Last call from MGs

Today’s the third and final day of the sixth Center for Sports Communication seminar on sportscasting. The Mikeside Guys–or MGs–are opening the doors for latecomers to pay a flat fee of P2,000 to listen to the last two speakers, Sev Sarmenta and yours truly, starting at 9 a.m. The charge also covers lunch, handouts and participation in simulation exercises this afternoon.

Noel Zarate, one of the MGs, said it’s a rare chance for those who missed out on the first two days to catch the bus and join the likes of pro cager Richard del Rosario, Solar Sports’ "NBA Jam" co-host George (she’s female, folks) Rocha, Magoo Marjon and Cathy Gabriola of PBA radio, 103.5 k-lite DJ Mylinda Tort, Fitness First’s first runner-up Julie Cruz and Solar Sports’ Ron Regis in the audience.

Total enrollment reached 21, said Noel. It’s a select group. The average in the first five seminars was 26.

"We thought of permitting latecomers to join on the last day to accommodate those who couldn’t sign up for all three days because of work commitments," said Noel. "This will give others the chance to listen to our last two speakers Sev and Quinito who promise to make it worth their trouble. They can also participate in our simulations in the afternoon."

The fee for the three-day stretch is P4,000. But latecomers pay only P2,000 to attend the final day’s sessions.

Those interested to enlist may go straight to the third floor of the Parc Chateau Condominium on Onyx Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig, at 8 a.m. today. Call Noel at 0917-8156635 for details.

Sev, who’s anchored coverages here and abroad, is fresh from a grueling grind in the Tour Pilipinas. The Ateneo professor will take up the essentials of TV anchoring. Then, I’ll move in to discuss the three anchors in sports journalism, what sports means to sports journalists and broadcasters, when to draw the line between impartiality and partisanship in sports analysis on TV, tips on how to analyze a basketball game and a boxing bout, research as the backbone of a career in sports journalism or sportscasting and the challenges that face a sports journalist today.

To inspire newcomers to try their luck in sportscasting, Noel shared these anecdotes on how certain sportscasters got their breaks.

Philippine Basketball League assistant to the Commissioner and TV sports analyst Butch Maniego was a newspaper reporter in 1982 when he was asked to fill in as a radio announcer for the PBA. One thing led to another and Butch later found himself on TV.

Benjie Santiago, a DJ, tried out for a sportscasting job in 1997 but wasn’t picked. He tried out again and was hired the second time around. Now, he does TV work for the PBA and is a much sought-after voice talent.

Jude Turcuato saw an ad from Silverstar, tried out and made it in 1995. After getting a taste of sportscasting, he decided to make it a career. He now hosts a sports TV talk show and is known for anchoring the UAAP games.

Sev liked to mimic Joe Cantada and did a good job of it. He was Smokin’ Joe since high school. When he started working in advertising, somebody suggested for him to audition for Vintage. He did, broke into radio in 1986 and moved to TV.

Anthony Suntay worked for Silverstar in marketing and was a temp sub for a courtside interviewer on TV. He was relunctant to appear at first because he wanted to concentrate on his office job. But after his first game, Anthony stayed on. In 2000, he did the NBA Finals on site.

Janelle So, a first honor student, was picked by Jeff Manibay during the PBA talent search at Miriam College in 1997. She joined the PBA TV team and became the youngest broadcaster on the Bangkok Asian Games coverage panel in 1998. Janelle is now taking up a media communications course at UCLA.

Vitto Lazatin was a DJ looking for extra work when he applied as a PBL barker four years ago. Someone in the PBL office said there was an opening for a TV anchor, not a barker. "I was already there so why not?" related Vitto. "I didn’t know I wanted to do it until I tried." Vitto now anchors for the PBA on TV and co-hosts "NBA Jam" for Solar Sports. He also co-hosts the "NBA sa IBC" once a week. By the way, congratulations to Vitto who tied the knot with Marge Marasigan last Saturday.

I wonder what the break-in stories of the sixth seminar participants will be.