UAlbany campus. Photo Courtesy: Google Images

Getting a job in the field of journalism has never been harder than it is presently. So, when you apply and get that first interview, it’s important to hand in a good resume and do well on the first interview. That first interview could be your last for a while if you blow it, considering the current job market in journalism.

Teresa Buckley, the executive city editor for the Albany Times Union, and James Odato, a reporter of the Albany Times Union, visited the SUNY Albany campus to talk to students about what they should do when applying for a job in journalism.

Buckley wants to see in a resume and hear in the interview more about what your “career aspirations are” and “what it is your going to do.”

She warns against  saying things in a resume or on an interview such as, “I jumped out of an airplane.”

Odato reiterated the importance of telling the truth when your applying for a job. “It is important to be honest,” said Odato. “Lies will come back to bite you.”                                                                                                                                        

James Odato. Photo Courtesy: Times Union

One piece of advice both journalists gave was not to be discouraged from where you start your career in journalism, you have to work your way up.

“I started in the classified section,” said Buckley.

“I took the second job offered to me,” said Odato. “It was at one of the smallest daily newspapers in New York.”

Odato stated one piece of advice that’s important when handing in your resume for a job in journalism, “Better not have a misspelling.”

1. Extended Playoffs- Baseball has continually been gaining more and more popularity, almost to where it was in the glory days. It just makes sense for baseball to increase the number of teams in the playoffs just to generate more interest and ratings. Perhaps two wildcard teams per league and a one game playoff between the two wildcard teams, a kind of wild card playoffs the NFL has.

2. Removal of a Florida team- Who will it be? For years we have heard talks of a Florida team being moved. However the Marlins, who were most talked about being moved, have a new stadium in the works (finally) and will be known as the Miami Marlins. But will fans tolerate having a team that gets dismantled every time they win the World Series. The Rays had a break out season in 2008, but were still unable to draw big attendance, and no longer are building a new stadium. My pick is that the Rays will be moved at some point in the next 2o years.

3. Records Broken- I believe in the next 20 years Bonds’ home run record (762) will be shattered by Alex Rodriguez (if he stays healthy). Trevor Hoffman’s save record will be surpassed. Also there will be players who will finish with a .400 batting average for the first time since Ted Williams did it in 1941. However, i believe no person will of broke Joe Dimaggio’s 56 game hitting streak.

4.Hall of Famers- Bonds and Clemens not in Hall by 2028, neither will be any suspicious “steroid era” players. Pete Rose will be.

5. New Rules- The NL will finally adopt the DH rule. Instant replay review will be fully adopted as in other sports (except balls and strikes). The era of turf stadiums will finally be over and every stadium will have grass like God intended.

6. New Cities- I believe there will be an extension of at least 2 teams by 2028. Cities that might get expanded teams or moved teams include: Portland, Oregon, Nashville, Tennessee, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, San Antonio, Texas.

7. No Salary Cap- The MLBPA is too powerful of a union to let there be a salary cap. However even though salaries will still be much higher (because of inflation), I think salaries won’t be out of hand as they were in the early 2000′s.

8. International Players- while African American players keep decreasing, international players keep increasing. I think there will still be a large number of Latin American players in the league but new areas, such as Europe and Asia especially, will see a large influx of players in MLB. Sadly, I think the number of African American players will keep decreasing.

9. 3 Retired- Babe Ruth’s number will be retired throughout the league as Jackie Robinson’s 42 is, at least it should be by then.

10. End of a an Era- Fenway and Wrigley will no longer exist, they can’t be kept around forever.

What I would like to see in 20 years that isn’t in my predictions:

1. The World Baseball Classic as popular and respected as FIFA’s World Cup.

2. The Dodgers move back to Brooklyn.

3. The “steroid era” forgotten and never repeated.

4. Cubs still without a World Series, it’s baseball tradition.

5. The Yankees win at least 19 more World Series.

Clinton and Obama. Photo Courtesy: ww.CBSnews.com

Obama has done the right thing in picking Hillary Clinton to be his Secetary of State. H-Rod is perfect for that role, she’s experienced, coarse, and says what is on her mind. I believe Clinton as Sectary of State is position she will succeed at. More than she would have succeeded as President or Vice President.

