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.

My Weekend Glimpse Into The Future

  Hey sports fans how did you spend your time this past weekend? Chances are the answers range from watching March Madness, to catching Jimmy Johnson’s march toward NASCAR history, to observing Jason Day’s meltdown then comeback to win Arnie’s … Continue reading

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Three Telecasts, Two Jobs, One Big Mess

The marginalization of David Feherty is in high gear at NBC Sports. Arguably the most popular and interesting character in golf television has gone from having no equal as an on course announcer to being THE equal of Jimmy Roberts. … Continue reading

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Another Golf Tournament on NBC and Another Week in the Witness Protection Program for David Feherty

I can hear the NBC/ Golf Channel “brain trust” now… “What the heck do we do with David Feherty THIS week?” It’s an embarrassing question for them to be asking and amazing that they can’t figure it out. This time, … Continue reading

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This Is Getting Uncomfortable (The David Feherty/NBC Golf Marriage Saga Continues)

We got our answer as to what NBC Golf producer Tommy Roy would do with his announcers on Sunday at The Honda Classic by watching his lead in production on the golf channel. His decision…”To heck with the golf fan … Continue reading

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“Johnny Hates Jazz” part two

This is NOT a post about the British new wave band. Sorry. They did have a hit with “Shattered Dreams” in 1988 (I’m sure you can get it on iTunes for .99). Shattered dreams could be an apt description for … Continue reading

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Pebble Beach and the Popeye Principle

“I Yam what I Yam” Popeye We are in the midst of enduring the least watchable golf tournament on television The A T and T Pebble Beach Pro Am ( at least the first three rounds). It’s a parade of … Continue reading

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Five Things I’d Tweet…

The first politician who comes out in favor of outlawing all prescription drug commercials on TV gets my vote. Let’s start a “movement” Still looking for the time Montana, Bradshaw, Brady, Staubach, Rothlisberger, Favre, Rodgers, Young, Elway or either Manning … Continue reading

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Five Things I’d Tweet…

Sean McDonough might be the most opinionated play by play guy in the business. Just call the game! It’s a darn shame Marshawn Lynch decided to retire My favorite Super Bowl commercial was the Audi one with Neil Armstrong. I … Continue reading

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The Shotgun Marriage Between David Feherty and Johnny Miller is Off to a Predictably Rocky Start

  I was curious to see what David Feherty on NBC Golf would look, feel and sound like. It didn’t take long to form an opinion. After only a few moments it was painfully obvious that there is very little … Continue reading

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Five Things I’d Tweet… You Know The Rest

Roy Williams HAS to be the worst big game coach in college basketball Look up nudge in the dictionary and there’s a picture of Jeb Bush Congrats to Eddie DeBartolo for getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame James … Continue reading

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