Author Archives: Keith Hirshland

About Keith Hirshland

My name is Keith Hirshland and I am a four decades television veteran who has spent time both in front of and behind the camera. During nearly forty years in broadcasting my path has crossed in front of, behind and alongside some of the best in the business... And some of the worst. Many of those people I count as friends while others wouldn't make the effort to spit on me if I was on fire. This television life started early watching my Mom and Dad found, fund and run a local affiliate TV station in Reno, Nevada. As a teenager approaching adulthood I worked for them, first as an on-air sports reporter/anchor and later as a director and producer. Jobs in the industry took me across the country and then to many places around the world. Sports is my passion and putting it on TV has been my business. Production credits include auto racing, baseball, basketball, bowling, college football, field hockey, soccer, volleyball and water polo but the majority of my time "in the chair" since 1990 has been invested in the game of golf with both ESPN and The Golf. Channel ( I was one of the first forty people hired by TGC in 1994 ). I am a fan and I watch TV sports as a fan but I also have hundreds of thousands of hours watching from inside a production truck. I think that makes me qualified to comment, my hope is you agree. I have written four books, Cover Me Boys, I'm Going In (Tales of the Tube from a Broadcast Brat), a memoir that is a tribute to my parents, the hard working, creative people who started ESPN2 and The Golf Channel and a look back at my life in television. Cover Me Boys was awarded the “Memoir of the Year” in 2017 by Book Talk Radio Club. In February of 2019 it was released anew by Beacon Publishing Group. My second book is a novel, Big Flies, and is a mystery that tells the story of a father and a son with four of the world's most notorious unsolved robberies as a backdrop. Big Flies was named “Solo Medalist” in the True Crime category by New Apple Awards. My third book, another mystery titled The Flower Girl Murder, was published in 2018. Book number four might be the most fun I ever had on a writing project. Murphy Murphy and the Case of Serious Crisis is a mystery, a love story, and an homage to good grammar. It is both the Book Talk Radio Club BOOK OF THE YEAR for 202 and a TopShelf Awards first prize winner in the mystery category. All four are available at Amazon. Book five is in the capable hands of the good people at Beacon Publishing Group and should be available soon. I look forward to sharing new thoughts about golf, golf television, sports in general and the broadcast industry with you. The views expressed here are mine and mine alone. They are not connected to nor endorsed by any other person, association, company or organization.

The Solheim Cup and Me; A Love Story

” There are only 3 rules in sports television. Get on the air clean, get off the air clean, and get all your commercials in.” Don Ohlmeyer   It’s time for the Solheim Cup. Those biennial golf matches that pit … Continue reading

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I’m One Lucky Guy

“Sometimes the best way to appreciate things is to be without them for a while.” Anonymous.     I went to a golf tournament last week. No big deal. I’ve attended hundreds, heck maybe thousands, of golf tournaments in my … Continue reading

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A Most Memorable Win Brings Back Memories

“Unforgettable in every way” Irving Gordon   There are people out there, as I sit and write this, popping off (with little to no justification) that they “put The Golf Channel on the map”. I know better, I was there. … Continue reading

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The Most Overused and Least Effective Word in Sports Broadcastin

“You’re unbelievable” EMF I spent the past week or so taking one for the team. I watched sports. A lot of sports. Several networks, dozens of games, different sports, probably close to a hundred announcers. It was all part of … Continue reading

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My New Masters Tradition

“A Tradition Unlike Any Other” Jim Nantz   I have been watching The Masters on CBS ever since I can remember (and I can’t remember when I started). The first weekend in April always included the network’s coverage of the … Continue reading

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Why Aren’t We More Inspired?

I get no respect.” Rodney Dangerfield   One of professional golf’s best events of the year started today. No, I’m not a week early. I’m not talking about a little “toonamint” in Georgia. I’m referring to The ANA Inspiration, or … Continue reading

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The Difference Between Running and Ruining is One Letter

“Ve Git Too Soon Oldt, Und Too Late Schmart” Pennsylvania Dutch saying     My late, wonderful, Grandmother, Helen Hirshland, had that astute Pennsylvania Dutch bit of wisdom on a trivet in her kitchen. I saw it when we visited … Continue reading

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2018 Predictions Sure To Be Wrong

If you know me, you know this story. In 1996, when both Scott Van Pelt and I were working for The Golf Channel, I made a bet that Tiger Woods would NEVER win on the PGA TOUR. Yes, that Scott … Continue reading

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The 30% Solution

“Words, empty as the wind, are best left unsaid.” Homer   I watch a ton of sports on television. It used to be my job, it’s always been a passion. Lately it’s a chore. Oh, I still love the sports. … Continue reading

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He Shoots, He Scores

“You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.” Yogi Berra   No matter how you slice it Golden State Warriors’ guard and two-time NBA MVP, Steph Curry, will not make the cut … Continue reading

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