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He’s thrown Alex Rodriguez curve ball questions and played board games with the Jets’ Rex Ryan. He’s Ben Shpigel , sports reporter for The New York Times, and for nearly a decade he’s had a front-row seat to some of the biggest stories and most unforgettable moments in professional sports. At 7:30 p.m., Thursday, February 13, 2014 , as part of the Open VISIONS Forum– Espresso lecture series, Ben Shpigel presents “Beyond the Box Score: Sensational Sports in Our Times” in the Presentation Room of the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Center. Tickets are: $12. Student tickets: $5.

A tireless and prolific reporter who has been with The New York Times since 2005, Ben Shpigel will take Quick Center audiences inside the locker room to talk about the glories and scandals, both on- and off-the-field. Introducing Mr. Shpigel will be Michael Serazio, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication and deputy director of Open VISIONS Forum. Following Mr. Shpigel’s presentation, there will be an informal conversation and discussion with ������Ƭapp’s Alex Long ‘14, president of FUSA, Thomas Shea ‘14, multimedia editor for The Mirror, and Michael Serazio, Ph.D. Open VISIONS Forum– Espresso is the new ‘on-the-go’ lecture series at Fairfield, that complements the University’s long-established signature series, Open VISIONS Forum.

"With each passing year, the sports media world only grows in popularity, revenue, and outrageousness. And precisely because of that, we need eager reporters like Ben Shpigel to deliver the story in a smart and captivating way,” said Michael Serazio, Ph.D. “Whether it be the Mets or the Jets, Shpigel has covered the biggest teams and boldest players in the region for nearly a decade. For many, he's the first voice you read in the morning to catch up on last night's scores and we're so fortunate to hear from that voice live and on-stage at Open VISIONS Espresso."

Ben Shpigel has been covering the New York Jets for The New York Times since 2011. Previously, he had covered the New York Yankees since 2010 and, before that, the Mets since 2005. Prior to joining The Times , Mr. Shpigel was a staff writer for The Dallas Morning News from 2003 to 2005. He began his journalism career with an internship with The News Journal in Wilmington, Del., in the summer of 2000 and later interned and worked part-time for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 2001 to 2002. Born in Philadelphia on Sept. 23, 1980, Mr. Shpigel received a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism from Emory University in 2002 and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University in 2003. Mr. Shpigel was the recipient of the first Dave Marr Scholarship by the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association.  His hobbies include reading, traveling, running and spending time with his family. He and his wife live in New Jersey with their dog and two children.

This event is supported by ������Ƭapp’s Department of English and Department of Communication.

Tickets are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396. (1-877-278-7396). Tickets can also be purchased online at .