WHAT PROFESSIONAL BROADCAST COVERAGE WOULD MEAN TO YOUTH...
...ASPNHD CREATES MEMORIES FOR NOW AND FOREVER
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TESTIMONIALS REGARDING ASPNHD PRESIDENT, ARLEN SHOWSTACK
FROM FORMER PLAYERS, PARENTS, VIDEO PRODUCTION ASSOCIATES & ADMIN
"I highly recommend having Arlen and his ASPNHD crew film a game. Their camera work was extremely high quality and the announcing added a lot of value. We knew this would be a treasure for the kids to watch for a long time but did not realize how professionally done this would be. I would not hesitate to hire this team again!"
- David Kline, Youth Baseball Coach
"Like many parents, regardless of the sport, I had hours of footage from my son’s baseball experiences that I didn’t know how to bring to a finished, professionally-edited product. Whether one is looking for a 5-minute highlight film for recruiting purposes or a keepsake to enjoy for many years to come, ASPNHD can deliver whatever your needs may be. This past summer, we had ASPNHD do a broadcast of a Baseball Tournament, and as parents, we could all just kick back and enjoy our kids play with the peace of mind that the on-field experience would be captured and delivered in a highly professional finished and affordable product."
- Chris Roche, Youth Baseball Parent
PARENTS & FORMER PLAYERS Arlen is an inspiring coach, tireless volunteer and incredible person. He coached and mentored our boys in baseball skills and in life skills. He is the epitome of great sportsmanship and teaches by example and encouragement - believe in yourself, support your teammates and give it your best. Every child should be blessed to have a coach like Arlen.
Martha Huntley, Founder/CEO of WeGush Parent of former Oriole players When I think about Arlen, two words come to mind, “Family” and “Inspiration”. We were fortunate to become a part of the Orioles family and spend three baseball seasons with Arlen. It was therefore natural that Arlen attended both of our sons’ bar mitzvahs, as the family culture that Arlen instills transcends the baseball diamond. Arlen continually inspires everyone around him, carefully and individually cultivating generations of proud young baseball players who, no doubt, go on to inspire others in the same way.
Mordecai Kramer, Executive Director BD Harvard Clinical Research Institute Simply put, Arlen Showstack epitomizes all that youth baseball is and should be. He has created a legacy in his nearly 40 year commitment to the sport of baseball, to the town of Brookline and to the kids (even this 40+ year old kid), that will never be forgotten. As a coach of youth sports for many seasons now, I have an even deeper appreciation of Arlen’s dedication, patience and guidance. Anyone can coach…it is a fairly low bar, it is something else entirely to be an excellent coach. To command the attention, respect and admiration of young athletes day in and day out, season in and season out, year in and year out, is an accomplishment that cannot be overstated. On a personal level, I played for Arlen and his late father in the mid 80’s. I was not the best on the team and I wasn’t the worst but Arlen instilled his values and love of the sport evenly across the team. Everyone played their part, we were a team and he was our leader. I remember my days on the fields at Amory Park in Brookline as some of my favorites. I recently had the opportunity to attend an Orioles playoff game with my then 9 year old son. I sat there watching and listening to Arlen coach, working his magic with another generation. It was as though not a day of the 30 years had passed, I wanted to be out there playing for him again. The real impact of Arlen’s gift hit me on the way home when my son asked me if he could play for Arlen…what more can I say.
Jesse I. Redlener Dalton & Finegold, LLP I want whatever Arlen Showstack wants. We all should. Arlen has devoted his life to youth baseball and, more importantly, to the youths playing baseball. I know firsthand because he was already a veteran coach when I played Brookline Youth Baseball in the 1980s. By the time I was coming of age, he was not only a legendary championship coach in Brookline, but also a pioneer member of the local access channel, producing telecasts of regular season, postseason, and All Star baseball games over a period of generations. I had the wonderful opportunity to broadcast many of those games during high school and college. Decades later those young athletes, all fully grown now, recognize me and share their reflections of watching those ballgames with their families. I can remember how thrilled they were when they stood in front of the camera before each game and introduced themselves, and I see how they cherish those moments today.
