Ray Mirra started his career in journalism at James Madison University where he covered every sport from basketball to soccer. After graduation, Ray moved on to write for small local newspapers before coming across NFL films when they were still located in California. I’m appreciative that I got to work with him and pick his brain.He made it his goal one day to be part of NFL films so he submitted a tape along with his resume for any open positions at their company that was slowly gaining popularity throughout America.
Ray Mirra Journey to the NFL Films
Raymond Mirra, 70, has worked with NFL Films since 1973, and he’s been the team’s creative director since 1982. He has been responsible for shaping the way we see the game of football, both on TV and in the movies. Ray talked to him about how his crew does what they do, as well as what football means to him personally.
I had the pleasure of working with Ray Mirra, the man behind the scenes of NFL Films, for a short time. He learned a lot about football and the hard work that goes into being a sportswriter. Ray is a great teacher and an even better friend.
How did Raymond Mirra approach your first project?
I had the opportunity to interview Raymond Mirra, the man behind the scenes of NFL Films. I asked him how he approach his first project and he told me that it takes a lot of courage to play a football game. It is a very physical sport and you have to be able to think on your feet. You also have to be able to juggle a lot of words because you never know when someone is going to say something that you need to use in your film. For example, sometimes there will be an injury or some other form of drama that happens during the game. The people at NFL Films have to capture everything so they can make sure they include all angles of what happened during the momentous event.
Is it true that coaches and athletes do not like your interviews?
Despite what some may think, coaches and athletes actually enjoy being interviewed by Raymond Mirra. He has a way of making them feel comfortable and getting them to open up. His years of experience as a sportswriter have taught him how to ask the right questions and get the most out of his subjects. He finds it very satisfying when they are happy with the end result and tell him he did a good job. When asked if there is anything he wants people to know about this profession, he replied that there is nothing really glamorous about it. It’s hard work for not much pay but it’s worth it because you are talking about sports for a living.
What makes Hakeem Nicks funny?
Hakeem Nicks is a wide receiver for the New York Giants. He’s known for his great catches, but he’s also known for his sense of humor. Nicks is always cracking jokes and making people laugh. Even though he’s one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, he doesn’t take himself too seriously. That’s what makes Hakeem Nicks so funny. He knows how to lighten up and make the game more enjoyable, especially during these long days on the field. I think that it’s this type of character that draws me to him as an athlete and as a person. His personality gives me some joy while watching sports or just doing my day-to-day activities at work or home.He possesses a quality that other players lack.
Who else would you like to interview?
I’d like to interview Ray Mirra, the man behind the scenes of NFL Films. I’m interested in how he got started in the business and what it takes to be a successful sportswriter. Plus, I want to know his thoughts on the current state of the NFL and the future of the league. What’s next for football? What is one thing that all these players have in common? What do you think is their favorite word to say when they score? Who is the most likely player to break out this season? These are just some of the questions I plan on asking him! He’s been interviewing many pro-football players over the years so I’m sure he’ll have an answer or two.
Football writing is not like any other. There are many other people doing their own things to cover a game or season. You can spend your lifetime learning the tricks of the trade and never understand it fully. It’s not simple to be a sportswriter and understand football.
Nobody could ever produce NFL Films-caliber content without having any prior knowledge of football players and seasons. It takes a lot of thought, effort, and word juggling. I’ve tried to make it easy for you to understand that football and being a sportswriter is not an easy play.
Watching football from a press box is not just about flipping channels or seeing commercials. There are many things that you do not fall for with this sport, but one thing is clear: Football players make some really good money. Being a sportswriter is fun, but it’s also a complicated lifestyle that demands effort and attention to detail. If you want to be part of the conversation, there are only certain topics that you should be covering.
Raymond Mirra- A Job as a Sports Writer
In today’s world of technology and information, sportswriters have a wide and varied job. Most work in newspapers. Some are television personalities like Dan Patrick, who works for ESPN. Others are online journalists like Mike Freeman of Fox Sports; they write articles on their websites or blogs that help bring news to you when you’re at home.
Imagine if you could have five or six high-energy sportswriters in the press box looking at the field to cover a game and each one of them has their own approach. Sportswriters are different, they are specialists and sometimes it is hard for them to fit in with what others are doing in their stories.
This is what it is like to be one of the NFL’s best sportswriters. You are there, at practice, getting ready for the game, and you can’t stop talking about your favorite players. You are looking at all the action and trying to make sense of it all in between working on your game notes. This book gives readers a little insight into what goes on during an NFL season so that they can fall in love with the game just like we did!
The job is not easy and you will always meet people who tell you they could never do what you do, but by working hard and knowing your craft you can become successful at it.
You can expect football coverage to be different, especially when you choose to go with a sports journalist who is interested in learning. That is why their stories are going to make you want to read them all the time.
