Behind the Mike: Kusnierek is the 'eyes and ears' of the Brewers

She goes extra mile to amp up FSN's in-game coverage

Mike Lucas  —  8/23/2008 5:17 pm

On her long-distance runs, Trenni Kusnierek had time to think about the direction her broadcasting career was taking. Maybe too much time, since she had just walked from one job -- with Fox Sports Net in Pittsburgh -- without another job in hand, or sight. "It was scary," she admitted.

When Kusnierek returned to Milwaukee to be closer to family and friends, she had no idea that everything would fall into place and she would resurface as the in-game reporter on the FSN Wisconsin telecast of the Brewers. "I didn't know the job would even be available," she said.

What she did know was that she needed a timeout, a break from the routine. So, she took one. "I've been working since I was 15 years old -- and I've been working in television since I was 19," said Kusnierek, a graduate of Muskego High School and Marquette University. "The break was nice."

During this interlude, she lived at home with her parents and did some freelance work for the Big Ten Network and the NFL Network, though it was inconsistent. That added to her anxiety whenever she was alone with her thoughts, or running.

She runs marathons.

"It's where I do a lot of my thinking," said Kusnierek, whose personal best is 3 hours and 25 minutes over a 26.2-mile course. "It's a great way for me to clear my head. Running has helped me focus and realize that if you can get through a marathon, you can get through a lot of things."

Especially if you're committed to getting up at 5:30 a.m. for a training run of whatever distance or difficulty. "It helps me understand the dedication of being an athlete a lot more," Kusnierek said. "It also helps me believe that I can accomplish something like that if I put my mind to it and train."

Kusnierek learned to fend for herself while evolving as a reporter with FSN Pittsburgh. She covered the Penguins, Pirates and Steelers. She was also exposed to Penn State, West Virginia and Pitt football during her five years in the market. It was an ideal training ground. "It forced me out of my comfort zone," she conceded.

Previously she had worked behind the camera for less than one year in Eau Claire and for two years as an anchor/reporter at WDJT-TV (Ch. 58) in Milwaukee. She also served as a field producer and weekend assignment editor for WISN-TV (Ch. 12), while she was still going to school and developing her interests.

"I had always been around familiar teams and familiar faces," said Kusnierek, 31, who grew up as an unabashed Brewers fan. "I learned how to be a better reporter in Pittsburgh, and how to be a better people person, too, because I didn't have the creature comforts of being home. I wouldn't trade my time there for anything."

It was during Kusnierek's first stint in Milwaukee that she crossed paths with the person who would become her mentor -- Lesley Visser, the ground-breaking journalist/sportscaster. Visser has covered every major event, and opened doors for female reporters like Kusnierek.

"If I have a question about the business, or I need to know how to go about something or whether it's appropriate, I'll e-mail her and she'll respond right away," Kusnierek said. "Once you meet Lesley, it's like you've been friends forever. There are not a lot of people like her in our business."

Whereas Visser is more likely to quote from Nora Ephron than Bill Belichick, Kusnierek is more likely to expound on the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi than the ramblings of Ozzie Gillen. Kusnierek's favorite quote -- "You must be the change you wish to see in the world" -- speaks to that mind-set.

Another Gandhi quotation -- "I want freedom for the full expression of my personality" -- may best describe the thinking behind FSN's in-game access to some Brewer pitchers, and how Kusnierek has gone about establishing her credibility in the dugout. "I just try to be me," she said.

To this end, she can see the advantages of being a female sportscaster in a male-dominated profession. "I may ask a question that a guy wouldn't think to ask because he may think it's too simplistic," she said. "I just think our minds work a little differently."

More than anything, Kusnierek understands the inherent barriers to her job. "You can't force anybody to like you," she said. "And you can't force anyone to accept that you know what you're talking about (without proof). Hopefully, they notice and realize I really like baseball and I know and understand the game."

You can't help but notice Kusnierek's fundamental reporting skills and knowledge of baseball. "I'm kind of the eyes and the ears of the team," she said of her role. "I'm there to help make the broadcast better, along with helping make the Brewers a better product in Milwaukee."

Mike Lucas  —  8/23/2008 5:17 pm