I worked at ESPN ... and you didn’t

What would your dream summer job be? Selling your soul to The Man in I-banking or consulting? Serving as a “community organizer”? As your friendly neighborhood Princetonian sports editor, and a huge sports fan, there was only one for me.

ESPN. The Worldwide Leader in Sports.

I worked at ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., headquarters as an editor. On my first day, the other interns and I got to see the sets of “SportsCenter” and other shows. We saw the control rooms and the behind-the-scenes aspects to the show. It was awesome.

The campus itself is a series of interconnected buildings, a few vast parking lots, immense flocks of geese and a whole lot of satellite dishes. Sort of how you envision NASA, but without the spacesuits. The size of the campus made me realize why it is in the middle of nowhere.

The halls of ESPN are filled with photos and other sports memorabilia — autographed photos, blown-up magazine covers, Emmy Awards and many, many flat-screen TVs. There was so much that I just wanted to jack for my dorm room, but my better judgment (desire for a job offer?) kept me on the straight and narrow.

As I toured the campus further, my intern group passed Mike Golic, the tall, meat-and-potatoes loudmouth of the “Mike and Mike in the Morning” radio show and Nutrisystem food products. I think he used to play football. “New interns! Which one of you is getting my dry cleaning?” he exclaimed. I later learned he uses that joke over and over.

The job had some major perks. For example, the ubiquitous TVs had every live sports feed in the world. I didn't miss a single game of Euro 2008. I caught lots of the Olympics. I watched cricket (it was a slow week) even though I had no idea what was going on or why everyone was yelling. I even rekindled my love for the New York Mets, just in time for them to choke (again).

Throughout the summer, I saw famous athletes and TV personalities. I was explicitly instructed on my first day never to approach anybody for an autograph — it’s the ultimate ESPN faux pas. Nevertheless, there was the occasional athlete walking around, there for an interview or a tour.

And you do not fully appreciate how big someone like Giants defensive end Justin Tuck or former Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington is until you see him in person. Nor do you appreciate how impeccably dressed Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel always is (even in the humid July heat).

I saw just about every SportsCenter and TV personality. They go to the cafeteria and work out in the fitness center just like the other employees. Anchor John Anderson likes to stare at himself while he's on the treadmill. Linda Cohn is more a fan of the StairMaster.

That doesn’t mean all ESPN employees aren’t awestruck every now and again. One of my coworkers, a Chicago Bulls fan, had only this to say to Joakim Noah in our cafeteria’s salad line: “I can’t wait to watch you slam dunk this year.” Who still says "slam dunk"?

The highlight of my summer was when New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and wide receiver Randy Moss came to visit. We went to a bar afterward, and between shots of Goose, a hoodie-clad Belichick explained how he fooled everybody with SpyGate and how he’d get his revenge this year after losing the Super Bowl. OK. I made that all up.