My name is Billy Sakmann. I'm currently studying towards a Master's in Business Administration at the University of New Haven. My undergraduate degree at the same school was in Sports Management, and I aspire to work in the sports industry. I'm most invested in the NFL and NBA, but also follow MLB and other major sports news. My professional experience has been in game day operations: I've worked for MetLife Stadium and Yale Athletics.
I wasn't always a sports fan. In fact, I didn't follow sports at all until late 2009. My health teacher, an obvious Yankees fan, gave the class an extra credit question: Who will win the World Series, the Yankees or the Phillies? Being the nonconformist I am, I had to choose the Philadelphia Phillies. When the tests were returned, I was the only one not to receive extra credit: but only Game 1 had been played so far (with the Phillies winning!) I bargained with my teacher and he assured me if the Phillies ended up winning the World Series, he would give me the bonus credit. So of course, I was instantly emotionally invested in watching the World Series. I would quickly grow to like Chase Utley and Cliff Lee, who both had an incredible series. I also learned early that Ryan Howard was a strikeout machine.
Of course, the Phillies would eventually lose in 6 games and I never got the extra credit. But this was my proper introduction into the world of sports. My dad was always a New York Giants fan, all I can remember from watching games as a kid were his signature yells of "Tiki!" "Plaxico!" or "Manning to Manningham!" So after the World Series, I jumped into the NFL as a Giants fan, but not in the best of times. After starting 5-0, the first game I watched was the final seconds of a loss to the San Deigo Chargers that would push them to 5-4. A bye week followed and their record still wasn't terrible, so I was ready to root for a playoff push. I remember tuning in to Giants at Broncos on Thanksgiving Day on AM Radio on the drive home after dinner. The Giants would get smacked 26-6 and ultimately finish 8-8 in the final season at Giants Stadium.
I'm not afraid to admit my NBA following so far: LeBron James. Yes, this means I jumped from the Cavaliers (for just one season), to the Miami Heat, then back to the Cavaliers. This might make me a bandwagon fan, but it was my intention from the start. I've been spoiled, as in the eight seasons I've watched, the team I've followed has made the NBA Finals seven straight times.
In my high school years I enjoyed the Giants 2nd Super Bowl victory over the Patriots. I even went to the victory parade down Champion's Boulevard on a cold February day. I also got to see back-to-back titles for the Heat, over the Thunder and Spurs. Unfortunately, I missed the Phillies peak as they got worse every year since going to the World Series in 2009.
After graduating high school, I headed to the University of New Haven in Connecticut for a Bachelor's degree in Management of Sport Industries. In my first month there I was able to work at a Army vs. Yale game at the Yale Bowl, transporting elderly and disabled fans on a golf cart.
In my first year I also got the opportunity from my close friend and future roommate to write for an online publication: New York Sports Hub.com. This was my first exposure to sports writing, covering the Brooklyn Nets during their last season with Kevin Garnett. I would then take on writing assignments for the New York Giants, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and New York Mets. I would be appointed section editor for the New York Jets. One of the highlights of this experience was conducting a phone interview with Jets legendary WR Wayne Chrebet. The site has since ceased operations, but it was a great experience that really helped made this blog possible.
In my sophomore year, I was among the founders of my school's chapter of the national fraternity, Alpha Phi Delta. I mention this because it would prove to lead to an incredible opportunity: my new member educator sent me word of a security job at MetLife Stadium. I make the 1.5-2 hour drive (each way) every week from Connecticut to New Jersey to work Giants and Jets games, as well as concerts and soccer games during the summer.
Today, I still work at Yale and MetLife Stadium while pursuing my Master's and trying to get this blog off the ground. In the future I hope to write more original pieces. Two goals I have are to report live from a game and to interview an athlete for this blog.
If you'd like to support more, you can share my work, comment on articles, or follow on other social media.
Twitter: @saksports
Facebook: Sak Sports Blog
I wasn't always a sports fan. In fact, I didn't follow sports at all until late 2009. My health teacher, an obvious Yankees fan, gave the class an extra credit question: Who will win the World Series, the Yankees or the Phillies? Being the nonconformist I am, I had to choose the Philadelphia Phillies. When the tests were returned, I was the only one not to receive extra credit: but only Game 1 had been played so far (with the Phillies winning!) I bargained with my teacher and he assured me if the Phillies ended up winning the World Series, he would give me the bonus credit. So of course, I was instantly emotionally invested in watching the World Series. I would quickly grow to like Chase Utley and Cliff Lee, who both had an incredible series. I also learned early that Ryan Howard was a strikeout machine.
Of course, the Phillies would eventually lose in 6 games and I never got the extra credit. But this was my proper introduction into the world of sports. My dad was always a New York Giants fan, all I can remember from watching games as a kid were his signature yells of "Tiki!" "Plaxico!" or "Manning to Manningham!" So after the World Series, I jumped into the NFL as a Giants fan, but not in the best of times. After starting 5-0, the first game I watched was the final seconds of a loss to the San Deigo Chargers that would push them to 5-4. A bye week followed and their record still wasn't terrible, so I was ready to root for a playoff push. I remember tuning in to Giants at Broncos on Thanksgiving Day on AM Radio on the drive home after dinner. The Giants would get smacked 26-6 and ultimately finish 8-8 in the final season at Giants Stadium.
I'm not afraid to admit my NBA following so far: LeBron James. Yes, this means I jumped from the Cavaliers (for just one season), to the Miami Heat, then back to the Cavaliers. This might make me a bandwagon fan, but it was my intention from the start. I've been spoiled, as in the eight seasons I've watched, the team I've followed has made the NBA Finals seven straight times.
In my high school years I enjoyed the Giants 2nd Super Bowl victory over the Patriots. I even went to the victory parade down Champion's Boulevard on a cold February day. I also got to see back-to-back titles for the Heat, over the Thunder and Spurs. Unfortunately, I missed the Phillies peak as they got worse every year since going to the World Series in 2009.
After graduating high school, I headed to the University of New Haven in Connecticut for a Bachelor's degree in Management of Sport Industries. In my first month there I was able to work at a Army vs. Yale game at the Yale Bowl, transporting elderly and disabled fans on a golf cart.
In my first year I also got the opportunity from my close friend and future roommate to write for an online publication: New York Sports Hub.com. This was my first exposure to sports writing, covering the Brooklyn Nets during their last season with Kevin Garnett. I would then take on writing assignments for the New York Giants, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and New York Mets. I would be appointed section editor for the New York Jets. One of the highlights of this experience was conducting a phone interview with Jets legendary WR Wayne Chrebet. The site has since ceased operations, but it was a great experience that really helped made this blog possible.
In my sophomore year, I was among the founders of my school's chapter of the national fraternity, Alpha Phi Delta. I mention this because it would prove to lead to an incredible opportunity: my new member educator sent me word of a security job at MetLife Stadium. I make the 1.5-2 hour drive (each way) every week from Connecticut to New Jersey to work Giants and Jets games, as well as concerts and soccer games during the summer.
Today, I still work at Yale and MetLife Stadium while pursuing my Master's and trying to get this blog off the ground. In the future I hope to write more original pieces. Two goals I have are to report live from a game and to interview an athlete for this blog.
If you'd like to support more, you can share my work, comment on articles, or follow on other social media.
Twitter: @saksports
Facebook: Sak Sports Blog
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