Meet the Mike & Mike Staff

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Radio

Liam Chapman - Producer II
Time at ESPN: Started in February 2002
College: University of Connecticut
Hometown: West Hartford, Connecticut (but born in England)
Favorite Teams: Liverpool and England soccer

Curt "Joaquin" Kaplan - Associate Producer II
About Curt: Not much can be said about the man they call Joaquin on Mike & Mike (mostly because we have to keep the language clean). He has been the sound artist on the program since November 2000, and is at least partially to blame for the presentation of the "Stone Cold Lead Pipe Locks" that are heard on every NFL Friday. Prior to working at ESPN, the artist known as Joaquin worked at and was subsequently fired from every decent rock 'n' roll station in Hartford. Joaquin was a NASCAR official from March of 1989 until May 2011, mostly working with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, but also helping out with Cup, Truck and Nationwide Series when they were running at the same tracks. A music enthusiast, Joaquin has worked for many years in order to become a marginal percussionist and an exceptionally sloppy guitarist.
Odd notes: Joaquin used to mow cemeteries and dig graves for the family business as a summer job. He cannot see through time, but often claims to. He actually only has a fourth-grade education (now you understand why those bits are so bad). His only real goal for working at ESPN Radio is to get a T-shirt from every single Mike & Mike affiliate. He once fell asleep in a meeting even after having 38 cups of regular coffee. He can play the "1812 Overture" on his neck. He has a dream of owning an ice cream truck with human skulls on it. He was an assistant coach for a high-school hockey team.

Scott Shapiro - Program Director II
About Scott: Scott has been on the Mike & Mike team since February 2006. He served as the producer of the show for a number of years before joining the managerial ranks, where he now oversees the programming for both Mike & Mike and The Herd with Colin Cowherd. Scott, who Greeny and Golic frequently refer to as "The Gnome," is a diehard Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves and Gophers fan having grown up in Minneapolis. He graduated cum laude from Emory University in Atlanta with a business degree in finance and consulting. Follow Scott on Twitter.

Research

Kristen Balboni - Researcher
Time at ESPN: I started at ESPN in June 2011 and was lucky enough to begin working on Mike & Mike in August of that year
College: UNC-Chapel Hill (go Heels!)
Hometown: Pinehurst, North Carolina
Favorite Teams: Boston Red Sox, Carolina Panthers and my North Carolina Tar Heels (of course)
Nickname: Balbiz (according to Liam and Greeny) or Bones (according to Stats and Golic)
More from Kristen: I can do the worm and I once won a trip to Hawaii. I swear.

Television

Seth Horwitz - Producer
Meet Seth: I have been a part of the TV side of Mike & Mike since the simulcast began in 2004. It has been very cool to see the show grow in so many ways. Proof of how big the show is can be found in the prime parking spot I get every day at 3 a.m. I'm a transplanted Chicagoan and I still hold true to those sports loyalties. Couldn't have picked a better time to come of age than during the Bulls' championship runs of the '90s and the Bears' dominance in Super Bowl XX. As for the Cubs... I've been at ESPN since 2000 when I started as a 21-year-old prodigy. Feel free to follow me on Twitter.

Brian Albon - Associate Director
Meet Brian: I came to ESPN from New Haven's WTNH-8 in 2006 and have worked on College GameDay during football season since 2009. I had the pleasure to start directing Mike & Mike in February. My wife Dawn and I have two beautiful daughters, Skyler Marie and Ayla Rae. I graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 2000 with a degree in communications. I grew up in Connecticut and became a fan of the New York Yankees and the New York Giants at a very young age. My brother Keith is such a diehard Giants fan that he named his second son Eli. I grew up idolizing Don Mattingly, which made the 1996 World Series win bittersweet. My favorite sporting moment was Game 3 of the 2001 World Series when President Bush threw out the first pitch. Bush became the first sitting president to throw out a first pitch in the World Series since Eisenhower in 1956 (yes, I looked that up). It was an amazing moment. The entire stadium was shaking.

Kristal Messier - Graphics Developer
Meet Kristal: I am proud to say that I had the opportunity to launch the TV simulcast when it started in 2004. I am also one of the select few here at ESPN to say that I was born and raised in Bristol and have watched ESPN grow from the beginning. I majored in television production at ECSU and started working at ESPN right out of college in 2003. I enjoy watching all sports, but my loyalty will always reside with the Red Sox and Patriots. In my spare time, you will generally find me at my house tending to my garden, scrapbooking, running or doing yoga. I love the outdoors and enjoy hosting parties and cooking for the family.

