Rebecca Haarlow's Sports Broadcast Camp

I’m very excited to announce Rebecca Haarlow’s Sports Broadcast Camp. Ever since I embarked upon a career in sports journalism, it has been a goal of mine to teach future broadcasters and hosts for two reasons: there is a lack of training geared specifically to sports broadcasters and even fewer television studios available for proper education.

After I graduated from Princeton University, I was trying to gain experience in sports broadcasting and noticed a lack of training available for people breaking into the business. There are plenty of weekend seminars offered for news anchors and reporters, but not many that cater to sports journalists, even though there are many people who pursue the career.

Not only is there a lack of options specific to sports broadcasters, but it is also very difficult to find a place to train properly. Not many students have access to teleprompters, studios, professional cameras and other equipment required not only to learn and practice, but also build resume tapes needed to ultimately score a job.

In an effort to fill these voids, Rebecca Haarlow’s Sports Broadcast Camp is geared toward sports journalists specifically and will also be taught in the Portland Trail Blazers game day studios, giving students the opportunity to learn the business and walk away with reel segments and on-camera experiences to build resumes. In addition, local professionals, as well as different Blazers broadcasters and producers, will be on hand to teach different elements of the business. The goal is to give students hands-on experience and training in all aspects of sports broadcasting. What’s it like to be a sports broadcaster? How can you answer that unless you have spent time in a live studio with the cameras rolling? Rebecca Haarlow’s Sports Broadcast Camp gives students that opportunity.

Sports broadcasting requires a specific set of skills. Camp will focus on analyzing and breaking down an NBA game, learning the keys to a successful standup, anchor copy, and working with a co-host, all while incorporating personality. Class sizes are limited so students will have the opportunity to spend plenty of time in front of the camera, gaining as much experience as possible in all areas of broadcasting.

In conjunction with the spirit of the Trail Blazers efforts to “Make It Better”, Rebecca Haarlow’s Sports Broadcast Camp will also offer free seminars to various local Portland area schools with students in need. I think it’s important to reach into the community an offer this opportunity to anyone who aspires to become a sports broadcaster. For more information or to sign-up for camp, log onto www.rebeccahaarlow.com and click on “sports broadcast camp”.

Barrett & Haarlow: Inside Practice

The Natural Talks 2009 Playoffs!!

Lamarcus Corner: Blazers beat Lakers UH-Gain!!

Behind the Scenes: Adopt a Trail Blazer!

Adopt a Trail Blazer at OHS

Last night was the first annual "Adopt A Trail Blazer" event in which a dog, cat or a rabbit was named after every Trail Blazer player and broadcaster. Lots of Blazers fans came out and showed there support... 5 animals and counting have already found new homes! A BIG THANKS to everyone who made this event a success.

From Oregon Live:

http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2009/03/_jacques_von_lunenspecial_to.html

Adopt A Trail Blazer!!

* Meet players and pets that have great game. Take one home and get a signing bonus! *


March 24, 2009


ADOPT A TRAIL BLAZER FROM OHS!!


These pets may not be able to dunk a basketball or shoot a three-pointer, but they are full of heart, ready to play, and come with a great signing bonus. That's why the Portland Trail Blazers will be celebrating "Team OHS" at a special free-agent adoption event this month.

Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla and guard Steve Blake will be at OHS on March 24th to help find permanent family teams for animals named after Trail Blazer players.

The public is invited to OHS to meet Przybilla, Blake and the starting lineup of Team OHS. Trail Blazers TV broadcasters Mike Barrett and Rebecca Haarlow will be on hand to announce the starting lineup of furry four-legged friends, including Oden, a big, loveable Labrador mix who is sure to be a hit with fans. Every dog, cat and rabbit named after a Blazer player comes with a special signing bonus: a gift bag of Blazer and OHS goodies to sweeten the adoption deal.

“These animals are amazing. They always give you everything they’ve got,” said Trail Blazer guard Steve Blake. “Once you see the spirit of these pets, you’ll want to take them home,” added courtside reporter Haarlow.

OHS will have “tryout” rooms ready that the public can use to see how well their new power player can fetch a toy, roll over, or curl up in their lap and purr.


When: Tuesday, March 24, 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Where: Oregon Humane Society, 1067 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland OR 97211

What: Trail Blazers players Joel Przybilla and Steve Blake, plus broadcasters Mike Barrett and Rebecca Haarlow, oversee a special free-agent draft of “Team OHS." The public is invited to adopt animals named after Blazer players.

Cost: Free

For more info: Contact OHS at (503) 285-7722; www.oregonhumane.org



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Celebrating 140 years of service, the Oregon Humane Society is dedicated to helping animals and people. Last year, over 9,000 animals were adopted through OHS, more than 930 reports of animal abuse and neglect were investigated, and almost 20,000 children were taught humane education. Visit us at www.oregonhumane.org

Michael Jordan Says, Nic Batum = Scottie Pippen

Outlaw Dishes on Defeating the Lakers!

LaMarcus Corner: Blazers beat Spurs!

Outlaw & Co Beat Hawks!

Never Underestimate the Power of Attitude

When Chris Paul went down with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter, the Hornets were still pretty comfortable with their 72-55 lead. The Blazers had another ending in mind. After the game, Brandon Roy said, “As soon as Paul went down, I said we’re gonna come back.” There were no “ifs” or “maybes” about it. Over the next seven minutes, the Blazers went on a 26-7 run, ignited by Jerryd Bayless, who is no stranger to taking advantage of opportunities with aggressive play. Ultimately outscoring the Hornets 38-15 in the fourth quarter, Portland evened the season series with a 97 to 89 win.

