Amanda DeCastro

Communications Manager @amandadecastro

One of the newest employees to ESPN, I am a member of our Communications team where I spend my days with social media, promoting our emerging technologies group and espnW.

Whether it’s been on the field – or cheering from the stands, sports have always played an important part in my life. I’m a loyal University of Michigan fan even though my roots are set in Columbus, Ohio – where Ohio State football is a way of life.

Prior to joining ESPN, I spent a few years on the other side of TV in cable operations at Time Warner Cable and before that I served a variety of clients at one of the Midwest’s largest PR agencies.

I’m thrilled to now call the Worldwide Leader in Sports and Connecticut, my new home.

Recent Posts

posted by on April 30, 2013 1:25 PM

Nine for IX digital feature Coach wins ‘Best Documentary Short’ at the Tribeca Film Festival

NEED CAPTION (Getty Images)

The Nine for IX short film ‘Coach’ is about legendary Rutgers women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer, seen here embracing a player after her 900th career victory. (Getty Images)

ESPN Films and espnW recently took top honors in the “Best Documentary Short” category at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival for the Nine for IX digital short Coach.

(l-r) ESPN Films VP Connor Schell, espnW VP Laura Gentile, Nine for IX producer Libby Geist and ESPN Films EP John Dahl.

(L-R) ESPN Films VP Connor Schell, espnW VP Laura Gentile, Nine for IX producer Libby Geist and ESPN Films EP John Dahl. (Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ESPN Images)

The film, directed by Bess Kargman and executive produced by Whoopi Goldberg, chronicles the career of C. Vivian Stringer, one of the most prolific coaches in the history of college basketball. She was the first coach to lead three different schools to the NCAA Final Four (Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Iowa and Rutgers) and received basketball’s highest honor in 2009: induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, alongside Michael Jordan, John Stockton, Jerry Sloan and David Robinson. continue reading…

Filed in: ESPN Films, espnW

posted by on April 22, 2013 12:00 PM

ESPN’s Jane McManus returns from U.S. State Department exchange trip to Azerbaijan and Georgia

espnW’s Jane McManus attended an Azeri wedding during her travels to Azerbaijani. (Elvin Garayev)

ESPNNewYork.com reporter and espnW contributor Jane McManus recently traveled to Azerbaijan and Georgia as part of a U.S. State Department exchange trip. During her visit, she met with college students, journalists and sports teams as part of the Department’s ongoing initiative of empowering women in sports across the globe.

Front Row had the opportunity to speak with McManus following her return. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, espnW

posted by on March 29, 2013 8:00 AM

MLB Opening Weekend by the Numbers

Tim Kurkjian, Buster Olney, Karl Ravech, Pedro Gomez and Howard Bryant on the set of Baseball Tonight. (Joe Faraoni / ESPN Images)

Tim Kurkjian, Buster Olney, Karl Ravech, Pedro Gomez and Howard Bryant on the set of Baseball Tonight.
(Joe Faraoni / ESPN Images)

ESPN’s remote operations team has spent months in preparation for not only Opening Day on ESPN, but all of the 88 games that will be televised across ESPN’s networks this season.

Things get underway Sunday, as ESPN has the exclusive national telecast of MLB Opening Night as the Texas Rangers visit the Houston Astros in Houston’s American League debut (8 p.m. ET). continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, MLBonESPN

posted by on March 18, 2013 4:00 PM

Selection Monday: NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship Bracket unveiled on ESPN tonight; espnW provides extensive coverage

Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck will provide fans with in studio coverage.

Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck will provide fans with in-studio coverage.

ESPN tips off the madness of March as first-year host Kevin Negandhi unveils the 64-team NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship field exclusively during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Special beginning tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and WatchESPN. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on March 15, 2013 12:07 PM

In advance of The Incredible Burt Wonderstone’s debut, Steve Carell brings his magic to ESPN’s offices

Actor and comedian Steve Carell stopped by ESPN on Thursday for a Car Wash in promotion of his new movie The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, opening today nationwide.

Carell’s crowded schedule on the Bristol, Conn. campus included stopping by SportsCenter, where he channeled his inner Brick Tamland (from Anchorman) as he commented on “Top Plays” with anchors Sarah Walsh and Kevin Negandhi. He also broke “fake” news that, according to his “sources,” ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter has been sending out bogus Tweets.

In the Front Row video above, Carell talks about his ESPN visit, his sportscaster catchphrase (think Dick Vitale’s “That’s awesome, baby!”) and his ideal SportsCenter co-host.

Video produced by Tonya Malinowski.

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, SportsCenter

posted by on March 6, 2013 8:00 AM

ESPN and Full Sail University unveil new, state-of-the-art Sports Lab

ESPN and Full Sail University, an award-winning entertainment and media institution based in Winter Park, Fla., recently celebrated the two-year anniversary of the Full Sail University Sports Lab Powered by ESPN on the school’s campus, while embarking on their third year of partnership initiatives in 2013.

As part of the anniversary celebration, the team unveiled the new Full Sail University Sports Lab Powered by ESPN. The space is used to develop new technology enhancements including virtual applications, and to provide students at Full Sail University the opportunity to be mentored by ESPN’s Emerging Technology team to gain real-world experience.

“It is hard to believe we are embarking on our third year in collaboration with Full Sail University,” said Anthony Bailey, Vice President, ESPN Emerging Technology.

“Together we have been able to work on innovative projects that have provided Full Sail students hands-on experience in the television industry and our fans exciting production elements that bring them closer to the games they love to watch.”

The video above recaps the partnership and gives viewers an exclusive tour of the new Sports Lab facility. To see some other examples of ESPN and Full Sail’s collaborations, click here.

