GOAL LINE STANCE: YEAR IN THE SHOW
Welcome to what will certainly be another “riveting” installment of “Goal Line Stance” with Scotty Mincher & Super Dave O’Malley, a bi-whenever column that delves deep into the psyche of the Mahoning Valley sports fan. In this segment, Scotty and I would like to take the time to reflect and celebrate our time at YSN, or what Scotty and I refer to as “Our Year in the Show”. Allow me to continue…
The year 2020 will, obviously, be remembered for the struggle and the uncertainty we faced on a global level. It was a year of pandemic proportions. But, in spite of the challenges we were up against, life did go on. Scotty and I, often in hushed whispers, talked about what a great year it was, an unpopular opinion. That opinion was based on a tremendous opportunity we were given to be part of something special. Here is our story…
My experience with sports streaming is very limited. The extent of my experience has, basically, been watching LeBron’s block of Andre Iguodala on Youtube over 140 times. So, when I was approached about being part of YSN, a rising star sports streaming company, I was a little tentative. I knew sports but my approach was a little dated, to say the least. (I’m in a fantasy paper football league). Then I was informed my sports partner in crime would be uber millennial Scotty Mincher, a highly intelligent sports pundit who I knew I could lean heavily on. Scotty is an absolute beast! I accepted the offer and our new adventure at Your Sports Network was underway…
YSN is headquartered in East Palestine, Ohio, a Big Ben pass away from the Pennsylvania border. East Palestine possesses all the charms of small-town America, regressed but proud. (and no longer at war with East Israel). It would soon be a town we would adopt as our second home. From the first time Scotty and I pulled up to the YSN office, located in a nondescript strip mall on the right side of the tracks, we felt an instant connection. Our lives would never be the same…
Scotty had been involved with YSN for a few months before I came on board. He wrote “Scotty’s Stories”, did a podcast, and contributed the wildly entertaining “60 Seconds with Scotty”. He made my arrival very easy. He was my proverbial sports media sherpa. I should mention that Scotty and I share a love for Cleveland sports. It’s an unbreakable bond predicated on suffering, a bond that runs, at times, thicker than blood. The reason I mention this bond is that, as all sports fans know, when you share the love of a sports team, you share the love. Scotty and I both knew that our new adventure was a labor of love, both professionally and personally.
YSN is a sanctum for local sports, the first of its kind in this area. And what an area! Northeastern Ohio is steeped in sports history, its traditions unrivaled. This is what makes YSN, as Scotty puts it, a locomotive with a full head of steam. There is no shortage of inspiring sports narratives in the area. YSN seems to be the perfect storm at the perfect time in the perfect place. Of course, even with all the elements aligned, it still takes a tireless visionary to steer the ship. Enter D.J. Yokely…
When I first met D.J. Yokley, founder and CEO of YSN, I was immediately taken by how welcomed I felt (thank you, Scotty!) and the palpable camaraderie amongst his staff. D.J. was, obviously, a great leader. He was confident, passionate about sports, an extraordinary salesman, and very humorous. YSN was going to be fun! Scotty and I set up our stations and we were ready to get to work…
YSN’s mantra is “Live For Greatness”. As Scotty and I have observed over the past year, this mantra is not taken lightly at YSN. Scotty and I both knew greatness was within our grasp. At YSN, we could taste it. Scotty and I arrived at YSN at the beginning of last year and although it was a tough year for many, we lived the year 2020 pursuing our sports dreams. We spent the year surrounded by an amazing group of young, passionate sports fans. We engaged in the arguments of the traditional sports: Pittsburgh or Cleveland? and Who’s the GOAT? We covered High School Football with an unbridled fervor every Friday night on Audible Call and, most importantly, we began paving the way for the future of sports.
Scotty and I are very proud to be part of YSN. Scotty is a natural. He has an obvious place in sports and I hope to continue being partnered with him. The future also looks extremely bright for YSN, a true testimony to the people involved. As YSN continues to grow (we just got the Scrappers!) Scotty and I will also continue to grow and who knows how far this magical ride will take us. Hopefully, it will never stop.
There is no guarantee that our sports future will be lined with MVP Awards and Championship Trophies, but one thing we can definitely be sure of is, here at YSN…the future is now.
