would help to birth the Schmo. Schmulenson
became a publisher account manager, for USA
TODAY Sports Media Group. This was the
full-time gig in sports where his vision began
to unfold.
In early 2016, Schmulenson, who had a film-
making roommate, expanded on his earlier
attempts to make unique sports-themed
videos. One of his earliest declared that NFL
teams should draft him No. 1 in the 2015
draft. The videos were the infant stages of a
character that would develop into the Schmo.
Schmulenson had created his own blog, The
Schmozone, where he and some friends
created all sorts of content about weird and
funny sports stuff. Offered up to readers was a
wealth of content that was offbeat, interesting
and most of all entertaining. Schmulenson
wanted to do the same with his videos. His job
at USA TODAY helped him land many of his
future interviews.
Recent of appeance by Terrell Ownes for an off-beat interview.
see on traditional sports broadcasts. With
the addition of a stylish pair of yellow-tinted
glasses, The Schmo was born.
“The entire sports world
is changing,” said
Schmulenson. “Subscription
television is declining, and
the sports world now has
to cater to a very socially
A chance encounter in early mobile audience.”
2016 with former UCLA
Catering to sports lovers everywhere, in a
head football coach Rick
years’ time The Schmo has
Interviewing Adam Vinatieri,
Neuheisel on a Southwest
conducted over 60 interviews
Super Bowl LI.
and created 30 of The Schmo
Airlines flight opened the
door for The Schmo and the and The Pro broadcasts. He
has made appearances at the
Pro show.
Super Bowl, the Final Four,
Schmulenson interviewed Neuheisel at his
Manhattan Beach home. It was 15 minutes of
discussing Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Jim
Harbaugh’s recruiting methods, exuberant
handshakes, and even Neuheisel strumming
his six-string. About a month later, the
first The Schmo and The Pro show at the
Los Angeles USA TODAY Bureau featured
former L.A. Dodger Jerry Hairston Jr. Like
the interview with Neuheisel, The Schmo
talked sports but in a more humorous and
entertaining fashion than what you might
28
www.coachandplayer.com
and the Taste of Tennis in
New York. And it is just the
beginning.
The Schmo got together with
Mr. Irrelevant, Chad Kelly,
the final pick in this year’s
NFL Draft, for his celebration
of Irrelevant Week. He will
attend Shareece Wright’s
first annual youth football
camp and will cover the NBA
Summer League in Las Vegas
during the month of July.