Ken Carpenter
Professor of Journalism, Mass Communications & English
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts (Mass Communications), Cleveland State University
Master of Science in Urban Studies, Cleveland State University
Master of Business Administration, Webster University
Graduate courses in English (18 credit hours) and Mass Communications (6 credit hours), University of Central Florida and Morehead State University
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Professor of Journalism, Valencia College, 2002-present
Editor and Publisher, The Golf Gazette
Editor, Golfweek.com
Managing Editor, Golfweek Magazine
Newspaper senior editor / copy editor: The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer; The National Sports Daily; The Tampa Tribune; The Orlando Sentinel.
Reporter: The Associated Press, United Press International
AREAS OF INTEREST
Baseball: I have watched regular-season games in 43 different Major League Baseball stadiums. I've been to 23 of the current 30 MLB parks, with Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington remaining.
I was in a fantasy baseball league for 30 years -- the Lunch Pail League of Statistical Baseball Clubs held its 30th Player Draft in April 2010, with seven of the original 12 owners still participating. We claim to be the longest running fantasy league in history! (I retired from fantasy sports after the 2010 season.)
Film: I've seen all but 10 of the 125 films nominated for the "Best Picture" Oscar since 1986 (and missed those 10 by choice). I have seen every "Best Documentary" Oscar winner currently available on Netflix. My favorite film? Too many to single out one, but I get choked up every time I watch "Miracle," the story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. (see entry below)
Hockey: I've been a season-ticket holder for teams in seven different professional leagues, and for two different NHL franchises -- the Cleveland Barons and the Tampa Bay Lightning. I started the hockey program at my high school, played at the club level in college, did radio play-by-play for the Ohio University varsity team, and was, albeit briefly, an ice-hockey referee.
Golf: I've played golf in South Korea and South Africa, and most places in between. I've played at St. Andrews and Pebble Beach, at Bethpage Black and Olympic Club, at Hazeltine National and Orange County National, at Shinnecock Hills and Ash Hills. My lowest round is 1-over-par 73 (twice) at Metrowest Golf Club (Orlando), but my best round is a 4-over 76 at the Old Course (St. Andrews, Scotland).
As a journalist I covered many top events, including the Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open, the U.S. Women's Open, the British Open, the PGA Championship, the Players Championship, the World Golf Championships, the Curtis Cup, the Walker Cup, the Izzo Cup, the NCAA Men's Championship, the Spanish Open and the South African Open.
FAMILY
Debbie and I reached our 25th wedding anniversary April 23, 2013, and this summer traveled to Italy and England with friends to celebrate (that's us riding the London Eye). We live in Windermere with our cats, Rocky (Rockefeller) and Teddy (Roosevelt).