Kirk Minihane ’94
A radio personality and sports journalist for Boston’s WEEI 93.7 FM, Mr. Minihane stopped by campus on April 18 to speak to Diane Williams’ Sports Studies class. Mr. Minihane will be back on campus on Saturday, June 8 as the emcee for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony during Reunion Weekend.
How did your career in sports journalism begin?
That’s a crazy journey. I graduated from Emerson College and moved to Los Angeles in 1997. That was a rough few years where I had some momentum, but it didn’t work out. I moved down to La Jolla and worked at The North County Times, writing sports. Then I went to Upper Deck, a baseball card trading company, where I was an editor for a few years. I was freelancing for newspapers when Rob Bradford, an editor at WEEI.com, asked if I wanted to return to Boston. In 2010, I returned to be a columnist on a new website WEEI was launching. Then they put me on the radio and I’ve started doing that a little more. It’s really worked out well, and it’s fun.
What was it like the first time you were on radio and TV?
The first time I was on the radio was in 2009. During the first break the producer called me in and said, “You’re whispering. I can’t hear anything you’re saying, and you’re falling away from the microphone.” The first time I was nervous, but after a while you kind of forget that you’re doing it. Once you realize you’re on TV or the radio, you’re in trouble.
Who has been your favorite person to interview?
Bill Parcells was good. He’s smart, and when I interviewed him he was in a nostalgic mood. I think we caught him on a good day. I like talking to him a lot. I ‘ve had Dustin Pedroia on a couple times; he’s been good. But good sports talk radio is so often not about the interview. The interview can sometimes bog down the show.
If a Williston student wanted to be a sports journalist, what advice would you give him or her?
It’s a tough business. It’s hard to figure out what it’s going to be like, not 20 years, but two years down the road. Seriously though, if it’s your passion and it’s the only thing you want to do, you’ve got to try and do it, but you’ve got to be smart and right from the start find a place to intern.
Does your wife share your love of sports?
A little bit, I’d say she tolerates it. If I don’t have to watch a game, I’m not just going to watch some random thing. Those days are over. Now you have to watch Downtown Abbey!
