I am thankful for so much, including a career that’s allowed me to share wonderful stories about fascinating people. I’m grateful to have been able to compile many of those experiences into a book.  Amid the digital daze and holiday craze, it’s nice to hold something of substance, with timeless stories and colorful pictures. One on One: My Journey with Hall of Famers, Fan Favorites and Rising Stars is perfect for sports fans, biography buffs, budding journalists or anyone curious about life behind the scenes of some spectacular athletes. One on One Store

The stories (and back stories) of some 40 baseball and football players known throughout the nation remind us about following our dreams, turning obstacles into opportunities, achieving goals, and often doing “good” with their high-profile platform.

The stories of the icons and popular athletes are timeless because their journeys cannot be altered. Sadly, some have passed, including Tony Gwynn, Jerry Coleman, Junior Seau and Ted Williams, which is all the more reason to celebrate and learn from their lives. Others continued to make their marks in different ways. Tim Flannery helped the San Francisco Giants capture three World Series championships as their third-base coach before retiring in 2014. David Wells in 2012 returned to his alma mater, Point Loma High School, as its pitching coach before being named varsity coach in 2014. Trevor Hoffman’s name appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot — Class of 2016 — for the first time.

My hope is that when someone reads any of these stories, or even my journey, that they will not only learn something, but be inspired to live and enjoy their OWN journey.

To order, visit the One on One store

Or contact me with inquiries at Hello@JaneMitchellOneOnOne.com

The post One on One Jane: Giving thanks: Timeless stories for any day appeared first on Jane Mitchell One on One.

Our breakfast came within days of my agreement with Channel 4 San Diego to do the One on One Legends special series. Knowing spring training and travel was coming up soon, I had to schedule a sit-down before he would be too busy. He was quite accommodating, allowing me to plan our interview at his home the next week. I had been there a decade before for our non-sports show Forefront, and we sat in the the media room surrounded by his many awards and pictures from his career. It’s like a mini-museum of decades of sports history.

Photographer/Editor Dan Roper and I were back together again for One on One, as he was behind the camera again that day. Dick Enberg is a pro’s pro, understanding the needs of a production, and being patient for the set-up and interview session. Dick is grateful for the honor of being recognized by the Hall of Fame and humble in having his story shared. We are so happy to share it with fans and viewers and congratulate him on his legendary career and place in Cooperstown.

Show summary:  Dick Enberg’s vast experience — broadcasting some of the greatest moments in sports — places him at the top of his game in more ways than one. He is a gentleman and a scholar; a sports fan and a father. Now, he is also a Baseball Hall of Fame broadcaster named the 2015 Ford C. Frick award for excellence in broadcasting.

On the special series One on One with Jane Mitchell featuring the Legends,  Dick Enberg shares his reaction to the game’s highest honor for a broadcaster, and revisits his stellar career scrapbook to tell his story. In his 6^th year as the Padres broadcaster, how has he adjusted after returning to the game? The “Professor” gives an update on his mental “library.”

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I’m very happy to report that One on One the TV show is BACK. I’ve returned to Channel 4 San Diego for a special series called One on One with Jane Mitchell featuring the Legends. Since January, I’ve been going through the life stories of 12 previously interviewed legends to add  new aspects of their journey with interviews, pictures and information. For those who have passed away recently — Jerry Coleman, Tony Gwynn and Junior Seau — editor Dan Roper and I are weaving in poignant moments from their public memorials.

It’s been a wonderful process of returning to such familiar territory and a comfort of knowing these stories are still so powerful and the people so well-loved and respected. Everyone I talked with about getting information, pictures or doing an interview said yes.  It’s nice to know the relationships and bonds built during 15 years on the air at Channel 4 are still strong.

I’m so grateful to Channel 4 San Diego (owned by Cox Communications San Diego and also aired in Orange County, Santa Barbara and San Diego’s Time-Warner system) for sharing my vision that many of the One on One editions are, if not timeless, a snapshot of time of a person’s life up to that point. For  many, other than changing teams, or perhaps retiring, the core of who they are does not change. They evolve, perhaps, but often are very much the same. That is worth sharing not only with fans who remember those interviews, but also for younger fans or those new to the show, to see and learn about these outstanding athletes —  past and present.

It’s been a lot more hours than I expected, and now with a toddler, I’ve been juggling the interviews, writing and producing the project along with spending quality time with my Lily. She turns two in May. But, all very much worth it. I feel fortunate to be able to resume my passion of story-telling while having the love of my life Lily make me smile every day.

Look for show summaries,   Back-Stories and the shows for the Legends series as separate blog entries.

Of course there’s so much more in my book which is available on this site. Please share the show, the posts and blogs with any and all baseball or sports fans.

We will be putting the show up on You Tube after a few airings, and I’ll keep you posted on that, too.

