Courtesy Jewish Times

(September 3, 20090 In our sports-crazed society, there are ample opportunities for youngsters to cut their teeth in sportscasting and sportswriting with the hope that one day they can launch a career in that competitive field.

Daniel Radov, 14, of Owings Mills, Md., is seizing numerous opportunities and is displaying the kind of writing and speaking talent that could lead to a promising future.

A ninth-grade student at Baltimore’s Gilman School, Daniel is one of only six youngsters who writes blogs for Sports Illustrated for Kids (SIKids.com ). He started that one-year gig last April and has penned about a dozen articles. Daniel landed that cherished assignment after sending in an audition videotape.

“I have been attending a sports broadcasting camp for five summers,” said Daniel. His mother, Lisa Radov, had actually learned about the camp through an article in the BALTIMORE JEWISH TIMES. “SI is a partner with the camp. I sent in a tape of an interview I did with Reggie Redding of Villanova [basketball].”

What happened next came as a surprise: “I was sitting home watching TV when the phone rang. I told my sister Diane to answer the phone. She started yelling, ‘Oh my God, oh my God,’” he recalled.

It was an SI editor calling to tell the budding sports reporter he wanted him to write for SI Kids’ Web site.

Most of the story concepts are Daniel’s, but he said his father, Jay Radov, also gives him some ideas. In fact, Daniel said his entire family — parents, one brother and two sisters — are sports nuts. “I probably got most of my interest from my dad. He’s obsessed with sports,” he exclaimed.

Each of the SI Kids writers gets to cover one major sports event during the year. Daniel’s assignment was the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in St. Louis in July, so he and his mom flew to the Gateway City.

“I had media credentials. I got a lot of weird looks,” Daniel said.

He had plenty of exciting moments, too. His flight from Baltimore also carried Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson; he conducted a five-minute interview with Cal Ripken; and he had media access to the players.

“Interviewing [Tampa Bay Rays star] Evan Longoria was cool during the player press conferences,” Daniel said. Mr. Longoria apparently even said, “Get a load of this kid.”

Daniel also interviewed Boston Red Sox star Kevin Youkilis, who is Jewish, but they did not discuss Judaism.

When it comes to his writing, Daniel likes to go beyond the box score. “I would rather not report on the facts too much. I write about other ideas, more abstract,” he said.

While the prominence of sports in the U.S. is so great, Daniel is not sure that is all good.

“More demand means more people vying for positions,” he said. “I’m also not sure that access to sports 24/7 is so great. Everything gets scrutinized and magnified.”

When it comes to today’s sports reporters, he said he is acquainted with and admires Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and Sal Paolantonio of ESPN. He also is a big fan of ESPN’s Mike Greenberg, host of “Mike & Mike in the Morning,” for his ability to handle both radio and television.

According to Jeremy Treatman of Philadelphia, founder and co-director of Sports Broadcasting Camps, the young Baltimorean has a bright future.

“Daniel has great ambition and natural instincts,” he said. “He fit in socially when he started with us at age 9. He asks great questions and has great interviewing skills. He keeps getting better and is one of the best in our camp. He has the perspective of a fan, a kid and a broadcaster.”

Having finished his schooling at Krieger Schechter last spring — Daniel said he learned a great deal about writing at the school — he is looking forward to his years at Gilman.

“I hope to play soccer, golf, write for the paper and do some radio,” he said. Years down the road, Daniel does envision himself writing or talking sports. He already knows, by the way, that while it’s fun, “it’s a lot of work, too.”

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