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on February 20, 2013 2:37 PM

ESPN Films and espnW’s Nine for IX documentary series focuses on female sports icons, issues

NEW YORK — Yesterday, ESPN Films and espnW announced the film slate for Nine for IX, a documentary series focused on captivating stories of women in sports told through the lens of female filmmakers.

The nine-part documentary series from the producers of 30 for 30 is executive produced by Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts, a former SportsCenter anchor, and Jane Rosenthal. ESPN President John Skipper and Rosenthal were hosts to an exclusive first look for media, filmmakers and other sports industry members.

“Storytelling about women in sports is an ongoing effort at ESPN, and after the recognition of Title IX last summer, the Nine for IX series is a perfect extension and partnership between espnW and ESPN Films,” said Libby Geist, associate director of development for ESPN Films.

“The series tells nine distinct stories by female filmmakers for all our fans, male and female.”

Nine for IX film topics include an intimate look at Pat Summitt, college sports’ most successful coach ever; the largely unknown history of Katarina Witt and her link with East Germany’s secret police; and the focus of sex in the marketing of female athletes. The series is scheduled to premiere on July 2 on ESPN and the films will air over consecutive Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m. ET.

Filed in: 30 for 30, ESPN Films, espnW

posted by on February 20, 2013 12:00 PM

I Follow: Sarah Spain

Sarah Spain (Allen Kee/ESPN Images)

Sarah Spain (Allen Kee/ESPN Images)

Editor’s note: I Follow is all about ESPN employees on Twitter: what they tweet, whom they follow and how you can interact socially with anyone and everyone.

Today we visit with Sarah Spain. She works for multiple ESPN platforms: Spain is an espnW columnist, a SportsCenter anchor for Chicago’s ESPNRadio 1000, and a reporter for ESPNChicago.com. She is an honors graduate of Cornell University, where she was a heptathlete and captain of the track and field team.

Twitter handle: @SarahSpain
Followers: 38,725
Following: 706
(*as of 2/20/13)

When did you join Twitter and why?
I joined in late 2008. I had just moved back to Chicago from LA and I was working at a start-up sports Web site. My bosses there urged us to check it out and I became pretty active on it almost immediately.

What’s your favorite Tweet you’ve received or your favorite Twitter moment?
Definitely two tweets I received from Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora after I wrote an espnW story that was critical of his continued use of the words “woman” and “girl” to insult other players. He wrote “@SarahSpain is absolutely correct in her article. I wasn’t thinking about it from that perspective. I apologize to any woman offended” and “@SarahSpain I always try and look at things from someone else’s perspective when it’s called to my attention. Your article is the truth.” I was so proud my article really made him think and his response got the piece picked up by several other outlets, further spreading a really important message that being a woman isn’t inherently wrong or inferior and words like “woman” and “girl” shouldn’t be interchangeable with “weak” or “less than.”

Explain your lighthearted approach to storytelling in your “That’s What She Said” series on espnW. continue reading…

Filed in: I Follow: Inside Twitter

posted by on January 25, 2013 12:15 PM

X Games snowboarder Kelly Clark shares her insights, approach with espnW

Editor’s note: A variety of X Games Aspen 2013 content from Buttermilk Mountain will be available live through Sunday across multiple platforms — television, smartphones, tablets, online, social media and more.

Just days before veteran snowboarder Kelly Clark hit the slopes of Winter X Games 2013, she sat down with espnW to reflect on how far she has come, and to talk about her hopes for this year’s competition.

XGames_Aspen_2013_CLR_Pos

In a career that has spanned more than 20 years, Clark has won two Olympic and seven X Games medals. She shared her insights in a blog post and video (see above) for espnW.

Clark has paved the way for female action sports athletes, and that’s one of the reasons espnW wanted to work with her.

“What is intriguing about Clark is her longevity, and she is still pushing the envelope — see last year’s Winter X — and still teaching athletes on and off the snow,” said Joy Russo, Deputy Editor, espnW.

Clark’s expected to be in the Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe Finals Saturday, airing 9 – 11 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN 3D and WatchESPN.

Throughout the X Games, espnW will have coverage from Aspen, including athlete features, The Word, videos, results, and the Cold List series (#ColdList).

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, X Games 2013

posted by on January 3, 2013 12:00 PM

Seeing and hearing BCS title games goes to new levels

Camera operator on the field of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome prior to the start of the 2012 Allstate BCS National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers.
(Phil Ellsworth / ESPN)

With Monday’s BCS National Championship Game (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio & ESPN 3D) now just four days away, ESPN is making significant strides through the use of audio and visual enhancements to ensure a superior experience for viewers and fans at home.

“Our Remote Operations team is already hard at work setting up the significant infrastructure required to support a game of this stature,” said Chris Calcinari, vice president of ESPN and ABC Sports remote operations. “Every enhancement being put in place is designed to improve the viewer experience; allowing them to see, hear and feel the event through the technology that we use.”

This year’s visual and audio enhancements — some of which were also used for the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl — include:

• ESPN deploying 39 (2D and 3D) cameras in total for the National Championship Game and studio coverage.
• Multiple high motion camera systems, eight robotic cameras, a steadi-cam and two jib mounted cameras.
• Use of SpiderCam, which made its college football return during the Rose Bowl production, and will be used again this coming Monday. Following its debut during college football last year, the four-point aerial camera (that can be piloted along an X, Y and Z axis), returns to college football after a season on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
• Audio enhancement which will be achieved by operating on a scale that more closely resembles a Monday Night Football production. Surround microphones will be added throughout the stadium, along with microphones in areas that will give the viewer an inside perspective, including mics deployed along with cameras in the parking lot, fan areas in the end zones, in the hallways outside player locker rooms, on the SpiderCam above the field and on jibs located near the stands. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes