“I want to tell as many stories as I can about Premier Lacrosse League players. I think that will help the PLL attract fans, including outside of the lacrosse community.”
RJ (photo, YouTube)
From growing up in White Marsh, Maryland to attending the University of Maryland and, now, working professionally in Los Angeles, RJ Kaminski is a prominent face in the newly formed Premier Lacrosse League.
Recently, I had the chance to talk with RJ, who’s creator/host of @PremierLacrosse.
Jordan: Growing up, you didn’t play lacrosse. So what sports did you play? How did you get involved with the lacrosse?
RJ: I played a lot of volleyball, and I wrestled my freshman year of high school. But I was always ingrained in the lacrosse community. The high school I attended (Boys Latin) is a lacrosse school. A lot of my friends were on the team, and they went with me to Maryland and played Division 1 there. I was always around the sport. Then, one of my friends, Tyler Steinhardt, came up with an idea, “Shootout For Soldiers.” Every summer, we’d travel across the country, and I’d meet folks in the military community who played lacrosse. That allowed me to learn what the lacrosse community was all about and how players came together for a cause.
Jordan: I also know that you did a lot for your high school’s journalism program.
RJ: We didn’t have a sports radio program, so I started one, ILBS Radio. My friends and I would talk about the Ravens, the Orioles, and athletics at Boys Latin. Sometimes we’d have four listeners, and sometimes we’d have forty. The radio gig allowed us to get comfortable on air and proved to be an excellent way to get experience. I took what I learned there and decided to major in journalism/broadcast journalism at UMD. My dream was to become a broadcaster. But I learned that you need to know how to write first if you want to be a broadcaster. So learning to write became job #1.
Jordan: So, what was transition like from Boys Latin to the Univesity of Maryland? I know you did at Meet the Press with Chuck Todd. What was that like?
RJ: The transition wasn’t difficult. I remember what a teacher once told me. To make the transition effectively, get out of your comfort zone. The comment bothered me at first, but I learned that it makes a lot of sense. I socialized with people outside of the realm I grew up. I branched out, joining different clubs, did a ton of after-school projects, and got involved in internships. Meet The Press was one of those internships, and it was a surreal experience. So every semester, I participated in an internship. I knew that those experiences would help me get the best position after graduation.
Jordan: So you went on to join The Lacross Network (TLN). How’d that start? What was it like?
RJ: My friend, Tyler Steinhart, the guy who came up with the idea of “Shootout for Soldiers,” was hired as TLN’s GM. He moved to NYC to take that job and, then, hired me to oversee TLN’s social media platforms. LaxCon was one of the first events we covered, and it allowed me to get in front of the camera.
That was two years ago and, from there, I was going to use the Top 5 concept as my show theme, shooting a show every week. I also wanted to teach the TLN audience a little about myself–who I was–and deliver the week’s top 5 plays in the lacrosse world. That’s what I did until the Premier Lacross League opportunity came around.
That TLN experience gave me a chance to create relationships with athletes, get comfortable on camera personally, and get the athletes to feel the same, which I soon learned wouldn’t be easy. The guys aren’t comfortable in front of the camera because it’s not natural for them to talk into a lens. Getting them camera-comfortable was probably the biggest thing I learned during my time at TLN.
Jordan: You’re a latecomer to the game, but you’ve transitioned to become one of the big names in the sport. What has that transition been like for you?
RJ in action at TLN
RJ: The first thing that comes to mind is that the road I took to get here. I always made sure to stay true to myself. I wanted to create content that would be engaging for the audience. Because I don’t come from a lacrosse-playing background, I realize that I need to be authentic about that. That meant I could do some things and not other things. For example, I never sit with a player and offer my insights about what’s being shown on tape. The key is to establish an authentic relationship with the audience. That’s how you develop a following. I’m continuing to follow that approach at PLL.
Jordan: So get the PLL opportunity and go from Baltimore to New York and, now, to LA. Talk about the highs and lows of your transition.
RJ: I was nervous about moving to New York. But having a job lined up and a place to live reduced my anxiety levels. I learned the old saying is true, “if you can make it NY, you can make it anywhere.” I could do it again in LA. I’ve had a great start here, and a large part of the credit goes to the PLL culture, including teammates and colleagues. They’ve contributed enormously to making mine a smooth transition.
Jordan: This is Year 1 of the PLL. What are your hopes going forward with yourself and for the league?
For RJ, it’s all about the players.
RJ: My goal is to put the camera in front of as many players hands as I can. I want to tell as many stories as I can about these players. I think that will help PLL attract fans, including fans outside of the lacrosse community. We need to bring in folks who are used to watching football and baseball–people who’ve never attended a lacrosse game. We need to get them interested in tuning in–or at least following along on social media. It’s about building up the personalities of the guys of the field.
Jordan: My final question is about our local PLL, the Whipsnakes. Can they win a championship in Year 1?
RJ: Well, I’m a big Whipsnakes fan because of my Maryland connection. Do I think they are going to make it deep? Yes. But, man, with all the talent on all of the teams, I have no clue as to who is going to come out on top in the first few weeks, let alone at the end of the season. But I will say this: I don’t think June 1st can’t get here soon enough!
On the other hand, I wish the season started a bit later because we need to accomplish so much between now and then. But I’m excited about the product on the field and the competition coming. I think it’s going to be the best play that lacrosse has ever seen. I can’t believe that June 1st is so close!
Jordan: Thanks, RJ!
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Follow RJ on Instagram and Twitter @RJKaminski. Follow PLL on Instagram @pll and Twitter @PremierLacrosse.
