Joe Cohen Brings Expertise to the Ever-Changing World of Sports Broadcasting

Nobody enjoys watching sports more than Joe Cohen. Perhaps that’s one reason he’s so good at making television broadcasts “as close to being there as possible.” Cohen is considered a visionary “genius” in his field and even in this new age of high-definition TV, he continues to stay on the cutting edge of technology in an ever-changing industry. “The great thing about HDTV is that it makes the game come alive right there in your living room,” says Cohen, chairman of the board and CEO of Manhattan-based HTN Communications, a global satellite and fiber optic service provider offering “end to end” transmission solutions and multiple broadcast formats from anywhere to anywhere around the globe. Both L.A. Clippers and L.A. Lakers road games have been available on HDTV in 2007-08 and, thanks to Cohen and HTN (short for Hughes Television Network), 50 L.A. Dodgers games will be available in HDTV on KCAL (Channel 9) this season. The Bay Area is another “hot spot” for HTN, with Giants, Athletics, Sharks and Warriors games all available in hi-def. “The idea is to make HD widespread and expand our markets so that more people will be able to experience this enhanced form of entertainment,” Cohen explains. “In many cases I’m selling a service to customers that I’ve known for many years and that’s particularly rewarding.” Born and raised in New York, Cohen received his bachelor of science degree in economics at Penn in 1968 and earned an MBA at Penn’s Wharton School two years later. He first made inroads in sports in 1970 when he became assistant to the vice president of operations at Madison Square Garden Corporation. One of Cohen’s most enjoyable “assignments” early in his career was keeping Muhammad Ali occupied in the bowels of Madison Square Garden prior to his epic “Fight of the Century” with Joe Frazier. Cohen spent the entire day with the former world heavyweight champion and noted the boxer’s surprisingly calm demeanor. “Ali was very relaxed, very confident,” Cohen recalls. “We played checkers and watched soap operas. I remember thinking, win or lose, he’s going to put on a great show and he certainly did even though he lost. I was also at Ali-Frazier II and that was another great fight.” Another sports moment etched forever in Cohen’s memory is the dramatic seventh game of the 1970 NBA Finals. Inspired by their hobbled center Willis Reed, who left the game after making his first two shots, the New York Knicks beat the Lakers at Madison Square Garden. An avid collector of sports memorabilia, much of which is on display at his home in the Alphabet Streets overlooking Temescal Canyon, Cohen served as President of MSG Network from 1979-85. He also co-founded the USA Network, where he negotiated the first-ever cable broadcast contracts for the NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball. When not flying from place to place, Cohen enjoys spending time in the village with his wife Rita. Frequent patrons of many local businesses, they are regulars at several eateries along Swarthmore. Though proud of his own success, Cohen is even prouder of his four daughters–Aren, Marianne, Johanna and Gabriella. Aren, the oldest, got her master’s from New York University while Johanna is a freelance fashion designer. Mary got her master’s degree from Cal Arts and Gabby, the youngest, attends Harvard-Westlake School in Studio City. After leaving MSG, Cohen formed an investment group that purchased HTN from the Garden. He became president and CEO of HTN and, a year later, bought the Z Channel in Los Angeles, adding Dodgers, Angels and Clippers games to the mix. He became President of Spectacor West in 1991–a position he held until 1993 when he was named chairman of the NHL’s L.A. Kings. Cohen returned to MSG in 1995 as executive vice president, where he was responsible for MSGN, Fox Sports Net New York and MSG Radio. He also pioneered the network’s development of HDTV with a knowledge and expertise unrivaled in his industry. Acquiring HTN (Hughes Television Network) for the third time about five years ago kept Cohen’s innovative juices flowing and he enjoys his job, even though it requires frequent travel back and forth across the country. “Working in New York keeps me on my toes and but I always enjoy returning to the Palisades,” admits Cohen, who woke up bright and early on March 15 to go to the Palisades Pony Baseball Association’s pancake breakfast at the Recreation Center. “I moved here three years ago and I can say, having been other places, I really appreciate living in this community.”

