Dedicated to the memory of Ralphie Onadakis,
a poor fictional match boy, trademarked at birth, who had but one dream: To become a highly-paid and respected media relations director in minor league sports.
Sadly, Ralphie was cut down in his prime, stricken with Digitalis Slothentoza, a slowing of the fingers while typing.
Unable to perform the job he loved, he wandered the streets homeless for many years, then changed his name, and became the GM of a major league sports franchise. A sad end for a lad with boundless enthusiasm and promise.
In his name MLN presents these awards annually to the men and women who sneer in the face of deadlines, who to show no fear crabby visiting broadcasters,
who get us the scores, stats, and interviews that make the job
of this organization just a tiny bit easier.
Chosen by the editors of MLN from amongst more thanfour-score of their peers,
we salute the hard work
of the media relations staff
and broadcasters
at hundreds of teams
around the nation. |
Cameron has handled events large and small, including the Eastern League All-Star game, playoff runs, and run-of-the-mill requests without a hitch.
At a recent off-season visit to Kennebunk High School, he even inspired one of our writer's kids want to become a PR director one day. How very Ralphie.
Cameron began his baseball career as an intern for the Detroit Tigers Spring Training Camp in 1998. He returned back to college to finish in 1999, graduating from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in Sport Management.
He joined the Sea Dogs full-time in 1999, serving as the Ticket Office Manager. Chris moved to his current position in 2001, just about the time that Minor League News began publishing full-tilt.
Cameron was one of the first media relations directors to embrace the idea of an independent national media outlet. Prior to MLN, there was a small website run by Minor League Baseball, a few fan sites, and precious little else. The Sea Dogs were an early adopter of the internet to get the word out.
Chris has been part of the vast improvements in the information stream coming from the team's website.
Wrapping his eighth season in baseball and seventh with the Sea Dogs organization, we think that he's the kind of PR guy that the Red Sox, or any major organization, could find a media MVP.
Cameron's one listed honor was SNHU's "Sport Management Award." He can now add the Ralphie for PR Director of the Year 2005 to his resume.
Originally from Brunswick, he now makes Portland his home town.
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