WNUR Sports Alumni Responses
If you are a WNUR Sports alumnus, we would like to hear from you! Please send us an e-mail message and tell us about your memories, favorites, etc.

Mike Alzamora--posted 10/8/98

Job: Executive Producer, WSCR-AM/The Score Description: responsible for the production staff (about 20 people), as well as the hiring and training of interns; liaison between WSCR and Chicago pro and college teams Favorite WNUR Sports Memory: Sophomore year when I sat on press row next to Rob Grady and watched NU beat Indiana 66-64 on ESPN; Indiana was the defending national champs. It was awesome! Message to Another WNUR Sports Alum: Jon Shainman--get your butt back to Chicago for a visit!! Favorite Wildcat Athlete: Shon Morris and Richard Buchanan Favorite Other Big Ten Team: Penn State Least Favorite Big Ten Team: Iowa and Illinois

Andy Baggarly--posted 10/08/98

Job: Reporter, San Bernardino Sun Favorite WNUR Sports memory: Beating Michigan in 1997; basketball and the NIT game versus DePaul and Xavier (the Rose Bowl season was pretty cool too, even though I was on TN and missed it)

Eric Becker--posted 09/29/98

Job: Director of Corporate Communications, On Command Corporation Description: Responsible for all public, media and investor relations for world's leading provider of in-room video entertainment and information services to hotel industry. If you have not heard of On Command, you may have heard of SpectraVision (we acquired them in late '96). Favorite WNUR Sports Memory: Spring 1989, Neil Kaplan and I co-produced a 20 minute segment on professional wrestling with guests including the legendary Sgt. Slaughter. We gave away 40 tickets to an upcoming house show wondering whether anybody cared for, or for that matter even listened to, the late, great SportsWagon. Sure enough, mid-segment when we announced that the tickets were available to the first 10 callers, the phone lines went absolutely nuts, and if I remember right, only 2 of the 10 callers were NU students. To this day, I thank my co-producers Mike Alzamora & Glenn Geffner for succumbing to our numerous requests to air this non-traditional, sports entertainment segment. Other news: just got married to Danielle Naeff, 9/6/98 Favorite Wildcat Athlete: tie - Mike Greenfield, Jeff Grose Favorite Other Team: Minnesota Least Favorite Other Team: Illinois

Asher Golden--updated 08/15/00

Job: President - Golden Media Group Description: I media train CEOs and spokepeople so they can realize the maximum benefits of exposure. Message to WNUR sports alums: Woof to the Mad Dog, Paul Mensheha... when will I see Wille Weinbaum again and with what state of facial hair (I still want your job in 20 years), we've got to stop running into each other!... I want Scott Marcotte's voice... Bob "techno" Grabko: diggin the mega-mixes... Thanks for cutting all those ID's for us in '96 Brent... Dave Eanet, watch the second-hand smoke from Ted! Favorite WNUR Sports Memories: Doing color for the "kick" at the '96 Michigan game... covering the Citrus Bowl from my home town.... interviewing Otto Graham at both bowls... interviewing a tipsy Charelton Heston... catching the first ever TD pass in history for the WNUR Sports IM team... part of the first crew to ever travel on the team plane (PSU '96)... ripping the drywall out of our press box with Andy Baggarly after the last game at Dyche (Andy, do you still have that sign?)... the now defunct "Chartwells" karioke bar at the Greensboro Marriott... Rick Taylor bought me a beer last year!!! Worst WNUR Sports memories: Doing sidelines for Miami, OH game... our equipment going out two plays before the winning TD at Wake Forest in '96 and calling the TD on my cell phone... doing color at Duke from a "High Voltage," wasp infested shed on top of the stadium... Men's Basketball Iowa/NU, 1995: NU runs an entire offensive possession with four players AFTER calling a timeout. Favorite Wildcat Athletes: Pat Fitzgerald, Smooth Paul Burton, Brian Gowins' foot. Favorite other Big 10 Team: Iowa (only for the bars) Least Favorite Big 10 Team: not telling.

