{"id":77236,"date":"2015-08-17T17:57:18","date_gmt":"2015-08-17T17:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=77236"},"modified":"2023-04-12T19:22:03","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T19:22:03","slug":"sportstalk-shop-two-classy-guys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/sportstalk-shop-two-classy-guys\/","title":{"rendered":"The SportsTalk Shop: Two Classy Guys"},"content":{"rendered":"

I had the pleasure of interviewing two of the most professional and highly regarded people in the sports world recently for our “RCN SportsTalk” show (you can see these shows in their entirety through RCN On-Demand and on our podcasts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Merrill Reese<\/a> is the longest-serving current team announcer in the NFL and has become the sports voice of the entire Delaware Valley region.\u00a0 Growing up in a region that already featured broadcasting icons By Saam, Bill Campbell, Gene Hart, Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn, Reese’s calls are as memorable as nearly any Eagles <\/a>play on the field since 1977.\u00a0 Like Kalas, many of the Birds’ greatest moments and team highlights are accompanied by Reese’s calls, and the Eagles’ main radio affiliate, WIP, synchronizes their broadcast with television stations, so that people watching the game can turn down the TV announcers, and hear Merrill’s calls in real time.\u00a0 Many local stations\u2019 nightly sportscasters, when showing highlights of the Eagles, will stop talking so viewers can hear Reese’s voice and opinions as a play unfolds.<\/p>\n

It wouldn’t be a true Eagles game if their fans couldn’t hear Merrill’s calls either during or after the game.\u00a0 It was great to speak with him recently and get his thoughts on the Eagles training camp, the team\u2019s biggest roster additions, and his outlook on the Redskins<\/a>, Cowboys <\/a>and Giants<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tony Gwynn, Jr. is the son of baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, Sr<\/a>., and has carved out a nice career for himself–currently playing with the Washington Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate.\u00a0 Like his dad, Gwynn, Jr. plays the game hard and rarely makes mental mistakes, and has always treated his teammates, coaches, fans, and the game itself, with the upmost respect.\u00a0 I had a chance to interview both father and son a few times over the years when they were in Philadelphia\u2014Tony, Sr. as a visiting player and Tony, Jr. when he played first against, and then for, Philadelphia.\u00a0 Few people come close to this pair who combined professionalism with great baseball insights.\u00a0 It was my pleasure to once again catch up with Tony, Jr. recently to speak with him about some current baseball issues, along with his memories of his father.<\/p>\n

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Here are samples of both of our interviews.<\/p>\n

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