Is there room for Bill now in Obama’s administration too?

Bill Clinton told CNN that he could be convinced in a role if Obama,

“asks me to do something specific – which I’m neither looking for nor closed to.”

Bubba already dismissed rumors that he could take his wife’s New York Senate seat. So, there is a possibility the ex-president could be joining his wife in being part of the Obama administration.

In October, Obama suggested Bill Clinton could be part of a special envoy for issues dealing with India and Pakistan.

Maybe there is another position open for Bubba? Who knows?

Though I think Bill would of been a wonderful candidate to replace Hil in the New York State Senate.

So, with Yankee Stadium almost officially closed, I decided to post some of the very fond memories of the stadium. If you are a Yankee fan, or even a baseball fanatic, this article about Yankee Stadium by  Sports Illustrated‘s Tom Verducci is a must read.

Anyway, here are some of my best and worst memories from Yankee Stadium.

My First Game Attended: July 2, 2001, I remember walking in the stadium and being in awe of everything I’ve seen on T.V. all my life. I was about to turn 14 and even though I lived in NYC all my life, this was my first time seeing the Yankees and Yankee Stadium in person. When I saw the field I understood that it really was Baseball’s Cathderal and the holiest of holy lands in sports. It would be my last time seeing in person the real dynasty Yankees. Mussina pitched and got the win that afternoon and my first home run I saw was off the bat of Alfonso Soriano. I never wanted to leave the stadium that day.

My Last Game Attended: June 6, 2008, Darrell Rasner started this game and the Yankees lost 2-1 (only the second time the Yanks lost at a game I attended). I really wish at the time I realized that was the last time I was going to be in the stadium.

Best Game Attended: This is two-fold, I had the most fun at a Tigers-Yankees game in August of 2007 with the bleacher creatures. But, being at the last Yankee Stadium opening day this year was really special.

Worst Game Attended: It was my first Red Sox-Yankee game in June of 2005. I paid over $100 for some good tickets along the thirdbase foul line. The incredible acquistion of that winter, Carl Pavano, started the game and I think you know how this game ended. The Red Sox crushed the Yanks 17-1 (I cheered hard for that lone run). Mostly everyone left that game early, so the Sox players really could hear my heckling.

Worst Game Watched: Game 7 2004 ALCS, I still don’t want to talk about it.

Best Game Watched: This also is a tie between games 4 & 5 of the 2001 World Series (Yes, you have to group them together) and Game 7 of the 2003 World Series. Don’t have to say much if your a baseball fan except Tino, Brosius and Boone.

Worst Memory: Red Sox celebrating their penant on Yankee territory after the 2004 ALCS.

Best Memory: Charlie Hayes catching that pop foul ball at third game 6 of the 1996 World Series.

Best Moment In Yankee Stadium History: Easy one, Lou Gherig’s “Luckiest Man” speech.

The new Stadium is going to be amazing and hopefully 2009 is an incredible year for the the new stadium’s first tennants.

Photo Courtesy: www.WendyCall.Com

Another part of chapter nine in Telling True Stories that I liked a lot was Not Stopping: Time Management for Writers by Stewart O’Nan. One of my biggest problems when I write is procastinating and stopping, O’Nan gives some very helpful tips.

O’Nan writes that a famous writer, Joseph Conrad, once told him, ” There are only two difficult things about writing: starting and not stopping.”

O’Nan gives 17 rules for keeping your writing flowing.

Some of my favorite are:

Second Rule: O’Nan says to keep the manuscript with you so you can always add to it or think what your next move is whenever you have time in the day.

“Even if you just take the very last sentence you wrote on an index card, you can take five seconds to look at it and ponder what to write next.”

Stewart O'Nan. Photo Courtesy: Google Images

Eighth Rule:

“Ask people what they know. If you need information or sources for your project, ask everyone you encounter about it.”

Twelfth Rule: O’Nan says a helpful tip is to write a note after you finish writing for the day, so it’s easier to pick up the next day when you start writing again.

“Never force yourself to begin from a dead stop.”

