Episode 32: Stories from the Sidelines & Double Standards with Melissa Stark

but yeah, I look forward to that next week. But because we love everybody so much, and thanks for tuning back in to Calm Down Podcast with Aaron and Carissa, Uh, you got me. And I'm excited because we called in an emergency favor and Chris is going to be piste. We uh we called our end. I'll be all the goat the Michael Jordan's of Sideline reporting of being a

female in this crazy ass industry of sports broadcasting. We called it Melissa's stark and I, like I said, CHRISA is not going to be happy that she is missing this because Melissa is uh somebody that I know, Chris and I look up to very very much. The first time I met Melissa was at a party at the Emmy's in New York City. I just joined Fox Sports, and let's let's bring it back. I mean, I knew I always wanted to be involved in sports broadcasting, but I think it was when Melissa started um on ESPN

Scholastic sports. Yeah, I was at it. I know, That's when she kind of was on my radar. But then when she took to the sidelines on Monday Night football, that's exactly who I wanted to be. I cut my hair like her. I started to dress like her. I was doing the sweater sets and the slacks. My dad loved her. He say, watch her, watch what she does, watch her stand ups, listen to her reports. And I tried to be like her. I tried to emulate her.

I remember thinking faith Hill was really hot and big that time, and I remember thinking Melissa's Stark is the faith Hill of the sidelines. And I never had a chance to meet her. I was never at the same event as her. And uh, yeah, I joined Fox Sports ten years ago. Oh yeah, ten years ago. This is my tent season, went to the Emmys and we had to go to kind of a pre kind of cocktail hour before. I remember I was in a green dress and somebody said, Oh, there's Melissa Stark and I panicked.

I remember just sweating right away, being very concerned, but I had to go say something to her. I walked up to her right away, I got a sweat stash above my lip and I just said, Hi, I'm Aaron Andrews and you're my Michael Jordan's And god knows what she thought when I said that, but I love and since then we exchanged phone numbers. Chris and I are on a very fun text chain with her where we talk about basically everything. Also, who's doing your hair and

makeup in London? Do you have anybody in Boston? Um? But yeah, I'm so excited Melissa's here today to help pick up the slack that our girl left behind. Just kidding, CT. We love you, we hope you feel better. But I have a ton of questions for Melissa. I also think it's pretty darn cool with the return of Tom Brady to Gillette Stadium this weekend. UM. Melissa started her career kind of when that era began the Tom Brady Bill

Belichick era in Foxboro. So I have been jealous of her for many years with the relationship and the trust that she has with um Bill Belichick. And I actually talked to coach Belichick about that. What was it about her that he trusts so much? So I'm dying to get her take on this weekend and the games, and uh yeah, it was a crazy week for me. Last

weekend we did where were we? We were in Houston for Carolina Texans, and then Sunday really quickly I did Bucks Rams and it was a home game for me in Los Angeles and Tom Brady's in town, super Bowl champs in town to take on Matthew Stafford Sean McVeigh and that freaking awesome Rams defense. Holy shit it First of all, the biggest observation from that game, while a couple of them, the Rams are unbelievable. The party is back in l A. King's Let's go pick it up.

You know, Dodgers are always winning. But the atmosphere at Sofi Stadium, I think we did a really good job on our broadcast kind of showing it. It was so freaking loud. My ears were ringing even when I got back home and was watching Sunday Night football with my husband. My ears just hurt. Like the fans were unbelievable. They were blaring music out of that p A system. It

was such an incredible atmosphere. The stars were there. Larry David was there, Um, Jason Sadakis, Ted Lasso cast was there, kind of annoyed they weren't on the sidelines that really wanted to meet him. Coach Beard was there. Dr Dre was on the John Botron. It was just it was just it kind of felt like what the old Laker games looked like, with you know, Kobe playing and Jack Nicholson um being on the sidelines right there courtside. It was. It was an awesome, awesome experience and proud of the

city of Los Angeles. The Rams looked unbelievable. Bucks defense needs to get it going. Tom Brady played while it's just they couldn't get that run game going and everything. But wow, l A was It was a party, it was a scene, it was a vibe. I'm pump because hopefully we have more home games. But it was a really really cool experience. So um excited for this weekend with the return of Tom Brady excited to talk to Melissa Stark about it. And also, don't forget you guys

