It’s almost game time at West End Synagogue when sports journalist Jared Stillman takes the stage as the featured guest of the synagogue’s annual fundraiser on March 30th. The Nashville born and raised host of Stillman and Company spoke with The Observer from New Orleans where he was broadcasting all the excitement and preparations in the run up to the Super Bowl. He said he is happy to be able to share his passion for sports with his Jewish community, including stories of his partnership with the late Titans general manager, Floyd Reece. “We really were two Nashville dudes. The fans may disagree with what we thought, but they knew we loved the teams. The Titans and the Predators. They knew we loved them just as much as they did.”
Stillman’s love of sports began in childhood, and he knew early on he would pursue it as a career. “I felt like it was my calling,” he said, “It was kind of a one-track mind. I remember sitting in my French class at USN and I’d look at the clock and start daydreaming about sports.”
Those daydreams eventually led him to college at the University of Kentucky in Louisville where he was able to spread his wings a bit. “I went there with this open mind of what my future was to be. I didn’t know what it would be. I thought I would a general manager of a team or something like that.” He experimented with broadcasting while working with the women’s basketball team and felt he’d found his niche.
Stillman found stiff competition for broadcast jobs as podcasting took off. “Everybody’s got a podcast now and the reason is because everybody wants to be on the radio.” He found himself starting out in 2012 as a news talk radio host in New Hampshire. “It was freezing cold. I was covering a presidential primary that was four years away. I was doing all kinds of political stuff and a little bit of sports.”
Proximity to Boston gave Stillman a bird’s eye view of major league sports broadcasting. “I saw how the sports media was received, how they acted, and I was envious about wanting that one day for me,” he said.
Eventually the ESPN affiliate in Louisville expanded and Stillman found his opening. “They knew me from when I was in college, and I knew them.” So, he started working for peanuts co-hosting the morning show. And then…Nashville came knocking. “There was a former ESPN executive that was consulting for radio stations, and he asked me where I wanted to be, and I told him I wanted to be in Nashville.” And one month later he was back home.
Stillman said he hopes the WES show will be entertaining and heartwarming. “The NFL draft is coming up. The Titans have the number one pick, which is a very exciting time. Here at the Super Bowl everyone wants to talk about who will be the number one pick.” He said he plans to give an inside look into the world of professional sports in a more intimate setting than a radio show. “There will be more information. More that can be shared and discussed. More interaction.”
Long time Nashvillians are excited to see Stillman’s success and look forward to what he will share. One of those is Ben Doochin, president of West End Synagogue. “It was a rare opportunity to get someone who’s been part of our extended family. I’ve known Jared since he was a baby. He’s a young man who’s vaulted to the top of what he does, and people love sports.” He adds the timing is good, too, “You’ve got the Elite Eight going into the Final Four in basketball. You’ve got the NFL draft, NHL playoffs coming up. It will be an energetic fun thing for the community.”
The event, dubbed West End Synagogue Game Day with Jared Stillman is scheduled to tip off at 5:30pm at the synagogue, and there will be some surprises, too. Event co-chair Jennie Zagnoev says there will be something for everyone. “My hope is that we bring in some newer members, people of all ages, and people who haven’t gotten involved yet.” She adds there will be a bracket during the event with prizes, an auction of sports and music memorabilia. And an after party in May hosted by Jared’s mother is slated for later in the spring. Zagnoev says the attire for the evening is jeans and jerseys casual. There will be a bar and dinner prepared by Goldie Shepard.
Stillman himself is excited to bring his show to his childhood home. The brand-new dad is planning to raise his son with the same Jewish traditions and sense of community that helped launch him, and to add his growing family to the numbers of his friends who are doing the same. As for the future, he definitely has big plans. When asked who his dream interview might be, he said, “It’s probably Michael Jordan. For me, growing up in the 90s, he is probably the greatest athlete of my generation.” Well, Jared, here’s hoping! And we’ll see you on game day on March 30th!
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