I love mentoring kids. I was fortunate to have learned from Marty Glickman, Marv Albert, Jim Gordon and Sam Rosen. Now, I can help develop the next generation of Sports Broadcasters.”
Bruce Beck, NBC (TV) Sports Anchor
Bruce Beck has been the Lead Sports Anchor at NBC4 New York, for over two decades and during this time, Beck has received eight New York Sports Emmy Awards. In 2002, Beck and sportscaster Ian Eagle started the “Bruce Beck and Ian Eagle Sports Broadcasting Camp.” When Eagle resigned as a lead instructor of the camp in 2017, Beck grabbed the reigns.
The Bruce Beck Sports Broadcasting Camp was set to take place at Iona College this year but, the pandemic made it impossible for campers and instructors to get together in-person. Sadly, for the campers who attend this year, there will be no practicing home run calls at a live New York Yankees baseball game. There won’t be an opportunity to meet New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman, either. However, Bruce ‘Bubba’ Beck and his team have been able to keep the same quality level of instruction that keeps young broadcasters coming back year after year.
The biggest adjustment that Bruce and his team made was to hold all camp instruction virtually, which he told me on the phone, recently. “It was a smart move, really the only move to make, because there was no venue that would take us.”
The 2020 version of the Beck Broadcasting Camp took five days. As has been the case in every year, the overall camp is split into two groups: the veteran camp and the rookie camp. From there, the camps were split into teams. Mike Quick, a former MSG broadcaster, coached the veteran campers, and Lauren DeFord, Senior Coordinating Producer for SNY, coached the rookies. Once camp instructors had finished teaching the entire group, the campers move on to the next part, called their “breakout sessions.” Beck labeled these breakout sessions as “fantastic,” because they allow them to specialize the camp.
In addition, Beck had seven interns help give the campers more detailed instruction based on their individual characteristics. The interns came from renowned division one sports programs such as Fordham University, and the University of Notre Dame. One of those interns is Emmanuel Berbari who is a talented young sportscaster at Fordham University.
I know it’s virtual, but we put a lot of effort into conceptualizing the program. In my 18 years of doing broadcasting camp, it’s the best curriculum we’ve ever established, the most interactive by far. It takes some time to figure out what the campers want, but what they want is to be involved, they want interactive programs, they want to do homework, they want to do research—they want to talk and we’re giving them that opportunity.
Bruce Beck
The Intern’s Perspective
Emmanuel Berbari was one of the seven interns who assisted Beck this year. Next year will be his senior year at Fordham University, where he is the lead play-by-play broadcaster for Fordham Football and Men’s Basketball. Berbari won the Marty Glickman award this year for the second consecutive year. It just so happens that Marty Glickman, the radio voice of the New York Knicks and Giants during the 1960s, was one of Beck’s idols growing up. For Berbari, it’s even more special.
“Just hearing about some of Bruce’s inspirations, like Marty Glickman has been inspirational for me and it gives extra significance [for me to win] an award like that, because Marty means so much around Fordham,” Berbari said. “He was a broadcast coach there in the late 1990s and has mentored many broadcasters.”
Emmanuel Berbari, college sportscaster and BBSC Intern
When it comes to his role in the camp, Berbari described why he thinks the Sports Broadcasting Camp has hit the right notes this year.
“The mix between the learning element from Bruce and Lauren and then the learning element from the guest [speakers] has been awesome,” Berbari said. “I really think that the campers have come away with some great fundamentals, it’s almost been seamless, and they would have come away with the same fundamentals in person.”
Berbari made it clear that going virtual has not stopped Beck and his team from offering the campers quality insights into the sports broadcasting profession.
The Veteran Broadcast Camper’s Perspective
Gabriel Gutierrez told me about a time two years ago when Bruce Beck visited All Hallows High School in the South Bronx, New York. Gutierrez had to stand up in front of the class and give a 45-second oral presentation. His speech impressed Beck, who then approached him about attending his broadcasting camp later that summer.
Gutierrez still remembers the thoughts that ran through his head after he went home that day.
“When I eventually learned what the camp was about and went home that day, I was blown away. Having an opportunity like that doesn’t come across every day.”
Gabriel Gutierrez
For Gutierrez, this year’s camp has a different feel, but he was still able to take away an important lesson.
“Perseverance is key. You continuously have to make sure that you don’t stop, even if you stutter or if you say the wrong name. Just correct yourself and continue on,” Gutierrez said. “Mike Quick always says ‘keep going, keep pushing through because if you make a big deal out of it, it will become a big deal.’ Out of everything that’s my favorite piece of advice.”
Gabe Gutierrrez
The Rookie Camper’s Perspective
Because this year’s camp continued virtually, the camp accepted campers from places around the United States– and the world that it hasn’t in the past. One camper attended from China and three came to Montclair, New Jersey from Texas, Virginia, and Maryland.
Hayley Galindo, who is from San Antonio, Texas, attended her first camp this year and she expressed her gratitude for being able to attend a broadcasting camp which she might not have under different circumstances.
“Bruce and his team are all humble people and are incredibly prepared. Despite the current outbreak with COVID-19 they still managed to keep the show on the road. That shows their dedication to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Hayley Galindo, first-year camper
Galindo described what she has learned from Beck during the “short days” she spent at camp.
“He’s brought out a version of myself that I never even knew was there. Not only have I learned so much about broadcasting, but also just about myself,” Galindo said. “Bruce is such an encouraging and inspirational man. What he’s doing is life changing. It really is.”
Teaching the Next Generation
I remember when I attended the previous form of the camp, the Bruce Beck and Ian Eagle Sports Broadcasting Camp back in 2014 and 2015. On the final day of rookie camp, I was announcing a minor league baseball game into my recorder when Dave Popkin walked up to me and told me I could call one half-inning of a Somerset Patriots baseball inside the broadcasting booth.
I grew up imitating John Sterling, who was and is still the voice of the New York Yankees and always wanted to call a game for real. So, ending the camp on this note was a dream come true. I told my parents afterwards it was one of the best moments of my life.
“It’s all about giving back and developing young people and supporting them as they pursue their dreams.”
Bruce Beck
It was not easy to make the transition from in-person instruction to online instruction, but Bruce and his team were able to do it and do it well. As long as Bruce and his team are running this camp, “the next generation of sports broadcasters” will keep coming back.
Anthony Paradiso 