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73 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 27, 2004 TV reporter makes quantum leap By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune There are a number of rarities in the world of sports. The horse racing triple crown, a perfect game in baseball, six Tour de France victories. But not all occur on the field of play. At just 24 years of age, Nicole Zaloumis’ behind-the-scenes leap into the mix of big-time sports television is rare in itself. Zaloumis spent nearly one year at NBC affiliate KOBI-Channel 5 in Medford before recently leaving for WRC in Washington, D.C. She began her new job last week. Advertisement The Medford station is the 140th market out of 210 nationwide. WRC is No. 8. Zaloumis goes straight from covering a Medford Mustangs American Legion baseball game to the sidelines of the Washington Redskins NFL minicamp with WRC sports director George Michael. "It’s very rare, especially for someone that young and inexperienced," says KOBI news director Dan Acklen. "George Michael told me that she has ‘it.’" Zaloumis is the No. 3 sports anchor on a staff of 19. Her weekend morning slot totals more than 30 minutes of live feed. In Medford, where she had to film and edit her own material, Zaloumis estimated getting maybe six minutes of taped broadcast on the weekend and very seldom getting a live shot. "The whole thing’s been so surreal," says the Danville, Calif., native, who arrived in the nation’s capital on July 14 and went live on air for the first time Saturday. "Everything happened so fast." Michael, who is most famous as host of the nationally syndicated George Michael Sports Machine, was intrigued after watching a Zaloumis’ audition tape. "I immediately wanted to talk with her," says Michael, who’s been with WRC since 1980, and added that there have been only three position openings in the last 14 years at WRC. "It’s a big jump ... You don’t see a lot of that, but I’ve been doing this enough years to know that that doesn’t really matter. "If you see a good story from a sports writer, you don’t usually ask, ‘I wonder how old that person is?’ Usually, you just think they’re a good writer." Zaloumis may have "it," but her skills weren’t developed overnight. "When she first got here, she was incredibly green," says Acklen. "She struggled at first. Then one day, she made up her mind to learn the craft and get better at it. "I think she came farther, faster than anybody I’ve ever seen. What was remarkable was the determination, the eye-on-the-prize mentality that she showed." Zaloumis’ transition to the more pressure packed and professional-sports oriented environment of WRC had to be quick. Shortly after her arrival, she tracked down an apartment — with the help of her mother, Sarah — but spent the majority of her time shooting mock live shows and soaking up Michael’s advice. "I’m sure her ears are bleeding from all the feedback she gets," says Michael. "But she’s entering the lion’s den. "I told her not to worry about buying a new car or worrying about that stuff. She needs to get acquainted with names of current players, former players ... Just to keep studying and doing her homework." Shortly after graduating from the University of San Francisco 2003, Zaloumis spent four months covering the Brooklyn Cyclones — a minor league team for the New York Mets. While on the East Coast, she hooked up with agent Seth Mayeri, who sent out clips to different stations. Zaloumis had already accepted a job with KOBI and began work last August. But an audition tape reached Michael and WRC, which was in need of a third sports anchor, and Zaloumis was flown out for an interview. "The whole (interview) was pretty amazing," remembers Zaloumis. "I was picked up by a limo service and private car. There was this big NBC sign with my name on it when I got (to the station). "The next day I auditioned and they offered me the job." Zaloumis’ contract with KOBI hadn’t expired, but station decided to let her go. "KOBI has been so awesome," says Zaloumis. "They’ve been supportive the whole way through. "It was hard to leave there. I became really attached to the Rogue Valley. But at the same time, I have a dream I’m living right now." Zaloumis, who comes from a family of sports enthusiasts, will team up with Michael and former Washington quarterback Sonny Jorgenson on Saturday for the start of the Redskins’ minicamp. Zaloumis will be responsible for getting footage, story ideas and will do a project that has her shadowing defensive coach Greg Williams. "I told her she wouldn’t be getting a lot of days off here," says Michael, laughing. "She’ll be with us every day out there." The stature of the people she will now mingle with isn’t lost on Zaloumis. "There’s a lot of excitement," she says, "but some of these new things can get a little overwhelming. "Sometimes I ask myself, ‘Why me?’ At the same time I have to tell myself that this is something I’ve been preparing for my whole life." Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] . 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