It is said that defending a championship is harder than winning it. The Palisades High baseball team found that out on Monday, falling behind 5-2 and 6-3 before rallying for a 8-6 victory in its Western League opener Monday at George Robert Field. After taking it on the chin at the San Diego Lions tournament, where they lost four games over spring break, the Dolphins showed resiliency in a back-and-forth struggle against their beach rivals. Despite struggling with his control early, Palisades ace Jonathan Moscot turned in a gutsy complete-game effort and catcher Garrett Champion hit the decisive home run to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning as the Dolphins improved to 5-6-1 under new coach Mike Voelkel. “It was a 3-1 count so I was just looking for one pitch and he gave it to me,” said Champion, who’s mighty clout cleared the left field fence and gave Palisades a 7-6 lead. David Skolnik’s triple to right field added an insurance run and that was all Moscot needed to close the deal. Moscot froze pitching counterpart Zack Mandell on a called third strike to end the game. “Jonathan was one hitter away from coming out two or three times but to his credit he hung in there and pitched out of it,” Voelkel admitted. “This was an exciting game. Miracles only happen with guts and courage and I have a feeling a lot of league games will be this way.” Jared Sklar’s RBI double tied the game, 1-1, in the first inning. Skolnik doubled to lead off the bottom of the third and Sklar’s sacrifice fly pulled Pali to within 5-3. After the Gondos (3-12) tacked on a run in the top of the fourth, the Dolphins rallied for three runs in their half. Both pitchers struck out the side in the fifth inning, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. “Venice did a good job of situational hitting,” Voelkel said. “They executed some hit-and-runs but I was pleased that defense-wise we made them earn their runs.” Pali and Venice went right back at it on Wednesday (result undetermined at press time) and Palisades travels to Westchester Monday. Softball Jose Alvarado’s squad dropped its first game on its new field when it lost to Venice on Monday, evening the Dolphins Western league mark at 1-1. A pitching duel developed early on between Palisades’ Emily Noel and the Gondos’ Danielle Mestas, who struck out Adria Bonillas with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning to preserve the Gondos’ 2-0 lead. Tennis Palisades remains undefeated in the Western League. The Dolphins lost a nonleague match to Beverly Hills Monday in the final round of the Bay Area Classic and played Brentwood in another intersectional match on Wednesday (result unavailable at press time).

