for practice. 

Practice 

Photo By Nikki Romanuk Patriots Practice

At practice we knew we needed to get footage of Talib and a list of other players. I decided I was going to talk to other reporters and get the feel for how other people got to where they are. I had recognized a guy that does the Patriots All Access and stuff for the website and talked to him for a bit. I am realizing that most people have no idea what they are going to talk about until that day. A craft I hope to master. 

At one point in the practice, Walt said, are you ready? I thought to myself “ready for what?” Then I realized he meant ready to shoot my stand-up. If I was nervous before, I was more nervous now. I had to shoot the stand-up in front of other reporters, and the Patriots, granted the players were practicing but still. I let my insecurities get the best of me and fumbled my words around. I managed to get a few good takes but nothing nearly as good as the professional reporters. Here is a look at the final product.

 

Photo By: Nikki Romanuk Patriots Practice

Something I am struggling with is not being good. People, like Brendon, Chad, and Walt have to remind me that I am new at this, an you cannot run before you walk. I have to keep going out and doing stand-ups in order to be good. The next time I would be in studio would be Sunday for the Patriots and Celtics games. I am hoping to edit my stand-up and make it into a package. Until next time, as they say on TV, “I’m Nikki Romanuk, Fox Sports.”

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!