PHILADELPHIA- “It’s not about reporting the news, it’s about telling a compelling story,” Former Nets and 76ers GM Billy King explained.

On February 2nd, North Penn students involved in NPTV, Knight Crier, and CHIP attended Temple’s Klein College of Media and Communication’s 12th annual Sports Summit. Billy King, a Duke’s 1988 Final Four team captain, was the keynote speaker at this year’s event. In June 1997, he joined the Philadelphia 76ers as the Vice President of Basketball Administration and was later promoted to General Manager in 1998. He held both roles until 2007 when he was named Team President in 2003. King is best known for assembling the 2000-01 Sixers, featuring Allen Iverson, which reached the NBA Finals. He served as the General Manager of the Brooklyn Nets from 2010 to January 2016.

“At this summit, students had the ability to connect with professionals and talk with others to make connections,”  CHIP program coordinator Mr. Christopher Frey stated.

As a media professional, there is a unique opportunity to share stories through writing or on-camera appearances. It is vital to seize every chance to tell a story.

“[As media], you run an opportunity to tell stories by writing or being in front of a camera, telling a story every chance. Charles Barkley is probably one of the best natural talents for TV because he’s just so good. That same Charles Barkley you see on TV tonight is the same Charles Barkley you’ll find, in the summertime here in Florida, He has been authentic and been himself, and he’s not afraid to say it was wrong. And that’s been important,” King stated.

During his time in Philadelphia, King credited the passionate fans who supported the city’s sports teams. Although the intense environment may put some people off, others thrive. The fans bring a unique energy to stadiums and arenas, creating an electric atmosphere that is an integral part of Philadelphia’s sports culture.

In addition, Klein College alumni Carly Mascitti, Alexa Ross, and Lindsey Moppert, reporters for the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Buffalo Bills, joined the discussion via Zoom. They discussed their journey from Klein to the National Football League (NFL). 

To wrap up the program, ESPN SportsCenter anchor Nicole Briscoe, who covered auto racing for ESPN from 2008 through 2014, talked about her experiences in the industry and left time for the audience to answer questions.