Eckerd Alumnus Experiences History With Toronto Raptors

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It's not often that someone has a chance to be part of history, but that's exactly what Roven Yau '05 was able to experience.

Yau, who worked in as many roles as he could in the Eckerd athletics department during his time as a student, used that experience to earn a job with the newly-crowned NBA Champion Toronto Raptors as the Senior Manager of Basketball Communications.

Yau's journey in athletic communications took him from Eckerd to the University of Florida - working with athletes such as Joakim Noah, Ryan Lochte, Billy Horschel, and Tim Tebow - and eventually to Toronto where his duties include player interview requests, arena setup, game notes and publications, and visiting team logistics.

Yau was on press row for a series of historic moments just weeks ago, beginning with the first NBA Finals game to be played outside of the United States and ending with the first NBA Championship to be won by a team outside of the United States.  

Oh, and he sat directly behind and beside Drake during some of those games as well.

Sitting by Drake, working with Kawhi Leonard. Talk about your brushes with stardom.

Roven took a break from celebrating with the franchise to answer a few questions about his time at Eckerd, what it was like to be part of history, and what he finds most interesting about working alongside the world's elite basketball talent. 

EckerdTritons.com: What's the most interesting thing you've found about working in the NBA?
Roven Yau: The NBA has done a really good job of creating an environment that allows players to be themselves and it's reflected in the world-wide media coverage our teams receives. However, it also means having to manage 15 different personalities in the locker room on a daily basis. Every player has a different level of demand and interest when it comes to media, so you can't take a cookie cutter approach. Trust is the key ingredient – players can smell BS from a mile away – so you better understand how and when to approach a player and how to negotiate with them. It can be tricky at times, but I do enjoy learning the little nuances that make each player unique. It's also fun watching guys like Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and Kawhi Leonard grow in their ability to utilize the media and build relationships.  

EC: How did your experience at Eckerd prepare you for your career?
RY: We had an 'all-hands on deck' mentality during my time at Eckerd. There was no full-time Sports Information Director when I first started, but there were plenty of opportunities to help pitch in! I was eager to be part of a team, so whatever Jim Harley (the Athletic Director at the time) or anyone else needed, I saw it as an opportunity to build trust and experience. I would often help setup the McArthur Center on game days, ran every position on the score table, ordered pizzas for the visiting teams, filled water coolers and even helped with recruiting pitches.  I still carry that same philosophy in my role today – I want to be known as the most reliable and trustworthy person on staff. It's the best way to open doors for yourself!    

EC: As technology has rapidly changed over the last several years, how has that impacted your role?
RY: I would say the biggest impact is in the speed news and opinions can spread. We used to have 30-60 minute window to contain things (good or bad) but with the way technology has advanced everyone wants results instantaneously. Even something like in-game stats has taken on a new life because of technology speed. When Bill Thornton (the Tritons' long-time statistician) taught me, we had the ability to wait until the of games to make corrections. Now everything is online with fans watching as changes happen.
 
EC: What do you remember your most from your time at Eckerd?
RY: The people and friendships – those are the things that last. It was people I met at Eckerd that helped me through the challenging years and continue to encourage and inspire me today. Dean Annarelli, who was then the Director of Career Services, was the first meeting I had on campus. He planted the idea that even an Eckerd student could have a career in professional sports and helped get me started on the first steps. Professor George Meese helped sharpen my skills, particularly in writing and rhetoric and challenged me to be better. Bill Kelly, my mentor, kept things on track and was always there when I needed advice.         

Tom Ryan (Athletic Director), Bryan Galuski (Men's Basketball Coach) and Bill Buttner (Golf Coach) always had my back even when my car broke down at 3 a.m. They always reminded me I could do great things one day. We went on some amazing NCAA Tournament runs together, including the 2003 Elite Eight. I'm forever grateful they allowed me to come along for the ride and made me feel a part of the family. That was my first taste of a winning culture.

Another thing I remember fondly about Eckerd were the road trips. Things were simpler back then. I got to know so many athletes and coaches on a personal level just by being trapped on a bus for four hours and many are still my friends today. Back then there were no iPads or smart phones (just personal CD players), so we would talk or play cards - except the time the volleyball team caught me cheating!       

EC: How would you describe the environment for the first game of the finals in Toronto?
RY: That was an amazing night! Probably the most memorable during my 13 years in the NBA for several reasons. First it was incredible to be part of a historic event – the first NBA Finals game played outside of the United States. When the fans drowned out the singers during the Canadian anthem you could tell the atmosphere was going to be electric and the game lived up to the hype too. On a personal level it was special to see so many former players, coaches and employees that suffered through our franchise's lean years return for this occasion. I'm one of the lucky ones - not everyone gets to reach the NBA Finals, let alone win one!