This is a 100% true story about how you need to seize the moment whenever you can. You’ll never know what can come of it!

When I first got into the sports media world, I started out helping a friend build his sports brand which was a non-existent part of his brand new media group. He didn’t have a single contact or credential in the sports media world because again, his organization was brand new.

So I volunteered to be in the position of building his sports department, to which he agreed. Maybe it was because I was from Boston and loved sports. Maybe it was because nobody else offered. But it was my job from now on.

To be honest, I had absolutely no clue and no experience in the sports media world. I didn’t know who to call, what to say, or what to do with the partnership even if I created one.

So I created a bogus email with an official title, and starting bugging the local teams in the valley (Phoenix) to see if they would want to work with a brand new media group that had no sports content on their website. But I kept sending out email after email asking for a partnership.

Then one day I get a response from the Arizona Diamondbacks. They acknowledge that they know nothing about us and usually want to work with more ‘seasoned’ media groups. But the fact that we were a military veteran organization did open the door as the Diamondbacks have a long history of supporting the veteran community.

So they agreed to give us one credential per home stand. That meant that if the Diamondbacks were home for seven games, we could request credentials to one of those games. I was ecstatic about being given the opportunity. PLUS, it meant I didn’t need to pay anymore to watch (at the time) a horrible baseball team. Sure, they had a few good players, but you knew at the beginning of the season that they were playing for the bottom of their division.

At the end of the first season, I had covered 19 games as a credentialed media member. And it would turn out that the Diamondbacks actually finished those 19 games that I covered with a record of 15-4. So I kinda saw myself as good luck for the team.

Later in the early winter, I get an email from the Diamondbacks. They wanted us to come out for their charity golf tournament that they hold every year to raise money for military veterans. And we were going to be the only media group to cover the event. The best part is they said we could do our podcast at the event.

So on a beautiful November Saturday, we went out with our gear, set up, and started recording and completing interviews with the players and the staff as they finished up their rounds. I don’t remember much from the interviews with the players but I do remember two things. First, that was the most I ever got Paul Goldschmidt to talk. And second, I remember he joked about how bad of a golf game he had.

We finished up a few more interviews and had just one more, the big guy. No, we already interviewed Goldschmidt. This was the President of the team, Mr. Hall.

He sits down and we start talking about the tournament and expectations of the team moving forward. And he was real nice. He never seemed like he just wanted to get out of there and leave. He took the time to joke around, have a great discussion, and he answered all of our questions.

At this point, I did recognize that we were wrapping it up. So in my mind, I knew that I was presented with a unique opportunity that probably wasn’t going to repeat itself with the President of the Arizona Diamondbacks sitting across from me. So I basically made the spot decision to “go for it.”

I said “you know, Mr. Hall, the Diamondbacks were 15-4 with me in the press box last season.”

“Is that right?” He replied.

I said “the bottom line, Mr. Hall…… you WANT me in the press box. You NEED me in that press box!”

If you’re a movie nerd like me, then you know that I stole that slightly altered line from one of my favorite movies “A Few Good Men.”

He recognized what I did and he started laughing. And I started laughing. And my friend started laughing. The quote landed and everyone got it. But then he stopped laughing. And so did everyone else. And there we were with nobody laughing, and nobody saying a thing. Which is not great content for a podcast, by the way.

So I’m staring at him, and he’s staring at me. Even though it was probably only a few seconds, it felt like about five minutes of silence. And then he speaks up and says….

“Alright, let’s do it!”

“Wait, what? What are we doing? What’s happening?” I replied. Did this really just work?

“Katie, make sure they get set up for next season.” He said.

And the next thing you know, I’m on the field for pre-game festivities for Opening Day. It was one of the most awesome moments of my media career. I even got a nod from Mr. Hall from across the way.

I took that one season credential and turned it into over 80+ partnerships with different teams and organizations over the years before I left that media group and ventured out on my own. You never know when opportunity is going to knock. But if you’re not ready to answer, it doesn’t matter.

If you would like to know how to create your own sports media brand, and learn how to get credentialed access to your favorite teams and athletes the right way, click the button below, and let’s have a great 2024!