5 Questions with a Real Sports Reporter

Tune in to Los Angeles’ KNBC News and you’ll be treated to Southern California’s leading sports anchor, Fred Roggin. With the station since 1980, he has been the recipient of a veritable plethora of Emmys, Golden Mikes, and Associated Press Awards. More importantly, he has a job I could only dream of having. With his dry wit and honesty, he reports the sports for Angelinos and treats us to satirical fun with his Hall of Shame segments.

I took a chance and contacted Fred, telling him of my admiration and envy for his job. Asking him to critique my blogs, I inquired if he would be so kind to be the subject of a post and answer some questions for me. Lo and behold – he did! How cool is that!? A busy reporter has time to answer a passionate sports fan’s questions! I have just fallen in love with the local Los Angeles media!

1. What do you think the single most significant event in sports has been in the recent memory?

Magic Johnson's revelation he had AIDS. This affected everyone, not just the sports audience. It focused more attention on a subject that had been taboo. It dispelled myths and gave people reason for hope.

2. I know you cover Los Angeles teams but hail from Detroit originally – what teams are you a fan of? Can you stay “unbiased” with a favorite? How unbiased do you have to be?

I've been waiting for the Lions to win something since 1957. You're trained to be unbiased when talking to a broad based audience. It used to be, you report it and the audience will make up it's own mind. Things have changed and in sports it's alright and at times necessary to offer perspective given the facts are available 24 hours a day on line or on cable. Local sportscasts remain relevant when you focus on local events and offer perspective. Which local teams to I root for? All of them because it's good for business when the local teams win.

3. What do you think it will take for Major League Baseball to recover from the Mitchell Report? Does it seem like there have been more scandals in sports lately? (Mitchell Report, the latest tennis betting scandal, Patriots cheating, NBA referees) Or are athletes and professional sports just under more scrutiny?

There have been more scandals because more have brought to light. More media means more scrutiny. Baseball will recover because at the end of the day people go to sporting events to be entertained. As the old saying goes, this too shall pass.

4. What would it take for more women to be viable sports reporters/broadcasters? I understand that sports are a “guy’s thing”, but can a sports-obsessed woman be readable and believable to men? What can a female do to be taken seriously as a sports authority?

The politically correct thing to say is, times have changed and women have the same chance. The truth is, times have changed and women have more of a chance. There's no question many women know more about sports than a lot of men but when you're dealing with a predominantly male audience it can tough to break thru. I've always believed that the best people succeed. If a woman is the best and can hang in there, she will succeed.

5. If you ever need a day off, can I cover for you?

If I get a day off, I'll let you know.