always checking in on our Calm Down podcast Instagram. I was doing some stupid stuff. I think on it this week and we'll fill you guys in from Cincinnati. I head there tonight for our Thursday night matchup Jacksonville at Cincinnati, and then I'm off this weekend and I cannot wait to be in my pajamas, watch football on Saturday and on Sunday. Talk to our girl Clarissa. Hope she's feeling better. And uh yeah, like I said, I'll check in on

the Instagram. Okay, that's enough of me rambling coming up the o G, the goat, the hottie, someone I live for and I'm so grateful for and grateful to be a friend of hers and to have her help me out with advice and just to kind of poke funds sometimes at this profession. Melissa Start is going to join us next So I mean, I'm just coming on and

saying this because we are very informal Calm Down. Um our girl Carissa will let her explain when she's back under the weather, but um, she's gonna be pissed about this because we share a lot of love for a lot of the same athletes, but when we talk about somebody who is uh, the end all be all for the both of us, who we just love admire has been our mentor I the first time I met you, I called you my Michael Jordan's it is, uh, the one and the only Melissa Stark And I gotta tell you.

I called my dad today and I said, Chris is sick, dad, but I got Melissa Stark coming on and he said, oh my god, I mean you are at how are you? I'm great. Although, although it's funny when you guys say that I'm your role model, because I mean not that women talk about their age or anything like that, but I mean it makes me feel like I'm sixty or

sixty five when you say that. No, I came like so far before you, although it was we did didn't though, yeah, we did come at different times because you know, you were sort of more in the social media age, right done to him and yeah, um, I didn't really have any of that. I know. Then it was sort of weird, you know, I cut my hair all short and did that whole thing because you were just supposed to be one of the guys, and you were just supposed to

be this hardcore serious journalist to be taken seriously. But that all changed and now and now you can have fun. And I love watching all your interviews with the players, and you know, it's just like it's a whole different dynamic where it is. It kind of encapsulates everything, and it's just I kind of wish it had been like during my time, it had been like this. You know, you say that, Oh my god, ten thousand notes from Melissa's start. The first one my hair cut like her.

You know that my hair cut in two thousand four, I was doing the Stanley Cup finals. I don't know how pass work, but like, we'll get it and we'll put it up. I know I have it on my phone. But I cut mine exactly like yours when you was playing Monday night football exactly. I was like, you're Jennifer Anison, then, right you were? You were. I died it, I mean, because we all know I'm not that blonde. I died it exactly like yours. I had it super short, and I wanted to be I would I would try to

wear exactly what you wore. You looked a hell of a lot better than I did on Monday night football sidelines. But I was my stand up for Game seven of You would have never worn a bright lime green and Taylor V neck though I know that about you. You had too much like fashion style than I did. But you know you were my end all be all. But wait, I have to ask you. Can I go back from the beginning I was looking. You were an intern for the Evening News with Dan Rather. That's incredible, the CBS

Union News. And I think I always love sports, and I grew up. I grew up in Baltimore, and so we my dad's and I sergeant at Johns Hopkins, and so he would on the side go check on the Baltimore Colts during halftime during the games. And so I always say, you know, I was in the locker room when I was five, six, seven years old, when I was young, and I just always love sports. I mean, even before you know reality TV. I just said it was always you know, it's the best reality of TV.

And I loved playing sports. A huge tennis player. I played golf the whole thing. And um, so what was your question? I forgot what your question was. Just what that experience was, like, I mean being an intern for Yes CBS I digress, so, um it was incredible. I mean it was. So I worked for Dr Bob Arnott, who was the cop ondent. So that was sort of how I got at the end because I come from a family of doctors, and you know, I'm living in

New York City. I went to uv A and I'm it's in the summer's while I'm at school, and it's it's just incredible to learn sort of that journalistic sense. And the best is so when I graduated from uv A. So my senior year uv A my last year when you call it a fourth year at UVA because according to Thomas Jefferson, like it's ever evolving your education. So

um yeah. So my fourth year u v A, I did something called the Coaches Show, where I did features on all the basketball players and all the football So when I graduated, I had this tape because back then you didn't you know, there wasn't you can just film something on an iPhone with at then aaron you know, stop it agents. So I went around to all these news directors and I said, I know it's all sports, but I really want to cover news. I really wanted to be Christian. I'm on for in a war zone

or whatever it may be. And that's actually how I got to the Today Show because they did an interview on me and Vogue and saw that in the head of at the at NBC said really, you want to be a news so that I went to the Today Show. But so all these news directors said, you know, I can see how you cover a sporting event, but I don't know how you'd be in a town council meeting. And we're talking about, you know, Saulisbury, Maryland. So that