Audrey Honig--posted 09/21/98

Job: Reporter, News 12 Connecticut Description:We're the cable station that serves part of CT -- our viewing area cuts off just north of Redding and into Ridgefiedld) Biggest claim to fame is covering every legal hiccup of now-convicted-rapist-preppy-fugitive Alex Kelly and various disasters --- Flood of '93, Flight 800, etc. You'll find out everything you need to know about the former in the dishy-but-true "Saint of Circumstance" by Sheila Weller. (I consulted on the book.) Other jobs since graduation:My first job after graduating from Medill in '89, was as a bureau reporter for KHQA-TV in Quincy, IL, for $12,500. I covered 5 counties in 3 states from my office/apartment, shot my own video, and drove 40+ miles to the station to write and edit. From there, I went to KWQC-TV6 in the Quad Cities (later home of Dave Revsine, I believe.) While there, I co-hosted a two-woman FM morning show before starting my TV day. A phone call later, I moved to Connecticut to take over covering Bridgeport, the state's largest city. Since then, my beat has changed to Alex Kelly, and now, the Capitol, where I'm the only regular in the TV corps who does not wear a tie. Message to Another WNUR Sports Alum: I'd love it if you could locate Karen Sell (Music '91), one of my favorite counterparts! Favorite Wildcat: Joe Girardi, who has almost converted me to Yankee fandom (in the AL only.) Favorite WNUR Sports Memory: Everyone being so nice to me after I flubbed, stumbled and bumbled my way through my first basketball game. (MSU and we lost.) I was lousy. Period. But everyone knew I was scared to death and no one was mean enough to tell me how bad it was. Second best memory: Rob Grady's wedding and the WNUR reunion it turned into.

Tim Huskey--posted 09/21/98

Keep up the good work!

Neil Kaplan--posted 10/08/98

Job: Director of Advertising, Marketing, & Strategic Planning Los Angeles Times Other jobs since graduation: Senior Analyst for CBS Consultant for Bain and Company Favorite WNUR Sports memory: Broadcasting my first baseball game in April. The temperature was 38 degrees and I had to take my mittens off after each batter to keep my scorecard.

Scot Marcotte--posted 10/18/98

Job: Consultant, William M. Mercer, Inc. Other jobs since graduation: Announcer, Ameritech Cup Tennis Tournament Chicago Voice-over Talent for Various Studios Favorite WNUR Sports memory: After the news staff didn't show, Trent Whitney, Tony Stucker and I did a five minute sports cast centered completely on Australian sports (Australian Open, Australian Rules Football Championship, etc.). We used Australian Accents for our "call-ins." Ideas you have for us: Collect resumes for us alums for those looking for permanent work/internships.

Jon Shainman--posted 10/08/98

Job: Reporter/Anchor, WPBF-TV West Palm Beach, FL Other jobs since graduation: Radio news and sports-Delaware TV reporter and anchor-Delaware/Maryland Favorite WNUR Sports memory: Too many to recall...Keep up the good work!

Dan Skinner--posted 08/03/99

Job: Media realtions - Disney's Wide World of Sports Description: The Disney's Wide World of Sports complex is located at Walt Disney World Resort. We host hundreds of events throughout the year, including Atlanta Braves spring training, several AAU championships and the US Youth Soccer Championships. Favorite WNUR Sports Memories: NU vs. Wisconsin, 1996- "Oh fumble!!!"; miniature golf duel with Schrieber at the Mall of America, 1997; Wrigley and Comislkey in the same day with Goldman, Schrieber and Baggerly, 1997; my impression of White Sox P.A. announcer Gene Honda at the 1997 WNUR News and Sports Party; NU vs. Michigan State, 1997- My first play-by-play, "Blocked!"; NU vs. Wisconsin, 1998- Waiting 59 minutes and 56 seconds to say "Hello Madison, Northwestern has arrived!"; NU vs. Ohio State, 1998- Calling the game as my family listened on walkmans in the stands; Redeeming myself in Miniature golf by defeating Schrieber, Goldman and Goldman's brother in "The Ruckus by The River" in St. Louis, 1999. Favorite Wildcat Athletes: Steve Schnur--never got the credit he deserved for leading NU to back-to-back Big Ten titles. Favorite other Big 10 Team: Ohio State, Purdue, and Penn State Least Favorite Big 10 Team: Wisconsin

