After three and a half years with Barrett Sports Media, contributing thousands of articles, hundreds of feature columns, interviews and podcasts, my biggest takeaway was a sense of purpose.
I was struggling to find a job in sports media, but knew I loved the industry and wanted to contribute in some way. Stumbling into a group so passionate about sports radio, a medium that represents just a small niche of the entertainment world was a perfect fit. Getting the opportunity to write for BSM immediately did two things. It gave me a voice and credibility.
I met and interviewed people who I’ve always admired, and I was repeatedly impressed with the respect they showed me in return. Hosts I grew up listening to like Mike Francesa and Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo. Two great conversations with Craig Carton. Nick Wright, Rick DiPietro, Stugotz and Jalen Rose. I was welcomed into the Mets radio booth to watch Howie Rose and Wayne Randazzo work. Traveled on-site to Bristol, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Sports radio stations all around the country are connected by this website, and I was in the middle of it. I went from constantly knocking on radio station doors hoping for an acknowledgement, to now having them interested in what I have to say about the industry. That’s the benefit of connecting yourself with Jason Barrett.
As I learned on the job, JB quickly gained enough trust to give me a platform with the freedom to write what I want. And over the years, I learned I’m more passionate and interested in the radio side of sports radio than the sports aspect. As much as I remain a die-hard fan, I find the conversation surrounding sports more interesting than the score of a game.
The Mets pulled Jacob deGrom too early? I’ll get over it.
The Jets signed a nondescript wide receiver? Boring.
Colin Cowherd with another hot take about backwards hats?! Oh, Hell No!
I enjoy writing. It’s not as exciting as being on-air and certainly doesn’t offer the same rush of live radio, but I enjoy the control. It’s calculated, well-thought, opinionated and still offers excitement when big news breaks, knowing people within the industry will turn to BSM for info.
But with everyone I’ve met and everything I’ve learned, the most exciting aspect about being part of BSM is that we were building something. There are months and years where the build is slow, and others where the progress is substantial. But knowing the vision for BSM is always bigger than its current state kept me wanting to contribute as much as I could.
And that’s part of why I’m so excited to be joining Mediaite. They’ve built a great platform and audience, but covering sports media is a new venture. I never mind putting countless hours into a project that has big aspirations and an upwards trajectory. Even when the financial compensation was small or nonexistent, my passion for sports media remained more than a hobby. The time I spent contributing to BSM kept me on track.
Let me be clear, I am not patting myself on the back. I’m nowhere near where I want to be, but staying on track has energized me to get there. Staying on track, learning about the industry and from the people who are in it, has shown me how many different and unique paths there are to success.
My tenure with BSM began because JB responded to an email from someone he never heard of, who held very little credibility within the industry. For anyone in management who might be reading this, I understand the number of unsolicited emails you receive can be a nuisance at times. But responses go a long way, even if it’s “I don’t have time for this right now.”
I’ve sent hundreds of emails to program directors around the country in the last 10 years. Many of them went ignored. That’s one of the great respects I have for Mark Chernoff. Leading WFAN, he surely receives tons of unsolicited emails, but he always responds. His replies are quick and equally cold whether he has something positive or negative to say. ‘I’ll get to this later…I can’t listen right now…this is terrible…this is not bad.’ But I always appreciate that he takes the time to respond.
I’m very grateful JB responded to my email when I reached out back in September 2017, even though I had little to offer other than a clear passion for the industry. He noticed that, and it turned into a three and a half year mutually beneficial partnership. His reply to that email gave me a sense of purpose, a credible voice, and a career doing something I love.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
