Twenty-some students at Fisher-Hassenfeld College House were treated to an engaging discussion last night with sports reporter Sal Paolantonio.
From the historic 1991 Philadelphia mayoral election to his time in East Africa, working for ESPN and working for the NFL, everything in the broadcaster's career was topic for discussion.
Paolantonio began the evening by briefly summarizing his career in journalism, and then opened for questions.
Paolantonio, originally from Queens, N.Y., was a naval officer before he entered journalism. He worked at two small papers before coming to The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1991. It was there that he started his political writing career "right in the middle of the maelstrom" of the historical mayoral election of 1991.
The election is "the most important thing I have and will ever cover," he said.
Thirteen candidates ran in the election, and the Republican nominee, Frank Rizzo -- about whom Paolantonio would later write a book -- died before the election against Democrat Ed Rendell.
Paolantonio next became the Eagles' beat writer in 1993, during which he described his transition from politics to sports. He started with the Eagles in the most volatile of years. Owner Jeffrey Lurie had just bought the team, players Randall Cunningham and Reggie White were leaving, coach Rich Kotite was staying and the team was stinking.
Paolantonio got through his first year by using skills he developed in political writing. "I knew how to report. I just had to translate those skills to sports," Paolantonio said.
He explained that football is a lot like politics. You start with a game plan, practice to perfect it and then execute it against your opponent. The only difference is politicians like to talk and some athletes do not.
Paolantonio next went to ESPN in 1995, where he has been working for the past 10 years. He has appeared on shows such as the Sports Reporters, NFL Matchup and NFL Countdown. At ESPN, he has become one of the pre-eminent football reporters in the country, covering two football games each week and hosting a show on Fridays.
Paolantonio regaled the students with stories of confrontations with prominent people in the world of sports, including Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells. Paolantonio repeatedly asked Parcells about comments made by outspoken Dallas wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson.
While remaining calm during the interview, Parcells afterward turned to Paolantonio and said, "Get your ... ass out of the locker room," and proceeded to curse and describe more anatomy for the next 20 minutes. Fortunately, the two have made up since.
The most pertinent piece of advice Paolantonio gave to young journalists came when someone asked about Stephen A. Smith.
"I created Stephen A. Smith," Paolantonio said. While at the Inquirer, he always told Smith to be himself, to never hold anything back and not to be fake.
"If you're going to be a journalist, just be who you are. People can tell if you're faking it, or holding anything back, and they can push the clicker so fast."
