We had the great privilege of sitting down with Rebecca Haarlow, Blazers Broadcasting Sideline Reporter, to hear a little about her and to get her views on the job and what it's like being in the Blazer orbit.

Blazersedge: I think most Blazer fans know you did your undergrad work at Princeton and have heard vague rumors of a stint on the track team.  Fill in some gaps for us.  Where and how did you grow up?  What was your degree in?  (If it was English, forgive the preposition on the end of that sentence.)  What was your life like before you become the sideline reporter for the soon-to-be best team in basketball?  

Blazersedge:  Did you always know you wanted to be part of an NBA television broadcast team?  If not, when and how did that aspiration develop?  

Blazersedge:  What has your professional background been?

Blazersedge:  How did you break into the league?  

Blazersedge:  What is your role as a sideline reporter?  What important things do you bring to the broadcast?  

Blazersedge:  Walk us through a typical game day.  What are you doing before the game to prepare?  What do you do during the game when you're not on camera?  Duties afterwards?

Blazersedge:  The travel required of a person in your position is extensive.  How are you finding that and/or coping?

Blazersedge:  Have you found any favorite places yet?  

Blazersedge:  What is the most enjoyable part of your job?  

Blazersedge:  What is the most challenging or difficult part of your job?  

Blazersedge:  Do you have any particular favorite moments from your broadcast career, either during your tenure with the Blazers or prior?  

Blazersedge:  I have to ask the question everybody wants to know:  What's it like working with the world-famous Mike Rice?  Is it as glamorous as it seems?  

Blazersedge:  Can you share a little about being a woman in a male-dominated sports environment?  It's not the same as it was 40 years ago but that doesn't mean it's easy.  The Blazer players have a reputation of being VERY nice people.  Does that make this kind of situation easier?  Or is it even an issue at all?  

Blazersedge:  There's no question that being considered attractive helps in the television industry and all three of the Blazers' on-air broadcasters certainly are attractive.  Part of why people accept you easily into their living room is because they enjoy looking at you.  Sometimes, though, people take that overboard.  Some suggest you are only something to look at and disregard your other talents.  Others--apparently feeling that viewing you on T.V. gives them the freedom to say anything they want--make boorish comments or suggestions as if you were more an object than a human being.  Again I'm sure you knew that some of that would come with the territory but it can't be easy to hear that kind of thing.  How do you deal with it?  

Blazersedge:  OK...Blazers versus Lakers in Portland.  13 seconds to go, Blazers' ball, down by two.  We have Roy, Aldridge, Outlaw, Jack, and Jones on the floor and need a bucket.  What play do you call, Coach Haarlow?  

Blazersedge:  Anything else you'd like to say to Blazer fans?

There's some good stuff in there.  My favorite was "Ricey".  I wonder if she knows that's gonna stick like gum in your hair? Also if she's going to be an adopted Portlander we need to give her some better options for coffee than Starbucks. Feel free to make suggestions in the comment section of your favorite local coffee places and their addresses.

Thanks to Rebecca for taking the time to chat with us!  Here's to many more happy post-game interviews after wins!

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)