I had the privilege of joining Arlen as an inductee of the Brookline Access Television Hall of Fame many years ago, and I have watched his wildly popular one-camera, one-microphone telecast turn into professional television programs with the utmost production value. Those broadcasts underscore his obvious passion for coaching baseball, celebrating the young people who play the game, and providing the service of memorializing that tremendous combination on video. Arlen has articulated that he wants to develop this passion for the digital age. I want that for him, and for the young athletes of today. And so should you. Kyle J. Paine, Esq. Member, Brookline Access TV Hall of Fame Summer days. Team mates. Batting practice. Patience. Enthusiasm. Leadership. Lots of laughter. The true measure of a coach and player is helping those around him be the best they can be. It's about more than just baseball. It's about life. Thanks Arlen!
Jerry Knopf Oriole Dad Arlen was our son Joey's baseball coach for the past two years. Beyond teaching the finer skills and sportsmanship of the game to 10-12 year-olds with tireless dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm, Arlen is so much more than a coach. We refer to him as the 'Zen Master' of little league for his spiritual, life-fulfilling approach to bringing the little league experience to children. In this, teaching baseball has many life lessons that, to Arlen, include finding yourself and your talents through hard work, team play, discovering inner talent, and winning. He believes in every child and encourages the best of each member of his team. To Arlen, baseball is like the game of life, and everyone has a chance to prove themselves on the diamond. Both the kids and their parents have Arlen to thank for his four decades of dedication to this mission. We have been so fortunate to have Arlen leave a lasting impression on our son, and I have no question that he will bring the same zeal and perfection to his work as a little league videographer.
Steve Lantos, Chemistry Teacher China Exchange Coordinator Brookline High School We are fortunate to be considered permanent members of the Orioles Family. Arlen has dedicated 40 + years to coaching youth baseball in Brookline. He is supportive and compassionate to his players and has an extraordinary ability to connect with individuals.
He wanted everyone to succeed and gave his players equal opportunity regardless of their abilities. We will never forget the summers at the field. During the playoffs, previous players would show up at the games to support us, which is a true testament of the impact he has had on their lives. We were blessed to have Arlen as a coach. He brought out the best in everyone- and taught the kids that baseball is more than a sport. Michele Kibrick, Teacher Brookline Public Schools Parent of former Player (Alex Kibrick) |
VIDEO PRODUCTION ASSOCIATES Patrick Flaherty, Sr Videographer/Sports Producer Boston City TV Dept. of Innovation & Technology
Arlen Showstack is a longtime business associate of mine and as such it gives me great pleasure and pride to share thoughts of his professionalism and character. Arlen and I have worked together on multiple projects in the sports industry, from baseball productions to hockey tournaments to pro wrestling. Functioning in his role as producer and director of these shoots, Arlen consistently produces superior results combined with a keen sense of sensitivity in human relations. His technical knowledge is as outstanding as anyone I have come across in the industry- and he also sets a standard of perfection in the broadcast, which inspires the entire crew to excel.
As it pertains to his character, Arlen genuinely cares for the people who work for him, and he has demonstrated this time and time again. He is a warm and caring individual who values his crew sincerely. He is quite skilled at understanding the strengths that each crew member possesses and is quick to set each crew member up to achieve success based on these strengths. Arlen’s work ethic is tremendous- this has been evidenced in any production we have worked on, as he arrives hours prior to an event and is tireless in setting up equipment and running pre-game checks to ensure the success of the broadcast, then breaking down at the end of the shoot into the wee hours of the morning. Anyone who has ever worked with Arlen is eager to do so, because he makes the production fun. He is skilled at troubleshooting when things go awry as they sometimes do. As the play by play announcer on these productions, I always possess unshakeable confidence that the outcome will be of the best quality and the process will be great fun. In summary, Arlen is a Hall of Fame producer and director who consistently delivers a superior product with a cheerful disposition. It is an honor to know him and an even better honor to work alongside him. John Leahy Merrimack College Men’s Hockey Play-By-Play Lowell Spinners Radio Play-By-Play Arlen is a true professional and will go out of his way to ensure the job is done right. His commitment to youth Baseball is unmatched, always seeking to improve on the skills level of each player. I have known him for more than 25 years, he is a true friend, a humanitarian and is very involved with his own family life helping to provide medical care for his ailing mother. We have worked together on productions ranging from sporting events, concerts and special events. He is very sincere, reliable, fun to work with and always delivers a well done product. I wish him well and I am prepared to support his passion to continue highlighting youth Baseball any way I can.
