CBS Sports host James Brown and CBS News Specials Producer Alvin Patrick ’86 in conversation with Dr. Keith Strudler

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (Jan. 20, 2017) – The Marist College Center for Sports Communication will present on Monday, February 6, three time Emmy Award winning sports broadcaster James Brown in conversation with center Director Dr. Keith Strudler. Brown will discuss his rise to the top of the sports and media landscape, including hosting one of television’s most iconic NFL broadcasts. The event will take place at 5 p.m. in the Nelly Goletti Theatre in the Murray Student Center and is free and open to the public. 

Brown is one of the nation’s most accomplished and essential sports broadcasters, giving voice and perspective to our most important moments in sports. He is the current host of The NFL Today on CBS, Thursday Night Football aired on CBS and NFL Network and Inside the NFL on Showtime. Among his previous broadcasting roles were co-hosting Fox NFL Sunday, working as a correspondent for Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO, and hosting a nationally syndicated radio show on Sporting News Radio.

Beyond his broadcasting career, Brown is also an accomplished author and sports entrepreneur. He is the author of his book and memoir Role of a Lifetime: Reflections on Faith, Family and Significant Living. He is a co-founder and principal of the Brown Technology Group, a certified minority-owned and operated information technology company, and is a founding partner of the Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals. Brown is also a partner with FullCircle Intermedia, a company that assists athletes and entertainers in developing their brand to ensure long-term success.

According to Dr. Strudler, Brown is truly a legend and role model for those in and outside of sports media.

"I am incredibly excited that James Brown will speak with our community," said Strudler. "He is smart, engaging, and one the absolute best in history of this business. We are truly fortunate to have him here."

Brown has received countless honors, including most recently received the 2016 Pete Rozelle Radio-TV Award by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which recognizes "longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football," and  "The Uncommon Award" from Tony Dungy for his "uncommon leadership through character and faith." An ordained minister, Brown is a 1973 graduate of Harvard University, where he was a three-time All-Ivy selection in basketball and captained the team as a senior.

Brown will be joined on stage by Alvin Patrick '86, Specials Producer for CBS News. There, he produces stories across all CBS News platforms – including 60 Minutes, Evening News, Sunday Morning and CBS This Morning, all where he partners with James Brown. Patrick is a 28-year veteran of broadcast, digital and cable network television, having worked at the top of the industry, including CBS, ABC, HBO, MTV and ESPN. Patrick was Executive Producer of ESPN’s First Take (formerly Cold Pizza) from 2005 to 2009. In 2015, Mr. Patrick received the Marist College Distinguished Alumni Medal.

Dr. Strudler will moderate the discussion with Brown and Patrick. They will discuss topics ranging from their rise to the top of the sports media ecosphere to the future of the NFL. The discussion will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.