Fourteenth Rule: This rule is telling you to do whatever it takes to stay in that chair when your writing, even tying yourself to it. This is one of my biggest problems when I write, I like to get up and walk around and that makes me keep doing a go-and-stop method that ruins my flow sometimes.

“Robert Frost said it best:”The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.” It’s a lot easier if you’re tied to the chair.”

I found this part of the chapter very helpful. I even highlighted some parts of it, which I rarely do.

Photo Courtesy: www.WendyCall.com

Trying to get published as a writer and finding a career in it can be very tough. The book Telling True Stories does a great job at giving tips to how get started and giving you tips in it’s last chapter. As someone who will be graduating in May and will be looking for a career in writing, this chapter was very informative.

One part, author Jim Collins, gives advice on how to make it as a freelance non-fiction writer and talks about his experience.

“Freelancing as a narrative hasn’t been an easy way to earn a living, and recent changes in the magazine industry have made it even tougher.”

Collins talks about how making a full living off of freelancing is very hard and not common at all. Many writers freelance as a side job or freelance to eventually build their way up to be a full time writer for a publication.

Jim Collins. Photo Courtesy: Google Images

Collins also talks about how a writer can’t be afraid of rejection, and a freelance writer should write for any and many different publications. One piece of advice that I didn’t really think about is when Collins talked about if a freelance writer wants money he could do both the major paying story for a major magazine like The New Yorker and a piece for a local newsletter for $50, every little bit helps as a freelancer.

Collins’ advice about how to approach a magazine editor was also very informative. He talks about trying to pitch an editor a story idea about something you know a lot about, follow up on stories, and not thinking about too heavy of a story.

“If you are devoted to the craft, an increasing amount of your work will be challenging and rewarding, both personally and financially.”

White, from Littleton, Colorado, created an ad on Craigslist last Tuesday, inviting anybody who wanted to attend her Thanksgiving dinner to send her an e-mail and go.

White was flooded with hundreds of e-mails, not all for people wanting to attend her dinner, but many from people saying she’s doing a good thing.

White says she is doing this because last year she and her family were on the verge of being homeless, and she just wanted to give back to the less fortunate.

So far 32 people are attending Thursday, and there is still room for more. The amount of food includes four turkeys, six pumpkin pies, 12 cans of vegtables and 60 rolls.

However, with no screening process or any way of fully knowing the people she is inviting over her house, what is to stop one of the dinner patrons to be a typical craigslist crazy, or a serial killer? Which there have been incidents before with someone being both of those things.

kevin Costner. Photo Courtesy: Google Images

Its at this point, at the start of winter, that I really start to miss baseball. I recently watched The Sand Lot  on HBO, and made me wonder about the best baseball movies. Below I compiled a list of my favorite.

1. 61*- This movie doesn’t get enough credit, mostly because it was an HBO movie and not a feature film. But this was an extraordinary historic baseball film, and the actors looked so much like Maris and Mantle. I strongly recommend buying this film and watching the behind the scenes.

2. The Sandlot- Everyone knows why this movie is great. It reminds me so much of playing baseball everyday and all day in the summer with kids in the neighborhood when I was younger (although it was mostly in the street because we didn’t have grass or a lot to play in).

3. Field of Dreams- There is no way you can come away from watching this movie and not love baseball.

4. The Natural- Incredible baseball movie. I would have no problem putting this number 1.

5. Pride of The Yankees- Gary Cooper is a dead ringer for Lou Gherig in this classic.

6. Major League- Hilarious great movie. Seen it 1000 times and never gets old.

7. The Rookie- Never get tired of this movie. Story of an old underdog making it to the majors.

8. Rookie of The Year- One of my favorite movies to watch as a kid. I started to believe if I broke my arm I could be a pitcher at 12. Not the most realistic baseball movie but funny.

9. Little Big League- another kids sports movie (the early 90′s were filled with these). Another movie that made me think I could be a manager and owner of a MLB team (still checking if Steinbrenner is really my grandfather).

10. Bull Durham- Not as good as everyone says it is, but still pretty funny, and hey it’s Kevin Costner in another baseball movie.

Notable Mention- Major League II

There are still a few more baseball movies I have to see that I haven’t yet. Those are Bang The Drum Slowly, and Eight Men Out.