540 ESPN Milwaukee

Mike Tillman

On Air: Weekend Producer

College?

Depauw University in Greencastle, IN (Bachelor of Arts in Communications and German)

Hometown?

Skokie, IL

Favorite sport? Why?

Soccer because it's the ultimate show of teamwork and athleticism put together. It takes every player working together the full 90 minutes to get a win. It’s not just one player getting the win or giving up the goal- its all 11.

Favorite team?

Chicago Bears

Favorite athlete?

Depends on the sport, but my top two are former Chicago Fire mid-fielder Piotr Nowak, because he was the hardest working man on the field at all times, and Chicago Bears Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, because he is also a player that never quits.

Most memorable sports moment?

When the Chicago Fire won their first US Open Cup title in 1998. I was sitting in the stands of Soldier Field screaming my head off when Frank Klopas scored the game winning goal for the Fire to complete winning the double (MLS Championship and US Open Championship) in their inaugural season.

Favorite thing about sports?

My favorite thing about sports is that it’s the one universal thing that people can talk about without having a clue about who you are and where you are from.

If you could change one thing/rule about any league, what would you change?

This a no brainer the new NFL playoff overtime rule. First, I would make it uniform for the playoffs and regular season. Second, I would either return it to sudden death or have a full fifth 15 minute period played and if it is still tied then go sudden death.

If you could live the life of one pro athlete for a day, whose life would you choose?

German National soccer team capain and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack. I think it would be interesting to live the life of the top soccer player from the land of my ethnic background and have the experience for one of the top teams in a foreign country.

Years in broadcast?

Professionally 5 and a half, total including my amateur days in college 9 and a half.

First job? First job in the business?

First job- Youth soccer referee

First job in the business as an amateur -overnight dj from midnight to 3am on Saturday nights, field hockey reporter, and sports update anchor at 91.5 WGRE in Greencastle, In

First professional job- fill-in board operator at Access Radio Chicago, a five station cluster in Chicago that did brokered religious and foreign language programs.

First, or best, childhood sports memory?

Best childhood sports memory was attending the opening ceremonies and first game of World Cup ’94 at Soldier Field in Chicago, seeing a great game with my dad, grandparents and great grandfather, and seeing Oprah, singer Jon Secada, and 2 Argentinian Dancers fall into a pit in the stage of the opening ceremonies that was set up for a giant replica of the World Cup Trophy for the end of the opening ceremony.

Favorite non-sport related activity?

Playing video games or trivia games.

Favorite Milwaukee spot?

Saz’s.

Nickname? Origin of nickname?

None that I am willing to admit to

Advice to listeners?

Play every game like it's your last because you never know what tomorrow brings