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Emily Kaplan Discusses New Role as Sideline Reporter for ESPN

Before this season, Emily Kaplan hoped to get a “couple of games” on the sideline for ESPN’s hockey coverage. Now, she’s the network’s top sideline reporter.
Ricky Keeler

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10 months ago

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Emily Kaplan
Jeff Haynes/ESPN Images

When ESPN got the NHL back on its network, Emily Kaplan saw it as an opportunity to expand her coverage of the sport.

Before this season, she was writing about the sport for ESPN.com. This year, she got the chance to add something else to her resume: sideline reporting.

On The Block Party with Seth Kushner podcast, Kaplan said she went to her bosses to ask if she could try sideline reporting this year. She never imagined it would lead to her being on the opening night broadcast on the network’s lead coverage team:

“I had some initial conversations with the big bosses and I pretty much said I’d love to try sideline reporting. It was something I always wanted to add to my repertoire. I think I would be good at it… If you could give me 1-2 games of experience, that would be great, maybe I’d grow from that. Then, when I found out that I was going to be on the opening night broadcast from Tampa Bay as they raised the banner, I just had chills. That’s something I couldn’t even dream about.”

Sometimes being a sideline reporter means having to ask the tough questions when someone’s struggling. Kaplan did receive some criticism during the Rangers-Hurricanes series last round when she was interviewing Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour about benching goalie Anti Raanta when Raanta was right in front of her.

She discussed it with Julie Stewart-Bunks over the weekend on The Third Period NHL Live Show on Twitter in the link below. Kaplan mentioned that the key to having success on sideline reporting is to be the vehicle for the viewer:

“For me, it’s all about being economical with words. I have such tiny windows in hockey to get on-air. It is such a fast-paced game. My biggest fear is talking over a goal and robbing the viewer of that moment. For me, the little stresses right beforehand is I need to be directed with every word that I say has to be intentional.“

“For me, my philosophy behind questions is I’m just there as the vehicle. People don’t really care about my opinion right now. I’m just there to get the subject to open up… Sometimes, I get a little bit of jitters. I think that’s natural. In this job, like any job, it’s all about reps. The more I’ve done it, the more natural it has been.”

One thing Kaplan is tired of hearing criticism about is wearing a mask during interviews. She wanted to make it clear that while some fans might be distracted by it, it is a required by the NHL to wear a mask while interviewing players and coaches:

“I’m really tired of it. I think it’s unfortunate that it’s becoming distracting. For me, I just want people to focus on my work, focus on the interviews I’m doing, focusing on the subjects and the answers I get out of those subjects. Unfortunately, it seems like 50% of the tweets I receive, and one of the reasons I have not been checking my Instagram and DMs and things like that, is because people just want to yell and shout at me.”

“The reason I wear a mask while I interview players and coaches is because the NHL requires me to. I would not be able to do my job if I didn’t. They literally won’t let me turn on the camera. So, that’s why I do it. I understand it’s distracting and frustrating for viewers. It is what it is.”

You can catch Kaplan reporting on the action during the rest of the Eastern Conference final for ESPN as well as the upcoming Stanley Cup Final later this month on ABC as part of the broadcast team with Sean McDonaugh and Ray Ferraro.

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Alex Rodriguez: You Used To Be Able To Hang Out With Reporters And Know It Was Off the Record

“I would say that back then it was a little bit more of a camaraderie.”
Jordan Bondurant

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9 hours ago

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March 29, 2023

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The way that MLB players interact with reporters has evolved and changed significantly over the years in Alex Rodriguez’s eyes.

In a media availability Tuesday ahead of the season premiere of the KayRod Cast, ESPN’s alternate feed of select games slated for Sunday Night Baseball featuring Rodriguez and Yankees play-by-play man Michael Kay, A-Rod was asked for his biggest surprises as the media coverage has transitioned over the years.

“I would say that back then it was a little bit more of a camaraderie,” Rodriguez said. “You could actually go to a bar and have drinks with reporters, believe it or not, and talk about, you know — and everything was pretty much off the record.”

In today’s game, Rodriguez said you won’t find it being the case where reporters and players are friends away from their respective jobs.

“That ship has left, right? I think it’s just a lot more Twitter, get out there first. Fact check later, but shoot first,” he said. “As a result, I think it’s made players and everybody a little bit more aware.”

“I think in a long-worded answer, I think relationships that go back many years, I think, win in the long run, that trust,” A-Rod added.

The second season of the KayRod Cast starts on Sunday at 7 p.m. featuring the defending N.L. champion Philadelphia Phillies and the Texas Rangers.

Kay and Rodriguez will be live from ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York City. There are eight total editions of the KayRod Cast scheduled for the 2023 season.

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Elite 8 Sees Ratings Drop

“Much of the pandemonium, given the number of upsets in this year’s tournament, unsurprisingly impacted viewership as things advanced.”
Jordan Bondurant

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9 hours ago

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March 29, 2023

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With the last two number one seeds bowing out of the 2023 NCAA tournament by the end of the Sweet 16, viewership for the Elite 8 expectedly dropped.

Over 11 million tuned in for the Miami/Texas regional final on CBS. Viewership for the two versus four seed matchup was down 17% compared to the Elite 8 game in the same window last year (UNC/Saint Peter’s). The broadcast was also the lowest rated and least-watched Elite 8 game in that window in seven years.

San Diego State/Creighton in the early game on Sunday drew 8.34 million viewers, which was down 12% year over year.

Almost 8 million watched UConn cruise past Gonzaga on TBS late Saturday night, while Florida Atlantic’s historic upset over Kansas State had a little more than 7 million watch. The Owls’ win over the Wildcats was only down 1% when looking at the numbers from the same window in 2022 (Villanova/Houston).

Much of the pandemonium, given the number of upsets in this year’s tournament, unsurprisingly impacted viewership as things advanced.

But the Final Four and the national championship are often the three most-watched college basketball games of the year, so there should be no shortage of eyeballs glued to Houston this weekend.

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Hawk Harrelson: ‘I Didn’t Retire, I Got Retired’

“I got fired is what it all boils down to.”
Jordan Bondurant

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9 hours ago

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March 29, 2023

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Former Chicago White Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson opened up about his departure from the team in 2018. In an appearance Tuesday on the Foul Territory podcast, Harrelson said his whole farewell that season was forced.

“I didn’t retire,” Harrelson said talking to former White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski and co-host Scott Braun. “I got retired.”

“I got fired is what it all boils down to,” he added.

Harrelson, who was the 2020 Ford C. Frick Award winner given by the Baseball Hall of Fame, said he stand behind the claim that he was shown the door.

“I’m sure that they will deny that. But it’s what led up to that and everything else, that’s interesting,” Harrelson said.

The White Sox hired Jason Benetti in 2016 as Harrelson’s fill-in. Benetti continues to call games on NBC Sports Chicago full-time.

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