{"id":85658,"date":"2021-07-19T16:07:48","date_gmt":"2021-07-19T16:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=84814"},"modified":"2023-04-13T15:26:53","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T15:26:53","slug":"announcer-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/announcer-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Announcer 101"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

I believe most sports fans believe they could just jump behind a microphone and do an announcer\u2019s job.\u00a0 Most do not realize the preparation and skill it takes to present the product for the enjoyment of the viewer.\u00a0 It only looks easy because of the work that goes into knowing the players, their teams, and the game itself before you even go on the air.\u00a0 It also helps to surround oneself with a great crew and outstanding fellow announcers.\u00a0 In the many years I have been behind the microphone (50+), I have been blessed with outstanding color analysts \u2013 the ones who create additional information as the action unfolds.<\/p>\n

It all started with Dick Tracy, who probably was the quirkiest of all, but so highly respected that he could say almost anything, never look at the camera, and be received as the true authority of the high school football, basketball, and baseball scenes.\u00a0 He was not television \u201csavvy\u201d but that was part of his charm and mystique and it worked!<\/p>\n

When Dick retired, it left a huge void that needed to be filled and it was my job to find the replacements.\u00a0 I decided that, prior to any interview, I would create a blueprint for the job.\u00a0 Here are the suggestions (in bold type) I tried to instill in my potential recruits:<\/p>\n

MY TOP 10 ANALYST TIPS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

BE PREPARED:
\n<\/strong>Follow all the games each week so you get a feel for the top players, the teams, and the conference.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

BE NATURAL:
\n<\/strong>Try to stay conversational and relaxed. With TV, the pictures can speak for themselves \u2013 just try to add interest to the game. Relax and respond to the situation and the play-by-play guy.<\/p>\n

KNOW THE NAMES:
\n<\/strong>Learn the proper pronunciation prior to the game.\u00a0 Take time to find the names before talking about a play.\u00a0 It is not a panic situation.\u00a0 There is time to find the number and the name in the program.\u00a0 This will become second nature to you with experience.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T HESITATE TO BE HUMOROUS:
\n<\/strong>The only caution is try not to demean a player; you certainly can point out a mistake (but it is still better to give the player who did the right thing more air time). Instead of saying someone badly missed a tackle, give credit to the runner.<\/p>\n

IF YOU THINK YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN\u2019T SAY SOMETHING \u2013 DON\u2019T!<\/strong><\/p>\n

POINT OUT AND CLARIFY:
\n<\/strong>You can truly add to the game by pointing out things – emphasizing a player\u2019s skills, clarifying why a play worked, etc.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T RESPOND TO THE DIRECTOR IN THE HEADSET \u2013 THE PEOPLE AT HOME CAN\u2019T HEAR HIM:
\n<\/strong>If a question is asked by the director, work the answer into the conversation.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

P.S. \u2013 the crew will always try to test a rookie and make him answer a question on the air.\u00a0 You\u2019ve been warned.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T TALK OVER THE PLAY-BY-PLAY MAN:
\n<\/strong>There is ample time to get your analysis in after the play has been called.\u00a0 Relax and jump in at the appropriate time.\u00a0 Remember \u2013 \u201cDead ball is you\u201d; \u201cLive ball is not you\u201d.<\/p>\n

LISTEN:
\n<\/strong>To coaches, sportswriters, players, and play-by-play announcers.\u00a0 Their insights become YOUR insights.<\/p>\n

BE READY FOR THE NOTORIETY:
\n<\/strong>People will eventually get to know you and talk to you at the mall, on the street, at the corner store like you are their friend.\u00a0 I have found that a simple \u201cThank you\u201d for a compliment and an \u201cI\u2019m sorry you feel that way\u201d or \u201cI hope not to do that again\u201d for a valid criticism works pretty well. Remember \u2013 you are a representative of RCN.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I fortunately found Mike Joseph (football), John Leone (college basketball), Tom Stoudt (basketball) and Scott Barr (wrestling and baseball) as the four who fit the bill.\u00a0 I could not have surrounded myself with better people over the years, and for that, I am grateful.<\/p>\n

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

    \n
  1. I did watch the All-Star game because of Shohei Ohtani. I do not know which is better for the game \u2013 his exploits or his personality.\u00a0 He may hit 60 or more home runs this year and win 15 games as a pitcher, but the story I found to be the best was that he donated the $150,000 he won for the Home Run Derby to a couple of dozen members of the LA Angels\u2019 support staff.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. The NBA<\/a> Finals have demonstrated the immense shooting ability, especially from beyond the arc, that exists in the pro game today. These players are amazing in both their accuracy and their ability to shoot despite being guarded so closely.\u00a0 There is certainly defense in the NBA, but, man, there is plenty of offense!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. The San Francisco Giants<\/a> have the best record in baseball and they are managed by Gabe Kapler \u2013 yes, that Gabe Kapler who managed the Phillies<\/a> in 2018 and 2019. The fans couldn\u2019t wait for him to leave town.\u00a0 He loved analytics \u2013 the Phillie fans did not.\u00a0 It appears right now that Kapler knows what he is doing \u2013 analytics says so!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. It was nice this weekend to root for any of the top three as the British Open unfolded \u2013 Oosthuizen, Morikawa, and Spieth are all difficult to root against. It became one of those \u2013 \u201cMay the best man win\u201d kind of competitions.\u00a0 That turned out to be Collin Morikawa.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. Blue Mountain League<\/a> baseball is back on Tuesday this week LIVE at 6:00pm. The game features the the Limeport Dodgers vs. the Northampton Giants.\u00a0 The Limeport Bulls and the Egypt Orioles are on tap next week.\u00a0 Join Chris Michael and me.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

             <\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

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

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I believe most sports fans believe they could just jump behind a microphone and do an announcer\u2019s job.\u00a0 Most do not realize the preparation…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"Yoast SEO Relevanssi index exclude","inline_featured_image":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behind-the-mic"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAnnouncer 101 - ATVN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Announcer 101 - ATVN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"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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