Give us an introduction about yourself. Where are you from, what is your major, and what do you write for us?
I am from Edison, NJ and I am pursuing a double major in human resources and sports journalism. I write about a mixture of topics, a lot about Rutgers sports and college football in general, but I have also written many articles on professional sports teams and leagues. I tend to take a national look at sports when I write articles for Sports Radio America, in addition to articles about Rutgers and New York sports teams.
Photo Cred: Arnav Sarkar
1. What got you into sports writing and radio work?
It has been a dream of mine since I was little to call games on television, but I didn’t know how I would go about pursuing that until I joined the Rutgers radio station, WRSU Sports. Since then, I have had the opportunity to call games for the radio as well as participate in a sports talk show known as the WRSU Crew, which I also really enjoy. The experience has opened me to other avenues within sports journalism, including starting my own sports podcast called SportsVibe. I also got to join this internship at Sports Radio America, where I enjoy writing articles on topics that interest me.
2. What is your favorite sport and why?
My favorite sports are football and basketball. I like watching football because there’s excitement in every play, I root intensely for my team (and against my rivals), and I enjoy learning about the intricate details of the game. I also enjoy basketball, as I’ve been an avid NBA fan for many years. I enjoy the skill level of the basketball players being put on display. I also enjoy watching college basketball and even playing basketball in my free time in my neighborhood. Although I’m not the best hooper, I am known for my ability to shoot three-pointers well!
3. What sports moment resonates with you the most?
The Odell Beckham Jr. one-handed catch against the Cowboys resonates with me the most. I was not the biggest football fan before watching that game. After seeing that, I became much more interested in watching the NFL weekly and following the Giants, who were already my favorite NFL team. I was amazed by the display of athleticism shown by OBJ on the catch and have always thought he was a truly special player. I am enjoying seeing him making a career resurgence with the Ravens after recovering from an ACL tear in the Super Bowl with the Rams.
4. Who are your top five favorite artists?
My top five artists are: Eminem, Drake, Jack Harlow, 21 Savage, and Kendrick Lamar. My favorite genres are hip-hop and pop, although I tend to listen to mainstream pop when I’m driving. I tend to enjoy anything that plays on the local pop stations as well. My favorite playlist on Spotify is RapCaviar, which represents my taste in rap music pretty well.
5. What would be your idea of a dream job?
Ideally, I would be a play-by-play announcer on Sundays for NFL football on national television. That was what I envisioned when I wanted to pursue a career in sports journalism. I would also enjoy doing play-by-play for an NFL or NBA team, doing a sports talk show on a network like ESPN or Fox Sports, or even being a studio analyst covering pregame, halftime, and postgame for a team or network.
6. Name the best places you’ve traveled to within and out of the state you’re from.
Within New Jersey, I enjoy going to the beaches and water parks. Some of my favorites are Keansburg Amusement Park and Waterpark, Hurricane Harbor, and Morey’s Piers in Wildwood. Wildwood has always been a fun mini-vacation spot for me. Outside of New Jersey, I have enjoyed trips to Alabama, Las Vegas, and California. I even got to visit Acadia National Park in Maine. Closer to home, trips to Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City are always fun.
Lastly, how can people follow you on social media?
You can follow me on Instagram at @arnavsarkar_ and on X (formerly Twitter) at @arnavcsarkar, where I regularly post about sports on both accounts. You can also follow my podcast SportsVibe, which posts episodes weekly to YouTube and Spotify.