Steve Sussman--posted 10/08/98

Job: Educational Sales/Marketing Other Jobs since graduation: News reporter/anchor WDWS Radio Champaign, IL News anchor WALK Radio Long Island, NY Traffic reporter Metro Traffic New York, NY Also, a waiter and tennis pro between jobs Favorite WNUR Sports memory: Covering the Big Ten basketball championships with Spuds Gorman, Bob Segall and Jamie Samuelson in Columbus. Also calling a football win against Purdue with James Weiner. Worst WNUR Sports memory: Frantically trying to get a football road game at Rice back on the air after a certain Nebraskan (who will remain nameless) hung up the phone back in Evanston. Luckily we got the guys back on the air in the second quarter. Those guys had to drive 17 hours to get to the game!

Mike Webb--posted 09/21/98

Job: Director of Technical Compliance, Charles W. Cammack Associates, Inc. Description: Nothing to do with radio or sports; I work with non-profit organizations performing consulting functions in connection with their plans; it's not as boring as it sounds, however. Favorite WNUR Sports Memory: Traveling to Bloomington for a Big Ten football opener with Rob Grady, Neil McManus, et al. Red Roof Inn was "the official hotel of WNUR Sports" at the time, but we got to stay in a Ramada, since there was no Roof in Bloomington. Rob injured his knee in pick-up touch football game on indoor field at said Ramada, but toughed it out for the broadcast the next day; Rob also had the bright idea that singing the NU fight song (while standing, no less) at dinner would endear us to the local faithful. The stunt didn't engender much of a reaction; our waitress informed us, however, that it was a good thing that we hadn't tried our serenade during basketball season, since the restaurant we had picked was a training table favorite of coach Knight's! Cats were off to a good start, which surprised everyone; Indiana crushed us, surprising no one. Message to Another WNUR Sports Alum: To Rob Grady, Charley Frank, Showman, Az, GG, Neil McManus, J-Dog and all of my contemporaries whose wit and talent made every moment at NUR a pleasure; you always made me feel welcome, despite my lack of broadcasting ability (which was offset by my ability to work hard of course!) Favorite Wildcat Athlete: Shon Morris Favorite Other Big Ten Team: There are no other Big Ten teams Least Favorite Big Ten Team: The Biting Illini, of course Ideas: A WNUR Sports Alumni reunion, or "Sports Formal" would be good for us alums, and probably for WNUR Sports as well, since it could be used as a fundraiser in and of itself, and, if not, as a way to solidify alumni support. Also, developing a tape archive of great, not so great, or just plain funny WNUR Sports moments (you have a lot of past sports directors on your mailing list whom might have some old tapes; I have old tapes, but they are of me, and they are truly awful) would be a rewarding task. Just from my years there, there were many memorable moments (George Wendt doing play by play for a NU home baseball game and taping some of the most hysterical promos in WNUR Sports history, Dave Revsine and Jason Desanto impersonating Harry Caray and Walter Mondale (???) for a Sportswagon (now Sports Voice) promo, "Byron Sanders runs it straight up the butt" (I think the play-by-play man, whose name I fail to remember , meant to say "gut") that are probably lost forever (unless Rob Grady or John Shainman have them). I'm sure there are many great moments from your tenure as well, since the Cats have a significantly better football team now; they should be preserved.

