After more than 30 years in sports business, including thelast 18 at Sports Illustrated, Art Berke retired on Feb. 23.
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Berke, with SI’s new Sportsman of the Year
trophy, plans to explore writing and teaching. |
Berke oversaw all communications for SI as well as promotionfor the magazine’s “Sportsman of the Year” and swimsuit editions. He joined SIin October 1988 after working at ABC, where he was the primary publicist for“SportsBeat,” “Monday Night Football” and “Wide World of Sports,” and later wasthe network’s director of sports and prime-time sales development. Prior tothat, Berke was associate director of information for Major League Baseball.
Hometown: East Chicago, Ind.
Resides:Harmon Cove, N.J.
Age:58
Education: Indiana University
First job: Indianapolis Star sports department my first summer out of college.
Earliest sports memory: Going to see the White Sox in Comiskey Park in 1954.
Most memorable personality: Howard Cosell
Most admired executive: Bob Iger
Favorite vacation spot:Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Favorite piece of music:Anything Motown
Favorite author:Richard Ford
Favorite movie: “Diner”
Favorite sports movies: “Hoosiers” and “Field of Dreams”
Favorite actress:Diane Lane
Favorite athletes: White Sox players and Indiana Hoosiers
Favorite nonsports passion:Golden retrievers
Best coach:John Wooden
Funniest athlete:Charles Barkley
Favorite quote:Branch Rickey’s “Luck is the residue of design.”
Last book read:Ford’s “The Lay of the Land” and Tom Callahan’s “Johnny U”
Prized possession:A term paper from when I was a junior in high school: “The Negro Advancement in Baseball.” I ultimately got it signed to me by Jackie Robinson.
Greatest extravagance:I make a trip to see the White Sox in spring training every year.
Greatest challenge: As a PR person, just the constant day-to-day challenge of being on top of things and being one step ahead of things to make sure that who you are representing, you are representing the right way.
Career advice for those considering a career in sports business: There are so many people that I’ve talked to over the years who have been interested in getting into the business. I know how difficult it can be. So many times it’s such a hard struggle that people sort of fall by the wayside. But Iencourage them to not give up if it’s what they really want and to go for it.
He talked recently with SportsBusiness Journal New York bureauchief
Jerry Kavanagh.
What is the most electric sports event you have attended?
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Berke first went to games at old Comiskey
but also enjoyed their run to the 2005 title. |
Berke: In 1967, Indiana beat Purdue in a very exciting game in Bloomington and went toits first — and only — Rose Bowl. I went to that Rose Bowl, where Indianaplayed the O.J. [Simpson] USC team.
And just being part of the excitement of the White Sox’s WorldSeries run in 2005 was one of the great times in my life. I saw all the homeplayoff games and went to the World Series with my dad.
If you were in charge of all sports, what new rule would you implement?
Berke: I’m really an old-school guy and I’m not crazy about some of the “Me, me, me!”antics of athletes. I know there are rules against it now, but I think that Iwould do my best to eliminate the taunting and the selfishness of people insports.
Does the media coverage create pressure on sports figures?
Berke: I think it definitely does. When an ESPN is 24/7 and even the news cablenetworks cover 24/7, every part of a person’s life is more exposed. When peoplein sports lose their privacy, it can become a problem. I think the media has agreat influence, and the fact that cameras are around, it creates differentbehavior if they weren’t around.
What’s the best thing about working in sports?
Berke: If you’ve grown up a sports fan and you have a real feeling andknowledge of the sports world, even though it’s a job and you go to work every day,it makes up for a lot of the hard work and long hours that you’re doing whatyou love so much.
What’s next?
Berke: In the immediate future, I’m going to do some consulting, including the GivingBack Fund. And down the road, I’m going to pursue a couple of my passions:writing and teaching.
