A Night In The Press Box; A Plea From Me
September 4, 2021 at 4:33 a.m.
A Night In The Press Box; A Plea From Me
By Chip Davenport-
It was like finding my day’s earnings in a pants pocket while sorting the laundry. I thought of a recurring line in Monty Python’s Holy Grail to sum up my feelings, “…and there was much rejoicing.”
I’ll share a conversation I had with guest fans while I prepared for my PA announcing at Thursday night’s Warsaw-Homestead soccer match. The stands and the press box are intimately positioned at the Tiger Soccer Complex.
“Are you the commentator?” one gentleman asked.
“No,” I replied. “I’m the PA announcer.”
His rejoinder was, “Isn’t that the same thing?”
“No, a public address announcer conveys essential information about the results of the play,” I quipped. “A commentator adds color, analysis, and opinion.”
My answer was probably a bit pedantic for the environment, and I thought I just harshed everyone’s buzz, but we kept talking. The topic moved to how funny and entertaining a couple thought I was when Homestead visited Warsaw for a match two years ago.
I told them I was not the announcer they were thinking about, so I mentioned the gentleman they remember still covers boys’ soccer if they have a dog in the fight there, too. When they told me I have big shoes to fill I told them they’ll likely be disappointed in me, and I was O.K. with it.
The best announcers are well aware the main event is on the field.
Sure, I have very big, hearty introductions for our Warsaw Tigers at wrestling meets and softball games opening face-off intros, but I also make sure my guest team intros are more energetic than our visiting squads are accustomed to hearing when they’re on the road, for what it’s worth.
*****
Let’s move on from futbol to football. I have a plea for thee.
I am currently the varsity PA announcer for football, wrestling, and softball. I also announce the sub-varsity football games. I am currently facing schedule conflicts for a handful of freshman football home games. Readers, I’m shamelessly using this platform to search for new announcing blood.
If you know someone who wants to cut their teeth in public address announcing for freshman football games, please have them e-mail me at northlakes427@yahoo. com. The time commitment would be on selected Thursdays (four or five more, actually) from 5:30 p.m. until 7:45/8 p.m.
I have no takers yet from my announcements during time outs at football games, and from our coach’s all-calls. This leads me to speculate I had no challengers vying with me for my varsity football audition. If I’m right, it disappoints me a little bit. I believe this lack of interest has many reasons. One of them, the biggest perhaps because of our smart phone-centric communication, is fewer people like to hear themselves talk.
Just about every other varsity announcer I’ve met is either Generation Jones (my generation, the bridge from the boomers to generation X), or they’re a boomer. I believe the younger generations aren’t embracing PA announcing at the scholastic levels, but you hear millennials’ voices at pro sporting events. They’re following the bigger money.
An additional reason for a lack of interest in public address announcing is the required commitment.
The early start of spring sports has resulted in occasional conflict with my business schedule. I probably miss about two softball games per year due to business trips and late meetings where I must be present to finish. It hurts to miss a commitment, but I’m always proactive in my communication when it occurs.
Football, fortunately, starts later. I believe there is less interest in Friday Night Lights announcing because it takes a person off the Friday night social calendar until Thanksgiving, if all goes well.
I’m good with it, though, because I’ve loved high school football since I was in fourth grade. Played a few years, too (medium talent at best, folks, but smart). I’m accustomed to Friday nights belonging to football because I’ve been following Tiger football for nearly ten seasons as a fan, journalist, announcer, and event worker.
I’m ending this morning’s column like a Monty Python sketch usually ends, instantly and unceremoniously.
Picture me saving and closing my laptop… now.
It was like finding my day’s earnings in a pants pocket while sorting the laundry. I thought of a recurring line in Monty Python’s Holy Grail to sum up my feelings, “…and there was much rejoicing.”
I’ll share a conversation I had with guest fans while I prepared for my PA announcing at Thursday night’s Warsaw-Homestead soccer match. The stands and the press box are intimately positioned at the Tiger Soccer Complex.
“Are you the commentator?” one gentleman asked.
“No,” I replied. “I’m the PA announcer.”
His rejoinder was, “Isn’t that the same thing?”
“No, a public address announcer conveys essential information about the results of the play,” I quipped. “A commentator adds color, analysis, and opinion.”
My answer was probably a bit pedantic for the environment, and I thought I just harshed everyone’s buzz, but we kept talking. The topic moved to how funny and entertaining a couple thought I was when Homestead visited Warsaw for a match two years ago.
I told them I was not the announcer they were thinking about, so I mentioned the gentleman they remember still covers boys’ soccer if they have a dog in the fight there, too. When they told me I have big shoes to fill I told them they’ll likely be disappointed in me, and I was O.K. with it.
The best announcers are well aware the main event is on the field.
Sure, I have very big, hearty introductions for our Warsaw Tigers at wrestling meets and softball games opening face-off intros, but I also make sure my guest team intros are more energetic than our visiting squads are accustomed to hearing when they’re on the road, for what it’s worth.
*****
Let’s move on from futbol to football. I have a plea for thee.
I am currently the varsity PA announcer for football, wrestling, and softball. I also announce the sub-varsity football games. I am currently facing schedule conflicts for a handful of freshman football home games. Readers, I’m shamelessly using this platform to search for new announcing blood.
If you know someone who wants to cut their teeth in public address announcing for freshman football games, please have them e-mail me at northlakes427@yahoo. com. The time commitment would be on selected Thursdays (four or five more, actually) from 5:30 p.m. until 7:45/8 p.m.
I have no takers yet from my announcements during time outs at football games, and from our coach’s all-calls. This leads me to speculate I had no challengers vying with me for my varsity football audition. If I’m right, it disappoints me a little bit. I believe this lack of interest has many reasons. One of them, the biggest perhaps because of our smart phone-centric communication, is fewer people like to hear themselves talk.
Just about every other varsity announcer I’ve met is either Generation Jones (my generation, the bridge from the boomers to generation X), or they’re a boomer. I believe the younger generations aren’t embracing PA announcing at the scholastic levels, but you hear millennials’ voices at pro sporting events. They’re following the bigger money.
An additional reason for a lack of interest in public address announcing is the required commitment.
The early start of spring sports has resulted in occasional conflict with my business schedule. I probably miss about two softball games per year due to business trips and late meetings where I must be present to finish. It hurts to miss a commitment, but I’m always proactive in my communication when it occurs.
Football, fortunately, starts later. I believe there is less interest in Friday Night Lights announcing because it takes a person off the Friday night social calendar until Thanksgiving, if all goes well.
I’m good with it, though, because I’ve loved high school football since I was in fourth grade. Played a few years, too (medium talent at best, folks, but smart). I’m accustomed to Friday nights belonging to football because I’ve been following Tiger football for nearly ten seasons as a fan, journalist, announcer, and event worker.
I’m ending this morning’s column like a Monty Python sketch usually ends, instantly and unceremoniously.
Picture me saving and closing my laptop… now.
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