RSN: To start off, what is your background as a sports fan?
KT: I grew up in sports. My dad has always been big into sports, and my mom and older sister are fans, too. I have an uncle who played in the Oakland A's system in the 1960s. When I was growing up, we used to go to Maine to visit him, and he always had the Red Sox game on the radio. That's one of the ways I started learning about sports. I'm a big football fan, too. Sundays were spent watching the New York Giants, and that’s just what we did.
RSN: You've been an athlete yourself, having run cross country and track at Rutgers. Tell us a little about an event you set the school record in: the steeplechase.
KT: The race is 3,000 meters, which is close to two miles, so it's definitely an endurance event. There are five barricades each lap, which makes for 35 hurdles total. Seven times you're jumping over the water pit, and you don't always clear it. That’s what everyone seems to care about, because a lot of fans congregate at the water pit during the race, wanting to see you trip and fall in the water. And with 20 girls going over it at once, it happens!
RSN: Why did you like the event?
KT: Well, I'm tall, which helps me get over the hurdles. Plus, the hurdles help break the monotony when you're running around in circles!
RSN: Your alma mater’s football team, which is not normally a powerhouse, is having a fantastic year.
KT: I am extremely proud of the Rutgers football team. I anchored SportsDesk on Thursday night when they beat Louisville, and I could barely contain my excitement while calling the highlights! Rutgers is making the entire state of New Jersey and the region very proud for their hard work and success. I went to most of the games as a student, and my family supports the program. I always enjoyed going to games, and now that they’re good, it figures I’m too far away to attend! One of my uncles was the captain of the Rutgers football team in 1962-63. He was so excited when I became a Scarlet Knight. I’m so proud to be a former athlete at RU, and now that the football team has brought national recognition to the entire athletic program, it makes it that much more awesome!
RSN: You got your start as a sports reporter at CSTV. What was your first assignment?
KT: CSTV sent me to Los Angeles to do a story on sports movies. One of them was "The Longest Yard," and I was interviewing people like Adam Sandler, Michael Irvin and Burt Reynolds on the set. What made it even more interesting is that the University of Miami had just won a big game against Florida State, and that's where Irvin and Reynolds had gone to school. I went up to Reynolds and asked if Irvin was giving him a hard time about Florida State losing, and he reacted by turning his back on me and walking away. I didn't know if he was being serious or not. It turns out that he wasn't, but being 22 years old and just starting out, it was quite an experience.
RSN: You came to NESN from the Providence market. How much did that help you acclimate to the New England sports scene?
KT: I was there for a year and a half, and it definitely made the transition easier. I covered the Patriots a lot, and also came up to cover the Celtics and Red Sox a few times. And, of course, I covered the PawSox. One of the stories I did was a feature on Jon Lester, Manny Delcarmen and Abe Alvarez. That was in April. All were guys I assumed had a chance to get called up to Boston sooner rather than later, so I made sure to do it early. Working in Providence was a good experience. The city is great… fantastic restaurants! There are many good people in Rhode Island and I received a lot of support from both viewers and people I worked with.
RSN: Who are the most engaging personalities you’ve interacted with so far in the Boston sports scene?
KT: I can’t single any one out. There are so many great people I work with every day, including my peers here in the Boston media. I enjoy working in the field and getting to know sports teams and figures on a daily basis. I think each team is very different in the locker room, and that’s what makes my job fun. I get to learn so many personalities. Some guys will give you an interview in a heartbeat, others are more challenging. And after a tough loss, forget it! That one guy you always go to could very well be the first one to look at you and walk away. Talk about personalities!
RSN: What was it like coming to NESN?
KT: My first weekend on the job was the Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon, and the Red Sox-Yankees series. Needless to say, it was baptism by fire! I learned very quickly how passionate the fans were, and how important it was for me to get the show right. There was pressure, knowing that it was such a huge series, but honestly, what better way to start?
RSN: If you weren't doing this for a living, what would you be doing?
KT: I'd be finding a way to do this. Seriously. Along with my love of sports, I've always been fascinated by TV. I knew in eighth grade that this is what I wanted to do. Even back then, I loved public speaking.
RSN: Have you ever considered pursuing an acting career?
KT: No, I'm a bad actress!
RSN: How would you describe your on-air persona? What do you bring to the table?
KT: I try to come across as loving what I do, which isn't acting at all. Hopefully the viewer can sense energy and passion in a broadcast. I guess my style is pretty much energetic and young, with maybe a slightly different perspective. I see things differently than a 10-year veteran would. I grew up when a lot more girls could play sports [than in the past], and that's what I did.
RSN: How much time do you put into preparing for your job?
KT: I don't think I ever stop. Knowing what is going on in the world of sports is a big part of my job, but research is easy when you love what you're reading. As a matter of fact, it's the first thing I think about when I get up.
RSN: To close, tell us something most people don’t know about Kathryn Tappen.
KT: Hmm….that’s an interesting question. If you only know me from watching the TV, you probably don’t know that I’m a huge goofball! In Providence, my sports department actually had a fake TV show about me called “That Darn Kat” because just about every day, something silly happened with me. I laugh a LOT and sometimes things come out of my mouth that my mom likes to call “Kathryn-isms”… That’s just who I am.
