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Behind the Mike: Commuting and communicating

Covering Brewers, Bucks no small task for Verona's Coshun

Mike Lucas  —  8/11/2008 4:26 pm

Craig Coshun followed the popular trend and cast his ballot for Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun, the second-leading vote-getter in the National League for the All-Star Game. Unlike millions of baseball fans who recognized Braun for his hitting skills, Coshun cited Braun for his communication skills.

Getting Braun on -- the air -- has been much easier than getting Braun out -- at the plate.

That would be Coshun's wheelhouse since the opening of Miller Park in 2001, when he began serving as the pregame host for the Fox Sports Network. Coshun's expanded role on the Brewer broadcasts now includes a post-game show and some "sideline" reporting for FSN Wisconsin.

The multitasking Coshun performs in the same capacities for the Milwaukee Bucks on FSN. Given the overlapping schedules -- the Brewers start in April and end in September (since 1982); the Bucks start in October and end in April (until further notice) -- Coshun is usually on call, on air.

How many days does he work every year? "I don't have a number," said Coshun, a team player in every sense. "But I'd just say most (days)."

While transitioning from one sport to another can be taxing, he's not complaining. "The challenge is more so on a personal level than a professional one," said Coshun, who has been commuting from his home in Verona to his various television assignments at Miller Park or the Bradley Center.

But that's changing. Coshun has finally decided to find a crib in downtown Milwaukee to cut down on the travel, especially since gas prices have been soaring and he wasn't getting reimbursed for his mileage. "Might as well stick the money into rent or a condo," he rationalized.

That's show biz, a reality for Coshun and his wife, Pam Tauscher, who established her own TV identity in Madison as a news anchor. Most recently, Tauscher worked at WISC/Ch. 3. But she walked away from the profession last summer so that she could spend more time at home with their two boys, John, 9, and Jake, 6.

Coshun and Tauscher got married while both were working for WMTV/Ch. 15. Coshun was the sports director for eight years before tiring of the grind. After pursuing a play-by-play career, and gaining some exposure in Big Ten football and basketball, he has found a solid niche on FSN with his even-keeled delivery.

From a historical perspective, the 44-year-old Coshun can not only document how far the Brewers have come since moving into Miller Park, but how far the telecasts have come, too. The pregame and postgame shows have tripled in number with the bonus coverage. The announcing teams have also expanded.

This season, Coshun and Trenni Kusnierek, the Brewers' sideline reporter, have been splitting the road trips. Coshun just returned from a 10-game, three-time-zone swing (Braves, Twins, Diamondbacks). Kusnierek will take the San Francisco-St. Louis roadie after the All-Star break. Coshun and Kusnierek have also been sharing a radio postgame gig on WTMJ in Milwaukee.

After concluding a recent TV postgame show with co-host Davey Nelson, a former Brewers coach, Coshun made a familiar run from the right-field corner of Miller Park, where the show is staged, to the WTMJ booth in the press box behind home plate. In transit, he got a cell call from his son, John, who updated him on his Little League results.

COSHUN has learned to enjoy life's simple pleasures -- like posing questions to an accommodating star, or All-Star. That would be Ryan Braun. "Without question, my favorite interview," Coshun said without hesitation. "He's very outgoing, and interested in people and things that are going on in the world. He can talk about any subject. Ryan is definitely a communicator."

Coshun related how after an off-day in Minneapolis, he crossed paths with Braun in the runway to the dugout some four hours before game time. "Ryan is all about asking, 'How are you doing? What did you do yesterday with your free time? How did you relax?' " Coshun recounted. "He's so down-to-earth."

Not every professional athlete-slash-millionaire is so engaging and genuinely interested in learning more about how the other side (media) functions and lives. "There are some guys who just don't have a whole lot of interest in saying hello, engaging you on their own or making eye contact," Coshun pointed out.

As a whole, he gave the Brewers high marks for their willingness to provide access and communicate -- especially in light of the high expectations and mounting pressure on the players. At that, Coshun is uncomfortable with the amount of booing that takes place at Miller Park.

"I've been to most of the ballparks, and they may boo here as much or more than anyplace else," Coshun said. "That has always bothered me. In my opinion, they have to rein it in a little bit. But I realize how hungry our fans are -- 26 years is a long time to wait for a pennant winner."

With the addition of CC Sabathia, the buck may finally stop here for the Brewers. Whether it does or not, Coshun will still move on to the Bucks when the time comes, juggling his schedule accordingly. His last family vacation, all of eight days, was last October. But he would be more than happy to take one for the team, so to speak, this October at Miller Park. Pam and the boys would understand.

Mike Lucas  —  8/11/2008 4:26 pm