Here’s a list of the guests: Trevor Hoffman, Dick Enberg, Ozzie Smith, Randy Jones, David Wells, Rollie Fingers, Ted Williams, Dave Winfield, Jerry Coleman, Park View Little League Champions, Tony Gwynn and Junior Seau.

Special thanks to the San Diego Hall of Champions and Sports Museum for being the beautiful back-drop for the on-camera  introductions for the shows.

The post One on One Legends Series Back-Story and Promo 2015 appeared first on Jane Mitchell One on One.

(2012)
My heart is breaking for Junior Seau’s family and our community. I met Junior in 1999. He was the first NFL player featured for my show One on One. Naturally, the first had to be Junior: a player who not only electrified the team, but embraced his hometown and his platform to DO good… and not just at a small event here and there, or showing up for autographs. He set the bar so high for what one person can do to change the world, one person at a time.

I am  honored Junior opened up to me for the two shows featuring him, my book, and any time I asked for an interview. Honored, partly as a colleague and friend, but more so because my work about his story and thoughts would be shared with fans: Chargers fans, football fans, and people of all ages who could learn and be moved by hearing about his journey. I spoke with Junior this spring  about my efforts for continuing One on One’s mission to tell the Good Sports Story.  He seemed eager to discuss those ideas.  He thrived on such things, always had great ideas, and was a master at seeing them through. While not perfect, we can all learn so much from him and how he made the most of his gifts and talents.

That it would end this way, on May 2, 2012, is tragic. Why it happened may never be known. There was still so much ahead that will never be. But I will remember him for his life, for his love and for his passion.

I wrote this paragraph in January around the Super Bowl… and quote him from an interview back in 2003 that’s included in my book (page 256.)

After having been to one Super Bowl with the Chargers, and the Super Bowl was in San Diego in 2003, Junior sat down with me for a One on One and offered some perspective. He couldn’t know he would return another time with the 2007 Patriots, or that he would face another tough loss, that time to the New York Giants. But as the Championship game was coming to his hometown, and as we sat in his living room, with lights and cameras, I asked a sentimental Seau: “Is that Super Bowl ring still pulling you? Is that the ultimate for you?” He told me: “I have rings in life.” He listed accomplishments including family, friends, and his foundation’s community work. “I’m proud of those rings. So for me to say that I’m going to give all that up for a Super Bowl? You know what? I’ll take my rings of life. So, am I after one? Yes. But I already won.”

RIP #55. RIP.

For more on Junior’s story and Jane’s experience with him, get her book on KINDLE or at the One on One STORE  on this site.

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After having been to one Super Bowl with the Chargers, and the Super Bowl was in San Diego in 2003, Junior sat down with me for a One on One and offered some perspective. He  couldn’t know he would return another time with the 2007 Patriots, or that he would face another tough loss, that time to New York Giants. But as the Championship game was coming to his hometown, as we sat in his living room, with lights and cameras,  I asked a sentimental Seau: “Is that Super Bowl ring still pulling you? Is that the ultimate for you?” He told me: “I have rings in life.” He listed accomplishments including family, friends, and his foundation’s community work. “I’m proud of those rings. So for me to say that I’m going to give all that up for a Super Bowl? You know what? I’ll take my rings of life. So, am I after one?Yes. But I already won.”  (Page 256)

 Drew was new in the NFL the two times I interviewed him One on One (2002, 2005.) A Super Bowl was a few years away when he moved on from San Diego to New Orleans to lift that city’s spirit and the team to a championship. Being an MVP,  and taking the Saints into the playoffs again, are not surprising feats when you look to those early signs.  Even as a quarterback with the Chargers, Drew recalled in 2005, “I got the same thing that I got coming out of high school, which was, you’re too short, you’re too slow, not strong enough arm.” But his underdog determination, and support from people like his Purdue coach Joe Tiller, carried him forward as a young player especially. Coach Tiller said of Drew’s college years, “Drew’s always been a confident guy; a great quality to have in the sense that if he does throw an interception, or he does make a mistake out there, he’s on to the next play mentally.”  And whether, over the years, there have  been compliments or criticism, Drew’s approach seemed consistent: “Whether it’s bad or good. What people are saying, it’s not going to help you win the next game.”

The exchange between then teammates La Dainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees, sitting on their couch reflecting on successes they had to that  time, included this: LT “We were faced with a challenge and we looked at it dead in the face and we answer it and we became champions. DREW: I think it just goes to show you that if you believe it can happen, you can will it to happen, then it will.” (Page 466)

It doesn’t happen for everyone. There will always only be one champion at the end of each season. But the dream, the hope, the goal? That is fuel to keep the competitive fire going… for the Super Bowl, or the game of our lives.

Enjoy the game. Enjoy  and make the most of your journey.

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