ESPN was launching ESPN News at the time. So it was sort of just a fit um because I covered all the local teams in Baltimore. I covered you know, the the Orioles. I mean, all my hometown teams growing up. So that was your beat Baltimore. Okay, I was trying to remember that was And it's funny because I met somebody in the press box at an Orioles game and I said, they said, you have an agent and I said no, and they said, well, there's this great woman

who represents Bonnie Bernstein. You remember Bonnie Bernstein first, you know, to this and I said, do you think she'd you know, take my call or take my tape? And they said, well, I don't know. Here's her info. I mean she called, you know, the next day, and sort of the rest is history. But ESPN News was launching at the time. But I've never you know, how reading a teleprompter is a different It's just a different space. And I've never

read a teleprompter. And so the interview for ESPN News was and I just sort of I didn't even know to move the shot sheets. I didn't know what I was doing. I go, well, that went terribly, And I remember al jaff You was hiring everybody to the Chilies because that was the one place in Bristol, Connecticut that you could go, you know, it was the hot spot to eat. And so were Phil. He's after and he said, well but I think we have to Um you know, I I probably got the Yeah, the Nazos are the Fahitas.

Um so I um. I started hosting um Scholastic Sports America, which is all that's I fell in love with you. Yeah, it was incredible, So that's how that's all kind of started. Um. Yeah, I always loved news, which is which is interesting you know, and then and then I wanted to get back into news right and sort of always. And then I went to the Today Show, but with kids, because I've got four kids now and I always say they're I have little kids, but I don't. They're all in high school.

I have four breaking high schoolers, which is crazy to say that, and I feel so old when I say that. But so, you know, it was hard to do news because I remember, I remember, you know, they wanted me to cover like Siegfried and Roy. I remember the Tiger Tamers and gulled by the type attack. Yeah yeah, can you fly tomorrow to go do this? And I just couldn't.

That type of lifestyle where you just had no schedule was was really hard and and it sports, you know, for us, it's the perfect job because everything scheduled and you know when you're doing what I mean, unless of course it's breaking news or something like that. But totally totally so if you had your choice right now, I mean, say you're back where you were with Monday Night Football, if they said be you know the host of your You're taking over for David Mirror or Brokaw or you

know Jennings that or Monday night football sidelines? What are you picking? No, it would still well, okay, we can talk about you and I can talk about sidelines, because sidelines is a I can't wait when I commend you for sidelines. It is a really hard like it's you've got twenty five seconds to get in the news and you've done so much. Like I remember Steve one young one saying to me, so do you just um, do you just show up right before the game? What do

you do? Like do you guys just kind of come over? And he said, do you even stayed during the game? Like what do you do? I see? I mean, come on. Maybe that wasn't for sidelines, but just covering me. But um, you know, it's so much more work than people think. You know. I remember when I was working with John Madden and Whenday night football and he wanted, you know, we would be at we would fly. He would wantus

to find three days ahead of time. So for a Monday night football game, you're going Friday because you want to see the practices the whole thing. You want to watch film. You know, it's a lot more work for for just a couple of hits here and there, and then perstand of what you've learned or what you've researched that week, or who you've talked to doesn't ever see the light of day. So I would choose sports hands down over news to answer your question, just because I

remember when I filled it for an inquiry. I was the news reader on Today's show, and every time I would read the news, and I would read the news, and every time it's a sports story, I would just light I feel the exact same way. I mean, I'm trying to be a more responsible adult now that I'm forty two years old and be like, Okay, let's try

to understand. Let's try to understand more than just a four or three defense three four, Like, let's try to understand politics of what's going on in the world and all. I mean, you've done so many different things and you've ventured out into so many different areas, right, but this is my love, Like this is I'm disgusting. I'm in a hotel room I'm flying to since tonight. I'm in Miami right now, Like I I haven't seen my husband

