Melissa Stark

Melissa Stark (born November 11, 1973) in Baltimore, Maryland, was an American Television personality, Television Journalist, Sports anchor, and Sportscaster as she was best known for her 7 year stint with ESPN/ABC Sports (1996-2003) as most notably for her three-year stint as a sideline reporter for Monday Night Football (2000-2003). She is currently working as a Senior Executive for Accenture's Energy as her gig will begin in February 2009. As before getting that role she was a regular on NBC News/MSNBC/NBC Sports as she abruptly left in December 2008.

TV Stints

She began her career at WMAR-TV, Baltimore, Maryland in January 1991-January 1993 as a News Anchor working on the assignment desk.

Stark was a Correspondent for the “CBS Evening News with Dan Rather and Connie Chung,” in January 1993 for 12 months.

In January 1994-January 1996 where she wrote scripts and assembled background information on investigative pieces for Health correspondent, Dr. Bob Arnot. From January 1994-January 1996, Stark was a production assistant and reporter for Virginia Sports Marketing in Charlottesville, Virginia for UVA’s Coach’s TV Show, which aired in all major markets in Virginia.

ESPN/ABC Sports/Monday Night Football

Stark joined ESPN in January 1996 as the host of the weekly program “Scholastic Sports America,” where she traveled across the United States covering high school and college sports focusing on human interest and issue related stories. Stark reported for ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” where she served as a regular contributor to “NFL Countdown” and the Emmy Award winning show, “Outside the Lines.” Stark was also the “SportsCenter” site host for the NBA Playoffs, NBA Finals, and covered all national stories including, Major League Baseball, the World Series, the Final Four, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Stanley Cup Finals, NHL, Golf and NCAA basketball for the network.

In July 2000, Stark was the lead sideline reporter for ABC Sports’ “Monday Night Football,” for three years, which included ABC’s coverage of Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego in January 2003. Stark replaced Lesley Visser who became the first woman on MNF. Stark also served as a reporter for ABC Sports’ coverage of Figure Skating, the NFL Pro Bowl and celebrity Golf events. She also co-hosted the network's coverage of the Millenium Tournament Rose Parade show for ABC News.

In 2001, Stark got the sports worlds attention when she was detained in Mexico after a security guard, not knowing she worked for ABC Sports while covering an NFL game, refused her, Al Michaels, Dennis Miller, Dan Fouts, and Eric Dickerson entry into the stadium where the game was being played. The detention lasted a while before the matter was resolved and the charges dropped. Stark admits to being quite embarrassed that she couldn't communicate with Mexican police since Spanish was one of her majors.[2]As Stark came up with this statement:

"When we were in Mexico City, the whole crew, Al, Dennis, Dan, and Eric were all relying on me to have communications with the drivers. A bunch of the people who lived in Mexico City wouldn't let us into the stadium, and everyone's saying, "Melissa, get out and talk to them. You know how to speak Spanish." There was some sort of misunderstanding outside the stadium, and we were out there for 45 minutes or so, just waiting to get in. I felt like I let the team down.

So, I'm embarrassed to say I'm not very fluent at all."

In May 2003, it was announced that Stark would not return to MNF as she lasted 3 seasons of MNF, as she wasn't seen on ESPN or ABC Sports since January 26, 2003 as she said to the USA Today that she loved Monday Night Football, especially working it with Al Michaels and John Madden. She was replaced by Lisa Guerrero.

In addition to her sports reporting, Stark has appeared as a guest co-host on "The View” and was the co-host of ABC Entertainment’s 2001 pilot presentation of CThe Runner,” a prime-time reality based program conceived by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and produced by Michael Davies.

After the 2003 NFL Pro Bowl, Stark left ESPN after an internal affairs issue. According to sources, Stark's behavior was causing some dissonance among the male anchors. Head anchor Chris Berman reportedly had a conversation with Stark asking her to stop "spooning it out" to the likes of Trey Wingo and Craig Kilborn. However, the etymology of the term "spooning it out" is still unclear.

NBC News/NBC Sports/MSNBC

In July 2003, she joined NBC News and NBC Sports as she began working on NBC'S Today Show as a National Correspondent, then as a reuglar sub. co-anchor of the Today Show and worked as an Anchor for MSNBC Live from 1-5 P.M. Melissa also covered for sports was Thoroughbred Racing on NBC, and NHL on NBC. Melissa was also a sports journalist for nbcsports.com. Stark made her debut on NBC News on December 26, 2003 on NBC'S Today and made her debut on MSNBC Live on December 29, 2003. Stark would also be a regular sub. anchor on Early Today.

On February 3, 2004 she became co-anchor of Weekend Today with Lester Holt, and Campbell Brown. She anchored it for 2 and a half years.

Beginning on May 1, 2004 she became a Reporter for NBC'S Horse Racing Team and debuted on NBC Sports as she made her debut on the Kentucky Derby. Since then she has been a regular on the horse racing team.

Melissa became a contributor to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens for NBC Sports, MSNBC and NBC News. She also distinguished herself as the swimming and diving reporter at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics.

Melissa for the 04-05 season became the lead reporter for the NHL telecasts. But the NHL went on strike so she only worked half the season. Stark returned to the same role for the 05-06 season for NBC Sports as she covered the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, and the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

On December 31, 2005, Stark participated as a reporter for NBC 's New Year's Eve coverage, hosted by Carson Daly. She also participated in doing it the next year.

Stark also became a contributor to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino for NBC Sports, MSNBC, and NBC News. Melissa covered speed skating as a reporter.

