{"id":82567,"date":"2019-06-11T12:54:38","date_gmt":"2019-06-11T12:54:38","guid":{"rendered":"\/rcntv\/?p=82567"},"modified":"2023-04-14T19:27:23","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T19:27:23","slug":"barr-higher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/barr-higher\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u201cBarr\u201d is Higher"},"content":{"rendered":"

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Our wrestling fans and there are many of them are not easy to please.\u00a0 They want more dual meets on television; they want the tournaments televised; they want to argue the opinions of others, etc.\u00a0 In other words, they love their sport and they are willing to speak up about it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s rare when you find common ground.\u00a0 I think I have found it \u2013 Scott Barr \u2013 the RCN-TV wrestling announcer.\u00a0 The locals love his knowledge and relish his opinions whether they agree or disagree.\u00a0 Wrestlers and wrestling fans certainly know who he is. And now, it appears, he has also been discovered by the national media – more on that in a bit.<\/p>\n

Scott started with us in 1985.\u00a0 I previously knew Scott as a former student of mine, a member of our very successful Scholastic Scrimmage team, and, eventually, a fellow teacher.\u00a0 He wrestled in high school and had moderate success.\u00a0 But when it came to in-depth understanding of just about anything, he doggedly would do the research.<\/p>\n

Many years ago, I found myself doing high school wrestling for the RCN telecasts.\u00a0 I played football, basketball, and baseball.\u00a0 I did not wrestle.\u00a0 I certainly needed someone alongside me who truly understood the sport and was very verbal.\u00a0 I immediately thought of Scott.<\/p>\n

He was terrific from day one.\u00a0 He not only knew the sport; he set out to become as knowledgeable about it as anyone with whom I ever worked.\u00a0 It became his passion to the point where, in 1997, he authored a book about District XI<\/a> wrestling called Wrestling Country.\u00a0 And just this past April, Scott was inducted into the District XI Wrestling Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n

He is equally adept at other sports having done baseball, soccer, boxing, volleyball, kickboxing, etc.\u00a0 I am always confident going into a broadcast with Scott by my side.\u00a0 And, perhaps, his greatest skill is demonstrated every year during the Dream Come True<\/a> Telethon when he mans our auction segments.\u00a0 QVC<\/a> announcers have nothing on him.<\/p>\n

That brings me to the National Wrestling Media Association<\/a>.\u00a0 Their Mission Statement is, \u201cThe\u00a0National\u00a0Wrestling Media Association (NWMA) is the national professional organization for journalists who cover the sport of amateur wrestling. This includes reporters, editors, publishers, webmasters, photographers, broadcasters, sports information directors and other media professionals who share an interest and involvement in the sport.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scott has been nominated by this group as their Broadcaster of the Year.\u00a0 That\u2019s right \u2013 the RCN-TV guy!<\/p>\n

\"Scott<\/a><\/p>\n

The other nominees are Shawn Kenney and Jim Gibbons.\u00a0 Kenney works for ESPN<\/a> and does play-by-play for college football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and the NCAA<\/a> and ACC wrestling championships.\u00a0 Jim Gibbons is a three-time wrestling All-American, former Iowa State<\/a> wrestling coach, and is a wrestling analyst for the Big Ten Network<\/a> and ESPN.\u00a0 He won NCAA championships as a wrestler and a coach.\u00a0 This is formidable company, for sure.<\/p>\n

I know the clich\u00e9 in award shows is that, \u201cIt is just an honor to be nominated\u201d.\u00a0 But, in this case, truer words could not be spoken.\u00a0 When you look at the space Scott is occupying with the other nominees, it truly is an honor for both our RCN wrestling coverage team and, more specifically, for Scott himself. The winner will be announced later this year.\u00a0 I would love to see a huge upset in this heavyweight class.<\/p>\n

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. As I write this, the NBA finals are not over quite yet, but the Toronto Raptors<\/a> are one game from clinching the championship. And I don\u2019t know if there is a better basketball player right now than Kawhi Leonard.\u00a0 He makes almost 60% of his shots, over 40% from 3-point land, and 90% of his free throws.\u00a0 And\u2026 he makes everyone around him better.\u00a0 Stephen Curry with Kevin Durant may be better as a pair.\u00a0 Without Durant, Leonard is the best.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. What would you do? Scott Berry bet $400 in Las Vegas at the beginning of the NHL<\/a> season that his hometown St. Louis Blues<\/a> would win the Stanley Cup.\u00a0 The odds were 250-1.\u00a0 In other words, if the Blues win Game 7, he will pocket $100,000.\u00a0 He could help his cause by betting on the Bruins<\/a> now to insure he makes a profit or he could sell his ticket on the swap market.\u00a0 He says he was offered $75,000 to sell.\u00a0 He has declined all the offers.\u00a0 Wednesday night at 8:00pm is Game 7.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. I woke up this morning to the news that David Ortiz (Big Papi) was shot in a bar in the Dominican Republic. The gunman was beaten rather badly by the patrons in the bar.\u00a0 Ortiz, according to the doctors, had serious injuries, but is out of danger.\u00a0 Why he was shot remains a mystery.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. The Notre Dame<\/a> baseball team continues its run towards a PIAA<\/a> state championship this week. The championship game is Thursday with the semifinals scheduled for Monday.\u00a0 Go Crusaders!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. Blue Mountain League <\/a>baseball coverage continues next Tuesday with Martins Creek taking on Northampton. The BML Game of the Week comes on at 9:30 PM.\u00a0 Join the RCN-TV sports team.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

             <\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. 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