or my dog. We're working on a family but I would die if I mean about that, because I never know about that, like how you would all that a family and everything? I want to have kids. We do too. We're trying so so hard. We've had the worst time with fertility. Um. Actually was at the fertility clinic this morning here in Miami before I had to Cincinnati. It's just like it's just become a part of my life. Like I know it's going to happen, but holy cow,

has this been a journey. But it's going to work out. It's totally totally well. I've never stuck myself with more needles in my entire life. But I I'm envous. Your children are beautiful and I cannot wait to uh have some. I just did all that a lot. I did all that I had to go. Yeah, I had some struggles on my own. So I know where you are and I feel your I just didn't have you know, I just did it a while ago. So um, but I think it's it's all so exciting and I'm excited. Yeah,

it'll all work out. I love you, Okay, So one thing, I'm done and it's so timely. So Bill Belichick, it definitely hard for me to crack. I've been very very open with that, and I one time said to him. It was before UM the Houston super Bowl where they took on Atlanta. He was so wonderful to us in our pregame meetings with him, like two or three days before this super Bowl, and I just walked up to him afterwards and I said, Coach, thank you so much

for your time. I said, you have to know Melissa's Stark is who I look up to, and I know you respect her very very much, and I just love to know, Coach, you do these sit down interviews with her, you do these one on ones with her. What is it about her? And Um, I said, because I want to be like that, and he just said, you know, in so many ways she's no bullshit like she's just he trusts you. And I think I texted you a couple of days later or maybe right then, and I

was like, what do you do? How do you do it? And I think it's so appropriate for this week with Tom going back to New England. Melissa, you started your career with these two together with and I just have goose bumps thinking about it. What is this game for you? Like this week? I know you're not working it, but I know you're part of all the conversations and just your career started with Tom and Belichick. It's incredible, I know,

and it's been so fun to watch evolved. And I think one and I know you're good friends with Tom, so back at you on that end, because this relationship with Tom, when you and I are both like, he's the best you know. Um, So here's how I feel about all of it. You know, Bill doesn't like to we all know, typical Bill in a in a press conference and what you hear and he says, I've addressed it and I've talked about this, and it was he's basically referring to the you know, the team's statement when

Tom you know, that's how we addressed it. And you know he's not a man of many words. So here's how I feel. I mean, I feel like watching them accomplish what they accomplished. Obviously, well we'll never see anything like that in the history of I don't know anything, right, And you got to cover that, you got to be in the middle of that. That was like you're Michael

Jordan's time. That's awesome. I'll never forget after um, when when I was a day show and Tom had won the Super Bowl and it was so early in his career that he literally I remember that the room was on the other side of the stadium where we set up for the Today Show, and he just walked with me the whole time, and he was dating Bridget. He was with Bridget Bridget at the time. And I said,

has it last night? He said, oh, you you know, in the whole we just talked the whole time back there and then and then how everything changed, you know, since then. But he's never going to a guy who I remember, even from an nflball I'd be like, I'm not you know, I don't want to do the post game or even at the Pro Bowl. He would I have to drag someone in to go get him to UM. But I'll just never remember that moment because it was sort of before it all blew up, you know. He

was he had just one and we walked. We just walked in the tunnel like it was in crazy surreal anyway, So for them to accomplish, you know, we know Belichick and the way he is, and we know the Patriot Way and how everybody's you know, treated the same there, and you know, you hear what Tom Brady's dad says about it. And how I rate he is and and uh, you know Brady not getting the star treatment. But um, I look at Brady now and how much fun he's having.

You know, It's it's almost like the way you and I are having fun, you know, like later in our careers. I can't now right then right earlier in my career and then I had that much fun then because I was but it granted, you have to earn all that right, and you have to you have to be serious during

those times otherwise you don't keep what you achieve. But to see him kind of like surrounding himself with all these guys that he wants in Tampa and then we know Bruce, you and I Bruce arians is like the antithesis, right of Belli cocktail. I mean, so you know during you know, yeah, you running off the field with him during hattime. He says these things during the games and he's just it's all just okay. You know. Um you almost feel like he's winging it in a way, but

not winging it right. It's just such a different approach. And so you know, to see Tom celebrating you know, last year and Tampa after it all, and then to have Gronk and then and then these commercials keep coming out and all these fun things like time for these commercials.

