A former award-winning sports reporter and communications coordinator for the Houston Texans, who also happens to be the niece of country superstar, Dierks Bentley. Brooke Bentley is familiar with the toxicity of sports culture. In her timely debut novel Sideline Confidential (summer 2023), Brooke explores the challenges and discrimination women face in the male-dominated world of professional sports. I hope you’ll consider Brooke for interview this fall. She can discuss her own experiences facing sexual harassment while working in sports and with the NFL -- from being forced to ride a separate bus to not being allowed to interview players in the locker room to having a consensual relationship with a high-profile figure weaponized against her. I'm sure you can imagine that Brooke is comfortable in the broadcast arena.

ABOUT THE BOOK

From former sports anchor and award-winning sports journalist Brooke Bentley comes Sideline Confidential – a behind-the-scenes peek at the obstacles and double standards facing women in the male-dominated space of sports journalism. 

When young sports journalist Blake Kirk lands her dream gig – working as a reporter for her hometown’s pro football team – she anticipates many of the challenges that accompany the gig – long hours in the office and on the field, many days of travel, immense pressure to succeed as a woman in sports journalism. What she doesn’t expect are the double standards and old-school entitlement that trip her up at every turn. From day one, Blake faces off with her boss who does everything in his power to make her job difficult—from forcing her to ride a separate bus to the games; to blocking her from interviewing players in the locker room; to pushing her to “network” with colleagues at a strip club. As suggestive notes appear on her desk and a consensual celebrity hookup is weaponized against her, Blake’s dream devolves into a nightmare, and she is forced to choose between her dignity and her career.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brooke Bentley is a former television anchor and award-winning sports reporter. After graduating with a master’s in journalism from the University of Southern California, she spent two years working for the Houston Texans as a media personality and over a decade working in sports journalism. Brooke now devotes her time to championing local nonprofits, including Homemade Hope, where she served as the development director. She and her husband live in Houston and are raising two young boys. 

Sideline Confidential is Brooke’s debut novel, where she shares her firsthand knowledge of the challenges women professionals face in the male-dominated world of professional sports.

Dena Ali is a battalion chief in the Raleigh (NC) Fire Department with 15 years of service. She has a master’s in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Rick Bava is part of the leadership team at Today's Senior Magazine. He celebrates 11 years, with Today's Senior Magazine, the leading #publication serving #babyboomers and #seniors. In addition to his Business leadership, he has maintained the celebrated column, The Baby Boomer Corner- Today's Senior Magazine.

Rick Bava is considered a Baby Boomer thought leader- and is the Author of-- the celebrated book--" In Search of the Baby Boomer Generation."

Today's Senior Magazine -Established in 2004-- serving #babyboomers and #seniors - www.todayssr.com

Patrick is a consultant specializing in political campaigns, advocacy and small business development. He previously served as the Executive Director of the District of Columbia Republican Committee, America’s only fully urban state GOP organization. The first Republican ever elected to the DC State Board of Education, Patrick represented Washington, DC’s, most racially diverse ward for a full four year term.

A staunch advocate for parental choice in education, he was the Board’s sole representative to the National Association of State Boards of Education’s Government Affairs Committee where he helped shape national education policy. Long active in politics, Patrick ran for DC Council and served as an Alternate Delegate (2008) and Delegate (2012) at two Republican National Conventions. With over two decades of campaign experience, Patrick has worked and volunteered on dozens of campaigns at the local, state, Congressional and Presidential levels. Earlier in his career Patrick worked on Capitol Hill for a U.S. Senator; at the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as a contractor; and later lobbied both the Legislative and Executive branches of the Federal government on behalf of technology, education and energy clients.

Patrick currently serves on the Washington Latin Public Charter School Board of Governors which is among DC’s highest performing schools. Before earning an entrepreneurship-focused MBA from Babson College, Patrick graduated from Marist College with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Political Science. He is past President of the Marist College Alumni Executive Board and past Board of Trustees alumni representative. Patrick and his wife live in the Randle Highlands neighborhood of Washington, DC with their two young sons.

David Berez is a retired Police Officer and Drug Recognition Expert, having served more than 20 years with the East Windsor Police Department and a total of 33 years in Emergency Services. Mr. Berez is the President and Founder of Six4 Consultants, a Public Safety Consulting Firm. Mr. Berez is also a published author, featured columnist, guest speaker and panelist on a variety of Public Safety discussions. Mr. Berez is a Resiliency Program Officer and Master Master Resiliency Trainer. He is a facilitator for "Resilient Minds on the Front Lines," "The Power of our Story," and a consultant for NJ's State Resilience Program for LE. In 2022, Mr. Berez was named to the Law Enforcement Advisory Counsel for Citizens Behind the Badge. Mr. Berez is currently earning his Masters of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.