Courtni Regan - Production Assistant
College: University of Iowa
Hometown: Durant, Iowa
Favorite Teams: Iowa Hawkeyes, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bulls and Chicago Cubs
More from Courtni: I came to ESPN in February 2011 and joined the Mike & Mike crew in October. As you could guess, I absolutely love sports. Growing up in Iowa, it is all about the Hawkeyes. Tailgating for football games with my family and fellow Iowa fans is one of my favorite things to do. Best food with the best people! My first shock and awe celebrity sighting at ESPN was Magic Johnson, who is a very nice and friendly guy. When I'm not at work, I love to spend time with family and friends, watch and play sports, grill, snowboard, volunteer and do anything outside (especially golf)! Follow me on Twitter.

Adam Bauer - Production Assistant
Meet Adam: I hail from Simsbury and love my Giants, Yankees, Rangers and Knicks. I absolutely hate long walks on the beach (and long walks in general). I am a graduate of Hamilton College, where I majored in theatre (really). I usually spend my spare time watching sports, hanging out with friends and playing PS3, golf, company softball and whatever else I might find enjoyable. You can follow me on Twitter. Your life may or may not depend on it depending upon who you ask.

Emily Keene - Production Assistant
College: University of Tennessee
Hometown: North Muskegon, Michigan
Favorite Teams: University of Tennessee Volunteers, University of Michigan Wolverines, Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings
More from Emily: Although I may seem extremely bipolar in terms of my favorite teams, it's with good reason. I grew up in Michigan, attended college in Tennessee and then spent three years in Chicago, where I attended broadcasting school and interned for ESPN 1000 and CBS Sports. The good news about following so many teams: even though one of my favorites is struggling, there are usually others who are knocking it out of the park. The bad news: it's rough when it's Chicago vs. Detroit or Big Ten vs. SEC. I joined ESPN in October 2010 and I love it! Every day is different - always something new and exciting. I was lucky enough to become a member of the amazing Mike & Mike team in January 2012 - which, believe it or not, is every bit as much fun as it looks! Everyone has been absolutely great to work with. My favorite project so far has been "Greeny: The Dance." Total craziness! Besides sports, I am most interested in animals (dogs, cats, horses, goats - you name it!). I currently have a very large rescue dog named Rusty and a pug named Bogey who are the loves of my life! In my spare time, I enjoy hiking with them, golfing and playing tennis (without them!) and traveling to visit my great friends and family all over the country. You can follow me on Twitter.

Dave Froias - Studio Video Operator
College: New England Institute of Technology
Hometown: Warren, Rhode Island
Years at ESPN: Over 15
Favorite teams: Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots
More from Dave: I was born and raised in Rhode Island and have been with ESPN since I was 20. Just walked in to drop a resume off and had the job a few weeks later. I am also a volunteer wrestling coach at a high school in Connecticut.

Craig O'Brien - Editor
Meet Craig: A 2005 graduate of Marist College, I arrived at ESPN in October of that year. Since 2007, I have been with the Mike & Mike staff, working most notably on the "Stone Cold Lead Pipe Locks" during every football season. I am a native of Walpole, Massachusetts who is a diehard Patriots fan, enjoys bad television programming and listens to all sorts of music.

Paul Ryan - Editor
Favorite teams: Slipstream (Garmin-Barracuda) and Boston Red Sox
More from Paul: I work on the "Stone Cold Lead Pipe Locks" with Craig O'Brien and create various other animations on the TV side. My sport of choice is triathlon (all distances, but mostly half-Ironmans). Working at 4 a.m. for Mike & Mike means plenty of time for bike riding in the afternoons. Despite what Golic says, I have not been banned for doping. Vive le Tour!

Mo Williams - Associate Operator (Hard Camera and Jib)
College: Saint Paul's in Lawrenceville, Virginia
Favorite teams: New York Mets, Dallas Cowboys, Florida Gators and Los Angeles Lakers
More from Mo: I have been at ESPN since 1998 and was born and raised in Bristol. I love playing PS3 and pool and my favorite dish is surf 'n' turf.

Digital

Frank Dale - Assistant Editor, ESPNRadio.com
Time at ESPN: Since September 2008
College: The George Washington University
Favorite teams: New York Yankees, New York Giants, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, George Washington Colonials, Notre Dame Fighting Irish football and Everton
More from Frank: Follow me on Twitter.

Mums

Liam's Mum - Contributor
Years at ESPN: None
Favorite teams: Brewers
Favorite ballpark: Busch Stadium
Favorite NASCAR driver: Clint Bowyer (formerly sponsored by Jack Daniels)
Hobbies: Knocking back some pints and Twitter.

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