Radcliffe Angus, VPS Engineering Manager Comcast - Video Productions & Services For the past 40 years, Arlen has been teaching baseball skills and, equally as important, life skills, to hundreds of kids on his little league baseball teams. Vocationally, he is a top-notch television producer/director who has been specializing in sports and youth development programming. Combining his two loves, he now
intends to produce, for the internet, professional-quality productions of Brookline Youth Baseball little league games...a venue that will give these young athletes a real place to shine. I've never seen a third-base coach guide one of his kids up at home plate with more care and feeling than Arlen does. In the director's chair, I haven't seen a person with a higher level of technical expertise or a stronger compositional eye or better overall directorial skills than Arlen displays as he is directing one of his television shows. Now he tells us that he wants to devote his energies to creating professionally-produced little league baseball games for the internet... He won't just do it...he will do it with the same winning edge he exudes in everything he does! I can't wait to see these games! Rich Rosenthal, Videographer "Game of the Week" I had the pleasure of working with Arlen at Cablevision Brookline / Boston from 1997 - 2001, and as a newbie to the television world, he could not have been more welcoming and encouraging. We worked on everything from sports to studio talk shows to live remotes to educational shows. You name it, we did it. Arlen's knowledge, support and encouragement gave me the confidence to embrace my new career path. I have been a videographer at the New England Sports Network (NESN) since 2001. 16 years and 5 regional Emmy awards later, I will always credit Arlen for being a cornerstone in the foundation of my career.
John P. Martin, Photographer NESN, New England Sports Network As a host/presenter for the Middle School Math portion of Extrahelp, I have known Arlen Showstack for about 20 years. Indeed, it has been a privilege to work with and for this talented and compassionate Director. You, the reader, might wonder why I would describe him as “compassionate.” The reason for my selection of that adjective is that he feels bad when a student in need of math help from me is accidentally disconnected: this emanates not solely from the technical aspect of his directorship but from the human component, as he realizes that the vast majority of callers to our live call-in television show to provide homework help have no other source of aid. In line with this, his counsel to interns seeking to develop experience in the broadcasting industry assumes a gentle nature, one that constructively guides rather than dictates. I speak not as one who has benefited from his technical mentoring but rather as an observer of his interaction with interns over the many years. The fact that Extrahelp has been on the air for quarter of a century is due to the refinement that he and his predecessors have brought to the fast-paced studio of live TV, both in a technical role and a character aspect. Finally, I value Arlen Showstack not merely as a very competent Director but also as a friend who shares with me a concern for the well being of children everywhere.
Joe Galeota, Boston Public School Teacher Extrahelp Show, Talent, Middle School Math |
BYB LEAGUE ADMINISTRATION I've volunteered for Brookline Youth baseball in several capacities for ten years. I coached for most of them, and presently serve on the board. Without a doubt, my most memorable experiences all involve Arlen Showstack. I've had the honor and privilege to coach with, coach against, and have my son play for Coach Showstack. Arlen's positive attitude is infectious, and his work ethic unmatched. He's always the first to arrive at and last to leave the field of play. Arlen devotes his entire Spring and Summer to coaching Brookline town and travel teams. His kids always come first; all business and personal obligations take a backseat during baseball season.
On numerous occasions, I've witnessed a spectator ask Arlen, "which one is your kid?". His response invariably is "they ALL are". Arlen can't walk down any Brookline street without a former player or parent stopping to give him a hug. If you attend any of his games, the sidelines are always full of past players and their families. Arlen's baseball acumen is clearly unparalleled, but, more importantly so is his ability to teach young men valuable life lessons. My son regularly references things he learned from Arlen. He's much better prepared to deal with life's adversities and handle himself with dignity thanks to Coach Showstack. George Anastopoulos, CFP VP Brookline Youth Baseball I have been involved with Brookline Youth Baseball for nearly 10 years in various capacities, including as the President from 2011-2014. I have coached alongside and against Arlen during those years and I can say with no hesitation that Arlen is one of the best coaches I have ever encountered in my time in youth baseball. He is caring and welcoming towards all kids and families, regardless of their skill level or knowledge of the game. He knows baseball inside and out, and more importantly, knows how to teach kids and inspire them to try their hardest. He is more dedicated than any coach I have ever seen – he would arrive an hour or more ahead of a scheduled game start, lugging a pitching machine and generator to and from the field, just so his kids could have some BP before any games.
