Whether his position is news co-anchor, running back or strong safety, Bill Hemmer excels in the spotlight and values gained through football contribute to his success.
The co-anchor of "America's Newsroom" on the FOX News Channel (Mon.-Fri., 9-11 a.m. ET) grew up on Cincinnati's west side. One of five children, his parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary later this year.
His father, William Hemmer, Sr., played college football and later worked full-time to support his family, but still managed to help coach his sons' youth football teams. Hemmer's brother, Andy, played linebacker at Boston College and was a teammate of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Doug Flutie.
A former youth and high school football player, Hemmer is a life-long Cincinnati Bengals fan. He still owns an oversized Bengals "foam finger" from 1981 when the team earned its first Super Bowl berth.
"America's Newsroom" is the country's ninth-most watched cable news program as of Oct. 2009. Hemmer's work contributes to the fact that the FOX News Channel is the most watched cable news channel and is on track to have its best year ever in the network's history.
Hemmer recently spoke with USA Football to share what football taught him.
I was raised in a family where football was around us since as far back as I can remember. I still have pictures of me holding a ball in my third-grade team photo at Our Lady of Victory grade school on Cincinnati's west side.
I figure I was a pretty typical kid. At Our Lady of Victory, I was given a jersey number and emulated NFL players who I shared it with. I distinctly remember wearing No. 44 one season, so I became a fan of Browns running back Leroy Kelly. My brother was given No. 72, so he pretended to be Howard Fest, a Bengals offensive guard.
Football taught me dedication, discipline, teamwork, training in the off-season so that you're prepared - you experience all of that when you play on a team. And because this game has physical demands, it's a greater test. You have to love the game if you're going to play it well. It demands more of you.
Football teaches you how to be a team player. We've got a team in "America's Newsroom" of 12 people. We are nothing without each other. We need to work in symphony to pull off the broadcast and I liken this to football. We all have our responsibility. And when you uphold that responsibility, you do well - it's amazing what you can accomplish.
Also, when I've been overseas covering our troops in Iraq or Afghanistan - I can't say this for all of the men and women - but there's usually an allegiance to their football team. The sport can bring people together whether you cheer for the same team or not. It's what you have in common.
I played practically every position in youth football, except quarterback. In high school, I played strong safety.
I attended (Cincinnati) Elder High School, which is steeped in tradition. When I reflect on my football experience there, I remember the spirit of competition and how the sport united generations of Elder families. I think the school, like the sport, reflects a certain community, which is only as good as those who are willing to sacrifice for it.
One year in high school, I quit football for a day or two ... my dad often allowed us to step in our own pile. "Are you sure that you want to do that - are you sure that you want to quit?" he asked. That was the nudge that I was looking for and my boycott lasted about 36 hours. I'm grateful that he encouraged me to change my mind.
I could've played Division III college football, but it would've been tough for me financially (Editor's Note: athletic scholarships are not granted in Division III athletics. Hemmer went on to earn a journalism degree from Miami University of Ohio). On Sunday afternoons, I'll still find myself watching football. And I'll always be a Bengals fan.
When the Bengals went to their second Super Bowl (Jan. 1989), I was a young sports producer at Cincinnati's WLWT-TV (NBC). We had six people in our department and five got to work on-site in Miami. I was the one assigned to stay back, but it actually turned out to be a good break. Being the only sports staffer in the building, I was needed to do live work on camera. Well, that led to a full-time job on-air, so I have football and the Bengals to thank for that opportunity.
Yes, I'm a Bengals fan, but I'm a football fan to the core. My high school airs all of its football games on the internet and I log on to watch whenever I can. Earlier this year (Sept. 6), we - I still say "we" when talking about Elder - were on ESPN. I was at a wedding in Hamburg, Germany, when the game was on the air. The next day I rented a bicycle, riding to about 10 of the best hotels in the city hoping to catch some of the game, but I was 0-for-10. But I was there in spirit. (Editor's Note: Elder defeated Colerain High School on ESPN, 20-7).
Some people talk about music, movies, or other pastimes being "soundtracks" of their youth. Football fits that role for our family ... it's always been there.
