Natalie Kane has become a fixture in the Twin Cities when it comes to sports and entertainment. So much so that at the beginning of 2011, she started as the traffic and entertainment reporter for WCCO television. How did her first year go for her at WCCO? What kinds of challenges did she face having to do early morning television? How has the transition to her new responsibilities gone for her? As someone that has done a number of things on TV and radio,  does she think that doing a variety of things has benefited her in her career, and should others do the same? Find out her answers with PART 1 of her video interview.

In PART 2 of Natalie’s interview, she will share how she was able to move forward in being a Minnesota Timberwolves dancer, to doing radio and TV work. She’ll then talk about how she feels about doing radio, as opposed to doing TV work, and then she’ll end with talking about growing up and if she played sports at all.

In PART 3  of the interview with Natalie Kane, she shares her fashion sense, where she’d like to travel to, and finally, how she navigates around the Twin Cities.

The WNBA Minnesota Lynx are in the 2011 Finals. They have had a great season with their No.1 picks in the draft really shinning and showing their value on the court. What do we know about them? Who helps them to look and sound good off and on the court? Here is a list of Twitterview that I’ve been fortunate enough to conducted with some of them. Learn about what makes this team “tick”.

July 7, 2011 – Twitterview with Rebekkah Brunson – CLICK HERE

April 12,2011 – Twitterview with Candice Wiggins – CLICK HERE

Sept 19, 2011 – Twitterview with Alan Horton (Radio voice of the Lynx) – CLICK HERE

July 28,2010 – Twitterview with David Sherman (Lynx Photographer) – CLICK HERE

Hello everyone! Welcome to today’s Twitterview of @LynxRadio (Alan Horton) voice of the @WNBA @MinnesotaLynx! Lets play!

Q – #1    Before we talk about you @LynxRadio, have you ever had a season that you’ve been more surprised by then this year? #LosLynx

Alan:    I’m surprised that they’ve been as dominant as they’ve been. Seems like every few weeks they’re setting WNBA records!

Alan:   Right from a chat on lynxbasketball.com to a twitterview ! Let’s do this ! Follow at #jectv #loslynx

Q – #2    It seems like no one player is the dominant force, it’s more of a team with balanced strengths. Who has surprised you?

Alan:    LW MVP play, SA regaining form, RB’s rebounding, Maya’s raw ability…all surprising how good they’ve been together

Q – #3    What kind of game are you expecting tonight when the @MinnesotaLynx play the @SASilverStars? #LosLynx

Alan:    4 meetings avg score has been 72-66. Lynx would love to get it more up-tempo but SAN has 4th ranked defense.

I actually think it will be more high-scoring, #loslynx will feed off a big crowd tonight.

Q – #4     Up-tempo is certainly fun to watch! As far as tickets go, are there still any available? #LosLynx

Alan:    Yes, but lower bowl are going fast, close to 10,000 expected tonite. #loslynx are fun to watch, good offense & defense

Q – #5    Where can we listen to you, is the game televised and what time does the game start?

Alan:    8pm. On radio BOB 106.1 FM (Twin Cities) & AM 1260 KDUZ (Hutchinson) online w/ LiveAccess on lynxbasketball.com

and our broadcast is also being carried on @NBATV (check your local listings) #loslynx

@JoelECarlson:    WOW! The @WNBA No.1 team’s 1st playoff game is not televised on @ESPN or @FSNorth. Travesty! Good to get a ticket!

Alan:    @FSNoth has Twins game, @ESPN2 probably has football…Sunday’s game will be on @ESPN2 at 4pm.

Getting proper playoff coverage is an issue for @wnba, especially when regular season goes into mid-Sept.

@JoelECarlson:    @LynxRadio @FSNorth would get MUCH BETTER ratings with the @MinnesotaLynx right now than the Twins. Put the Twins online. #ProductionIdea

Q – #6    So a little bit about you. Where did you grow up, where did you attend school and how did you get into broadcasting?

Alan:    Grew up in Clarksburg. MA (pop. 1,686) located in Berkshire Mtns. High School at Mt. Greylock in Williamstown, MA.

Attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY & graduate work at Syracuse.

As a kid started broadcasting games in front of TV, then going outside & calling the action as we were playing.

Q – #7    Where did you first start broadcasting games and what teams have you covered? #LosLynx

Alan:    My 1st broadcasting experience was a local tennis tournament on TV & I learned very quickly the value of preparation.

That was in high school, then after Syracuse covered just about every sport at every level (SD Padres in ’06)

Q – #8    To close today, what advice would you give to aspiring sports broadcasters out there looking to succeed? #LosLynx

Alan:    I always stress making yourself as valuable as possible, learn to engineer, produce & work equipment, not just PBP

Thanks Joel, that was fun. Coming to a playoff game?

@JoelECarlson:    Thanks for your time and comments today. May you and the @MinnesotaLynx have a great night! #LosLynx in 2 games!

I’m going to try to make one.

Alan:    Stop by and say hello, I’ll be courtside. Thanks again.

@JoelECarlson:    Welcome to today’s Twitterview of @minnesotalynx starting Forward, @twin1532 (Rebekkah Brunson)!

Rebekkah:    hello everyone

Q – #1    To start off with @twin1532, how does it feel to be the Western Conference Player of the Month for June in the @wnba?

Rebekkah:    it feels amazing to have a great individual and team start and to be acknowledged for both

Q – #2    I’d imagine so! Congratulations! :)  Lets go back to the beginning. When did you first get interested in basketball?

Rebekkah:    Thank you!! I started playing organized when i was about 13. Before then I still enjoyed the game, just wasn’t focused in

Q – #3    I see. Did you have some favorite players that you enjoyed watching play basketball? Any good mentors or coaches?