The loyalty he inspires in his kids and families is simply unbelievable. Former Oriole players routinely help in practices or cheer on the team during games. He and his father before him have created something special, a tradition in Brookline Youth Baseball, that every Oriole treasures. My brother-in-law played for Arlen’s father years ago and Arlen was his assistant coach, and he is still greeted with a hug from Arlen, even now. I stand behind Arlen and support him in this venture. Allowing our kids to be filmed playing baseball will create lasting memories that foster a life-long love of the game. Rajeev Balakrishna Ex-President Brookline Youth Baseball |
I was looking down at the dirt. I was 10 years old, wearing my Orioles uniform and sitting on the bench at Warren field’s first base dugout. We were losing by a few runs, early in the second game of Brookline’s ‘Major A’ Championship Series. The other team’s pitcher was throwing gas. The whole team was down.
I played ball for Arlen for a couple years and helped him coach a little bit whenever I was in town. Arlen provided a unique combination in a coach: he was at once the most knowledgeable person on the field, and the kindest. He knows the rule book frontwards and backwards, and could probably win any baseball-related argument brought against him. But at the same time, Arlen is the ultimate professional. I have been around the Orioles for a dozen years and I have never seen him get angry – not at an ump, not at another coach, not at one of his players. Arlen was standing at the gap of the fence, near home plate. “Hey guys, come here! Bring it in!” Arlen is the first to show up to practice and the last to leave. He always has extra tips for his players, is patient and gentle but still manages to get the message across. Arlen’s teams are successful not because his players are the best, but because he brings out the best in them. It’s not a coincidence that I remember what Arlen said in 2003, but not what my college coach said to me three years ago. “Don’t give up and don’t stop fighting! We can hit this guy. Don’t swing at anything in the dirt, find your pitch, and drive it! Believe in yourselves – you can do it!” Why is it that we were so receptive to that speech? After every single game I have seen him coach, Arlen sits the entire team down on the bench. He calls the parents and families over to join him. And he goes up and down the bench, complimenting each and every player on the team with specific, meaningful words. And give every player a rousing ovation. It’s a lot easier to believe in yourself when you know that your coach and your teammates believe in you too. We scored 5 runs that inning, won the game, and won the championship. Barnabas Furth, Finance Department Telecommunications, Annapolis Your dedication to the Brookline community is really awe-inspiring, and I hope you realize what an impact you are having on kids' lives. Max still talks about you all the time, and in fact he was just telling me last week that he really wants to drop by Warren someday when you have a game so that he can say hello. Unfortunately, he's not at that field very much, but I hope he will find a way to see you soon.
June Duchesne Parent of former Player |
My name is Kevin N. Layne and I would like to share some of my knowledge and experiences of a very special man in one Arlen Showstack. I have had the distinct pleasure of knowing Arlen for a solid decade with which all of have been nothing but an absolute blessing. Although Arlen is of no actual relation to me, his friendship with me has grown into a special bond where we refer to each other as cousins. I truly love this man as if he were an actual family member. He is that special to me.
At one point, I was in need of employment and of course, Mr. Showstack came to my rescue by reaching out to the Producer of Game of the Week, which ultimately led to my coming on board as a grip for the game coverage as well as a job as a part time employee with Boston Neighborhood Network (BNN). Soon after, Arlen encouraged and inspired me to seek other positions within the production crew. I now serve the production crew family as the graphics operator while all under the tutelage of Arlen. As a result, I have the pleasure of working directly alongside Arlen where he mans the Director's chair with an unparalleled demeanor that I have never witnessed in my young life of 52 plus years. I sit in awe of how Arlen juggles the multitude of things going on within the production truck, the commentators, the game we're covering to everything else in between while remaining unbelievably cool, calm and collected. Arlen has never had an unkind word for anyone and I have never witnessed Arlen lose his temper or lash out at someone even if by anyone else's' standards felt that it was warranted. This extremely kind man is like no other person that I have ever met and as a retired police officer of twenty years, I have met many. I say all this to let it be known that Arlen Showstack is a very sincere man in his quest to bring his dream of assisting youth to see their dreams come to life on the internet through his website. When I first heard of Arlen's vision along with the backstory of his growing up playing little league baseball for his beloved Orioles, coached by his father to eventually he himself coaching the same team, all just blew me away. A lifelong commitment to one organization like that is unheard of , if not even more so, very rare. His genuine desire to help children is a truly passionate one that I often see displayed as one of those heartfelt feel good stories on ESPN's "Outside the Lines". I believe that Arlen's story can easily take it's place in the pantheon alongside any one of those stories. I am extremely proud to just know Arlen Showstack but even more blessed to be able to call this exceptional human being cousin. Sincerely and Respectfully Submitted, Kevin N. Layne Retired Police Officer Graphics Operator, Game of the Week |
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