During his 18 months hosting a sports radio show in Denver, there were times the job became effortless for Mark Schlereth, a three-time Super Bowl champion from Anchorage.
"For the most part, the local show was Tim Tebow all the time," Schlereth said. "It's easy, just say, 'Tebow. Call us,' and the phone lines light up."
Schlereth, a 1984 Service High graduate, recently accepted what may turn into a more challenging job, co-hosting a national show on ESPN radio with Mike Hill.
"ESPN approached me after that contract was up and asked me, 'What do you think about doing your own show?' " Schlereth said. "They said 'We're going to find a partner for you.' "
Mike Hill, who has been an ESPNEWS anchor and host of various ESPN programs since 2004, sometimes refers to himself and Schlereth by the nicknames Sugar and Stink. The duo will talk about major sports throughout the year, weeknights from 3-6 p.m. AST.
The Hill and Schlereth show debuted earlier this month with celebrity guests like Charles Barkley and John Elway. Broadcasting to a national audience didn't slow down the Tebow talk much.
"Tim Tebow rates, people love him. He has the No. 1 selling football jersey in the NFL," Schlereth said.
Like many football analysts, Schlereth is quick to criticize Tebow's quarterbacking skills but praise him in other areas. Schlereth said his opinions aren't always popular with the public, especially in Denver.
"I am public enemy No. 1, because I've given my opinion on him as a football player, and people don't want to hear it," Schlereth said. "First off, he's a great football player. You name it, he has got it, great leadership skills, all those things. He's an average quarterback, I mean reading defenses, completing passes."
"The thing I love about him is he is exactly what you see. He is as authentic as anyone I have ever met in my entire life."
Having played 12 seasons as an offensive lineman in the NFL, there is no doubting Schlereth's area of expertise. He played six seasons with the Washington Redskins, helping them win a Super Bowl in 1992, and he played his last six seasons with Denver, where he aided the Broncos' back-to-back Super Bowl wins in 1998 and 1999.
"What I really try to bring (to the show) more than anything is what it's like in the locker room, what it's like to be a professional athlete," Schlereth said. "I wouldn't call myself the biggest sports fan in the world. Other than the NFL, I don't sit around and watch everything."
When football season ends, Schlereth will do his best to educate himself on other sports but said one of the great things about working for ESPN is the long list of experts on hand to discuss sports Schlereth isn't so well-versed in.
Schlereth, 45, retired from the NFL in May of 2001, and it wasn't long before he started making appearances as a football analyst on ESPN. Over the past 11 years, Schlereth has made regular appearances on SportsCenter and has been a regular guest on Mike and Mike in the Morning. As his broadcasting skills expanded, so did his duties.
"When they need someone to host, they can call me." Schlereth said. "That's not my forte, but I can muddle through it."
Schlereth battled mild dyslexia as a kid and said he still gets scared whenever asked to read things during a live broadcast, like when he was recently asked to host NFL 32, an hour-long television show that examines news and happenings around the NFL.
"I may not have looked nervous on the outside, but I was," Schlereth said. "That part of this business, I really enjoy. I enjoy stretching myself, doing things that make me nervous."
A competitive drive helps Schlereth work through those tense moments, and he said he always does his best to keep things in perspective.
"The worst thing I could do is make a complete idiot of myself," he said. "I've done that on some of the grandest stages. I've given up sacks on Monday Night Football."
Though his playing days are long gone, Schlereth is still fully immersed in football, usually spending more than 20 hours a week watching and studying tape from every NFL game during the season. A lot of what Schlereth learned about being a professional player has carried over and helped him succeed as a broadcaster.
"There are probably more similarities than there are differences," he said. "You are part of a team. You work hard and prepare hard, and you have a lot of fun doing it."
Schlereth makes his home in Denver and commutes to ESPN's base in Bristol, Conn., where he stays in a hotel. He rarely sees his room for anything other than sleep, however, as his work schedule keeps him extremely busy.
Schlereth loves what he does but said the work is almost never-ending, between production meetings and prep time needed for all his different shows. Sometimes he'll get up at three in the morning to finish watching football games before he heads to the airport.
"My dad told me: Find something you love to do and you'll never have to work a day in your life," Schlereth said. "I get up and go to work because I want to. It's not easy, but there's a lot of guys out there that want this job."
If he looks or sounds like he is having a good time on the air, Schlereth said that's probably because he is. One of the biggest lessons he's learned as a broadcaster is the importance of keeping himself entertained.
"If I'm entertained, I hope that you're entertained," he said.
Reach Jeremy Peters at jpeters@adn.com or 257-4335.
By JEREMY PETERS
Anchorage Daily News