A lot can be learned from the game tonight. The Blazers win puts the team back at 500 on the road (12-12), which is one of Nate McMillan’s goals for the road trip. It also puts Portland in sole possession of that highly coveted fourth place spot in the Western Conference (think home court advantage). Beyond standings and records, the Blazers can also chalk this one up to experience which they can draw on down the stretch of the season as pressure steadily intensifies. So as I made my way to the locker room, I had one question in mind. What did the Blazers learn from this game that will ultimately make them a better team?

As always, first up is Nate McMillan. “We’re trying to become a better road team and we didn’t have our fans. Our fans have been great at home at helping us make runs like this. This is about growing up and maturing and learning how to do it amongst yourselves – the 12 players and the coaches on the road. Tonight the bench was involved in the game and we had guys we needed to get a lift from, and we got that lift.” The Blazers bench chipped in for 52 points, more than half the overall total, led by Bayless with 19, Travis Outlaw with 16 and Rudy Fernandez with 15.

In the locker room, I checked in with LaMarcus Aldridge who was equally excited about the win and notion of jumping on the plane and heading home to Dallas. According to LaMarcus, who finished the night with 22 points and 11 rebounds, “I think we waited too long to start playing and I think when we actually started playing it was kinda late, but then Jerryd came in and got a couple steals and things changed for us.” Recognizing that he’d like his team to get off to better starts, he also learned that a rally against a top team in the West “gives us motivation because it tells us we can beat these good teams even when we get down. It was good to get this win.”

From one captain to the next, Roy who learned once again that his teammates can capitalize offensively when he commands that much of an opposing defense, said, “I think we just got to take from this that you can never quit. Anything can happen in a 48-minute game. Unfortunately they had to lose Chris Paul, but sometimes that’s what you need. Everybody’s getting breaks, everyone’s kinda banged up right now. We just gotta keep playing, and keep scrapping. This is a huge win for us. It puts us at 30 wins before the all-star break.”

My take? New Orleans struggles to maintain an offensive flow without Chris Paul. Conversely, Portland's depth absorbed an off night for Roy (6 points on 2-10 shooting), while still fighting from 20 down in the 3rd to beat a top team on the road. But, I like Outlaw’s take away the best. As he respectfully closed up shop in the locker room, he said with an attitude that was both confident and humble, “It means a lot. We’re definitely shaping up to look like a playoff team.” Attitude won this game.

Bayless Reveals Character

“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” - John Wooden

In the Trail Blazers 105-99 come back win against the Nets last night, Jerryd Bayless revealed so much more than his 23 points on 67% shooting and 11 for 11 effort at the line. In his post-game interview, on a night that Jerryd proved to the world that he’s got game, he modestly told me, “I got it going a little bit tonight, so it’s alright.” Talk about an understatement. Talk about an athlete who’s character drives him to practice up to three times a day. And talk about a teammate who, rather than taking credit for his game, said, “We’re missing Steve right now and he’s one of the leaders of this team, so we needed to come in here and get this win.”

So as I worked my way through post-game coverage, I decided that I would let Jerryd’s coach and teammates do the bragging for him. First up, it’s X’s & O’s with Nate McMillan. When asked how he would describe the rookie’s game, he said, “Aggressive. We needed aggressive play, we wanted guys attacking the basket. I thought Jerryd did a nice job going to the basket, getting to the free throw line. Late in the game, he did a nice job defending Harris, who is one of the fastest guys in the league, staying in front of him and making him shoot over the top.” It was Jerryd’s ‘aggressive’ play in the third quarter was the catalyst that dug the Blazers out of 21-point deficit to win the game.

After the press conference, it was into the tiny locker room, full of light-hearted Blazers. In typical fashion, there was an army of media around Greg Oden, who was happy to transfer the attention to his fellow rookie. As Jerryd walked back to his locker, Oden raised his voice and said to him with a huge grin, “It was a nice little dunky, dunk…you know you can smile,” ribbing Jerryd for his serious demeanor.

But then Oden went on talking about Jerryd’s game. “It was good, especially in a game like this where we really needed him to come in a produce like he did. For that to happen and for us to get the victory, knowing that we were behind, it’s that much better.”

On the other side of the locker room, Brandon Roy, who finished the game with another all-star performance and 29 points, also reveled in Jerryd’s game and it’s effect on the team. He smiled, “That was a huge game for him. I’ve been waiting for that, for him. He’s the first guy in the gym and the last guy out and it paid off tonight. He was aggressive and once he gets comfortable, man we’re going to be dangerous. He’s tough going to the basket and he really opens up the floor, so as he gets more and more confidence we’re going to be really tough,”

And, according to Brandon, the Roy-Bayless combo can be deadly. “We put so much pressure on the defense. Most of the time my man’s not going to leave, so he gets more space when he goes to the basket. When I have the ball, it’s dangerous, because you don’t want to leave him either. As you saw tonight, if he’s that guy who I kick it to, he’s that guy who can get to basket and dunk…we’re a tough team to defend.”

After Jerryd’s enormous career night, he left the game as modestly as he arrived. On the bus towards the airport, you could tell Jerryd – headphones in tact – was already focused on the next game. According to him, “Now we’ve got to start looking forward to Charlotte.” Talk about an athlete who revealed so much character, by saying so little.