Melissa Stark said on December 21, 2006 she has stepped down as the lead reporter for NBC'S NHL coverage. She lasted 2 and a half seasons. Stark covered the Stanley Cup Finals, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the NHL Coverage. She has also resigned as the lead Correspondent for NBC'S Today and has also stepped down as a co-anchor of Weekend Today and as a regular Sub. Co-Anchor for the Today Show. Stark will be on part-time on NBC'S Today. Replacing her as the lead correspondent is Natile Morales. Her replacement on the NHL Telecasts will be Mike Milbury. She will continue to work as the hostess of MSNBC Live, she will also still be a journalist for nbcsports.com, and will only cover horse racing on NBC Sports TV.

Stark made her decision to leave the NHL telecasts and Today after being home for only once a week in a seven-week span during her work on Today and the NHL. She was the first candidate for Sunday Night Football which she turned down as if she didn't she would reunite with Al Michaels, and John Madden which she worked with on MNF on ABC Sports.

"I was a reporter who always missed my family and by the time it got to December I was so tired to report because it required a tremendous amount of travel, so now am part-time on Today as am still on MSNBC Live every single day, said Stark in her home of Rumson, New Jersey. I want to spend more time with my family as I had to miss the activities my boys did all year so now am able to see everything now."

Stark had spent the past two and a half seasons working on the NHL on NBC and had been part of the Finals' coverage in 2006. Her final NHL assignment will be the New Year's Day coverage of January 1, 2007 as she will work the New Year's Eve Coverage on NBC.

Stark will still be on NBC News it's just that you'll see her on MSNBC mostly.Stark does the 1 p.m. hour with Andrea Mitchell, then at 2 p.m. with Melissa Francis, then a t 3 p.m. with Norah O'Donnell, and at 4 p.m. with David Shuster.

Beginning on July 27, 2008 MSNBC anchor and Today show correspondent Melissa Stark returned to NBC Sports full-time as she is anchoring an NBC Sports update on Saturday July 27, 2008. Stark's role is to give the breaking news of the sports world and to give the latest scores of each game. Stark, it turns out, is continuing her on again-off again role with NBC Sports. She is mostly seen on NBC Sports covering the horse races. She will be on MSNBC serving as Studio host for the network's 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing coverage which she did. The competition on MSNBC includes softball, soccer, beach volleyball, wrestling, basketball, volleyball and weightlifting. Stark was the speed skating reporter during NBC's coverage of the 2006 Torino Games and the swimming and diving reporter at the 2004 Athens Games.

In her latest sports assignment outside of the NBC Sports Update was when she anchored MSNBC's weekday afternoon coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Melissa Stark said on November 24, 2008 that she has also stepped down as the anchor for MSNBC Live. She lasted 5 years. Stark has also resigned as a part-time Correspondent for NBC'S Today, as a journalist for nbcsports.com, horse racing and the NBC Sports Update on NBC Sports TV.

She announced it on her Monday edition of MSNBC Live about her leaving the show as she said this:

"Well, before we leave this edition of MSNBC Live Actually there are some things that are new. I guess this is the appropriate time for me to share my future plans. I wanted to tell all of you out there who have watched the show for the past 5 years that, after listening to my heart and my gut, two things that have served me well in the past, I've decided I'll be leaving MSNBC Live, NBA Sports, and the "Today" show at the end of December. The day after my 5th anniversary as Anchor of MSNBC Live.

It was really a very difficult decision for a lot of reasons. First of all because of the connection I feel with you. I know I don't know the vast majority of you personally and it may sound kind of corny, but I really feel as if we've become friends through the 5 years together.

And you've been with me during a lot of good times. And some very difficult ones as well. And hopefully, I've been there for you.

I can't tell you how grateful I am for the support you all have given me. And I so appreciate that you've included me in your afternoon routine.

Another reason that this decision was so difficult is my relationships with the people on this wonderful show. And I'm thinking about the crew in the control room and all my friends at NBC News and Sports and MSNBC. The notion that we're a family is not just some cheesy promotional device.

I really care deeply about the people here. From everyone who works behind th e scenes. To the faces that are familiar to all of you. But I could not have asked for a more talented partner or better friend. Just as Dorothy said to the scarecrow. "I think I'll miss you most of all." And as what Katie Couric would say when she left the Today Show as she said sometimes "change is a good thing".

It's been such an honor and a privilege to occupy this seat for as long as I have. One of the things that I've always appreciated about MSNBC/NBC is that I was able to hold news and sports anchor positions. On December 30th I will celebrate my 5th anniversary. Not only was I thrilled that I was celebrating my anniversary, but I was also reassured that it's an institution that will continue to grow and thrive because of all the extraordinarily dedicated pe ople who work here. And care about the show as passionately as I do.

But sometimes I think change is a good thing as what Katie Couric would say as I just mentioned. Although it may be terrifying to get out of your comfort zone, it's also exciting to start a new chapter in your life. "It has been a great 5 years working for news as I want this postion working as a senior executive for Accenture's Energy " I have said this before that MSNBC made me were am at today as a very recognizable TV Personality and a great Newscaster."

So for now, it's not goodbye — at least not yet. But a heartfelt thank you for 5 great years. That wraps up this Edition of MSNBC Live am Melissa Stark and I'll see you tomorrow.

Stark's final day as anchor of MSNBC Live was on December 30, 2008 as that was the day after her 5th anniversary on MSNBC Live.

Personal

Melissa Stark is the daughter of Walter Stark, a world renowned eye surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD.

Stark has a degree in Foreign Affairs and Spanish from the University of Virginia. While in college, she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority [2].

Her husband, Michael Lilley, is an employee at Goldman Sachs. They have a son born in September 2003.

A new chapter began in earnest on August 23, 2003, when Melissa and Mike welcomed Michael Lilley Jr. into the world.

External links

• MSNBC profile