On Friday, February 12, sports radio host Brandon Tierney brought his self-titled WEPN 1050AM show directly from the Robert V. LaPenta Student Union. With an audience filled with students, administrators and staff, Tierney touched on a range of sports topics including Major League Baseball, the NBA, and college basketball.

 

Tierny answered questions from students and faculty after the show, giving the audience information on how he made his way into the journalism industry.

 

He acknowledged that he was quite fortunate to have his dream job as a sports talk show host and also noted how important it is for a person to wake up in the morning and love what he or she does for a living. "From a young age, I knew that my passion in life was for sports. I knew that the only way I would be truly happy was if I was doing what I am right now,” he said.

 

Tierney said that the key to successful interviews, commercial bits and monologues is preparation, memory, and knowledge. "The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is read at least four newspapers. It’s not just about sports. It’s about the economy, entertainment, and natural disasters because you have to know what’s going on."

 

"But there are so many levels of preparation. I may be watching TV and see a commercial about something interesting and just make a mental note. The key for me is to continue to learn and try to remember as much as I can,” Tierney adds.

 

Even though Tierney has mastered his craft, he acknowledges the importance of getting practical experience and learning from mistakes. He encourages all students to get internships in the field of their interest. Tierney asks for a show of hands to see how many students work for the college radio station and gives them a piece of advice: "Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Right now you are on a small stage mastering your craft. The best way to learn is through repetition and working on your strengths and weaknesses.”

 

Tierney continued by saying that even the best interviewers begin somewhere. "If you showed Bryant Gumble a tape of when he first started, he would probably cringe, and to be honest, so would I." Tierney became a talk show host through his preparation and good memory, along with his persistent and hard work. Starting out his career by convincing the staff at the radio station WFAN to let him intern after he had already graduated, he assures students that it is never too late to pursue one’s dreams.

 

"I basically begged and pleaded with WFAN to give me a chance. I told them I would mop floors and clean bathrooms but I needed to do this. This was the only thing I ever wanted to do and I would come in at 2:00 am if they wanted me to.'

 

WFAN hired Tierney and gave him an internship in the promotions department. However, this was a place that Brandon spent little of his time. "I barely even stepped foot in the promotions department, I spent all my time as close to the studio as I could get just so I could listen to the on air talent. Then during the breaks, I would go into a back room and host my own show to myself,” Tierney says.

 

Although the audience included students from a wide range of majors, Tierney’s motivational message touched everyone. "No matter what anybody says, you can do whatever you want to do and there are very little limitations,” Tierney insisted.

 

With his intellect and knowledge of the journalism industry, coupled with his humble and genuine love for sports journalism, Tierney made a lasting impression on students and faculty alike.

 

Reported by Joseph Pasqualini, a student in Writing for Public Relations (Professor Natalie Redcross, PhD)