D3NE: So what have you been up to since graduating from Wes?
Cam Daniels: I was lucky enough to get a job at ESPN where I’m a production assistant for the nightly SportsCenter.
NE: Well that’s amazing. What exactly do you do for ESPN? Run us through a normal day at work?
CD: So I’ll normally go in to work around 4:30 and be assigned a game. Go through some meetings and then watch and gather clips to put on SportsCenter. As I cut the clips I’ll have to rough a shot sheet or “rough script,” for the anchor to read. It’s a late night especially if you’re assigned those beloved west coast Lakers with Lebron and their 10 pm tip off.
NE: You’re living the dream! You also had a 15 minutes of fame moment last month, run me through that whole event. What was that like? Did your phone start blowing up afterwards?
https://twitter.com/CamDaniels917/status/1108117637719044096
CD: Welp, I pretty much got an email the night before asking if I could join a group of production assistants and play Simon says during this Bracketology marathon show they have. I’ve always been told to never pass down an opportunity and so I figured why not. I still tell people when the dude called me, “the kid from high school,” I was mentally done and didn’t even want to be there. And yeah my phone blew up but most of the texts were saying, “HOW COULD YOU LOSE!” Ive been using the story that the producer told me to let Jay [Williams] win since I wasn’t mic’d up but I’ll concede this one. Next year I’m coming for them!
NE: Sure. I often have things in my day to day where I get to let Jay Williams win, so no big deal. Back to tennis, how’s the game? Are you playing at all now?
CD: I told myself I’d take at least 6 months away from the sport but I’m starting to get that itch to get on the court. Wesleyan has their alumni pro am every year and I whiffed at a the first serve I tried to return last year so the game isn’t quite what it was. But as the weather gets better out here in Bristol I’ll slowly work my way back. I’m looking to win that pro am next year!
NE: Please get Coach Fried to Periscope that event. Have you been back to see the team play this year? What do you think of Wes’ season so far?
CD: Oh yeah! I live about 30 minutes away from campus so I’ll make a few unannounced visits to a some matches. I was into the phrase, “THE CARDS ARE COMING,” but I might change it to “THE CARDS ARE HERE!” It’s amazing to see the guys and girls do what they’re doing and seem so unfazed by anything about them. I think they have just as good of a chance as anyone does to make some noise at NESCACs and NCAAs.
NE: Oh yeah. The NESCAC is a total mess right now, it’s the best. What are your lasting impressions of playing NESCAC tennis? How does it compare to other tennis?
CD: I might be a little biased but I think it’s the toughest conference top to bottom in D3 Tennis. Every match in the NESCAC is so tough and having that knowledge that anyone can be beaten on any given day makes it that much more exciting. By the end of the season, you can definitely see which teams put in the work from the offseason to not only get better, but to keep that consistency needed to stay at the top of the conference.
NE: Any other teams/players to whom you’d like to give a shoutout as being particularly great sports/competitors or players you enjoyed competing against?
CD: I always loved playing against those top NESCAC teams. Always had a little love for Williams since high school teammate, Alex Schidlovsky, was over there my first two years. I always felt Bowdoin was the team I looked at when we talk about doing things the right way on and off the court. I personally considered them the San Antonio Spurs of the NESCAC but I’ll let you guys have that debate.
NE: Bowdoin as the Spurs, I like that. But they have a few more years to go on their NCAA streak to fully earn that praise! Ok, perhaps the most journalistically necessary question I’ll ask here today, what are your thoughts on #TheAudacity?
CD: Haha I believe it was Prince who said that after winning a set? Haha I think it just plays into the character of both of these teams and seeing how care free they are. I think Wes Tennis has always thrived in roles where we aren’t afraid to take chances and play free so audacity sort of plays in that almost “reckless belief” that I think every national champion has. And it’s also a big shout-out to ESPN’s Stephen A Smith and his weekly rants on First Take.
NE: That’s probably the Blog’s first ever legitimate Stephen A Smith shoutout! I can see how passionate you still are about Wes Tennis. What do you miss most about being away from the team?
CD: Just that camaraderie with both teams. It’s something I tried not to take for granted but those times you spend with your team really do create some lasting memories that stay with you forever. And the emphasis on family and culture with our team really made the experience that much better and speaking as an only child, it’s a pretty great feeling to know that you have a bunch of brothers and sisters from all over having your back.
NE: #WhyD3. Do you have a best/favorite memory from your playing days?
CD: Hard to pick out a single moment, but I think my first college match as a freshman against Redlands will always stick out in my head. I ended up actually losing the deciding match in a 3rd set (still hurts to this day). But just seeing the atmosphere, and both Cardinal teams trying to pick me while I was playing was something I’ll never forget.
NE: Speaking of, let’s go back to your early days as a Card. Can you tell us a little bit more about why you chose Wes to begin with?
CD: Think it all started with the first day I visited. For whatever reason, I chose to head up to Middletown on a Monday where the teams had a normal day of class and practice. Just seeing firsthand how close the team was on a daily basis whether it was grabbing lunch or dinner, or just running into a teammate walking to class, I just loved the vibe of the team. Tough to explain but it was just very easy to see this was about more than being a part of a tennis team, but a family.
NE: Well if Wes tennis is a family, I gotta ask about the parents. Any good Coach Fried stories for us?
CD: Hahahaha I’ll just leave that to Fried so I can stay out of trouble.
NE: Smart man. Ok fine, what about old Blog favorite Ben Shapiro?
CD: Welp there was a running joke my senior year that Coach Ben was actually one of you guys (I still somewhat believe it)! We thought it was a perfect way to disguise a D3 insider and were constantly bugging Ben with questions about the blog haha. I think that joke has kind of cooled down but I still believe it. Love you coach!
NE: We haven’t heard from him in a while, but I can’t say we miss all of his incessant Rochester comments. What do you think is the biggest thing you took away from your DIII tennis experience that helps you in life after college?
CD: Tough, but the first things that come to mind when I think of my college tennis experience is family and culture. I think just surrounding yourself with the right group of people and having that constant support can go a long way. I think it’s a different experience for everyone but personally knowing that I have a group of people, whether it’s former teammates or a Wes tennis alum I never played with, can help you along the way.
NE: Lastly, anything you want to say to any of us? Anything else you’d like to see from The Blog?
CD: I’m just waiting for my time on the podcast… I got a bone to pick with y’all and those predictions you guys have been coming up with the last few years!
NE: Hey man, blindfold yourself and flip a coin, then you’ll have a just as good a chance at predicting big NESCAC matches as me this year!
Thanks again to Cam for kicking off our Alumni Interview Series, which we hope will be a continuing series for as long as the Blog keeps running. We have a couple more people lined up, but if you have a nomination for an alumni interview, or just want some Blog face time for yourself, send me an email at D3Northeast@gmail.com or message me on Twitter @D3Northeast.
Don’t worry, I’m still here lurking D3NE 🙂