Wildcat Journalist Charlie Misra is a Huge Arizona Fan!
In the ZonaZealots Fan Spotlight today is a very passionate Arizona Wildcats fan, Charlie Misra, who is also a successful Multi Media Journalist at KSBY TV.
ZonaZealots introduced the Fan Spotlight segment in February, since then we have had a great response and so we continue to find huge Arizona Wildcat fans who also have a story of their own. This month we are so fortunate to have Charlie share his fandom with us, it’s contagious. Charlie and his now fiancée’ Alissa have a great time attending Arizona Wildcats sporting events.
Photo Credit: Charlie Misra
We interviewed Charlie and found out so much about him and we feel privileged to be able to bring his story and enthusiasm to you.
His interview follows:
ZZ: Tell us a bit about yourself..
CM: I grew up in the quaint Bay Area suburb of Dublin, California. It’s changed a lot since I was a kid, with a lot of people commuting to get to the city now. But it still has its charm.
As for hobbies, number one, I’ve always been a huge sports fan. I love watching and attending games. I’m die hard SF Giants, 49ers, Golden State Warriors and of course, Arizona Wildcats fan.
Photo Credit: Charlie Misra
Everything else is pretty general. I’m easy-going and I love exploring, learning, trying new things, and meeting new people. I enjoy hanging out with friends, eating great food, listening to good music, hiking, having a good beer or wine, and traveling.
My career as a news reporter has been great so far. I can tell you it’s hectic and down right crazy a lot of the time because of the deadlines we have to meet every day. Many reporters in the industry now, like me, have to shoot, write and edit their own stories. So much can be thrown at you in a day. But in the end, it’s all worth it.
I’ve learned so much, but I know I still have a long way to go. My first job out of college was in Helena, Montana. I worked for the local NBC affiliate, which I kid you not, was known at the time as Beartooth NBC. It was hard and very challenging. But it was a great, 2-year experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
I’ve worked at KSBY, the local NBC affiliate on the California Central Coast for more than a year now and it’s awesome. It’s never boring. I get to meet so many folks from all walks of life, learn from them, and have the honor of telling their stories. I could go on and on about this job. Whether it’s a hard-hitting news story or a compelling human interest story, it’s a very rewarding feeling when you put together a piece you feel proud of.
In my industry, it’s hard to say I look up to any one person. Whether it’s reporting and writing skills, shooting and editing techniques, or career advice, I take a lot of little things from many professionals I respect.
Photo Credit: Charlie Misra
And I can’t thank my parents enough. They worked very hard, harder than I could ever imagine, to give me every opportunity to succeed. My parents have always been my biggest fans, my iron-clad support system. Thanks mom and dad!
ZZ: Are you an Arizona Alumni? If so, what year did you graduate? Class of…. ? What do you miss most about being a student at the University of Arizona?
CM: I am a proud Arizona Alum! Graduate of Journalism and Communication from the Class of 2012. There’s so much that I loved about being a U of A student. What I miss most is the people. I found the culture at Arizona to be a very welcoming one. I met so many great friends there, from all over the country. I had a lot of great teachers and mentors who helped me along. I made some true lifelong friends.
ZZ: How long have you been a fan of the Arizona Wildcats?
CM: I’ve been a fan of the Arizona Wildcats since my freshman year in 2008. I was in the Zona Zoo for our first football game that year against Idaho. I remember there was lightning in the area, so they were asking people to leave the stadium as a precaution. I remember chanting “We’re not leaving!” and “ARI-ZO-NA!” for what felt like hours as we were getting drenched in monsoon rain. And I remember winning by a ridiculous score of 70-0 when it was all said and done. It’s been a wild ride ever since!
ZZ: What was it about the University of Arizona Athletics program that makes you proud?
Photo Credit: Charlie Misra
CM: They play hard and they win with class. No matter what the sport.
I feel like Arizona is overlooked by national media in just about every sport that’s not basketball. But we keep giving them reasons to take us seriously, by beating teams with more recruiting dollars and resources than us.
ZZ: What are some of your favorite things about the Arizona Wildcats teams? Which team do you follow the most?
CM: I follow football and basketball most. In football, I love how fast we play. Rich Rod’s offense can never been run fast enough. He’s always increasing the tempo and looking for ways to speed up the game. And our defense always plays with a ton of heart, even if they’re out on the field for long periods of time if our offense struggles.
On the basketball court, Sean Miller’s boys always play great defense. They crash the boards and they don’t give up many easy buckets. So even if the shots aren’t going in offensively, their gritty effort on the defensive end always gives them a chance to win. I know every fan wants to see the Cats win the NCAA Tournament (myself included!). But there’s something to be said for Zona’s remarkable consistency under Miller. Three conference titles and three Elite 8’s? That’s something to be proud of.
ZZ: Do you attend any Arizona games in person when they are in or close to your home town? Do you ever travel to see the Wildcats Play?
Photo Credit: Charlie Misra
CM: I travel with my fiancée Alissa to see the Wildcats play. A lot of times we’ll meet up with family or old friends. We try to go at least once or twice during the year. I’ve been fortunate enough to see the Cats play on the road against Cal, UCLA, USC, ASU and Utah. And I’ve had a blast every time!