Yeah yeah, I mean just big personality and just and and and really being able to show this whole other side and granted, like I go back, it goes hand in hand with like putting your head down and really earning it while he was you know, Patriots, but it's just a totally different style. Um. But I think you know, I think it's funny that they just lost. You know, it's not funny for them, but the Brady coming off

loss is like the worst thing, the bad loss. Right you were there, you were you were like, there was that was my sideline. Yes, um, you know when he's the leading rusher, right, he's the leading it's it's not good. But I think him coming off a loss and then you know, I was watching him say, you know, he knows exactly what the wind's gonna feel like when he

goes there. He knows exactly what you know, everything, like just the whole feel of when he goes back there, what that's gonna because he's so you know, his attention to detail and his chastianism. But I think it's exciting that it's come. I don't love the whole I don't love the whole talk and dynamic of Belichick versus Brady and the whole thing, because I don't think it needs to be like those two pity they accomplished what the

twenty years? Okay, twenty years a long time, right, Aaron T. I've been married twenty years and I'm not saying I'm ready to walk away because I'm not not even close today exactly. Um. Three kids like that, I think have COVID right now. Three God love you for doing this.

It's a little stressful at times, but that's a long time to be with somebody, right, And you know, I know that they they just didn't They had a certain type of relationship right a business and and that's the way Belichick is, right, and you know, they play golf together. They wouldn't do much, you know outside of and I don't know, you know what coach and player do a ton outside it, but they just had that that relationship,

and so but I'm excited for him. I'm excited for Brady that you know, he you know, like live it up after after accomplishing what he accomplished and earning all of that what was your sweat and anxiety level when you would talk to Belichick at halftime? Mine is an all time high. I mean it should be a deodorant commercial. It's like out of control. I can't call myself similar you and I could compare notes of who just give me? Who did to you? Anybody? Oh my gosh, of all people?

And I work with him now, Steve Maryuchi, like he was what is my favorite? But he was? You know, you'd have a guy I would always say, Oh my gosh. Herm Edwards would be like, you don't need to run, slow down, you can. It was just so kind, right, Melissa. There's no bra support out there that makes running after a coach look at I mean, I want to say to them, I'm holding my cliffboard and running like, hey, can you do me a favorite? Like you don't want to fall, you don't want to slip. You look like

a buffoon. So I love that about her. Okay, what else is amazing? Yeah? No, I mean the funny thing is is also that I said to you earlier like that. I feel like I wish I could go back now with the confidence that I have and go back because I did want a football at six or twenty seven, right, Like you can get bullied a little bit, right, And now I think it's the flip side where I would

just I just wouldn't take it, right. But then okay personally for me, for me, it was hard, you know, covering like Major League Baseball, like all these it's being single report and I don't know how you felt about it, but you feel you need you need these guys numbers. You feel weird asking for their numbers because it can

be completely misconstrued. Right. I remember standing around like batting practice with some guys and I think there's like hostake and sake or I don't know, mark require a rise, right, And I'm thinking, how like it is so going to be even misconstrued when I asked these guys for their numbers. Um. And then doesn't it piss you off when reporters go on air mail and then say I was texting was

so and so last night? And I always think if I ever said that in a report, it would be like you like, you know, it's like, yeah, like I was talking to so and so late into the night. Yeah exactly. Yeah, there's all these like you know, double standards and everything, but I'll never forget Andy Reid. And he said it on air, Andy Reid. The week before they you know, say, they'd had like a three touchdown lead at halftime, ended up losing, and the exact same

thing happened that week. So I said, you know, coach, I gotta ask you. You know, it's half time, you gotta And he's like, I can't believe you just asked me that. And he told me later he came up and apologize and he said he was stroking and al Michael's you know, as I threw it up to I was like, of course she asked him that, like, of course she has to ask you. You reported that or that was live was But to this day, any to this day will up and say, you know that was

I was just joking. I'm like, well, okay, no, it was written about in every paper the next day. No one thought you were joking. Um Belichick. So Belichick, you know, I think just because we all started out together, like you said, um, because I really started Monday and football. It was two thousand and and Brady hadn't even you know, begun. He would It was crazy. I would go in the locker room at halftime and he wouldn't say, like we weren't allowed to say that we were in the locker room.

But I'll, you know, I give the report and then I would say straight, you know something code were like straight from the locker room, you know, or something like that. But I had some pretty I had some good access there. But still I still get I don't know how you are you and I've talked about this, I still get nervous when I interview any I don't know. I just I don't like when people shut me down. I also don't like controversial interviews. I don't like putting people in this.