Mendoza Transfers to Venice Palisades Recreation Director Liska Mendoza, who has been at her post since early September, just received word that she is being transferred to Oakwood Rec Center in Venice. On Monday, when the Palisadian-Post visited her at the Rec Center Mendoza was matter-of-fact. ‘It’s a civil service job and you have to be used to change,’ she said. ‘I will miss driving down the hill [Chautauqua] and seeing the ocean on the way home from work.’ This wasn’t Mendoza’s first experience in Pacific Palisades. As a teenager, she awoke at 5:30 a.m. to catch one of the school buses that transported kids from the USC area arriving at Palisades High School by 7:50 every morning. She was a football cheerleader and on the Academic Decathlon team in 1992 and 93. Considered an at-risk student, she graduated from PaliHi in 1993 and attended Cal State L.A., where she received her B.A. in communications and her masters in ethnographic studies. Mendoza joined Rec and Parks seven years ago and served at Mar Vista before the Palisades. Mendoza has a personal motto that she takes to each job site: ‘Building community and creating experience.’ The Palisades epitomizes her creed. ‘This is a good park and good example of community, ‘ she said. Mendoza bases her assessment on meetings she has held with ‘Movies in the Park,’ AYSO Commissioner Debbie Held, the Chamber of Commerce and PPBA officials and the Palisades Community Center (the committee who funded Field of Dreams and the proposed step project). ‘They all work well together and with the park,’ Mendoza said, who also had praise for long-time employees Mike Dixson and Alex Somkin, who run football and basketball. Mendoza accomplished one of her goals, which was putting the Rec Center’s program on-line in an effort to save paper and money by not mailing brochures. ‘I came here and there was so much paper,’ she said and urges residents to go to www.lacity.org to see a listing of the classes and print out a registration form. Another of her goals was to expand the park advisory board and she hopes Palisadians will help her successor by joining. ‘We have six active members and we need four more,’ Mendoza said. If interested contact call (310) 454-1412. The advisory board members related to the Rec Center staff community needs. Mendoza also wanted a handball installed between the two gyms, but that task will also be left to Erich Haas (see opposite story). Mendoza met her husband John in college and they have two children Yannika, 6, and John, 4. Haas Hired As New Director Erich Haas was named the Palisades Recreation Center’s new director on March 14 and is scheduled to begin April 1. ‘April Fools Day,’ he laughed, ‘What a day to start!’ Hass has been at the Vineyard Recreation Center in South Los Angeles for the past four years’a much different environment than Pacific Palisades. ‘My first thing was to clear gang members away from the door,’ he told the Palisadian-Post on Monday. ‘They no longer come here, unless it’s to play ball on Saturday.’ Haas had been to the Palisades a few times for the citywide recreation and parks basketball tournament. Two weeks ago he was home sick with the flu when he received a call asking if he would like the Palisades job’a promotion to senior director. It didn’t take him long to make up his mind. ‘I jumped at the chance,’ Haas said. ‘I like the community and the area and I wanted a big park.’ Before transferring to the Vineyard, Haas worked at the Bogdonvich Rec Center in San Pedro, which has one of the biggest basketball enrollments in Los Angeles’more than 650 kids. Haas played basketball throughout high school in Louisiana. An injury prevented him from playing at Louisiana College in Pineville. After college, he taught and coached high school in Ohio before moving to Los Angeles in 2000. He’s been with the Rec and Parks Department for almost eight years. ‘I’m looking forward to being in the Palisades,’ Haas said. ‘The staff seems wonderful and working up there seems like it would be a good fit for me and the community.’ Haas knows that the Palisades has been through numerous directors in the past few years. ‘I usually spend four to five years at a place and I’m looking forward to staying here for a long time,’ Haas said. ‘Hopefully the city won’t want to move me. I would like to be part of the community for a long time.’ This past Saturday Haas and his wife Sunny attended the Easter Egg Hunt at the Rec Center (which attracted about 350 people) and that gave him an opportunity to start meeting members of the community. The couple currently lives in Long Beach but is planning to move further north to either Torrance or Culver City. Sunny is working on her masters in public administration and she is waiting to hear about a position in Culver City. Erich and Sunny have no children.

On Tuesday, the Pali Blues Soccer Club announced the addition of forward Kandace Wilson and midfielders Kara Kabellis, Rosie Tantillo and Leah Tapscott. The foursome officially joined the Blues a week after it was announced that three members of the Australia National Team have joined the Blues for their inaugural season. Wilson, a three-time All-Big West Conference first team choice, scored 15 goals in nine games to lead the Women’s Premiere Soccer League last season. Kabellis, a graduate of Wisconsin, is a three-time All-Big 10 pick, finishing her collegiate career with 23 goals and 14 assists. Tantillo was a four-year starting midfielder at USC and Tapscott is a All-Pac 10 First Team selection, tallying 10 goals and 10 assists at Stanford. Stay tuned to the team website at www.bluessoccerclub.com for all updates regarding the Blues.

Palisades High’s inaugural golf classic will be held Saturday, May 10, at Malibu Country Club. Athletic Director Rich McKeon said he is still looking for corporate sponsors and players to support and participate in the fundraising event. Title sponsorship is $10,000, which includes four tournament playing spots, two tee signs, a company banner displayed at dinner, a company logo on top of all sign-up forms and recognition in the school newsletter. Dinner ($5,000) and lunch ($2,000) sponsorships are also available, including two tournament playing spots, a company banner displayed at dinner and recognition in the school newsletter. There is also space for gift package sponsors ($2,000), tee hole sponsors ($500),individual playing spots ($200) and tee green sponsors ($100). You can also donate a raffle prize. For more information or questions call Laura Garcia at (310) 261-8302 or Kevin Olson at (310) 230-6623, ext. 514.