Dodgers Blue Heaven: Dodger Correspondence: Stu Nahan Writes to the Students

Friday, November 30, 2012

Dodger Correspondence: Stu Nahan Writes to the Students

Stu Nahan has a special place in Los Angeles sports. He began broadcasting sports on the airwaves and on tv in 1968 until his retirement in 1999. Nahan even played the part in Hollywood- appearing as broadcaster in the Rocky movies and as himself in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Dodger fans will remember him for his pre and post game radio shows on KFWB.

In the 90's Stu Nahan became President of the Southern California Sports Broadcasters organization, and I think the letter below displays how important he felt his role as a leader in journalism was. He certainly was a strong advocate of getting a proper education in the field.

Check out what he had to say to a teacher and his students about studying journalism in school.

Dear Mr. Becker and Students at the La Joya School.

Your letter about the feeling of some of your students regarding a future in journalism caused me to respond. I have been a television sportscaster for some forty years... I have done it all... NFL and NHL play by play... Olympic Hockey... College Basketball... and almost 40 years of nightly sports reporting on television.

And yet one of the greatest regrets I have in my life is that I didn't study journalism in school. I was lucky... quitting playing pro hockey to a new career in TV in 1955. But that has all changed... journalism is a must if one is to succeed in this business nowadays. One has to write what one thinks... what one sees... and how one relates to same.

Bottom line... journalism is necessary if you are even thinking about a career in this business in the future... And race, color, creed has no boundary as to who will rise to the top. Good luck.

Well said, Stu.

I came across this letter on eBay. See that auction item here.