COM Week 2014 Keynote Speaker: Phil Bedella

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a career in sports television? Phil Bedella, current vice president and general manager of Comcast Sports Television, visited Illinois State University during COM Week 2014 to tell students about his career, along with other professional advice and plenty of life lessons.

Bedella kicked off COM Week on Monday, April 14, as one of nine keynote speakers during the weeklong event. Bedella’s journey through the sports media industry has been an impressive one, and it all began when he was a student at ISU, writing for The Vidette and interning forRedbird Athletics.

Bedella attributes much of his success to his time at ISU, where he began to develop the writing skills and sports experience he still uses today. According to his mentor and current faculty member Tom Lamonica, Bedella has always been eager to learn and work hard, traits that motivated his fellow colleagues and co-workers.

“Work hard, hustle and the rest will fall into place,” Bedella told students.

He has definitely worked hard throughout his career, from humble beginnings as a sales associate with the Chicago Cubs to becoming one of the first people hired to the Comcast SportsNet team.

Bedella even shared a story of the one time he chose rest over going to a sports game, and missed out on meeting his favorite band, U2. The moral of the story? “Don’t sleep through opportunities.” This advice can apply to anyone starting out as a young professional because you have to take risks in order to reap the benefits.

As a current ISU student, I was inspired by Bedella’s journey and success. By attending ISU, getting involved and seeking opportunities to gain experience, he was able to become the major player in the sports media industry he is today. Despite his success, he never forgot his roots, and returned to his alma mater to inspire other ISU students to follow their dreams.


By Becca Williams