Rich Barrabi Shows Sports Knowledge for Verizon

Growing up in East Meadow, Rich Barrabi knew every sports fact that he could. Today he is able to report all of them and all the current news surrounding New York's sports teams. Barrabi is the Sports Director/Anchor for Verizon FiOS1 Long Island. While he has always wanted a career in sports journalism, the Scranton University grad did not always plan on being in front of the camera.  That move took place while at his first job, working for WLNY.

"I learned so much about this business from the sports anchor at the time over there, CJ Papa and the sports producer Kurt Semder. They both encouraged me, as well as some of the bosses there, to consider moving in front of the camera, and I really took to it," Barrabi said.

During his time at WLNY, Barrabi also served as the arena host for the New York Islanders. His job included interviewing players in between periods that would be broadcast to the fans in the audience. Growing up as an Islander fan it was an experience that Barrabi will never forget.

"It was an amazing experience. I have sat in those stands, I've watched so many games on TV. For someone growing up in East Meadow, that really is a hometown team," Barrabi  said.  "When some of the team's great alumni would come back to the Coliseum, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit starstruck interviewing the likes of Mike Bossy, Brian Trottier and Bobby Nystrom."

In May, Barrabi began his current job for Verizon FiOS1 News.  "The opportunity to come to FiOS1 and cover every local team and every big sporting event has been a one of a kind chance."

At Verizon FiOS1, Barrabi is able to cover and interview all professional athletes that play for New York, but his most memorable moment so far in his career involves a player who ended up deciding to play for another town.  In one day Barrabi covered the introduction of Knicks star Amare Stoudemire and then drove up to Greenwich to cover the LeBron James "decision."

"FiOS1 News was live from outside the building throughout the night, we saw the fans chanting in the beginning of the night, we saw them booing by the end of the night. It was a fascinating day in NBA history and it was an absolute pleasure to be a part of it in a very small way."

Despite rubbing shoulders with New York sports stars, Barrabi still enjoys living in East Meadow hitting up his favorite spots and meeting up with friends around town." I spend a lot of time at , , and some time at the basketball courts by . I still go to all of the local restaurants and stores as well. I'm proud to have grown up in East Meadow and I'm proud to live here today."

You can catch Rich Barrabi and the rest of the Verizon FiOS1 news team throughout the day and night on channel one for Verizon cable customers.