Bill Walton would often state that he was the luckiest man in the world. Every time he would say that with his infectious energy I’d smile, and I bet you would too. He looked at life through an incredible lens and one that was optimistic and oftentimes inspiring.
Heading into my 16th year of putting a headset on as a broadcaster, I too feel like Bill often did. Over the course of time, I’ve stood next to Steve Physioc, Kevin Calabro and for the better part of the last decade, Ted Robinson. How lucky have I been to have been given a PhD by those three in the school of broadcasting!? Let alone having Lewis Johnson, Samantha Ponder, Jill Savage, Cindy Brunson, Ashley Adamson and more on the sideline. It’s been an absolute joy and it’s an understatement to share how each of those gifted professionals have impacted millions of sports fans, and myself.
This week brings a new season with a new crew, a new logo, and a new network.
I’ll be in a familiar setting - overlooking Autzen Stadium in prime time on Saturday night and next to me will be a guy I've known for the last 12 years, Guy Haberman. What’s so special about Guy is that he truly loves sports broadcasting, having recorded himself calling games as a child. On Saturday night, he will also be living a dream, perched a few hundred feet above a majestic field amid a standing-room-only crowd. Additionally, Guy is a selfless friend, loving husband and extremely talented broadcaster.
While the viewer usually only see’s the TV crew on air, what makes a unit special is the time off the airwaves. Guy and I have called a few games together in our careers and we’ve made Week 1 games our speciality in places like Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City and others. But the best part has always been the week leading up to it – the countless calls, the meals while driving to and from the stadium and even the final stop at a FedEx to print out our materials. It’s a dream, all of it. And this fall I’m so thankful to have Guy as the next guy I get to learn from and celebrate the game with.
In advance of our first game together on the Big Ten Network I had to have him on the Y-Option podcast, presented by our founding partner 76, to learn about his origin story and how he explores the craft of play-by-play.
Hope you enjoy our conversation as Guy, Rhett Lewis and myself are so looking forward to bringing you college football this fall.
Enjoy Week 1 and what should be another magical ride alongside the sport we all love.
Much love,
Yogi
This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Guy Haberman - "You Cannot Skip Steps"