B 4 The Crowds Play by Play Podcast

This was posted one day after Buffalo Bills' safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field from cardiac arrest during Monday Night Football. This is obviously a very scary time and we offer the strongest prayers as Hamlin fights for his life. I discuss the job ESPN did navigating through the broadcast and how difficult that is for a broadcaster.I talk with Rob Adams of WGCH in Greenwich Connecticut about the industry now with all the online access compared to when that was not available. We also play 5 questions.  

In part 2 of my discussion with long-time broadcaster Rob Adams, we talk about his memory of watching Houston Astro star Jose Altuve make is Single-A debut years ago. We also talk about broadcasting pet peeves and what sports related (and related to this podcast) Christmas gift I gave to my children. 

Part 1 of my discussion with long time broadcaster Rob Adams talks about Yankees mega-prospect Anthomy Volpe and others. We talk about how Rob got into radio and how much playing the sport you are broadcasting actually helps. 

Marty Bannister of I Heart Southern Ohio and the Ohio University Sports Network joins me as the first repeat guest of the podcast. We talk College Football Playoffs. Did the committee get it right? What do we think about the matchups? That and more with this special episode. 

What was Astros star Alex Bregman like when he was drafted? Tim Tebow in the minors and we talk minor league baseball hats! 

Most changes that have arrived or are coming to Major League Baseball were tested out in the minor leagues first. Instant Replay, the pitch clock and others have been in the minors for years with mostly positive results. In part 2 of my discussion with minor league baseball broadcaster Spenser Smith, we talk about some of the changes that have happened and others coming down the pipe. Enjoy!

For the last two seasons, Spenser Smith has been the voice of the Bradenton Marauders and has seen many future MLB stars at the very beginning of their careers.  In part 1 we talk about what makes minor league baseball the best value in family entertainment. 

What makes you a "Die-Hard" Fan? Does the ability to call play by play for hockey make you more employable? Some great advice on perspective with your broadcast (or any industry) career. Plus.....5 Questions!

In part 2 of my conversation with University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire play-by-play man Scott Montesano we hear stories about future MLB Players Kole Calhoun, Jordan Zimmerman, Dane Dunning and AJ Puk from their days playing college summer league ball before they made their names in the Major Leagues

Scott Montesano is the voice for University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. In part 1 of our discussion, Scott talks about his early days of calling minor league hockey, being jealous of office buildings with non-smelly bathrooms and working for an owner who shut down the station he worked for because "people were shooting at the radio tower"  

In our final part of my interview with Logan Anderson, the host of the Say The Damn Score Podcast, we talk about streaming and the future of terrestrial radio, what was the strangest place Logan called a game from and find out what major restaurant chain Logan is NOT a fan of! 

In part 2, Logan talks about some of his favorite podcast guests such as Ian and Noah Eagle, who is his favorite under-the-radar or up and coming broadcaster he has spoken to and his attitude with selling advertising

In part 1 of my interview with Logan Anderson I talk to the Podcast Host about his podcast "Say The Damn Score" about why he started the podcast, how he came up with the name and what it was like interviewing tje legendary Bob Costas. Check out Logan's podcast at this link: SayTheDamnScore Original Podcast | SayTheDamnScore.com

No interview this week. I talk about the role media has (especially local radio) after a natural disaster such as Hurricane Ian and the transition back to broadcasting high school or college sports.  Please help in the relief effort for the victims of Hurricane Ian by donating to the Red Cross Relief fund: Hurricane Ian: Disaster Relief Donations | Red Cross

In our final segment, we talk about Mark's connection with his listeners, has he ever received any negative feedback and what is biggest play by play pet peeve is. 

How are your nerves calling a championship game compared to regular season? Is UConn legend Geno Auriemma a nice guy? What is the toughest part of calling a game? That and more with Chancellor High School play by play man Mark Fought 

What was it like to see Ohio State Buckeye star running back TreVeyon Henderson play before most anyone else? We will talk to Mark Fought who did just that. Fought tells us about Henderson and how he got into play by play in the first place. 

