Sports Anchor
He earned the opportunity to pursue his dream job in sports broadcasting but then derailed his career with two decisions: one serious and stupid which was forgiven by his employer; the other a minor matter of stating his belief in public, which turned out to be controversial and a potential embarrassment to future employers. Overall, he could self-assess his career to be successful.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
The father of FH was the head of maintenance at an airport. His mother was a state government employee.
CHILDHOOD
FH was always at ease around people, using charm and humor to make many friends.
EDUCATION
While FH could be funny in class, he was also a serious student who knew he wanted a college degree to ‘open doors’ for adult jobs and an interesting career. An avid reader, FH absorbed well written sentences which he later credited for being able to speak in coherent sentences.
Following high school graduation, FH enrolled in a small college (enrollment 1800), which guaranteed all students the opportunity for an internship, research, or off-campus study. The average class size was 16. 40% of the students were ‘double majors’ who graduated within four years. 100% of reporting graduates were employed or in graduate school one year after graduation.
Among FH’s optional course selections were broadcasting and public speaking. So, it was an easy fit for FH’s interests to volunteer at the college’s radio station, where eventually he became the program and music director.
ADULT CAREER
FH’s first adult employment was with a radio station in a small city. His smooth-talking style led to a new job as the sports reporter for a television station within that same city.
At age 23, FH joined a major, national tv network. A Black American, FH was assigned by to partner with a White American to co-host a new, hour-long sports show. They became mutually supportive friends from the outset, which was quickly evident to the tv viewers. Said FH of his new gig: “I went from being stuck doing two to three-minute highlights, to a show presenting almost everything important that happens in sports.”
The President of the network said, “FH had an amazing ability to exude intelligence, humor and charm whenever he was on camera.”
CHALLENGE – DRUG ADDICTION
Off camera, FH began experimenting with drugs. He later said: “I was a young kid, in a city I didn’t like. I was bored and got in with the wrong crowd, who seemed to appreciate my minor celebrity. To prove that I was just a normal guy like them, I tried their drug of choice, cocaine. That turned out to be a really bad decision.”
FH was not able to consistently perform his work well at the major television network, so he decided to leave, telling management that he knew he had to get professional help to kick his drug habit. After completing ‘rehab’ FH applied for reinstatement and was accepted, though not immediately reunited with his original broadcasting partner, instead being assigned brief sports updates until management was more confident that FH had permanently rehabilitated himself.
Among FH’s successful broadcasting experiences following his reinstatement, he was selected to host pregame and postgame shows on NFL football and served as a co-host with his original sports show host, for several coverages of the Winter Olympics.
CHALLENGE – PUBLIC CRITICISM FOR SUPPORTING ONE CELEBRITY ATHLETE OVER ANOTHER
As a long-time, full-time sports broadcaster, FH was entitled to vote for the National Basketball Association’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. When it was revealed after one vote, that FH had cast the only vote against the eventual winner, FH received anonymous threats of personal harm on his office voicemail and visible anger from the winning athlete for being denied a unanimous MVP vote.
The public criticism influenced national broadcasting television networks to not hire FH for any further assignments. While he was able to obtain sports anchor positions at local tv stations, FH was disappointed in no longer having opportunities to broadcast nationally. His wife said: “FH felt he was a (national) network guy, not just a local news guy.”
CAREER SATISFACTION
During his career as a sports news anchor on national television, FH earned praise from fellow broadcasters and tv critics. “FH was the most naturally talented person I’ve ever worked with on television” said one of his show producers. Said another: “He had an electricity that jumped through the screen.”
A younger Black man, who eventually worked at ESPN and later at FOX sports, wrote on Twitter that FH was a Black role model. “Long before I was inspired by any sports anchor on ‘SportsCenter’, FH was the anchor I looked up to. He was solid, great, and looked like ME. A rarity back then.”
Editor: Despite the threats and public criticism following his MVP vote, FH was fully employed and had the satisfaction of being firm in the sincerity of his vote, based on his objective analysis rather than merely ‘following the crowd.’ If you take a likely unpopular position, be prepared to deal with push-back, which might be significant. In the words of famous American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, the road to ‘Success’ includes the ability to “earn the praise of honest critics and to endure the criticism of false friends.”
