Blog 4: Is College Important? And More Beliefs on Good Sports Broadcasts

 Problogue:  In this blog, you'll learn my thoughts on starting a sports broadcasting career by getting a college degree as opposed to getting actual experience on the air, bypassing college;  also, here are some more of my ideas about good sports play-by-play broadcasting.--RC

There is an ongoing debate: do sportscasters need a college degree to have success in the field?  or is experience more important?

Personally, I took the long, winding road through the small gyms and fields in Nebraska and Kansas City to get experience.  I feel pretty good about that kind of education, I think it's served my talent and personality pretty well.  As a reviewer told me years ago, you're not nationwide but you continue to get paid for what you love to do.

Point is: I'm not nationwide.  I'm okay with that, mostly, as at 58 years old it's probably not going to
happen.

If I were to do it again, I'd hedge my bet and get a college degree in sports broadcast journalism and work as many games as I could for whomever would have me while I was going to school.  Again, I suggest this because different tools and credibility help ascend the ladder.

Not that I'd trade my practical training, along with teaching and coaching for two decades, for any other experience.

Learning is never wasted; there are, however, many types of learning.

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I have a set of well-defined beliefs about sports broadcasting that I've learned through all those times of doing all those games in a phone booth over 40+ years.  Those beliefs may be old-school, but I absolutely believe in them, and I teach them to young broadcasters.

Here are some:

• The game story is the most important thing.
• As a broadcaster, you are not a part of the game story.
• Talent for broadcast preparation is essential.
• Preparation for the broadcast is more important, by far, than voice talent.
• Preparation for the broadcast is more important, by far, than cute phrases or signature calls.
• Preparation for the broadcast is more important, by far, than "style".
• Announcing the score is the most important statistic you can use, except perhaps on video/TV broadcasts when the score is contained on a live graphic.
• You must have an idea who your audience is.  If you don't have data about your audience, you can probably figure it out on your own by asking yourself:
• Who hired me?
• Where is this game being broadcast?
• How is this game being broadcast?  Hint: If it's online, you can bet that the opponent has some fans listening/watching as well.
• Talk more slowly than feels comfortable; you are essentially a storyteller.  Would you want your grandfather to rush through a story he was telling you?
• Know the correct pronunciation of names.  Where do you get those?  Start with the coach, school official, or even just ask the player in question.
• If you make a mistake in any aspect of your broadcast, be transparent and apologize.  Once.  And only once.
• Don't be sophomoric.  Be professional, even if you actually are a sophomore and are announcing your first game.  Even then, be professional.  Go light on the criticism, witticism and jokes.  If you're nervous, that's OK, but don't try to cover it with silly stuff.
• Don't criticize a player, unless you could actually make the play yourself with your skills.
• Take it easy of refs/umpires.  They're good people, actually, and can be a great source of information.
• You've done a pretty good job if your audience enjoyed the broadcast, but doesn't really know your name.

We'll talk more about sportscasting skills later on.  Next time, a look at your favorite/not favorite national announcers, and why you may be emotionally attatched/distanced from them.

Have a good Labor Day weekend!