What is it like to broadcast beach volleyball? How about calling a baseball game from the opponents' owner's box with all of their friends associates right next to you? What podcast do you listen to on long minor league bus rides? We touch on all of this in part 3 of my discussion with Wichita Wind Surge play-by-play broadcaster Tim Grubbs

Imagine watching future hall of famer Vlad Gurrero play before most anyone else! Tim Grubbs did just that. How about current stars like Julio Rodriguez and others? I also ask Tim about calling the longest game in Pacific Coast League history. 

Ever been curious what the grind of a minor league baseball season is like for the broadcaster? We all hear stories about the players riding the bus from city to city but the same goes for Tim Grubbs and most anyone else that takes the minor league baseball path to a play-by-play career. In part 1 of our discussion, we talk about how Tim got into play by play, some of the future hall of fame baseball players he saw first-hand in double-A and other duties he is expected to do.                                                                          

In this final segment of my discussion with ESPN West Palm play by play man and show host Jeremy Marks-Peltz, we talk about television vs radio play by play, does he get nervous before a broadcast and a great story about meeting the late great Cleveland Cavaliers broadcaster Joe Tait. 

In part 2 of my discussion with JMP, we discuss some of the South Florida Athletes he has covered. We also talk about doing play by play when weird stuff happens like a 22-inning baseball game or trying to do the math of a long play in football when you have no help. Follow this podcast on Facebook and Twitter @B4TheCrowds

In part one of my discussion with ESPN West Palm personality Jeremy Mark-Peltz (aka JMP) we talk about his duties at ESPN West Palm which have included show hosting, high school and college play by play and more. What does he prefer? How did he hook up with  ESPN West Palm? What are some lessons that young broadcasters can learn? 

In my final installment of my discussion with Dream U (Independence Community College)  Play by Play man Jeff Carpenter we talk about how players adjust to JuCo life, Malik Henry who was featured in Last Chance U and we go 5 Questions.  We also hear another great story about former ICC controversial head coach Jason Brown. 

In part 2 of my discussion with Independence Community College play by play man Jeff Carpenter we dive into what it was like having a front row seat to Netflix's Last Chance U seasons 3 and 4. What was Jason Brown really like?  What are some behind the scene stories? What was it like to cover future NFL first round pick Jermaine Johnson before he made a name for himself? 

If you watch the Netflix Docuseries Last Chance U, you remember seasons 3 and 4 that feature Independence Community College or "Dream U" as they have been known to be called. This week is part 1 of my discussion with Jeff Carpenter, the voice of the Pirates and a person who had a significant part in the series. 

After losing his job as Ohio State sideline reporter and struggling to find new work, did Marty ever consider a new line of work? How does Marty like teaching? And we play 5 questions at the end. Party 3 of my discussion with Marty Bannister!

In a special bonus Father's Day podcast, I pay tribute to my father John Keller who passed away a month ago. My dad was an amazing father and a tremendous support to me when I wanted to quit my first job out of college to pursue something I never studied a day in my life for. Most parents would do all they could to talk their children out of it (and possibly rightfully so) but my dad did nothing but support and encourage me. Happy Father's Day and I hope you enjoy this special Father's Day edition of B 4 The Crowds. 

What do you do when you are looking for work with 40 years experience in the industry? Ohio University play by play announcer had that situation just a few years ago and he discusses how he got through it and offers some very important advice that can benefit everybody no matter what line of work you are in. Also, find out who Marty covered in high school before NFL stardom. This and more this week on B 4 The Crowds Play by Play Podcast!

Marty Bannister's  career has included handling play-by-play duties, both radio and TV, for programs such as Ohio State, Ohio University, Wittenberg, Wright State, Bowling Green, and Nebraska. Marty has  been a part of the on-air play-by-play broadcast team at three NCAA Division I National Championship football games, numerous NCAA men's and women's tournament basketball games, Olympic Trials events, as well as professional football and baseball games. Bannister has called games for ESPN-TV, FOX Sports, Spectrum TV, and the OHSAA Network. He has been a news director, traffic  reporter, disc jockey, and talk show host. Bannister currently serves as play-by-play announcer/Broadcast Consultant at Ohio University in Athens, and Executive Producer for iHeartRadio Southern Ohio, and calls games for ESPN and Spectrum TV.In this episode, hear how Bannister went from calling division three football to sideline reporting for the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

In the 3rd and final part of our conversation with Westside Mobile Media's Trevor Beard, we talk Play by Play and what we think some of the biggest mistakes young broadcasters make.