A lot of our job is kind of putting people on the spot. Are asking like the really, yeah, I don't. I don't that that still makes me like squeamish, which would be hard, which is hard for probably because it's our job and is what we do on a daily basis. But if you feel the same way, oh, I totally do. I'm not there too. It's not that I'm not there to break stories, but I just, yeah, I hate asking. You gotta do it. You have to ask the tough questions, but you don't want people to feel like you're a

pain in the act. Or be make them uncomfortable. But I feel like, you know, obviously you being who they you are, everyone knows you have a job to do. I feel like such a fan girl right now asking these questions. People ask me, but favorite interview while you worked Monday Night Football? Favorite interview while I worked on

the night football? Also? Was Brett amazing? Because that is my favorite player growing and so yeah, I was he amazing because I feel like I watched so many interviews with you and him, and I just was like, Okay, this is what I want to do. Brett's hot and cold because well this last Super Bowl, he thought he was having catchup and he had like to bask right before we were doing an interview of all the Hall of famers and stuff. He had he just ingested. I

can't remember. I think it was too bask. It was something very good. He was all red and sweating and we were laughing really hard. Um. He would either hang out with you, you know, at the facility and everybody and just kind of want to hang around for hours, or he was sort of I don't know, I don't know if he gets no, I don't know. He was sort of hot and cold. Um, I mean don't get me wrong. I just think, you know, it depends when you like the times you hit these certain players and

like what's going on? Yep. So it's just funny how you know. Once well, I remember going back to I think it was I think it was Hostaken Sack or somebody, um, yes, and he said, you know, did Peter Gammon's right all your I came in. It was one of the first things I've ever done, and he said, you know, did

Peter Gammon's right? All your questions? And you just gotta like and and and and thankfully Aaron, because of I'm not saying because of you and me, but just you know, women that came before, hopefully you know now it's commonplace, right, I mean, I you know, there's an era where I covered a made for TV golf event and like, you know, guys like Tiger and Sergio they get it. They get that we're a part of all of this, and like

what a made for TV event? And Jack Nicholas, you know, said something like you might be pretty to look at, but your standing, you know, way too close to my line or something like that on t V. So you know that's somebody listen, that is I just think you and I know that that is like part of everything that we dealt with, just had that thick scan. I meane times have changed a lot in the last couple of years. Times have changed and that man be tolerated. Uh Um. But you know it made it made me

and I'm sure you stronger. I mean, it wasn't mean to do. It wasn't fun to go through it at the time. Um, But but you know what then, I mean, we were really like women in a man's world totally. So it just takes you know, it takes I think it takes time, like anything used to that. Who I mean besides Belichick, who else was your like? I mean I'm not saying he's your favorite, but I always like and I'm so envious how you can get him who was so great to you? Um, who was always be

so you know, thankful and grateful for right. I mean, I think, well, the whole thing, and I'm sure you find this like with the whole Monday night football name behind you. I could call anybody and sort of saying this is any college coach. I could call anybody, Hey,

it's okay. Yeah, I mean, and that's why I say I wish you know social media had been big back then or other things had been big back then, because then you could really sort of like taken, I could have much more so taken advantage of that whole platform. I feel like, god, that's so interesting because I hate it. Like I mean, obviously it's had a good and bad effect on my life, but that I never thought of

that for you. You know that's so interesting. Well, well you might hate it, and I do think it's incredibly draining, and I think it's very very invasive. I mean, I think it's incredible, like what you do. And I mean Carrissa is like constantly I remember she would I think I texted her when this happened. So we have a seminar every year for NFL in Augusty do you hear this? And they put her off like they said, like they said, examples of someone who brands themselves really well, and they

put Carissa up there. You know, it's incredible how you guys have like branched out in your clothing line. I'm so proud of you for all of I mean, it's awesome. But going back to you know who, and I just did um sort of. I did an interview for a documentary on him, But um, he's not someone I covered you. Someone I worked with was John Matten, though I have to say it's on Madden. Came up to me at first and he said, you know, I never valued the

sideline position until I worked with you. And he's like, and it was just, you know, here's this larger than life guy who has had just this Hall of fame career as a coach, then broadcasting and all. You know, people knew because I was on the now you're doing I think some Madden stuff, but like, yeah, so I would you know, little kids would know me just from the video games Football. We did the video game and um, you know, and he took me under his wing and

just was the kindest, most fun. We had so much fun because of his claustrophobia. You know that we were always on the Madden Cruiser, always going around and you know what that's like, just the camaraderie. I mean, I see you with your whole crew, and that's your family of our lives, right, this family. So when you're on the road and you're living like that and to have those kind of experiences, it just makes it, um, you know, incredible.

