Jay Bilas Recap
On Thursday, April 21, University of Maryland students had the opportunity to chat with ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas via a Skype call facilitated by the University of Maryland Sports Business Society. Bilas, who was sporting a University of Maryland T-shirt covered a wide array of topics ranging from Maryland basketball to his favorite Young Jeezy lyrics.
Bilas got his start in sports when he played basketball for the Duke University Blue Devils from 1983 to 1986. While working toward a law degree from Duke, Bilas began his coaching career serving as an assistant for three years under the famed Coach K. Since 1995, he has worked for ESPN as a color commentator while continuing to practice law. On the difference between coaching and broadcasting, Bilas said, “As a broadcaster, I never lose.”
Early on, Bilas was asked about the three University of Maryland men’s basketball players who have chosen to enter the this year’s NBA draft. Bilas says that he has no doubt Diamond Stone will find success in the NBA and supports Melo’s decision to hold off on signing an agent. Bilas also had high praise for Coach Turgeon, who he had played against back when the two were in college. Bilas also spoke incredibly highly of Maryland great, the late Len Bias, saying, “Whoever said all men are created equal did not play against Len Bias. He was superman.”
Bilas is well know for being particularly active on Twitter and admitted that it was in fact his wife that first convinced him to create an account. He likes Twitter because it gives him the ability to connect with fans, but he don’t like Twitter for all of the live-tweeting of sporting events. On live-tweeting: “I’m not stranded on a desert island with no wifi.” Oh and the Young Jeezy thing? That was sort of an accident, but he was able to recite lyrics on command.
Bilas also addressed a few more controversial topics, like his support of the Duke lacrosse team during a scandal that plagued the Duke campus and his belief that college athletes should have the right to earn money for their talents.
When it comes to a having a successful career in sports, Bilas says that luck plays a huge part in it – regardless of how hard you work. He also said that there are more opportunities now than ever in sports broadcasting and that recent grads should go after these positions.
“If you chase after what you want to do, and it’s something you love to do, you’ll never be unhappy.”
Check out our Twitter page for more on the event and make sure to follow Bilas on Twitter.
