Author Archives: Keith Hirshland

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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.

Another One in the Books

  Three years ago, almost to the day, I published my first book. Cover Me Boys, I’m Going In (Tales of the Tube from a Broadcast Brat) was a memoir about a life and career in television broadcasting. It took … Continue reading

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Cover me Boys I’m Going In! By Keith Hirshland — JANUARY GRAY REVIEWS

I have to admit, when I first requested this book for review, I did not know what I was getting into. I thought it was a behind the scenes look of general tv, not sports. I like horse racing. And, … Continue reading

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A Cut Above

This is your captain speaking. Please fasten your seatbelts because we are about to descend deep into the weeds. Thank you for your attention and we will advise when it is safe to move about the cabin again.   The … Continue reading

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Playing The Woman Card

A couple of posts ago wrote about my affinity and enthusiasm for the United States Open Championship. I opined that if you are a golfer or golf fan, it’s a must-see in person kind of event. While that remains my … Continue reading

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Thanks Tiger

“While I continue to work hard on getting healthy, I’m not physically ready to play in this year’s U.S. Open…” so said Tiger Woods on June 8th, 2016 referring to the national championship he has won three times. Woods is … Continue reading

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After The Deluge, Pure Delight: My Weekend At Oakmont

I drove the 5 1/2 hours to Pittsburgh, PA on Thursday of U. S. Open week. On the radio Brian Katrek, Mark Lye, Carl Paulson, John Maginnes and others admirably described the round one action. Rain was expected but had … Continue reading

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Why do people talking about sports on television have to talk so darn much?

In my nearly thirty years producing sporting event telecasts I engaged in a constant battle with many of the men and women wearing microphones. My side of the fight proudly used the battle cry, ” less is more, let the … Continue reading

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The Memorial Tournament Is Illustrative Of Everything That Is Fabulous And Funky About PGA TOUR Golf

Good for William McGirt. Yesterday he won an impressive PGA TOUR trophy. He did it on the second hole of a playoff against another guy most golf fans had never heard of, John Curran. It was undoubtedly the best of … Continue reading

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Golf Is A Great Game And It’s Even Better “Together”

Those of you who know me, either personally of through this space, know my two favorite sports are golf and baseball. Don’t get me wrong I am a sports fan. I have a favorite NFL team (the San Francisco 49ers), … Continue reading

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The Old “Ball” Game

I have stated many times in this space that I am an unabashed fan of baseball. I loved playing it and I enjoy watching it, especially in person but also on television. I think replay and recent rules changes are … Continue reading

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