Thank You Dallas, I'm Off to DC

In a few weeks, I'll be headed to Washington, D.C. to start on a new adventure. After two years in Dallas, I've been hired as the Redskins beat reporter at ESPN980, the Redskins flagship radio station.

The feedback as I've told people has been amazing. I hope that everyone can have the support I've felt not only in the last two days, but in the last month of my decision making process. From my parents to friends to professional mentors, I've been able to get an incredible amount of crucial input that helped me make what in the end was an easy decision. This was a job that was just too good to pass up.

That, however, doesn't mean what I'm leaving is anything to sneeze at and I never will. There were certainly times over the last year and a half where I was frustrated, but I was always cognizant that I was in a position that was borderline insane for someone my age. I learned a lot about patience and professionalism over the last two years, all while having an incredible job all things considered.

While I'm very much looking forward to getting back on the east coast and being within driving distance of so many family and friends I haven't been able to see consistently or at all, I'm going to miss Dallas immensely. The people here welcomed me with open arms and I don't have a bad word to say about this place beyond "it's hot as hell in the summer." If that's the worse you've got, than you're doing pretty good.

That's where I've been. Now to where I'm going and what I'm doing.

The new position is Redskins beat reporter for ESPN 980, but that's just the start. I'll be at practice, gathering sound and doing hits on our air on the team throughout the season. I'll be at games and have a role in pre-game, halftime and post-game on the Redskins Radio Network. I'll also be keeping a blog at ESPN980.com that we think will have not only written word, but perhaps some audio stories.

I had a great conversation with another reporter on my recent trip to NBA Summer League in Las Vegas about storytelling. I miss getting to do that. We think there will be a place for me to do that in this job. That doesn't happen in radio. I certainly hope we can make that happen.

It's no secret though that I want to be a host long-term and I'll have the opportunity to do that plenty in my new role. During the season it might be sporadic, but I'll be a part of shows consistently even if it's as a guest. During the off-season, I'll be hosting consistently on a fill-in basis. Every day will be something different. That's exciting. I love variety. This job has it.

This is an important job that's had high level people do it in the past and I don't take the responsibility likely. Luckily, I'm working with an amazing team at 980 and I'm very much looking forward to getting started.

7-18 DJ & Hoff: Scott Van Pelt from St. Andrews

Scott Van Pelt checks in from Scotland to talk about The Open Championship.



At the end of the interview, I was able to share some thoughts with Scott on his recently ended radio show. I've always thought it's important to show appreciation where it's due and I learned more from listening to Scott and Ryen Russillo do their show than I did from anywhere else about radio. Simply put, to have the opportunity to share that was pretty damn cool.

Jenny Taft on WWC

Fox Sports USWNT Insider Jenny Taft talks to me on the eve of the final, where the US looks for revenge against Japan.



Coverage is at 4pm on your local Fox station.

RIP Pa

I will inevitably write more later or this weekend or soon, but we lost a truly great man last night. My grandfather, whom we called Pa, was a superhero to me and my cousins. I just got off the phone with my cousin Jordan and he said "he was superman."

Cancer took away this physical superhuman and in the last few years diminished him to a man who was hunched over and had trouble breathing. It was depressing, yet I always had this feeling like if he could just get through a certain amount of time, he would get back to the gym and somehow transform back. 

A quick story - we were in Washington D.C. in probably about 2004 and were touring the Capitol. We were in the cafeteria having lunch and for some reason my cousin Scott, Jordan's brother, thought it was a good idea to arm wrestle Pa. At the time, Scott was a highly touted high school soccer player, strong and fit. Pa smoked him. Then he did it again. He had to be almost 70 years old at the time. Superhero. 

That's the man we already miss. A man who helped foster my love for sports. Who would call me while watching the Yankee game and say "I'll catch up on what you're doing from your grandmother, but what do you think of (insert sports story here)." I'll still be talking to you Pa, cause I know you'll always be listening.

NBA Draft Story - Hoff the Intern

Jahlil Okafor and D'Angelo Russell are on campus at ESPN today which reminds me of a funny, humbling moment from my ESPN internship. Over 10,000 student apply annually to be interns at ESPN and I was one of the nearly 100 selected. ESPN is truly like the commercials. You just never know who you're going to see when you turn the corner. Coaches and players from all over the sports world are visiting constantly. It was the NBA Draft prospects that got me though.

I was 21 years old and was living the dream! I was rubbing elbows with people I admired in the business, and their bosses. I was feeling pretty good about myself. "Who else has it like this? Young and accomplished. Yeah, man!"



Like today with Okafor and Russell, ESPN hosted two of the top two prospects in 2011: Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams. Kyrie was 19 years old and was a lock to be the #1 pick, make millions and become a star. I was a 21 year old intern.

This isn't a blog to make you think about perspective and all that. It's a blog meant for you to laugh at me. Or with me. Because it was funny. You're not that awesome, kid. You're not that awesome.

6-20 DJ & Hoff: Thoughts on Charleston

It's not uncommon for me to touch on serious topics on the radio. It is very uncommon for them to be completely disconnected from sports. What happened this week in Charleston, SC called for that rare exception. I felt especially moved after watching Jon Stewart talk about the shooting and his guest, Malala Yousafzai, talk about the power of one voice. I chose to use mine.

5-3 Mavs Magazine

This is the final edition of Mavs Magazine for the 2014-15 season! Thanks to all for listening all year long, and especially to those of you here. It's one thing to listen because you're in your car and I'm on the station you normally listen to, but to actually take the time to find the podcast is a whole other level of dedication as a listener. I appreciate that. I'll try to write on occasion in absences of the show during the off-season, so keep checking back!



Segment 1 - The End of an Era?
Segment 2 - Jay Allen, Rip City Radio (Portland)
Segment 3 - Marc Stein, ESPN
Segment 4 - Marc Stein, thank you and goodbye