It’s not everyday someone gives a speech that speaks passionately about Brathaus in downtown Bowling Green and waiting anxiously for the Cleveland Indians to celebrate their first World Series victory in 1997 (which they lost).
But when Bowling Green alumni and ESPN “Cold Pizza” host Jay Crawford spoke at the Falcons’ Nest at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, those were two of the topics he tackled, mostly with a light heart.
But the theme for Crawford’s speech went far deeper than mixed drinks at Brathaus and champagne that was never served in the Indians’ locker room after their game seven loss in the 1997 World Series. He told the predominantly student dominated crowd to find a career they loved and run with it.
“If you’re passionate about [your career],” he said. “You’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
Crawford began just as many on this campus started out: juggling time between work on campus and social life downtown.
When he came to school, his talents lied more in mathematics than speaking and despite the wishes of those around him, he passionately pursued the life of speaking, not doing formulas.
“I was pretty active at the radio station [WBGU],” he said. “My friends that were 90 percent social and 10 percent active would give me hell all the time.”
On top of taking flack from his friends, Crawford didn’t have the easiest time on the air. At night, he hosted a live call-in show in which the only two callers were his roommate and a girl that called into the show because she felt sorry for him.
But without the experience, Crawford may not be where he is today.
After graduation, he spent his time sending applications all over Ohio and the states bordering Ohio. His first job was in a small station in Hazard, Ky. and wasn’t exactly the job dreams are made of. Crawford was an all-purpose anchor. He had to film, edit and appear on camera and learned the ins and outs of television.
“If I had to do it over again,” he said. “I would go to Hazard, Kentucky all over again.”
After Hazard, he found out what Cleveland sports was all about. While working in Tampa, he had an opportunity to cover the Indians in the 1997 World Series. The Tribe took a 1-0 lead in game seven and an excited Crawford was ready for the celebration. He went down to the Indians’ locker room, where there was champagne and championship apparel waiting. An hour later, he found out the Indians lost the game in extra innings.
“Then I watched them wheel the champagne out and wheel the shirts and hats out,” he said.
And after all this, Crawford has came out smelling like a rose. He now hosts “Cold Pizza” and a show called “First and Ten.” The show features sportswriters Skip Bayless and Woody Paige, a man Crawford called “the crazy uncle of ESPN.”
And it’s all been a result of following his dream.
“And as a result, I’m doing something I absolutely love,” Crawford said.
