Episode 78: ESPN Content Producer Paul "Hembo" Hembekides

Are you a certifiable Sports Dork? If so, then you’re in for a treat with this episode of The K.P. Wee Podcast. Featuring Paul Hembekides – or “Hembo,” as he’s known around ESPN – the stats, history, and data points are coming fast and furious. A content guru whose research nuggets are showcased regularly on the ESPN morning show “Get Up!”, Hembo is giving us a peak into the new book he has written with his ESPN radio co-host Mike (#Greeny) Greenberg: "Got Your Number: The Greatest Sports Legends and the Numbers They Own." 

Join K.P. and his special guest host, sports business consultant Jason Takefman, for a nonstop tour of the sports world’s most significant numbers from 1 to 100 – who owns which, why and from what arena? You’ll learn how working in the industry changes your fandom (which it definitely does, but not necessarily for the worse) and the “excruciating” decisions Hembo and Greeny had to work through in making tough calls sure to stir controversy. Consider numbers like #7 or #4 or #21 and the overlap in how they’ve defined careers across professional sports and teams. It’s all up for debate! Sports dorkery doesn’t get much purer than this – or more fun!

Ready to see where your favorite numbers shake out? Click here to learn more about and purchase Hembo’s new book, "Got Your Number: The Greatest Sports Legends and the Numbers They Own." 

And visit this link if you would like to check out The K.P. Wee Podcast archives and listen to previous episodes. 

If you’re a fan of this podcast’s intro music, please follow Roger Chong: Twitter @chongroger and Instagram @chongroger.

KEY TOPICS:

• Making It Happen: Hembo recalls how his co-author Mike “Greeny” Greenberg lit the fire (and the two easily netted a publisher) for their joint effort, "Got Your Number: The Greatest Sports Legends and the Numbers They Own." 

• Hembo’s Favorite Thing About the Book: There are 100 chapters but only 56 are occupied by an athlete’s jersey because the authors also pegged numbers that represent records (like Wilt Chamberlain’s 100), years (like ‘72 for the Dolphins) as well as rivalries, car numbers and an important distance (a legendary marathon winner).

• Keeping It Honest: While researching the book, Hembo stayed focused on compiling an objective historical record that was unbiased towards his personal favorites.

• In Pursuit of Joy: Why Hembo feels it’s important to keep sports in perspective as what they are – something meant to be savored and enjoyed!

• On the Job Learning: Being immersed in the world of sports has actually prompted Hembo to take the whole thing less – not more – seriously. He sees it for what it is!

• The Greatest Thing Ever: How watching the Phillies’ Rhys Hoskins bat a magical homerun took Hembo back to the “guttural glee” of childhood.

• Never Quite the Same: For all the dopamine rush of his experience working in sports, there is an undeniable change in Hembo’s relationship to fandom. Not better or worse. Just different.

• The Numbers Game: About weighing (and debating) who got to own which numbers (like #21, #4, #11) in which sports and why.

• Navigating the Publishing Process: The level of granularity and density of information in Hembo’s work insulates him against too much tampering on the part of copy editors.

• Favorite Chapters:

• • For Jason, Chapter 8: Because it was so wrong! Cal Ripken Jr. owns that number! (There’s a backstory as to how the authors settled on Kobe Bryant.)

  • For K.P., Chapter 26: Because it was a non-jersey-related choice that felt refreshing, surprising and interesting!

  • For Hembo: Chapter 56: Stands out because it was the most excruciating, choosing between Joe DiMaggio and Lawrence Taylor. “It makes the book so fun!”

• Check out Hembo’s book, which is brand new this spring, at this link. Perfect for the sports nerd in your life!

KEY QUOTES:

• “I really made my bones in this business as a researcher, as a numbers guy, as a stats and information person.” (Hembo)

• “It’s not just an athlete owning a number in terms of a jersey number. There’s also seasons in there, number of sports championships and titles.” (K.P.)

• “To me sports is very intimate … People’s fandom is very different. I’m a believer in the integrity and sanctity of people’s fandom.” (Jason)

• “Sports are meant to be a joy and they serve no other purpose … Ultimately sports don’t really matter. Sports are trivial and if you can’t enjoy (them), then what’s the point?” (Hembo)

• “Sports are a great place to work but just know that – if you do – your fandom is going to change. It doesn’t necessarily mean your fandom is going to suffer, but it does mean that your fandom is going to change.” (Hembo)

• “You’re in the Sports Dork Society … and I 100% believe in you. I am also a Sports Dork and appreciate the work and thought that goes into (your research).” (Jason)

About Our Guest Co-Host:

Jason Takefman provides consulting services in the areas of Sports Management, Representation, Sponsorship and Advisement. His expertise includes TV/Media Contract Investment, Negotiation, & Management; Event Marketing; Local, National, and Global Media Buying; Acquisition; Ticket Sales & Ops; and Community Relations. Jason also invests in and advises small start-ups focused on developing tech platforms for customer service and sports.

Follow Our Co-Host:

LINKEDIN | TWITTER

About Our Guest:

Paul is a content producer at ESPN for the morning show “Get Up!” as well as a co-host on ESPN’s #Greeny radio program. Previously an athletic communications assistant at La Salle University, where he obtained a Master of Arts in education, Paul was also a sports information intern at his alma mater, Cedarville University. Most recently he has co-authored (with Mike Greenberg) "Got Your Number: The Greatest Sports Legends and the Numbers They Own." 

Follow Our Guest:

LINKEDIN | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

About K.P. Wee:

K.P. Wee is the author of multiple books and a regular contributor to sports radio programs and websites. In addition to hosting The K.P. Wee Podcast, he also enjoys writing sports and psychological fiction with a twist of romance. He spent a decade working as a program developer and instructor for a private school before joining the Vancouver Canadians baseball club’s media relations department.

You can find out more about books by K.P. Wee here.

Follow K.P. Wee:

K.P. @Twitter

Additional episodes of the K.P. Wee Podcast are available here.