SJ Sports: Careers in Sports

At some point during the childhoods of most young athletes, there are dreams of a future involving sports, of somehow actually making it to the pros as a grown-up. And within those dreams is at least one of the following scenarios: You come off the bench in a division final game to score the buzzer-beating winning basket and leading your team to the national championship. Or, you intercept the football at the 4-yard line in your defensive zone, running it back for a 96-yard touchdown and the lead with just 17 seconds left on the clock. Or, you come to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, bases loaded, and a tie score only to smack an upper-level left-field homer to win Game 7. But then, as you grow older, you begin to realize the improbability of that sort of on-the-field glory, and you have to readjust those youthful dreams.

Well, if you can't play the game, then you can still find a way to be around it — as the team owner, the team accountant, a high-profile sports agent, a public relations director, a ticket sales executive, or a broadcaster. Ed Benkin was one of those dreamers. "When I was in high school we would play pickup games of football or basketball," Benkin fondly recalls. "We would often have uneven sides, so someone had to sit out. Whenever I sat, I would joke around and announce the action. When I figured out what I wanted to do, I knew it would involve being a sportscaster."

In today's society, sports-exculsive networks and all-sports radio stations are well-oiled 24-hour-a-day operations. And while the sports themselves and the teams' happenings are important parts of many people's lives, the coverage of sporting events — be it via radio or television — is that much more important to sports fans. Thus the need for sports broadcasters. While being able to call a game on radio or television — and make a living for doing it — is the ideal gig for any sports fan, it certainly is not the easiest job in the world to land. Just ask Benkin.

Armed with a bachelors degree in communications from Glassboro State (before it became Rowan University), Benkin, a graduate of Cherokee High School, had his sights set on a career that involved eventually becoming the play-by-play sportscaster for his beloved Buffalo Bills. What he, and thousands like him, encountered was a tough market that is even tougher to get your foot into the door. While that dream has yet to be fulfilled to the extent of working for the Bills, Benkin has found a niche for himself as a broadcaster.

A freelance broadcaster, Benkin works as the radio play-by-play man for Princeton University football and ice hockey. He also works as an update man for ESPN Radio, providing the station with updates for Philadelphia sporting events, including the Eagles, Flyers and Sixers. However, like most people in the industry, Benkin had to pay his dues. In over 10 years, Benkin managed to put together an impressive string of jobs. He began as a reporter for Princeton's college radio station which gave him a chance to cover a variety of sports, including football, basketball and the Profs' NCAA championship soccer team. From there he worked with the Philadelphia Spirit of the United States Basketball League, the Penn-Jersey Spirit soccer team, and then served as sports director for Jones Intercable in Turnersville, covering a variety of high school and youth sports. Benkin's big break came in 1995 when he was hired to broadcast Princeton University football games. Shortly thereafter, he added basketball to his duties and happened to call one of the bigger upsets in NCAA tournament history as the Tigers upset defending champ UCLA. "Getting the Princeton job was my best break," Benkin said. "It helped open more doors for me and give me more job opportunities."

Opportunities still arise for the veteran Benkin. Recently, he went to Bristol, Connecticut, home of ESPN, to do newsbreaks as part of the network's daily programming. "I got to go up there for a couple of days during Christmas," Benkin said. "I may get a chance to go again in February. It was neat to broadcast nationally." While working in this field can at times be glamorous, it does still have many pitfalls and challenges. Benkin says that in order to succeed in the business, one will need to be willing to make sacrifices. "'Schedule' and 'normal' do not go together in this business," Benkin said. "You need to be willing to trade off weekends and nights if you want to land your dream job. It's the nature of this business."

For those dreamers looking for the big money as a sportscaster, Benkin says not to hold your breath waiting for the big contract. Most sportscasters make less than $25,000 a year to start. But if you are good enough to become successful, the chance to make more money is there with the more high-profile jobs, including network positions. "Unless you are at a big-time station or network, the pay does not get really good," Benkin said. "You don't make a lot of money to start." For those seeking a career in this business, Benkin is willing to offer plenty of advice. "Make sure you choose a school that has a good radio, television and film department," Benkin suggested. "Do as much hands-on stuff as you possibly can. Take as many public speaking classes as possible. Don't be afraid to go out and make contacts. Without being pushy, let people know who you are. And take every bit of work you can get to start."

Take these hints to heart and, maybe, some version of your dreams may come true.

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Author: SJ Sports Club-Sean Fallon