Today we’d like to introduce you to Darius A.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Darius. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
First, I believe in God and second, I have a crazy belief within myself. Growing up, my first love was basketball played and studied the game. Attended North Crowley High School where I was apart of the 5A Basketball State Championship Team. I then went to the University of Oklahoma where I studied communication with an emphasis on sports media. #BoomerSooner.
While at OU, I worked a full-time job at Sams club, full time in school, Joined the greatest fraternity in the world Kappa Alpha Psi and during my junior and senior years, I interned for a news station in Oklahoma City. KOCO News 5. I knew I had to get hands-on professional experience before graduating for me to be better equipped entering the corporate world. As a sports intern at KOCO News 5, I help cover both colleges in Oklahoma (Oklahoma state and Oklahoma University) and the professional NBA team Oklahoma City Thunder. A lot of editing, in front of the camera work, and press conferences with players and coaches. I learned a lot while there thanks to Bryan Keating and Carson Cunningham.
One time while interning at an Oklahoma City NBA playoff game, I took the opportunity to ask ESPN Personality Stephen A Smith questions about the business, in which he spoke with me for about an hour giving me great advice and sharing his story with me. He said, “You got to love what you do. A lot of late nights, working holidays, away from family and friends. I’m Stephen A. And I’ve been up for 22 hours.” I graduated from the University of Oklahoma in the spring of 2015. I’m the first one in my family to graduate college. It was a struggle I just didn’t quit I wanted to break that chain. I wanted to show the people in my family coming behind me that it can be done. After graduation, I got a job with the NBA as a production assistant in New York. I never even been to New York. I just stepped out on faith. You have to leave your comfort zone and I knew if I wanted to make it in the sports media world, New York is the biggest market and that’s where I needed to be.
During my 2nd year at the NBA, I also worked part-time helping with Bleacher Report and their college football highlight team. I also submitted videos of my takes on different sports topics to the ESPN show First Take and made it on live tv multiple times which was pretty cool. Now, I would say I’m on my 2nd leg of the race within this marathon working as a Broadcast Associate for MLB Network editing video for their various shows and real-time digital MLB game highlights that you can view on the MLB “AT Bat” app for a specific game.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Oh yeah, a lot of obstacles and challenges along the way. Someone wise told me preserving in the face of failure is what separates the champion from the pack. In between the NBA and MLB Network, I was in search of a job in the sports field for a year and a half, I was working at a warehouse and mentally I was at a low place I wasn’t doing what I loved which is sports, it got so bad I didn’t even want to watch sports. During that year and a half, I had over 60+ interviews. No after no after no. I was questioning myself, asking how long do I wait, do I give up, do I find a new career path. A lot of late nights, praying to god asking for direction. Waiting on that one phone call to put me back in the game. What kept me going was I was getting the interviews so I knew they saw something and I just needed one yes. A lot of people would have given up, thrown in the towel, changed careers. My manager at the warehouse would tell me this ain’t the job for you I can tell, I hope you get what you’re looking for. I felt like God was speaking through people telling me to keep going from little subtle messages like that.
What’s your proudest moment or biggest achievement so far within your career?
People may look at my career and pick this achievement or me working a certain job but I’m proud of myself. Just me believing in myself not giving up even when the odds are stacked against me. Just doubling down and going harder. A lot of people don’t know but the time I made ESPN First Take, I was in a dark place. I was living in Fort Worth with my grandma Ruby working this warehouse job going on interview after interview no after no. Then, I made ESPN First Take and it was like reassurance during my darkest moment telling me not give up to keep going, continue to bet on myself. My proudest moment is me not giving up and no matter what, always finding a way to weathering the storm. The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender. The sacrifices the time spent, I’m into deep to turn back. The Marathon continues.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, it was my mom, Debra James, my stepdad who is my father he was there since I was three. Rest In Peace to him. Hubert James. And then, my older brother Shaun McGlivery. I loved basketball and I was very competitive. Every day after school, I would play my cousins in basketball. I loved playing and watching sports on tv. I have an outgoing personality and just a genuine person. All about good positive vibes. I love traveling and hanging, having fun with my friends. I also enjoy shopping.
Contact Info:
- Email: dariuslalford@gmail.com
- Instagram: Iamdariusalford
- Twitter: Iamdariusalford
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