South Jersey Magazine - Marlton / Medford

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SJM_Joey Fatone_0624_Cancer_7_09 6 / 26 / 24 3 : 19 PM Page 4 acting , hosting , podcasting , etc . — do you gravitate toward one more than the others ? Honestly , the music thing has been the most rewarding . To invent and produce a show that started as “ Joey Fatone and Friends , ” then AFTR PRTY with [ Boyz II Men’s ] Wanya Morris , AJ McLean and Nick Carter [ of the Backstreet Boys ] , to now “ A Legendary Night ” with AJ , it’s re - ally been cool because I missed the mu - sic . I didn’t want to do an album or any - thing crazy , I just wanted to perform and make people happy , and that’s really been my drive the last few years . In the rare times when you don’t have a lot going on at once , how do you like to unwind ? Any particular hobbies or passions ? I love vacations … I love hanging out . I go on some kind of trip every few months and do nothing but just hang out . So , you are on this tour through the end of the summer , but what comes next ? Anything on the horizon you can share with us ? We announced dates through August and I’m working on a few things . Maybe return to Broadway , maybe do a film . You’re also a father to two daughters . How challenging is it to raise children when you’re living your life in the public eye ? They are used to it . I keep life pretty sim - ple and they are enjoying some of the benefits . The crazy thing is they are nine years apart , so it’s challenging in some areas . My oldest is 23 , she is indepen - dent . My 14 - year - old still needs rides to school , to after - school events and other things . People come up and ask , “ Are you Joey Fatone ? ” I’m like , “ Yes , I am ! ” They are surprised I do the normal things like other parents do . Now that they are getting a bit older , how has your relationship with them grown ? My oldest and I really have some deep conversations about life . My youngest is enjoying her own life and both of them have no desire to be in entertainment . They both are turning into young ladies . It’s crazy to think I’m their dad ? [ laughs ] . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 21 issue 3 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 17

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SJM_People_MartySmith_6_24_REG1_Dept 6 / 26 / 24 10 : 57 AM Page 1 “ I still don’t know how to rationalize that this is my life , ” Smith says . In July , he will get to experience another special moment when he and his wife Lainie serve as grand marshals in Ocean City’s annual Night in Venice boat parade . One may wonder how a Virginia native who now lives in North Carolina ends up being front and center for one of the Jersey Shore’s biggest nights , but it’s not as far - fetched as you may imagine . Smith’s wife grew up in Ocean City , and in 1995 she was actually named Miss Night in Venice . After the two met at Radford University , Smith got to know her beloved Shore town well during visits and fell in love , too . Nine years ago , the family bought a summer home there and Smith has been enjoying every moment since . Whether he’s working on a book or recording a pod - cast inside Ocean City Coffee or hitting up a local surf shop for some gear , he has fully embraced his home away from home . “ I work 10 to 10 ½ months nonstop , so when I get here in mid - June ever year , I try very hard to unplug and focus on my family and being intentional with my time with my wife and kids . And the energy in Ocean City affords me that because everyone here is in this relaxed mode by Peter Proko where it’s pickleball in the morning , the beach in the afternoon , and cornhole , the grill and cold beers in the evening . ” We spoke to Smith to hear about his love affair with Ocean City , his time at ESPN and more . Living You’ve talked before about how getting cut Q & A from your col - in the lege baseball team was a devastating moment in your life . But how did it propel you to where you are today ? It was a very important moment in my Moment journey , a line of demarcation . In high WHETHER HE’S COVERING THE SPORTS WORLD’S school I played football in the fall , basket - ball in the winter , baseball from the spring BIGGEST EVENTS FOR ESPN OR ESCAPING TO throughthe summer . I went to Carson - OCEAN CITY WITH HIS FAMILY , MARTY SMITH IS NewmanUniversity first and had a posi - GRATEFUL FOR IT ALL . tionon the baseball team — it was my entire identity . So when I get to Radford and I get cut , I lost a piece of myself that I During his career working at ESPN , Marty Smith readily admits he has didn’t realize was as important as it was . had several eye - opening moments . Among them are having his first one - on - one inter - I sulked over it for several weeks . I viewwith Tiger Woods , chugging a beer live on TV with his good friend Dale Earnhardt Jr . don’t care who you are , whether your last orstanding on the University of Alabama sideline when now - Philadelphia Eagle Devonta high school football game is the last orga - Smithcaught the game - winning touchdown to seal the victory in the 2018 College Foot - nized team sport opportunity you have or ballChampionship . your Tom Brady or Peyton Manning and Smithhas now been with the network for 19 years , a feat that “ just blows my mind , ” you play at the highest level for 20 years hesays . During that time he’s not only interviewed some of the biggest names in the and go out on your own terms , when it’s sportsand entertainment world , but also shown great versatility covering several dif - over there is a substantial void in your life . ferentsports ranging from college football and basketball to golf and NASCAR . He’s I didn’t know how I’d fill it , but then I got reportedlive from major events like the Daytona 500 , The Kentucky Derby , The Masters invited by a young lady to go to the sports andmany more . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 21 issue 3 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 18 |

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