So to answer your question, like, I don't think anybody necessarily, you know, sort of stands out other than you know, Madden and kind of cool and of views, because everybody talking about that that Monday night Football, which was the highest rated show in tell Time. Behind you, it's sort

of this whole thing in and of itself. You've touched on this a few times, and I want to leave you with this, and then you have to promise to come back when Chris is on, because again, I I mean twenty three Michael Jordan's is our everything, but you are right up there with him, and she's going to be so pissed about this. But I didn't want to tell her you were coming on because she would make

her feel worse. You just keep talking about the things you wish you had known about, or someone you know could give you advice about later in your career, maybe enjoying it a little bit more. I'm there, what kind of advice would you give or anybody? I mean, I'm always asked what would you advice would you give? Women starting out? But I want women starting out and women that are hanging on at forty two years old, and I wait, did you just call me a hanger Honor. No, no,

I am I'm the hanger, Honor. I'm the hanging on at forty two. But I love that you said. I can't wait to hear what you would recommend to Aaron Andrews. No, I'm serious. You know, I look up to you so much. But I'm interested in what kind of advice Molistas Stark has for anyone in this industry. Oh, for anyone in

this industry. What I would saying is, you know, the biggest key is um talking to everybody you can, and and and knowing what you're talking about, especially for where I mean, because I think women can get into this industry for the wrong reasons or just thinking Okay, hey it's fun and I want to be on football and all of that. But I think you know, like you and I were just talking about getting those phone numbers

and having those relationships and forming all of that. And I've been lucky to do that, you know, over twenty plus years, you know, with football and and so of you and so developing those contacts and relationships and and you know, earning respect. It's everything you and I have just talked about, like the challenges and and and people will challenge you constantly, constantly, constantly. You've got to be ready for that. You've got to be prepared so that

you don't fall when that happens, right. And I think when I first started out of it ESPN, we had sort of like a talent someone who taught you. She said, what's your job? It was sort of a quiz and I don't think I answered it right, but she was like, the answer was to get the story, like to get that nugget, like that nugget. And I just remember the first game that I did, and it was a Patriots game. What was it? Yeah, what was the first game he did? So it was the Hall of Fame game. I did,

the Hall of Fame. That was the first game that I did for Monday Night Football was Hall of Fame. And so it was it was Dennis Miller, it was Eric Dickerson, right, it was Dan Fouts al and um, it was way back in the day when we had those that huge team on one and oh my spoof on It's so funny because my on Saturday Live and my friends, my friends thought that they're like, you've made it, you know, because I played you on Saturday Night Live.

Who played you? Um, it was my It was really early on my Routolph like he's like my sweat he was like, and my sweater sets from Um, I didn't remember the brand whatever, but I would always we were we were. It was ra Floren that like you, I always had sweater sets Club, she said, and I was like, what is Club Monico? I don't even as I don't have Saturday. I live on my my resume at all. So that's so freaking awesome. Like, okay, so Hall of Fame game, Yeah, go on. And the thing is, I

can't even find it. I think it's on like a VHS, sir. I I. I was trying to tell my kids that I was on Saturday, and they're like, wait what I can't find But um okay, So Hall of Fame game and I found out from the Patriots that they had find their players. Um he it was for I can't remember, like if anybody walked in one minute, let's just say, I can't even remember, because once you have kids, I think you forget everything. But they find their players for

something like crazy, like no one could believe it. And the fines were like, and I don't know why. It was such a big nugget, but like defind like a hundred and twenty five thousand dollars and I didn't think it was that big a deal. And Freda deli Are producer was like everyone's jaws dropped and they thought and I was like, Dennis could have it, Dennis can have fun with it. Take it. You know, They're like, this is yours and this is and so I guess that

was like one of those you know nuggets. It's one of those things you know, no one else has that because of relationships and because you've talked to people, and that was that was less common in those days, right, Because now I say to you social media and the relationship and and you know you have so much more access I feel like to these athletes and you know, so much more. But in those days, you know that that was not as common to get that kind of

information light. But that's so that would be my advice to anybody is like, you know, you constantly would have the information that you know somebody else doesn't, right, you always have the infort that somebody else doesn't stop. I love you. How how's NFL three six to you going? You just talked to my boy Devin White, and I need to watch that one. Do you die for him? I'm like, be careful on those horses, get down off this side of the road. Devon White an amazing guy.

