Each week during the football season we will interview a different broadcaster. The goal is for readers to understand how NFL and college football broadcasters discuss what they do, along with a few questions related to the game or mission they’re tasked with that week. Our seventh Q&A subject is Melissa Stark, who is in her second year as a sideline reporter for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” and will be in Philadelphia this Sunday when the Eagles host the Miami Dolphins.
Previous weeks have featured Fox’s Greg Olsenthat of Amazon Al MichaelsCBS and Westwood One Audio Kevin Harlanthat of the Fox Pam Olivier, Gene Steratore from CBSand ESPN Dan Orlovsky.
A challenge for your role is that you don’t have a lot of time with in-game topics or even after a game. How to ask a differentiating question in such a short time?
It’s difficult and I’m trying to make it seem urgent. I try to keep my questions very short. I’m trying to figure out what the two biggest scenarios could be. Often this is based on what you just saw. It depends on the major themes covered or what you saw unfold. I always think a good question – and people might think it’s generic, but I really like it – is, “What was the message in the locker room?” The coaches are pretty fiery. They are intense. They are in the moment.
For example, last week I was talking to (New York Giants coach) Brian Daboll directly after the clock management problem with (quarterback) Tyrod Taylor. They failed to score any points at the end of the half (against Buffalo Bills) and that really made the difference in the game. (Daboll) was off camera, but he literally couldn’t even think straight. He was so frustrated and angry with the situation, and I completely understand.
It’s funny because people will be critical and say, “I can’t believe you talked to coach and asked that question at that time.” » Well, that’s my job. I don’t blame a coach for being frustrated or giving me a one-word answer. That’s his job, right? But as journalists, we’re there for a reason: it’s direct access for fans to get this information.
Where is your favorite place to stand during games?
I’m everywhere. Last week we had (Bills quarterback) Josh Allen and (wide receiver) Steve Diggs, and we know how Diggs reacts on the sidelines. So I know I’m probably going to get some great observations from Diggs.
I kind of follow whatever the scenario is. If a team is leading and they seem frustrated, I will go there to see the frustrations. I can come in with pre-prepared stories where I talk to players or moms or wives during the week, but ultimately we really want the observations to be on the sidelines, because you can’t get them anywhere else. Of course, if there’s an injury, I jump on it, if someone’s in the medical tent or if the athletic trainers are watching them.
Pam Oliver did this interview a few weeks ago and we were talking about Lincoln Financial Field, which is where you’ll be this Sunday. She said one of the reasons she loved Philadelphia was that the fans were very honest with people in television media. What was your experience like in Philadelphia?
Oh, I’ve been sidelined in Philly (Laughs). The fans are really intense. They are passionate and tough. They are not afraid to use profanity. But people pretty much leave me alone. It’s just a quick “Hi, Melissa” or something.
I increase our broadcast in my ears, especially in loud stadiums like this. Actually, I’m just listening to the show, and I IFB in both ears. I want to hear what (announcers) Mike (Tirico) and Cris (Collinsworth) say. I want to talk to my secondary producer in the production truck, Erin Bollendorf, and say, “This is what I see. » So I disconnect from the crowd because the broadcast is so loud.
Also, one of the most important things about “Sunday Night Football” is that I have the luxury of having Mike Ryan, former NFL coach, there with me. He will be on the other side. He knows what each injury looks like and what the staff is doing. It’s amazing in terms of providing information and knowledge about injuries.
You were a news intern for the “CBS Evening News with Dan Rather” show in the 1990s and worked for NBC News for a few years. If you had stayed in news full time and never returned to sports, what would you have wanted to cover?
I wanted to be like (longtime CNN journalist and anchor) Christiane Amanpour. I wanted to be abroad and walk around in the heart of the turmoil, talk to people and get a sense of what was happening where the crisis or war was. Now, in retrospect, oh my God, because I could never have had a family. I realized this very early on. That’s why I had to pivot.
There are two reasons why I left the news. I would be on the “Today” show replacing Ann Curry or as an anchor for MSNBC, and I would read a story, and all of a sudden a sports story would come on and I would just get this adrenaline rush. and this excitement. , and a smile appeared on my face. I could say that’s what excites me so much. There was a certain lightness. Yes, there are serious sports stories, but sport is sport. It’s a game. The news is not.
Also, I remember early on when I was on the “Today” show, they called me when Roy (Horn) from Siegfried & Roy was mauled by a tiger. They said, “Can you go cover this?” Can you fly today? My whole family was coming to town this weekend, for a big family reunion. I just said, “I can’t.” And I knew there was always someone willing to do that, maybe they didn’t have a close-knit family or they were willing to sacrifice that. You mentioned Dan Rather. I remember him going to all the interns and saying, “This is a job you better be prepared to give your life for.” »
You’ve covered two Olympic Games during your previous stint at NBC. Will you be in Paris for 2024?
I certainly will be. I will cover swimming (as a poolside reporter). This is what I covered in Athens. I covered Michael Phelps, I’m from Baltimore and he’s from Baltimore. I am very excited.
You were part of the Chiefs-Jets show. Having been in the middle of the vortex, how do you see the connection between the Taylor Swift media machine and the NFL media machine?
We tried to find a balance. I mentioned Taylor in my open speech and quickly moved it to Aaron Rodgers. The last time they were both in the same building, Rodgers was going wild at his concert. I understand the die-hard football fan saying, “Enough, we don’t want to hear anything about it.” » And the Swifties, that’s all they were interested in and all they wanted to hear.
My two daughters, because it was a home game, were there. They are 16 years old and I went to his concert with them. They are absolutely obsessed with her. I mean, they were crying before we aired because they saw her getting out of her SUV and they filmed one. It was hilarious. Then they were waiting for her after the game because she came out on our production trucks. I was sitting in the car and thinking, “Let’s go, I’m old, I’m tired, I want to go home.” » My two older boys are waiting in the back of the car. The girls were there saying, “No, no, no, mom, we have to wait until she leaves.” » It was very funny and it was a real highlight for them.
I can grant you an assignment to cover any sporting event that you have not yet covered. What would you choose?
Everything related to tennis like Wimbledon or the US Open. I am an avid tennis player. I play USTA competitively. I remember when we were young, we traveled a lot as a family and I saw (John) McEnroe and (Andre) Agassi play at Wimbledon. I don’t know why I missed covering tennis during my career. I’ve covered golf, the Olympics, but this is definitely the one I missed. The individual part fascinates me. Being a tennis player and having to think about every point, it’s such a fascinating sport to me.
Previous Questions and Answers
• Greg Olsen: On Tom Brady and his future at Fox, Jordan Love, Justin Fields and more
• Al Michaels: On the reviews, dinner with John Madden, collaboration with Kyle Shanahan
• Kevin Harlan: On His Super Bowl Streak, His Ties to the Buck Family and the Speedy Dolphins
• Pam Oliver: On broadcast longevity, what her job is like, the joy of Eagles fans and more
• Gene Steratore: On How an NFL Rules Analyst Works, Staying Up to Date on the Rules and More
• Dan Orlovsky: On ESPN, I watch every NFL game and the viral video that started it all
(Photo of Stark with the Chiefs Patrick Mahomes And Travis Kelce: Gavin Liddell / Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
