Mike Pesca is a reporter who has covered economics, politics and the arts during his tenure at National Public Radio. He is currently NPR's Sports Correspondent.
As such he's covered the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NCAA basketball tournament, the World's Strongest Man competition and the World Series of Poker. He's covered both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates, and the resignation of the governors of New York (prostitute), Connecticut (corruption), and New Jersey ("I am a gay American"). Mike went undercover to test New York's gourmet cupcakes, interviewed the puppet "Lamb chop" in a report on sock tariffs, and penned a song about New Jersey political corruption.
Pesca, whose writing has appeared in Slate and the Washington Post, is the winner of the Edward R. Murrow award for best radio feature and the 1993 Emory University Softball official of the year. He lives in Manhattan with his wife Robin, sons Milo and Emmett, and their dog, Rumsfeld. Prior to working on the National Desk at NPR, Mike was a reporter on the NPR show Day to Day, a reporter-at-large for the program On the Media, and filled in as host of The Bryant Park Project, Talk of the Nation, On the Media, The Brian Lehrer Show, and The Leonard Lopate Show. His first job in radio was as an intern on New York & Co, which came to be known as The Leonard Lopate Show.
Mike Pesca appears in the following:
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
The Miami Heat avoided elimination Tuesday night by beating the San Antonio Spurs in overtime, 103 to 100. LeBron James shrugged off a poor start to get 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Ray Allen hit a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds to play to force overtime.
Monday, June 17, 2013
By
Robert Siegel /
Mike Pesca
Every time you think you got a handle on this year's NBA Finals, you realize, you have no idea what's going to happen next. Case in point: Before last night's game five against the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili was slumping and supposedly washed up. Instead he put on a vintage performance and led the Spurs to a ten-point victory over the defending champs.
Monday, June 10, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
The series is tied at one game a piece. The Miami Heat beat the San Antonio Spurs Sunday night 103-84. Last week, the Spurs beat the Heat in the opener.
Friday, June 07, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
Thursday night, the Miami Heat out-rebounded the San Antonio Spurs. But they lost. In fact, both teams in the finals are horrible rebounding teams. So how did they get this far? By doing other things very well. In the NBA, some statistics are more important than others.
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
By
Robert Siegel /
Mike Pesca
NPR's Mike Pesca talks to All Things Considered host Robert Siegel about the Miami Heat, who will defend its NBA title against the San Antonio Spurs. It is the third consecutive trip to the finals for the Heat and though they had a tough series with Indiana, many still consider them the favorite. The best of seven championship series starts Thursday.
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
The Miami Heat have reached the NBA Finals. They beat the Indiana Pacers Monday night 99-76 in Miami. The Heat will play the San Antonio Spurs beginning Thursday.
Monday, June 03, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
This year's Women's National Basketball Association season has the top three players making their league debuts. The talented class includes Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins and Brittney Griner.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
The Chicago Blackhawks were on the verge of elimination from the National Hockey League playoffs. But in overtime Wednesday night, they came back to beat the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in Game 7 of their second-round playoff series.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
By
Rachel Martin : NPR National Security Correspondent /
Mike Pesca
Host Rachel Martin speaks with NPR's Mike Pesca about wrestling. The Iran and U.S. teams were supposed to face off in Los Angeles, and the sport is battling to stay in the Olympics.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
In New York's Grand Central Terminal Wednesday, wrestlers from Iran, Russia and the United States faced off in what was dubbed "Rumble on the Rails." This meet was more than just a show of diplomacy and sportsmanship. The athletes want to rally support for their sport which could be excluded from upcoming Olympic games.
Friday, May 10, 2013
By
Audie Cornish /
Mike Pesca
There have been a slew of bad calls in Major League Baseball recently, including one that was made despite the advantage of instant replay.
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
Broadcaster Bob Wolff, 92, witnessed many historic moments in sports during his 74-year career. He has donated more than 1,000 hours of his broadcasts to the Library of Congress.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
Marathons are among the most open sporting events. Crowds can press right up against the route as runners wind there way through city streets. But two explosions at the Boston Marathon have raised questions about whether that openness can last.
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
Louisville hasn't won the NCAA men's college basketball championship since 1986. They beat Michigan 82-76. Coach Rick Pitino added this title to the one he won at Kentucky in 1996. He's the first coach to win a championship at two schools.
Monday, April 08, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
Louisville player Luke Hancock isn't the most talented on the team, but his leadership played a key role keeping everyone focused after a devastating injury to teammate Kevin Ware. The Louisville Cardinals play the Michigan Wolverines in Monday night's NCAA men's college basketball finals.
Monday, April 08, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
Louisville and Michigan will face off Monday night for the men's NCAA basketball championship. The game will be played in Atlanta, where some of the best seats don't always have the best view.
Saturday, April 06, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
Syracuse is the only college team that relies exclusively on a 2-3 zone defense. They've been unstoppable so far in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, but on Saturday night, Michigan will try to break through Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim's winning strategy.
Friday, April 05, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
The NCAA men's basketball tournament is down to the Final Four. Louisville will play Wichita State and Syracuse faces Michigan. Why does college basketball celebrate the semifinalist teams almost as much as the finalists?
Monday, April 01, 2013
By
David Greene : Environmental Engineer and Senior Researcher at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Knoxville, TN /
Mike Pesca
Top overall seed Louisville will face Wichita State at the Georgia Dome next Saturday, while Michigan takes on Syracuse in the other national semifinal. The winners advance to the April 8 championship.
Friday, March 29, 2013
By
Mike Pesca
To achieve a deep run in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, players have to be skilled and well-trained but also well-motivated.