Recently, Kings.com caught up with Mike Kennedy (a.k.a. Big Mike) for a quick Q&A after the Kings in-house emcee finished working the ESPYs in Los Angeles.

Photo Gallery

Kings.com: So first off how was it? Have you done the ESPYs before?
Mike: The show was amazing as usual, and yes this is my sixth time working it.

Kings.com: What do you do there?
Mike: For this show I announce the red carpet with ESPN's Howie Schwab.

Kings.com: What does that entail?
Mike: There is an audience of about 1,000 people that arrives shortly before the carpet officially opens. We go out and prep the audience on the show and what it's all about, stage a few contests and a few games and talk about who's coming. I let some of the audience members walk the carpet for the cameras and then the crowd really gets going. It is quite a treat because everyone from “Good Morning America” and “Access Hollywood” to “Extra,” E! and ESPN 360 are present. In addition, there is a press pit with over 100 photographers and reporters from around the world. The flash bulbs start popping and the energy kicks in. Then the real work starts.

Kings.com: Real work?
Mike: Announcing the celebs and show participants. We have more than 200 celebrities and athletes come through in less than two hours and Howie and I try (repeat) try, to give them all their proper entrance so when they start the carpet and the crowd starts screaming everyone feels like they are on top of the world. It gets tricky because it happens SO fast. You may have Samuel L. Jackson, Michelle Kwan, Brett Farve, the quarterback for Appalachian State and the Little League World Series champs all waiting on you and you have to nail it. Howie knows stats, facts and faces like no one I have ever met on the planet and I fill in the rest to keep it all moving.

Kings.com: OK, so who did you meet?
Mike: I meet everyone. Some I spend time with, most not. Here is typical dialogue:

Mike – “OK, Mr. Whittaker, are you ready to go?
"Yes."
Mike – (on microphone) "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome extraordinary actor Mr. Forrest Whittaker!"
Mike -- "Have a wonderful time this evening."
"Thank You."
Flashbulbs and microphones ensue.

Sometimes it happens that fast, but over the years of working in entertainment I have a lot of great relationships so sometimes it is like seeing old friends.

Kings.com: Who are some of your favorites in the world of sports?
Mike: I grew up with Julius Erving as my idol and I have come across him several times working with the NBA and when he recognizes me at events like this, a flood of great memories come through and it makes me realize why I fell in love with basketball in the first place and how lucky I am to do what I do.

Kings.com: Dr. J is pretty cool, but who got the biggest responses of the night?
Mike: Hmmmm. They all got fantastic responses, but I would have to say I saw the most flashbulbs for David and Victoria Beckham, Justin Timberlake, Eli Manning, Brett Farve and Adriana Lima. The great Robin Roberts also got a huge reception.

Kings.com: Wow, pretty fun line up.
Mike: Yes, the ESPYs is a pretty amazing show as it crosses over all genres.

Kings.com: Did anything funny happen during the red carpet reception?
Mike: Yes, actually the Celtics came through and got the only boos of the evening by the crowd which was predominately L.A. They just smiled, laughed and waved.

Kings.com: Besides your role, how else was Sacramento represented at the ESPYs?
Mike: The amazing Kayte Christensen was on the carpet as well, but as a correspondent for Maloof Sports & Entertainment. She does such a good job. I know she will be blogging about her trip in The Blog Squad section of our web site and we will see some of the great interviews she conducted both on broadcast and online. Stay tuned. You go Kayte!!

Kings.com: Anyone else?
Mike: I hung out with Shelden Williams for a few minutes as he was taking a brief break from the Vegas Summer League. Great guy. I also saw Dana Jacobsen who used to be a Sacramento sports anchor and now sits in the chair for ESPN 360.

Kings.com: Very cool. So what's next for you?
Mike: Working on a gameshow, hosting some TV, emceeing some events in Vegas, the MTV Video Music Awards and spending time with my five month-old daughter will most likely round out the summer. Then back to ARCO, sweet ARCO. I can't wait to see the big family of fans getting together once again to cheer on the Kings.

Kings.com: What was your favorite highlight from the ESPYs?
Mike: Too many to count. This is such a special show because it not only celebrates athletic achievement; it celebrates humanitarian accomplishment and perseverance. I watched Robin Roberts present Buffalo Bills player Kevin Everett the Jimmy V. award from one survivor to another. It doesn't get much better than that.