He’s a true Artsis
Web guru gets behind scenes with athletes
Michael Artsis, who last week built a Web site for http://www.jockskillz.com, went to Jets camp in Cortland and within four days put together a 30-minute show for Time Warner Cable.
The enterprising Artsis, who has coined ArtsisAccess to define his brand, shot footage of Jets practice. He also conducted player and fan interviews, did the editing in his hotel room and in the press box, wrote the script and produced the graphics. And, with his trusted iPhone, accompanied Chansi Stuckey (pictured with Artsis), Jerricho Cotchery, James Ihedigbo and Marquis Cole for an exclusive dinner at a local restaurant.
“I have always been interested in doing stuff behind the scenes,” Artsis, 29, tells the Rumble. “As reporters, we get to see a lot of cool stuff. Stuff we dreamed of being part of as kids. So did our friends and family. Except they don’t get to see it. What I bring them is Artsis Access. Who these athletes really are and what makes them tick. I do things no one else does.”
The show aired earlier this week and will air again Wednesday, Thursday and Aug. 20 on Time Warner Cable in New Jersey and possibly in New York City on a different channel. It is available on On Demand on Time Warner Cable Channel 1111 under sports citywide and in N.J. as well.
And, of course, on Jockskillz. Artsis also is planning diet and cooking videos as well as a Jets Cars video.
“Dustin Keller has a sweet ride,” Artsis said. “It’s a modified Mercedes S class with special huge rims and his initials instead of S class and the model number on the back. [David] Clowney has done some nice work to his Chevy Avalanche too.”
Giants wed to success
There’s certainly no lack of commitment around the Giants. As they embark on a season that they hope ends with another Super Bowl ring, a bunch of them arrived at training camp at the University at Albany wearing another sort of jewelry: wedding bands.
Five players used their down-time to get married: tight end Kevin Boss, center Shaun O’Hara, defensive tackle Fred Robbins, linebacker Bryan Kehl and offensive lineman Kevin Boothe tied the knot. If that wasn’t enough bliss, wide receiver David Tyree and his wife, Leilah, renewed their wedding vows after five years of marriage.
“Did it out in Puerto Rico on our anniversary, June 26,” Tyree told The Post’s Paul Schwartz. “When I got married I was pretty much flat-broke after ruining all my money, so we couldn’t do anything nice. Had about 85 family and friends.”
Boss got hitched to Breanna on July 4 at his home in Oregon.
“Some people try to argue that having a girlfriend or a wife takes your mind off of football or you can’t stay focused but I really think it’s the other way around,” Boss said. “You’re not out there chasing girls. You know you got your wife back home to come home to and she’s always got your back.”
Jets revved up for NASCAR
The Jets had a special guest at their Thursday night scrimmage at SUNY Cortland — NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski, who is coming off a win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Iowa 250.
Keselowski is in the Cortland area to race in today’s Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International Raceway. He and his crew watched the Jets’ scrimmage from the sideline and afterward met coach Rex Ryan and some players. He and Ryan exchanged helmets, with Keselowski getting an autographed Jets helmet and Ryan getting a signed Keselowski racing helmet.
“You guys are crazy,” Ryan told him. “I get whiplash watching you guys go around the track.”
Several Jets players spent their day off Friday at Watkins Glen watching some racing.
“I’m going to hang out with my boy Jimmie Johnson,” kicker Jay Feely said.
Swisher’s ‘amazing’ picture with Ali
Nick Swisher didn’t get to shake Muhammad Ali’s hand or speak to the legendary boxer but that didn’t take away from the Yankees outfielder being around Ali Thursday night at Yankee Stadium.
When the Yankees players gathered around Ali at home plate for a picture, Swisher jumped into the front row and was close to Ali.
“It was amazing, I was like, Holy [spit], he was one foot from me,” Swisher said. “The music they played when they introduced him and showing clips of his fight at Yankee Stadium, it was all amazing. One word, amazing.”
Little Leaguers time to shine
The road to the Little League World Series will begin on MSG on Wednesday at 10 a.m. with the Mid-Atlantic and New England Regional Tournaments in Bristol, Conn.
Throughout the six live games telecast on MSG, the network will air interviews with New York Mets and Yankees players and Rangers captain Chris Drury talking about their youth baseball experiences.
MSG’s John Giannone will call play-by-play for the games, alongside NESN’s Lou Merloni who will serve as analyst. MSG’s Tina Cervasio, a former NESN Red Sox reporter, will join them on the telecasts as a sideline reporter.
South Shore National Little League and Somerset Hills Little League will represent for New York and New Jersey respectively at the tournament, the two teams meet up on Wednesday at 7 p.m. live on MSG.
Former Big Blue greats Spa bound
NFL Alumni Day at Saratoga Race Course will host several former members of Big Blue, who will gather at the Spa to meet fans and sign autographs tomorrow.
Giants retired standouts Erich Barnes, Jim Burt, Derek Brown, Chris Calloway, Rodney Hampton, Leonard Marshall and Karl Nelson will join dozens of other NFL legends, including Hall of Famers Carl Eller (Vikings) and Bobby Bell (Chiefs), for a charity autograph session from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The cost is $20 per person with proceeds to benefit Wildwood Foundation and Northeast Parent & Child Society. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to insure their place in line.
Other former gridiron greats who will participate in the annual NFL Alumni Day include Emerson Boozer and Marc Gastineau from the Jets; Mercury Morris and Earl Morrall of the Dolphins; Louis Lipps and Greg Lloyd from the Steelers.