Willie Weinbaum--posted 10/08/98

Job: NY Bureau Producer, ESPN Description: Breaking news, features, investigative reports and events coverage for "Sports Center", ESPNews, and "Outside the Lines"; based in NY, but travel widely (Wimbledon, NBA Finals, MLB Postseason, etc.) Favorite WNUR Sports Memory: (1) the fun roadtrips with people like Perry Weine, Anthony Shute, Mark McCain, Nels Jensen and others (2) favorite announcing highlight: Jim Stack's game-winning shot (long 3 pointer) at buzzer vs. OSU at DePaul's Alumni Hall (NU's McGaw Hall was closed for renovation) in 1983--pxp was "Rathel to Jenkins...3 seconds, 2 seconds, to Stack, 35-footer...Gooood, Goood, the Wildcats win it, the Wildcats win it!" It was during Cats NIT Season. Message to Another WNUR Sports Alum: Dave Eanet: Cats' glory couldn't have rewarded a more deserving guy (of course, Duane Dow wasn't available) Favorite Wildcat Athlete: Marc Hujik Favorite Other Big Ten Team: Wisconsin Least Favorite Big Ten Team: Illinois Favorite NU Sports One Liners: (1) baseball coach George McKinnon after Cats were slaughtered: "Their balls had eyes." (2) Swim Coach Jack Bolger "We've got a garbage pit for a swimming pool, and you can't attract quality athletes to a garbage pit." (3) Daily Northwestern lead after Michigan's Eric Turner was hero in defeat of NU at McGaw despite getting ill during a late timeout; "almost everything Eric Turner threw up last night went in." Memorable Tough Assignments: (1) keeping composure during Cats/ISU women's game--broadcast booth high atop Horton Field House (2) finding bright spots during "the streak" (3) flying Chapparal airlines to Lufkin-Nacagdoches airport for Cats/Stephen F. Austin post-season women's hoops game (4) overcoming sub-freezing conditinos and snow at Wells Field (5) not cracking up at crowd noise inserted for crowd-less baseball (studio engineer Darren Carroll) (6) holding wires together to stay on air from Iowa's Nile Kinnick Stadium (7) raising money for sports broadcasts and convincing hostile 'NUR GM to find airtime Suggestion: How about a reunion of NUR and Daily NU Sports alum done with Athletic Dept/Speech/Medill--bring back ex-athletes, coaches, too?

James Weiner--posted 10/08/98

Job: On-Air Promotions Producer, Speedvision Description: in charge of the production and all other facets of Speedvision's on-air promotions departments; previously I was on ESPN's college football staff but quit following NU's 95 Rose Bowl appearance figuring it would never get any better than that! Favorite WNUR Sports Memory: Greg Gill recovers Jason Burns' fumble in the final seconds of the final game of the 1992 football season as NU beats Wisconsin to end Badgers' bowl game hopes. Worst WNUR Sports memories: NU not crossing midfield in a 49-0 loss to Boston College, Brian Leahy's wide right last second field goal attempt that crossed above the goal post (to this day, my roommate still thinks it was good as does Leahy) in NU's 27-26 loss to MSU, 2 speeding tickets coming home from a 31 point loss against Iowa in basketball, every gut wrenching conference loss during NU's 0-18 90-91 men's basketball campaign. Message to Another WNUR Sports Alum: To the Class of 93 and all who care: I forget who was in the studio at the time, but on my last broadcast I announced that if NU beat Michigan in football I would go to Hillel-- something I had not done in my four years at college; for the record, I stopped by but it was closed. Favorite Wildcat Athlete: Len Williams Favorite Other Big Ten Team: None Least Favorite Big Ten Team: Michigan

Trent Whitney--posted 10/08/98

Job: Business Manager, Conference USA Description: Manage finances and investments for the 14-team NCAA conference. Favorite WNUR Sports Memory: Taking a photo of the WNUR banner hanging out the window at the 1996 Rose Bowl!! Who would've ever believed??? Message to Another WNUR Sports Alum: To Glenn Geffner and Josh Lewin: say hello to all my old friends at the St. Louis Cardinals when your teams meet Favorite Wildcat Athlete: Otto Graham Favorite Other Big Ten Team: Penn State Least Favorite Big Ten Team: Ohio State