ZZ: Do you go to a specific establishment or sports bar to watch the games if you can’t go in person? If so, where’s your local hangout?
CM: If I’m in Tucson, I will for sure (if we’re not at the game). With my good friends, we’d usually go to Bob Dobb’s on 6th St or Risky Business on Tanque Verde.
ZZ: What is your favorite song, saying or cheer when it comes to the Arizona Wildcats?
CM: Bear Down Arizona. No question!
ZZ: Do you have any game day rituals or game day look? Does everyone you work with know you are an Arizona Wildcats fan?
CM: I’m always decked out, head to toe, in Wildcats gear when I go to the game. Actually, a lot of times you’ll find me in Cats gear in everyday life. Zona shirts, sweatshirts and hats make up a decent chunk of my wardrobe!
I work in a separate office from our main news station, so not everyone knows. Yet…
ZZ: Do you have a favorite Arizona Wildcat Athletics moment? (in a game and/or meeting someone involved)
CM: My favorite personal fan experience of all time was going to the Territorial Cup football game in 2011. I went with my girlfriend, now fiancée, one of my best buddies and his friends. The Duel in the Desert was in Tempe that year, so we were in hostile territory. There were just five of us in a sea of Sun Devils.
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UA football had some tough breaks that season. Mike Stoops was fired that year. Going into the game against Arizona State, the Cats were 2-8, while ASU had a chance to win the Pac-12 South.
I remember taking a lot of verbal abuse from fans and feeling incredible tension over the course of the game. I remember Nick Foles getting hurt late.
I remember backup quarterback Bryson Beirne throwing one pass…and Juron Criner racing down the sideline and taking it to the house for 6!
ASU had under 2 minutes to score a touchdown. And they nearly came back. We were screaming our lungs out from our seats, as many ASU fans frantically waved their arms for the crowd to quiet down, so their offense could hear.
Somehow, someway our guys kept Brock Osweiler and company out of the end zone and we pulled off the improbable upset 31-27. The crowd was stunned silent, except for the UA fans in attendance. Some of our players ran across the field with the UA flag. One of them, I think it was Criner, stuck it in the middle of the Sun Devils logo.
Had we lost, it could’ve been the worst experience I’ve ever had at a game. But we won, and boy it was sweet. We only won 4 games that season. But we beat ASU. And that’s all that seemed to matter!
ZZ: Tell us about the pride you feel when you wear the school colors. If you see another Arizona Wildcat wearing the school gear, do you shout out to them “Go Cats” or “Beardown” or anything else?
CM: When I wear UA colors, I think of the great friends, the great times I had, and the great teams I rooted for over the years. I’m so proud of my time at the University of Arizona.
Whenever I see someone with a UA shirt or hat on, I definitely shout out “Bear Down!” or try to find a way to strike up a conversation.
Photo Credit: Charlie Misra
ZZ: Does winning or losing a game affect your mood? In which ways?
CM: I’m a pretty easy-going person. Not a lot gets to me.
With that said, nothing can give me as big of a mood swing as a UA win or loss, especially when the stakes are high. Losing a big game can take the wind out of my sails. But getting a huge victory puts a smile on my face for at least the rest of the day!
ZZ: Who is your favorite Arizona Wildcat player and what sport do they or did they play? Favorite Coach? And why?
CM: My favorite current Wildcat player is Scooby Wright. Obviously, he has a great name. But he’s an absolute beast on the football field. I gives it his all, every down. And he makes big, game-changing plays.
Past player, I loved Derrick Williams. That Elite 8 run in 2010-11 was some of the most fun I’ve had as a U of A fan. Seeing D-Will fly through the air like Superman for a game-breaking dunk against Kyrie Irving’s Duke squad was straight out of a movie.
My favorite coach…I’m going to have a bit of a different answer for this one: Steve Kerr. He never coached for UA, but he was a decorated Wildcat player, and he just guided my beloved Golden State Warriors to their first NBA title in 40 years, in his first year as an NBA head coach. Kerr represents the University of Arizona well. He’s a smart, resourceful coach who has the respect and admiration of his players and the fans.
ZZ: If you could say one thing to them, what would it be?
Arizona Wildcats
CM: Scooby, you’re going to make one hell of an NFL player. You keep playing with that fire and intensity, and you’ll go far. And will forever remember the moment in Eugene when you wrestled that football out of Marcus Mariota’s hands with your brute strength to seal UA’s greatest football upset in recent memory!
Derrick, I know you don’t remember. But that year, I lived in the same hall as you, Solomon Hill and few others on the basketball team. We chatted briefly just a couple of times, but I usually just saw you guys as we were passing through the dorm hallways. All of you were nice to me, which made it even cooler to root you on the court.
Steve, I have so much respect for you and you seem like a really cool guy! I’d love to meet you someday. And thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for bringing an NBA Championship to the Bay Area! Bear Down!
Charlie, Zona Zealots thanks you for sharing, we hope to see you at a game really soon and shout “Beardown” back at you! We also wish you much success in your career.
All of you Arizona Wildcats fans who live in Northern California, now you know Charlie is a Wildcat, catch Charlie on TV!