Alumna Member Profile
A “Worldwide Leader in Sports” When asked to share a funny story about her job, Kristen Balboni will tell you about the time she invited wrestler and actor Hulk Hogan to share a pizza with her. She might also tell you about the “Gangham Style” song and dance parody she filmed with her bosses. It is all just another day in the life of working at ESPN.
Photo credit: Amanda DeCastro/ESPN
Kristen Balboni Theta Tau The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill production researcher at ESPN
Since graduating two years ago, the Theta Tau Chapter (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) alumna has worked in the stats and information department of ESPN, mainly as a production researcher for “Mike & Mike,” a sports-talk radio show that is also simulcast on television. Her job includes providing sports information and statistics to the on-air talent before and during shows and researching story ideas. She even hosts her own segment on “Mike and Mike” called “Next Question” where fans can call in and inquire about a range of sports topics. “The great thing is that what we are here to do is a dream job. It has certainly been my dream job,” Kristen said. “We just go in there and talk about sports for hours. It’s unscripted and a lot of the time, it’s like a mini party.” As the only daughter of, as she calls him, a “sports nut,” Kristen has always had a passion for sports. That passion and desire to break into the television industry lead her to an internship with ESPN in the same department in which she now works fulltime. But don’t think the internship or job are a fit for the average sports fan. “Being on-air talent and a researcher are easily two of the toughest jobs to get at ESPN,” said Amanda Leonard Anderson (Iota Omega Chapter, University of Maryland), Kristen’s friend and fellow ESPN employee. “To be a researcher, you have to take a long and grueling sports knowledge test. You have to be on top of stats, sports history and up-to-the minute on all of the latest news and action going on around all the professional and college leagues.” It is true, Kristen’s job is demanding. The show airs four hours each day, and the entire time, she has to able to find information and statistics at the drop of a hat. Each piece of information she supplies impacts the level of trust her coworkers have in her. “Mike and Mike have been doing this show for 14 years. If I give them information, they need to be able take my word for it, no questions asked. I work to make sure I am always double-checking my information, validating their trust,” she said. At the end of a busy day and sharing pizza with the special guests, the thing Kristen loves most about her job is the people. Like ZTA was for her in college, ESPN and her co-workers have become her home away from home. “They are like a little family to me,” Kristen said. “The coolest thing—and there a lot of cool things—is the people I work with. They allow me to talk sports every day and laugh while I am doing it.” Winter 2014 · 11