As appeared on ABC SPORTS ON LINE
July 16, 1997
She's The Jack Of All Trades Jocko had the pleasure of meeting another cyber-columnist (or whatever one would call us) at the Indy 500 back in May. Her name is Annie Hoffman and she writes "Name Dropping with the Sports and Entertainment World," which can be found on CBS Sportsline. Now, you are probably picturing someone in the "Downtown Julie Brown" mode or perhaps one of the socialite followers on the E network. That's not what Annie is about in the least bit. She is as topical and current as anyone in the "gossip" realm, but she is more like a "Becky Thatcher" type than a Melissa Rivers clone.
Her column focuses on different athletes' personalities off-the-field, and away from their sport. One week she may talk to Olympic Champion skier Alberto Tomba on his budding acting career or get an interview with 76ers swingman Jerry Stackhouse to rap about his love for singing. The next week's feature may switch gears and zero in on an entertainer and his or her favorite sports. Did you know that both Craig T. Nelson (our favorite "Coach") and Jason Priestley (90210 stud) race cars as a hobby?
"I want people to see athletes as humans, by talking about areas they aren't experts in," says Hoffman.
Oh, I guess you could say that she has accomplished that feat. She's done off-the-cuff columns on Shaq, Jerry Seinfeld, Joe Montana, Chuck Norris, Tom Hanks, David Letterman, Dan Marino, Mario and Michael Andretti and Don Johnson.
I could go on and on. Why so much cross-over between the sport and entertainment worlds? Hoffman has a simple answer.
"Basically, entertainers want to be athletes and athletes want to be entertainers."
Hoffman should know. She has done it all in this business, even though she looks young enough to be mistook for an intern. If there are any young people out there who want to get involved in sports, Annie is the dream interview for you. Her background is as diverse as the cereal aisle in a grocery store. She has experience in production, marketing, writing, radio, casting and as an on-air radio talent. While most of us were still trying to pick a college major, secure a fake ID and find a fun summer job in our late teens, Annie was already being nominated for an Emmy Award for production. Her network television travels have taken her on a Tour de Alphabet soup -- ABC, NBC, CBS and ESPN (among others). We network gurus often get together in the big city and play the "Six Degrees of Annie Hoffman" Game. Who needs Kevin Bacon?
"I always tell people that I'm great at a cocktail party," says a smiling Hoffman inferring how she has many a story to tell.
The contacts that she has made along the way have certainly helped her "gossip" column. Hoffman told the Jock that she often relies on secretaries, production assistants and interns to get the best story leads. The inside information that she gathers has made Hoffman a regular on CBS Sportsline Radio, in addition to sports stations in major markets such as Denver, Chicago, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. It is not just her contacts that have put her name on the map, though. Annie is as aggressive as they come.
Back when she was a producer at a sports station (WKNR) in Cleveland, she proved to be someone with a knack for coming through with impossible-to-get-interviews. A prime example took place back in April of 1993. The Tribe was hosting the Yankees in their first homestand of the season. Before the game, Hoffman promised her on-air commentators that she would secure an interview with the unapproachable Yanks owner George Steinbrenner. Surely her radio crew appreciated her optimistic attitude and willingness to settle for only the best. However, getting Steinie to talk after a game is as hard as getting a Super Bowl ticket. I doubt they were sitting on pins and needles after the game waiting for Mr. Stenbrenner to contact them.
The game ended and a WKNR receptionist received a call from Steinbrenner saying, "Tell Annie I'm waiting for her." He was calling from his car phone on the way out of Municipal Stadium (Before the "Jake" moved into to town). Imagine the look on everyone's face at WKNR when the non-sports savvy receptionist came into the studio and blurted out, "Some guy named George Steinbrenner wants to talk to Annie. Where is she?"
Minutes later, the interview was arranged. "I told you I'd get him," said Hoffman to her friends at WKNR.
She has a knack for making people feel comfortable -- the key to a good interview. Perhaps it comes from her experience as a casting director. She had a unique way of weeding out the candidates.
"I looked for people who seemed worn out," said Hoffman with a slight laugh. "The worn out ones are usually the hardest working actors and actresses."
As for Hoffman's future plans, don't be surprised to see her on television with her own talk show. She wants to give athletes a forum to be able to discuss topics such as their childhoods. "Often times, athletes aren't able to leave their egos at the door and share their insecurities during interviews," says Hoffman. Considering that Annie has hundreds of athletes' phone numbers within an arm's reach, it certainly sounds like a good idea. At present, only ESPN's Chris Meyers and Roy Firestone are able to present athletes as people first and athletes/entertainers second on their talk shows.
"I'd love to host something kind of wacky," says the Breckenridge, CO resident. There are so many questions that never get asked."
Be sure to check out "Annie Hoffman's Name Dropping" before she becomes a household name. Oh yeah, one more thing - if you got any "goods" on an athlete or entertainer, give Annie a ring!
The Hoffman File Favorite Books/Writers: Anything that is a biography or autobiography. She enjoys African-American poet/writer Maya Angelou.
Favorite Athletes: Michael Jordan, Alberto Tomba and Tiger Woods.
Favorite Movies: The Way We Were, Love Story, and Leaving Las Vegas
Favorite Sports Movies: Raging Bull and Field of Dreams
Actors She'd Pay to See: Meryl Streep, Nicholas Cage, Meg Ryan, Susan
Sarandon, Sally Field, and Paul Newman
Best Interview: Craig T. Nelson
Person She'd Like to Interview: John Grisham
Greatest Sports Events of All-Time: The 1968 Olympics, the 1972 Olympics
highlighted by Mark Spitz's 7 Gold Medals, and the Super Bowl III (1969)
when Joe Namath guaranteed a victory for his Jets.