Part 2 of our discussion with Westside Mobile Media founder Trevor Beard discusses the steps he took to forming his own play by play streaming business

Can't find any play by play opportunities in radio or tv? Make your own opportunity, Trevor did! In this age of streaming and digital content, play by play opportunities are more widely available now more than ever. You just need to be creative, grind and truly want to do play by play. Find out how the owner of Westside Mobile Media is doing just that in part one of our discussion. 

Part 2 of my discussion with now former ESPN West Palm broadcaster Chris Kokell. Days after recording this interview, Kokell left ESPN West Palm to take a head football coach job at a local high school.  Hear stories about NFL athletes such as Lamar Jackson and Jamien Sherwood, and we play 5 questions!

This week I speak with former ESPN West Palm broadcaster Chris Kokell on his transition from high school football coach to play by play broadcaster and show host at ESPN West Palm. Kokell has covered several NFL players such as Lamar Jackson and Jamien Sherwood. How did he begin his broadcast career in a top 50 media market? Find out by listening to B 4 The Crowds! 

In our final installment of our discussion with Ohio Wesleyan College play by play man Steve Basford, we discuss how he uses his background in statistics with his play by play, his two books and the process of writing them and the general industry of broadcasting. 

Steve talks about 3 athletes he covered when they were in high school that went on to play in the pros. Kijana Carter, Joshua Perry and Evan White. Carter and Perry in the NFL and White in the MLB

In part one of my interview with Steve Basford, I talk with play by play voice of Ohio Wesleyan Football,  Basketball, Baseball and Softball about his long broadcast career, his book "Buckeye Memories "and how keeping stats for Ohio State Football helps him with his play by play broadcasts. 

In part 2 of my conversation with Bryan Houston, we talk about the fine art of interviewing coaches and athletes. What makes a good interview and how do you get the most out of an uncooperative subject? That and more stories from the man who called high school games of Patrick Maholmes and other future NFL stars.

In part 1 of my interview with 40 year broadcast veteran Bryan Houston, we talk about his 2 seasons he called every high school football game of NFL superstar Patrick Maholmes. Did Bryan know he was watching future greatness? What did he think when the Chicago Bears drafted Mitch Trubsiky ahead of Maholmes? What is it like calling East Texas High School football? 

Part 2 of my discussion with Rich Epp from Open Spaces Sports. Rich has been doing play by play for over 50 years and in this episode we talk about his play-by-play thoughts and pet peeves. 

Rich Epp has been calling games for over 50 years and still calls 5-6 games a week.  Epp used to call Illinois Illini football and basketball on the radio and saw future stars like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird before they became legends of the NBA. Epp even called an Isiah Thomas high scool game. Hear about it all in part of my discussion. 

In part 2 of my conversation with Ohio freelance play-by-play broadcaster Michael Hirn, we talk shop about play by play including preparation, ethics on using information given to us and we hear a crazy story about a tazing that happened during one of his broadcasts. Also hear about Hirn's "meal" with baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas. 

Part 1 of my conversation with Michael Hirn, a broadcaster who calls between 200-300 games a year. Hirn is mainly a freelance broadcaster for radio, tv and online. In this episode he talks about his schedule and has an interesting story about a basketball game he called featurng Lamelo Ball when he was in high school. 

Part 2 of my interview with long time Hutchinson Community College play-by-play broadcaster Glen Grunwald. We talk play by play stories, philosophies and what is important in becoming a good play-by-play broadcaster

In our pilot episode, I speak with Glen Grunwald who retired and began a new career as a play by play broadcaster. Now Glen is over 35 years into his "hobby" and calls Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon football and basketball. Any football fan will recognize a couple of NFL stars he had the chance to cover during their time at HCC. In fact, these guys probably won your fantasy football league in past years.