Rebekkah:    I didn’t start watching the game until college!! But luckily I have encounters tons of good coaches n mentors

throughout college and am continuing to grow in the

Q – #4    Once you started playing organized games, did you ever have times when you wondered if you’d continue to play? Give up.

Rebekkah:    I used to say I would stop when it became a job lol. It is work but I realized even that didn’t take away the fun #jectv lol

Q – #5    Good perspective! So where did you play college ball, and how was the wnba draft night for you?

Rebekkah:    Georgetown!!! Draft night was unreal. I was able to sit and watch my dreams, and many others dreams come true!!

Q – #6    You were selected 10th by Sacramento in the @wnba draft. Had you ever been to SAC? How did your 6 seasons there go for you?

Rebekkah:    I had never been away from the DC metro area and was anxious about having to leave and travel to the west

but once I got there I fell in love. It has become a second home to me. I loved my 6 seasons there

Q – #7    Good for you. Now in 2009, you were part of a dispersal draft. Were you anxious again, or were you better at handling it?

Rebekkah:    by this time I have traveled all over the world. though I was sad,I was excited for a new situation and what lay ahead

Q – #8    Awesome! You were selected 2nd by the @minnesotalynx. How did the transition to MN go for you? How has your 2nd season been?

Rebekkah:    transition for all of us last year was a lil rough..but this year we have great chemistry

we are off to a great start. I have found my role and am being very successful

Q – #9    Being 2nd place in the West Conf shows the talent/chemistry! What have you worked at w/your game to grow/improve?

Rebekkah:    I’m doing the same things I have always done. I am rebounding n scoring when the opportunity presents itself

I also want to improve in being more consistently aggressive offensively

Q – #10    Great! We also need to get you some more All-Star votes too! :) Vote for @twin1532! What do you have going on SAT following the game?

Rebekkah:    yes keep voting. Saturdays game will honor a friend that passed untimely about two weeks ago.

there will be an auction n donation box for the Iczert Tate memorial fund. Theres also a silent auction on my FB page

Q – #11    What are some of the items that will be up for auction so people have an idea as to what’s avail? Where will it be held?

Rebekkah:    it will be at hubberts after the game. We have everything from Lauren Jackson signed shoes to autographed lynx gear

and also some exclusive Lisa Leslie limited edition signed shoes

Q – #12    That’s a very nice thing for you to do @twin1532! To end, how has it been playing with @MooreMaya this season for you?

Rebekkah:    it’s been gr8 playing w @mooremaya. She is an amazing teammate n fun to watch, but more import she’s an amazing person

@JoelECarlson:    I can imagine! Thank you @twin1532 for your time and comments today. I look forward to see you and the the @minnsesotalynx on 7/29!

Rebekkah:    Thanks for chatting with me

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone, and welcome to the Twitterview of @MNTimberwolves web-guy @JonahBallow. Lets get on the court!

@jonahballow – Good morning to everybody on this Twitterview!

Q – #1    So @JonahBallow, where did you grow up, where did you go to school and how did you end up with the @MNTimberwolves?

A: I’m from Denver, CO. Graduated from KU & joined the @MNTimberwolves after 4 yrs in Kansas City sports radio

Q – #2    I see. Now I need to ask this today, is their any concern regarding the #TargetCenter roof collapsing?

A: Ha! I think the #TargetCenter has a more sound structure

Q – #3    Whew, I don’t know how many road “home games” #MNsportsfans could take in 1 year.What/who got you interested in sports?

A: My father was the podiatrist for the Nuggets when I was a young child & I was instantly addicted to #NBA & sports

Q – #4    Fun! Now when you were at KU, what did you major in, and which sports did you cover?

A: Mainly broadcast journalism – starting w/ play-by-play of KU bball & fball but also focused on convergence

Q – #5    Having studied journalism, how did you learn about the internet/web design & social media?

A: The technical aspect of Web design / HTML intrigued me, so a KU friend taught me how to design & work w/ photoshop

Thanks to @liozzi, during my time w/ the #Twolves (3yrs) I started to learn more about social media & integration

Q – #6    So what are your duties with the @MNTimberwolves, and do you travel with the team as part of your work?

A: I create & manage Web content & co-host halftime on @WolvesRadio. I join the #Twolves on 1 road trip a month

Q – #7    How do you think the @NBA & their teams have taken to social media as a way to connect with fans? On the right track?

A: The @NBA is the best league (out of the big 3) @ social media interaction (over 2 million followers)

Not only is the @NBA on the right track but paving the way for other sports leagues & traditional media

The @NBA’s growth over the last couple of years is due in large part to its large presence on twitter & facebook

Q – #8    Right on! When it come to new technologies, how are the @MNTimberwolves using #iPads to help the players?

A: The VID coordinator loads up gm content on all the players/coaches personal #iPads, so they can watch on #Twolves plane

I need to figure out a way for the #Twolves to hook me up w/ an #ipad. Any thoughts?

Q – #9    Lets switch a little time to you. You favorite: restaurant, birck/mortar store, winter activity and gadget.

A: My favorite restaurant resides in Denver, CO – Sushi Den. I love going to Best Buy & my PS3 is my top gadget

Q – #10    Huge fan of the @MNTimberwolves, so I wish we could Tweet more, but to close…what advice or mantra could you share?

A: I think it’s essential for traditional media to embrace & change its process regarding sports coverage

Fans have become the analysts & should be integrated into more of the general sports coverage

Expect www.timberwolves.com to push the boundaries & offer the best multimedia of the #Twolves Thanks

@JoelECarlson – Thank you SO MUCH for your time and comments today @jonahballow! See how busy he is here -   http://www.youtube.com/user/mnwolves