And when he went through and then just like his horses. Like so for people who don't know, you know, he lost his his stepbrother when he was thirteen years old. It was his best friend. He died in the car accident. And so for him, those horses. I mean, everybody knows about the horses, but frim, it's not it's not just a hobby. It's it's like part of his soul, you know, it's read to cope with the loss of his brother and the whole thing. And uh what what a great guy.

And we you know NFL three sixty is like it's like a throwback because I I can barely get my kids to watch it because you know, everyone has a d D right now and like, what have you done from me? And then they're like what, I'm gonna sit

down and watch a six minute piece. But it's like I get to go back holistic pieces that um, you know I used to do, like outside the lines for you and and you know, you get to dig and you get to see different sides of these people and and these players, and um, they tug at your heart these stories. You know, I cry at half of the things that we do. But um, yeah it's really cool. But but you know, it's a nice mix with like I'm going, oh, I'm going to London next week. You

are hard makeup on the London sideline? Girl do I what did I do? You have hair and makeup? That's that's the text, Crisa, Melissa and I have where's your hair and makeup? Three way? The three ways? By the way, I just I just found somebody great for you. And you have some in New York, but I just found something. I'll take everything. Yeah, it's great to find something. Nowadays with COVID, they want they want one person to do it, and it's hard to find for all those women, it's

hard to find one person that can do both. Um. So I found hair and makeup. And that's where I was hit with the football in the head, Like years and years ago. I was just so happy that I liked my hair makeup on the day that I was hit in the head, because I kept replaying over and over again, and I was like, yes, at least I like them. I liked the Yeah, I'm going back over there. Okay, I'll be watching and we love having our o G on the sideline. Melissa's dark and I I know, I

get it. I get annoyed when girls are like, I've watched you forever, but your skin, your hair, your outfit, all of it. I just bowed down to you, lady. You should be doing moisturizer commercials. You look like you're like, what is your secret? I don't even really, I don't know. I don't I'm not into all those Are you into like products and all sorts of things and you try things out? Okay, you yeah, but but I'm still a guy like I can put like the same crop on

my face and call it a day. Like I don't know how to do anything, So I don't know how to do And that was the hard thing during COVID is having to learn how to do Yeah, and I did not know how to do a thing. Um when when we're lucky enough, I should say it all all the why we are so lucky to get our hair and makeup and that is like a favorite part of

the job. But we're sitting there. I'm usually sitting there and you know, I'm I'm getting last minute information or I'm going over scripts, or so I don't have time because I thought, how do I not know how to do this? But I'm really not paying attention exactly. So UM, well, I like you, I love seeing you. I love you so much. Thank you for uh for coming on last minute. I uh, this was emotional for me. I feel like I'm going to have a little bit of a cry

on the treadmill. Now. You are everything we have to um. The last time the three of us were in person together, we had a great Houston and so yep, yep, and so hopefully this year, hopefully figure it out. We have to get to give you a when we big hug and kiss on your aeek and uh. I know how much I love you and how much I still look up to you, and I can't thank you enough for

just making it look so beautiful. This is what I would always say to people when they when they asked me about you, I'm like, she's smart, she's hot, and guys just respected the hell and not respected, respect the hell out of her. And when I'm still asking guys like about you and like what it was like when you worked on the sidelines with them. I I just like, I want to be like this. I mean, I'm asking coach Belichick how to be like you. So there you go. Um,

I love you, Melissa's dark. You are everything You're like when I met Oprah for the first time, at you Oprah George Clooney recently, I was just like, these are what you want them to be like in real life, and You're exactly what I want you to be like. You're just everything. Such a compliment coming from you, that is so take care of those sick babies. I hope everybody's okay, not babies anymore. I'm like, gosh, I love you,

love you, love you too great to see you. Calm Down with Aaron Carissa is a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts from my heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast