In my second life, I always wanted to be a radio announcer. Friday night I had the chance to live out that little fantasy.
Corey Carter with WEBC 560 asked if I would consider doing the color commentary for the Hermantown/Duluth East football game Friday night. He said there was no one else available beside myself and a French Canadian who spoke limited English. When I said I would do it, Carter did not confirm until the other guy called back and told him “no”.
Earlier this season I gave some insight at halftime during the FAN’s broadcast of the Denfeld and Proctor games and I guess I was not too bad.
Paul Olson and Jordan Doffing were gracious enough to take photos for me down along the cold field, so I was able to sit in the warm press box and give my Hawk bias over the airwaves.
Several people told me last weekend I did a good job and was fairly partial. Part of it had to do with the fact three Duluth East football coaches stood behind me during the broadcast.
Plus, my mother lives on the east end of Duluth and I would hate to have her home egged due to my overzealous comments praising Hermantown and berating East.
I was pretty excited when Derek Engseth snagged the ball during the kickoff and ran it in for the first score. It was hard not to cheer when Branden Perrault ran around the left end and scored from over 60 yards out.
Unfortunately, there was not a lot to cheer about as a Hawk fan during the game. I feel bad for the seniors who played so well all year and had to watch the Greyhounds celebrate at Corey Veech Memorial Field. It still was a great season and the football team was fun to watch all year.
It was not since being on Rhonda Grussendorf’s radio show that I had been on live radio. She had a great show on KDAL during the noon hour where once in a great while she would let me stay for a second segment if I was having a moment of wittiness.
My main goal during the football game was to sound semi-intelligent and not get fined by the FCC. The whole time I clutched the microphone tight and tried to concentrate on each word coming out of my mouth.
Carter, on the other hand, seemed to write and talk and grab something behind his back all the while not breaking stride in what he was saying. I took my eye off the field once and had no idea what to say next.
I wanted to be like Monday Night Football announcers’ Dennis Miller or Tony Kornheiser. These are guys who look at things differently and say something that makes you think. Not everyone likes what they say, but at least they sound good saying it.
My comments were more in the realm of “nice tackle” or “good catch” or some other two-word response that gives listeners little idea of what is going on in the game.
Since I am not a great football mind like many national broadcasters, I tried to be someone who could help give a grandmother some insight on what was happening. Using terms like “red zone” only has meaning when around a bunch of fantasy football players.
While it was a season of highlights, much of the second half against the Greyhounds was spent praising Matt Kilpo. I mentioned several times he reminded me of Vince Young during the National Championship football game two years ago between Texas and USC.
I am not superstitious so the fact I was not on the sidelines taking pictures had nothing to do with the outcome of the game. The Hawks are 0-1 when I have been sitting in the press box all warm and toasty, so that is something I will have to keep track of for the future.
Carter was complimentary of my limited skills and said I was worth every penny I would have gotten if I would have been paid. One thing you learn in business class is to praise the free help no matter how bad they are.
So if I never get asked to help with another broadcast I will then know how my first time doing color commentary went. But if I do, I will never shy away from promoting the Hermantown Hawks.
Wade Petrich is the editor of the Hermantown Star. He can be reached at 727-0419 or via e-mail at wpetrich@hermantownstar.com.
