Inside the Press Box: Smokin' Al Koken

Storming the Crease is conducting a series of interviews with people who cover (or work for) the Caps and the NHL. You can find a link to the series archives on the right sidebar. Today's ninth installment: local fixture Smokin' Al Koken.

1. How did you first get your nickname of Smokin' Al Koken?

Smokin' Al Koken was coined by the late, GREAT Glenn Brenner, the legendary Channel 9 sportscaster. I was working at 9, doing live player interviews for a Redskins post-game show when Glenn threw it back to me by saying "Let's go back down to RFK Stadium and Smokin' Al Koken." The next day, a bunch of people started calling me that and, since it was coined by a man who I think is/was THE BEST sportscaster, it's a badge of honor.

2. With all of the sports you cover and interact with, which one is your favorite and why?

Hockey, by FAR. Not just because I have covered it the longest but, the people in and around the sport are the best. Ask anyone who covers all sports on a regular basis and the overwhelming majority will tell you that dealing with hockey players is a dream compared to having to cover guys in other sports. And the game, in person, is hands-down the best to watch.

3. Describe the balance of your two roles on Caps' broadcasts: sideline reporter and part-time play-by-play man.

I think it's a pretty easy balance. When I get the rare chance to fill in for Joe B., who by the way is also in the THE BEST category, you see the game in the big picture. You might be seeing it from a Caps' perspective, but you really end up talking about both teams, all aspects of the game.

At rinkside, I'm trying to fill in with certain observations -- almost always about the Caps -- that hopefully adds to things Joe and Craig are talking about. Also to catch a line-up change that Bruce [Boudreau] might have made by choice or injury as the game is going on, things like that. And because Bruce, Jay Leach and Dean Evason are such good guys, they let me on the bench for a question or two with Jay and Dean that I think really adds to the great production we have on Comcast SportsNet .

4. What's your most memorable hockey-related moment?

Professionally, it would be doing the color commentary on the Caps' four-overtime loss to the Islanders and then, years later, sitting in EXACTLY the same seat at US Air Arena doing the play-by-play for the Caps' four-overtime loss to Pittsburgh.

Personally, it was walking into the old arena in St. Louis, a place I had sneaked into as a kid to see Blues games, as a paid broadcaster. Talk about going full circle. And to that end, being treated as a peer by the legendary Dan Kelly, who I grew up listening to doing Blues games, as the years went on.

I'll also add in the thrill of being able to call games in classic barns like Boston Garden, Maple Leafs Gardens, the Montreal Forum and the loudest place ever, Chicago Stadium. Even doing a game in Winnipeg, with the giant portrait of Queen Elizabeth hanging in one end of the rink. That trip was the coldest I've EVER been in my life.

5. What do you do when you're not busy with all your ventures?

This is the time of year when there rarely is any downtime. As I write this, it's the Sunday after a Saturday that began at 7 a.m. in Harrisonburg, Va., where I called the play-by-play of the James Madison University-Northeastern men's basketball game for Comcast SportsNet and ended after driving back to Washington to put together and then do Caps Post Game Live with Lisa Hilary following the Caps' 2-1 win over Toronto. So, even though this is technically a "day off," I still need to watch the Caps play Carolina and then watch the Redskins and Ravens play.

Now, it's not like having to read Silas Marner and write a book report but it's still homework. I guess to make it less boring and more relaxing, I'll watch the first period or so of the Caps' game on the bike at the gym and whip up some dinner while watching the Skins. I'm thinking some pan-roasted boneless chicken breasts with a lemon butter pan sauce and a side of Spaghetti Con Aglio e Olio sounds good for tonight. With a glass or two of Pinot Grigio, of course. Here's to doing homework the right way.