Game On: We're Sports Fans at Heart!

Hey, sports enthusiasts! You might think the National Captioning Institute is all about captioning sports events, and while that's definitely true, there's more to us than meets the proverbial eye. We're not only media accessibility professionals; we're huge sports fans at heart. We're not just the folks behind the words on your screen; we're cheering, sweating, living & dying by the outcomes just like you.

What's the story behind this dynamic group of sports aficionados who just happen to also be captioning champs? Grab your favorite team jersey and settle in, because we're about to dive into our passion for all things sports.

From Playgrounds to Professionals

Growing up, our team was a lively assortment of aspiring athletes, each with their own sports tales to tell. We kicked soccer balls in suburban backyards, dribbled basketballs on neighborhood courts, and swung bats in little league.

Our childhoods were filled with scraped knees, victory celebrations, and defeats that taught us resilience. We have all cheered from the bleachers, celebrated our own little victories, and dreamed big on the fields where our sports journeys began. These shared experiences as young athletes have not only shaped our love for sports but have also driven our passion for delivering the best sports captions.

A look back:

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A focused young Anthony is up to bat in a red Little League uniform.

Captioning supervisor Anthony B. says sports have been a part of his life as long as he can remember. He grew up playing basketball, football, baseball and now is also an avid golfer and high school baseball coach. He’s a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Yankees, his alma mater Temple University —- but his favorite team is the Houston Texans.

His favorite sports memory is when he and his father went to Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS Yankees vs Red Sox. They saw Aaron Boone hit the walk-off home run that sent the Yankees to the World Series!

Harley jump kicks about three feet in the air, ponytail flying. she wears a white martial arts Gi and black belt.

What an impressive action shot of Harley as a kid! She took Taekwondo for six years, earning her blackbelt after only four.

An awkward 6-year-old Lorri poses in a yellow t-ball uniform, gloved hand on knee and huge baseball cap askew.

Lorri’s parents enrolled her in T-ball to help combat debilitating shyness. She continued playing and even made softball all-stars years later! It must have worked, because Lorri went from captioner to marketer and now probably excitedly talks too much during meetings (It’s okay. She wrote this blog.)

Her favorite sports memories involve getting to stay up and obsess over the Women’s Olympic Gymnastics competitions with her family. 1992 and 1996 were particular favorites!

Tiny Tot Stephanie holds a huge plastic baseball bat while her dad lovingly instructs her from behind. A big plastic ball lies on the ground in front of her.

Stephanie was and still is an enthusiastic partaker in sports! She grew up involved with gymnastics, basketball, and volleyball. Her particular love is any iteration of baseball — she played softball growing up and still plays on competitive community leagues.

A 6-year-old Stephanie poses like a frog on a gymnastics vault.

A bonus picture of Stephanie during gymnastics practice, because that froggie pose is too cute.

We hope Keeley still rocks the oversized baseball cap as well as she did back then. She started with T-Ball, but soon switched to soccer and took that all the way through high school (adding in some track and field for good measure.) Keeley still loves to run!

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Eva and her daughter wearing Yankees jersey smiling with Bald Vinny.

Eva and her favorite sports memory: with her daughter Mady at Yankees Stadium’s “Bleachers Creatures” roll call with Bald Vinny!

Wearing her Cleveland Guardians gear at the Seattle Mariners stadium, Stephanie is all smiles!

Wearing her Cleveland Guardians gear at the Seattle Mariners Stadium, Stephanie is all smiles!

NCI Team in various team jerseys, smiling cheerfully.

Gary, Rick, Amy, Anthony, and Ana celebrate the “Jimmy V Show Your Spirit” campaign, each wearing their favorite team jersey. NCI helped raise donations for the V Foundation through ESPN.

Maria and friend enjoying a home game at Dodgers Stadium wearing blue jerseys.

Maria and friend enjoying a home game at Dodgers Stadium where she’s a regular.

Anthony stands in front of the MLB sports desk.

Anthony during a visit with our MLB friends in New Jersey.

We’ve Got the Inside Scoop

Our passion for sports transcends the standard captioning routine. We're the ones who gather around to discuss last night's game and swap tips on the best sports documentaries to watch. We understand the magic of sports and the role they play in our lives. That's what makes us uniquely equipped to provide you with top-notch sports captions.

Whether it's March Madness, Super Bowl, World Cup, or the Olympics, there's someone on our team who knows the stats, the history, and the drama. We love a good debate about who's the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)!

When Captioning Meets Fandom

Our journey began with a deep passion for language and accessibility, but we also realize sports are unifying moments of excitement and camaraderie — and how it can all tie beautifully together.

The next time you see those game captions roll in, remember that it's not only a community service we provide – it's a labor of love from fans who understand the excitement, the agony, and the thrill that is sports. With NCI, you’re not only getting words on a screen; you're getting the full sports experience, wrapped up in captions, love, and a hearty dose of fandom.

Game on!

Be sure to reach out to us for all your sport & stadium captioning needs:

request a quote

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A smiling Anthony D. poses with a Mickey Mouse statue -- both decked in Rays gear.

Anthony D. palling around with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Boss, an adorable grey Scottish Terrier, pants happily from the bleachers with the Pirates field in the background.

Maria and her furry friend, Boss, caught a Pirates game when visiting Pennsylvania. It was Pup Night at the park, and we think it’s safe to say they both had a blast.

Anthony high fives a player who jumps to meet his hand. They both are in red/blue uniforms while the rest of the picture is black and white.

Anthony B. high fives a player before a game. He coaches high school baseball, and they won the 2022 Pennsylvania State High School Championship.

A kid's flag football team smiles at the camera with Ryan Fitzpatrick

Lydy and her family are big fans of Ryan Fitzpatrick who she says is an all-around great guy. When he was quarterback for the Commanders and was injured, he still participated in the community by co-coaching her son’s basketball and flag football teams!