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Interview:
Chris Yandek, Wrestling and Sports Journalist &
Broadcaster:
12th July 2004
Greg
Tingle once again interview's Chris Yandek, acclaimed
wrestling and sports journalist.
You have made so much progress in the media and entertainment
world, especially in the past few years...what's you
"secret"?
"I just do my research. There are so many different
publications out there. The NFL media world is very
friendly. Everything is a political, but you don't
have to do a lot of thinking."
How
did you secure the "Sports Interview" gigs?
"I
work on my own with my own outlets www.thesportsinterview.com
and www.neweraofwrestling.com
You know the newspapers, magazines, and big Internet
outlets I have wrote for. I recently parted ways with
1wrestling.com
with other big journalists Dave Scherer, Buck Woodward,
Jess Magrath, and Mike Johnson. We all left for different
reasons. The biggest website online today now is www.pwinsider.com.
What
do you consider to be the highlights of your career?
"Interviewing
Steve Austin, Classy Freddie Blassie's last interview,
interviewing the various NFL
personalities, which you can find at www.thesportsinterview.com.
There are other interviews."
Who
are your top 5 wrestling legend picks?
"Lou
Thesz, Ric Flair, Classy Freddie Blassie, Ricky Steamboat,
and Jake Roberts. Not all in that order."
How
do you stay motivated?
"Knowing
there is always a million stories to cover. I am very
spiritual and loving as well. You always have to have
something to look forward to."
How
do you create your own breaks and opportunities?
"There
out there for everyone. Just not enough motivated
and appreciative people."
Describe
a typical day for you?
"Wake
up, get on the computer, check my emails for upcoming
interviews, eat lunch, catch up on the latest news,
make my daily phone calls, talk to my closest friends,
and a lot of other things within my life."
What
mainstream press coverage have you received?
We
have touched this before. Interviews on various radio
programs. I also did an interview for a girl for her
school project. My interviews I have been featured
on radio programs, in magazines, newspapers, and online
all over the web of course."
How
does the Internet continue to assist you?
"Gives
me my true fan base and huge audience. It's been a
wonderful thing."
Who
would you like to interview, but haven't...yet?
"If
I told you that than someone else might beat me to
it."
What
is the biggest misconception about you?
"That
I am just a professional wrestling journalist. I haven't
done much in the last 6 months or so besides my weekly
radio program where I am doing interviews weekly."
Biggest
misconception about professional wrestling?
"Most
of those misconceptions are true. The business is
in a down point right now. Not what it once was. That
is why I have a new career in the NFL media world.
The website to check out all that stuff is www.thesportsinterview.com."
When
do you know that you are making real progress?
"The
feedback from people in the media world. An author
who has written a few of the WWE books is a good friend
of mine and just feels I am one of the best today.
Every interview is making progress though.
What
do you do to relax?
"Every
day usually working at home (laughs). Miami, Florida
is a beautiful place. I have more then enough time
to relax."
What are some of the best perks of your career?
"A
resume for a future job. I will be starting college
this fall and going after my Journalism/Mass Communications
degree."
What
are a few of your current projects...or, at least
a few hints?
"More
NFL media interviews on www.thesportsinterview.com
Also possibly working on a wrestling legend and more
interviews possibly from a notable name and friend
of mine."
What
is the best advise you ever received?
"More
compliments then anything. I guess not to get discouraged
by older people when I am so optimistic."
Who
have been the most supportive of your career?
"Lots
of support all around. No worries about support."
How
do you promote yourself?
"I
have a press release mailing list I send out to each
outlet when I do an interview. Also my websites www.thesportsinterview.com
and www.neweraofwrestling.com do enough promoting."
What
are the biggest challenges that you have overcome?
"There
is always a challenge."
To
you, what is success?
"Being
a successful, influential, and role model in sports
journalism. Dream would be to be a TV interviewer
and of course have the love of your life."
What
do you like about Australia and Australian sport?
"Australia
is a nice country. Not much more I can say than that
(laughs).
...end.
Editors
note: Chris is moving ahead in leaps and bounds. He's
going to the top of the business.
Interviews
Interview
- 31st August 2002
Interview
- 14th July 2003
Interview
- 10th December 2003
Mediaman
Wrestling
Directory
Sports
Chris Yandek is a Writer for the St. Petersburg Times
Online Wrestling Section at Ringfury.com,
and you can find his interviews in the monthly old
school newsletter Wrestling
Then & Now, and also writes for Koco Sports
an all around Sports Publication check out their website
at http://www.kocosports.com.
Chris
Yandek is the host of his own world wide radio show
New Era of Wrestling on the Pal Talk Radio Network
every Friday from 8:00pm to 9:00pm Eastern Standard
Time. Check out http://www.paltalk.com
for more information.
He
has Interviewed Pro Wrestling Personalities Including:
Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, The Hardy
Boyz, Chris Jericho, Jake The Snake Roberts, Bruno
Sammartino, Macho Man Randy Savage, Sid Vicious, Jimmy
Snuka, Jim Harris better known as the man who played
Kamala, (Host of the ABC Contact TV Special with Bret
Hart) George Anderson , Roddy Piper, The American
Dream Dusty Rhodes, Rey Mysterio Jr., Japan's Foreign
Wrestling Legend Stan Hansen, Mean Gene Okerlund,
The last surviving member of the Von Erich family
Kevin Von Erich, WWE Superstars and Divas Trish Stratus,
Molly Holly, and Jacqueline, as well as WWE Hall of
Famers Classy Freddie Blassie and The Fabulous Moolah.
He
has also interviewed sports personalities including
1998 Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist Tara Lipinski
and various NFL Players, including Emmitt Smith. Check
out his Sports Interview website at http://www.thesportsinterview.com
He
also represents The Stro formerly of WCW as his Publicist.
Check out The Stro's official site at http://www.thestro.com.
He
was also a segment producer for the discontinued Tampa
Bay, FL's Pro Wrestling Weekly radio show with Shannon
Rose and former WCW and WWF star Barry Horowitz. Check
out the news web site of the radio show at http://www.prowrestlingdaily.com
Check
out his official site http://www.neweraofwrestling.com
for all his Interviews, Audio and Transcript.
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