A Glimpse into My Future?

On Saturday, March 12, I accompanied Mazvita, my internship supervisor, to the Seattle Sounders game. They hosted their Western Conference rivals the LA Galaxy at Lumen Field. Although it might have been nicer to sit outside to watch the game with the sun making a rare appearance in Seattle, I got to do something that I have wanted to do ever since I became passionate about sports and the field of sports journalism. Thanks to Mazvita’s help, I received a press pass and watched the game from the press box for the first time in my life.

My Experience in the Sounders Press Box

Everything about this experience made me feel like an actual professional journalist. Normally, I just wear sweatpants or casual clothes, but for this occasion I dressed up a little more to abide by the general dress code for journalists in the press box. I appreciated the advice that Mazvita shared with me after picking me up concerning what one should wear if they are going to be sitting in the press box.

My excitement truly began when we stepped foot inside Lumen Field. After receiving our official press passes from the receptionist, Mazvita and I walked to the press box. Because Mazvita has been doing this job for the past ten years, he seemed to know every single person working there. The first person Mazvita introduced me to was none other than Adrian Hanauer, the Sounders’ majority owner.

After meeting him, we entered the press box where I met many sports journalists and Sounders media staff. For instance, I met former Seattle Times sports reporter Steve Kelley in-person. This came after I interviewed him on the phone in spring 2021 for an article that I wrote about former ESPN personality Kenny Mayne. I also met Jackson Felts, host of the Sounders Weekly podcast and the Sounders’ pre- and post-game radio shows, as well as members of the Sounders’ communications team whom I thanked for providing me with this opportunity. In addition to the networking opportunity that this experience gave me, I was able to eat delicious free food for lunch. I ate a sausage and two slices of croque monsieur. After the game, I asked Mazvita if the food is normally that high quality and he noted that the food at Seahawks games is even better.

Gametime

While my experience in the press-box was amazing, so was the action on the pitch. The soccer match was a thrilling back and forth affair between two of the most successful and well-known Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs since the league was founded. The Sounders ultimately prevailed 3-2, getting their first league win of the young season and sending the 33,000 fans in attendance home happy.

The home team showed incredible resolve, fighting back after giving up goals in the very beginning of each half. Douglas Costa, the Galaxy’s newest signing, scored his team’s second goal right out of halftime. It was his first MLS goal and came via a freekick that deflected off a Sounders defender into the back of the net. Sounders defender Xavier Arreaga responded by scoring the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute. After some passes following a corner kick, he connected his head to a pass from fellow defender Alex Roldan, powering the ball past the Galaxy’s goalie. To remember what happened, I took notes whenever a goal was scored or a big moment happened in the game. If I missed a moment of action or wanted another view of a goal, I just looked up at the many television screens in the press box broadcasting the game.

Post-game Experience

After the game ended, I went with Mazvita to the post-game press conference. There, Arreaga and his teammate Freddy Montero, who scored a penalty kick for the Sounders’ second goal, answered questions from reporters. Attending the press-conference made me appreciate the fact that I am trying to learn Spanish. Since both of the players are from South American countries, the post-game meeting featured almost more Spanish than English. I realized just how important the translator’s role is in these situations. The more Spanish fluency I obtain, the easier it will be to communicate with foreign-born players.

This experience was the highlight of my 2022 winter quarter. It served as the perfect final event for my internship with Cascadiasports.net, and I am grateful to Mazvita for mentoring me and providing this opportunity. Now that I have gotten a taste of what this experience is like, it has made me even more excited and optimistic for my future career in sports journalism. I can imagine myself spending many days over the next decade working in the press box at sporting events, watching and writing about the action on the field or court.0