Buckeye Nation,

I need your help!! With a little luck and some crossing of the fingers, I have been selected as a semifinalist for the Gillette Rookie Reporter Showdown 2008. The contest, which pits 48 contestants from 12 locations against one another for a chance to be a reporter at the 2008 World Series, runs from late August (25th) until early-October. I along with other contestants filmed brief commercials earlier this summer promoting the Gillette companies’ body wash, shaving cream, deodorant and shampoo products. These were then turned into short packages which will air over the next few weeks in the local market in which I competed (New York). Each reporter was expected to bring a different flair to their short segments in hopes their originality would stand out and prove to be what puts them over the top. Simply, fans must vote for the participant which they believe best represents the qualities of a professional reporter. The person with the most number of votes advances. First I must move on from the four-person local bracket and if I do, there is a 12-person national final. I auditioned and was selected in the Yankee Stadium bracket. You can vote once per day at http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fan_forum/gillette/reporter/vote.jsp. Please click the Yankees logo as I am in the NY bracket, then click to vote for Dylan Horowitz (under picture). This opportunity is the chance of a lifetime and would be a great way to showcase the quality of Ohio State’s journalism students, which likewise writes for this website. Thank you so much for your support of the website and for allowing us to be your source for Ohio State athletics.