Hewlett Native, Veteran NBC Sports Producer, Reflects On Career

HEWLETT, NY — For almost 30 years, Doug Safchik's work was seen by millions. He was a producer at NBC Sports, winning a dozen Emmy Awards along the way.

But for Safchik, it all started in Hewlett.

"[It was a] unique scenario where my parents divorced and both of them ended up living in different parts of Hewlett," Safchik, a guest on Tuesday's "Patch AM," said.

While splitting time with his parents, his future wife grew up next door in Woodmere.

"We met in 7th grade at the famous Woodmere Middle School," he said.

The high school sweethearts would marry in 1995.

Safchik, despite moving from Long Island, keeps ties to the homefront, as his mother remains in the same Hewlett condominium for 40 years.

Proud as a Peacock

Throughout his career, Safchik was on the biggest sports stage-- the Super Bowl, the Olympics, NBA Finals.

"It's great to be recognized, but it really means more to my family members than it does to me," he said about receiving accolades.

Over the years, Safchik was in the control room truck as some of the great sportscasters took the air. Marv Albert, the longtime Knicks announcer, did NFL games and is most remembered at NBC for being the lead voice of the NBA.

"[He was] a terrific guy. When you're in the presence of someone like Marv, you are in the presence of a legend."

Albert retired from calling games on Turner's TNT last year.

Safchik also worked with Albert's son Kenny, a versatile play-by-play announcer in his own right.

His favorite memory of legendary sportscaster Al Michaels was when he was charged with producing a 40th anniversary of the "Miracle on Ice" game with Michaels and Mike Tirico.

"Al Michaels was so wonderful for this special. It's one of the things I'm most proud of," he recalls.

Olympic Bombing

While Safchik has been at some of the most exciting moments in sports, he'll never forget covering his first Olympics in 1996 for a different reason.

It was in Atlanta and his wife joined Safchik (prior to having children) on the trip. She waited for him to return to the hotel for a late dinner.

"She had NBC local on; I said to her 'Do me a favor, either turn the TV off or put something else on. I'm Olympic'ed out,'" he said.

As they sat eating room service, they heard an explosion.

"Our hotel actually shook," Safchik said.

Although he heard sirens when he opened the balcony, a tired Safchik chose to go to bed. His wife also tried to allay fears, claiming it was nothing.

Due to a lack of technology in 1996, news did not spread as it would today.

The next morning, Safchik grabbed the shuttle bus to the International Broadcast Center, where he immediately noticed heightened security.

At the conference room for NBC sports, Safchik found personnel frantic.

"And I didn't understand what was going on."

Only when someone told Safchik that a bombing took place the night before, was he able to connect the deadly dots.

"After that moment, the Games changed forever," he said.

Watch the full "Patch AM" interview with Safchik below.