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Does Anybody Need a High School Baseball Announcer?

B

barneyb3

Guest
The high school baseball is underway and the region games are about a week or so away. If your station would like to carry the play-by-play of your local team but you don't have an announcer, please contact me.

I have 23 plus years of play-by-play experience, 18 of which are doing high school sports in Georgia. I have worked closely with the following schools: Griffin, Toombs County, Appling County, Crisp County, Vidalia, Newnan, Morrow, Jonesboro, Riverdale, Forest Park, North Clayton, Mt. Zion and Lovejoy. I have won 11 AP and 6 GAB awards for my sports coverage in Georgia. If you would like for me to send you a MP3 file of my baseball work. Email me:

[email protected]
 
> The high school baseball is underway and the region games
> are about a week or so away. If your station would like to
> carry the play-by-play of your local team but you don't have
> an announcer, please contact me.
>
> I have 23 plus years of play-by-play experience, 18 of which
> are doing high school sports in Georgia. I have worked
> closely with the following schools: Griffin, Toombs County,
> Appling County, Crisp County, Vidalia, Newnan, Morrow,
> Jonesboro, Riverdale, Forest Park, North Clayton, Mt. Zion
> and Lovejoy. I have won 11 AP and 6 GAB awards for my
> sports coverage in Georgia. If you would like for me to send
> you a MP3 file of my baseball work. Email me:
>
> [email protected]
>

Not to sound snippy, but if you have this much experience, and have won so many awards...

Why are you constantly unemployed?
 
> Not to sound snippy, but if you have this much experience,
> and have won so many awards...
>
> Why are you constantly unemployed?
>

Not to defend anybody, but I will say that a play-by-play announcer is a very tough job to get. The majority of these small-town stations have some person who has been doing the Play By Play for over 20 years.

I do wonder why he is not employed, though. Provided you don't quit or suddenly sound horrible, a play by play job is almost guaranteed year after year.

Radio-X<P ID="signature">______________
Formerly shocking, rocking, and angering the R-I community as radiodxrichmond!</P>
 
> > Not to sound snippy, but if you have this much experience,
>
> > and have won so many awards...
> >
> > Why are you constantly unemployed?
> >
>
> Not to defend anybody, but I will say that a play-by-play
> announcer is a very tough job to get. The majority of these
> small-town stations have some person who has been doing the
> Play By Play for over 20 years.
>
> I do wonder why he is not employed, though. Provided you
> don't quit or suddenly sound horrible, a play by play job is
> almost guaranteed year after year.
>
> Radio-X
>
I contract engineer a station in the Griffin market where Barney has worked. While I don't personally know him, the station owner says he is a very good play by play guy. And Chuck does not hand out that compliment unless deserved.
Good play by play guys are real hard to find....
 
> I contract engineer a station in the Griffin market where
> Barney has worked. While I don't personally know him, the
> station owner says he is a very good play by play guy. And
> Chuck does not hand out that compliment unless deserved.
> Good play by play guys are real hard to find....
>
That's another thing too. It's certainly seasonal employment. Obviously, unless you Play By Play for a half dozen small stations or a couple of larger ones, it's hard to make a living. The announcer I worked with in Virginia sold ads at the parent company's newspaper, voicetracked overnights, and also was a sports editor. He easily clocked in 16 hour days during the fall and as few as 4 during the summer when sales and broadcasted local sports are limited.

Radio-X<P ID="signature">______________
Formerly shocking, rocking, and angering the R-I community as radiodxrichmond!</P>
 
Wow...I didn't quite expect this kind of response..all I am trying to do is get a gig so I can pay my rent and buy some food.

Nothing I said in my first post was untrue...its just hard to get play-by-play positions..supply and demand. Baseball is a particularly hard sport to get on the air and alot of stations don't want to fool with it.

If I had any sense I would probably just quit the business and go into another line of work. However, when you are 47 years old and really all you have ever done is radio and TV...whats a guy to do?

My mother and I have started a website and maybe that will work out.

http://boostyourmemory.com

In the meantime...I am trying to piece together a radio career. I did football in Cordele....basketball in Baxley and now its baseball season. I thought I had slot but that hasn't worked out yet.

For those above...who kind slapped me around....thats fine...I do it to myself all the time. There is just one thing you have to realize....sports broadcasting is a difficult profession to make it in...I have survived, but not flourished for 23 years... so thats not too bad....Not everybody is a Larry Munson or a West Durham....Most in the business never really make it big. If you don't believe me check out this website for play-by-play guys.

http://callofthegame.com

There are alot of barney Bonfields out there in this big ole country..and they are all just trying to stay above water, so to speak.
 
Barney, it appears that some posters just get off on being negative. 23 years in any type of radio is very impressive. Best of luck to you.

-Cavey


> Wow...I didn't quite expect this kind of response..all I am
> trying to do is get a gig so I can pay my rent and buy some
> food.
>
> Nothing I said in my first post was untrue...its just hard
> to get play-by-play positions..supply and demand. Baseball
> is a particularly hard sport to get on the air and alot of
> stations don't want to fool with it.
>
> If I had any sense I would probably just quit the business
> and go into another line of work. However, when you are 47
> years old and really all you have ever done is radio and
> TV...whats a guy to do?
>
> My mother and I have started a website and maybe that will
> work out.
>
> http://boostyourmemory.com
>
> In the meantime...I am trying to piece together a radio
> career. I did football in Cordele....basketball in Baxley
> and now its baseball season. I thought I had slot but that
> hasn't worked out yet.
>
> For those above...who kind slapped me around....thats
> fine...I do it to myself all the time. There is just one
> thing you have to realize....sports broadcasting is a
> difficult profession to make it in...I have survived, but
> not flourished for 23 years... so thats not too bad....Not
> everybody is a Larry Munson or a West Durham....Most in the
> business never really make it big. If you don't believe me
> check out this website for play-by-play guys.
>
> http://callofthegame.com
>
> There are alot of barney Bonfields out there in this big ole
> country..and they are all just trying to stay above water,
> so to speak.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
SDMF
Stay primitive Savannah</P>
 
Offer for JSRadio

JSRadio...maybe you can tell me what my problem is. Here is my idea, I could email you a MP3 file of some of my play-by-play work and you could tell me if I am any good or if I stink. How about it?

let me know at [email protected]
 
> Barney, it appears that some posters just get off on being
> negative. 23 years in any type of radio is very impressive.
> Best of luck to you.
>
> -Cavey
>
Barney, I used to work across the booth from you for WSSA calling the Clayton County games back in the late 80's when you did announced for Griffin. I think you have done well, and I know you have enjoyed doing it. I had to get out of radio and get a real job. I miss doing it. I mostly did game analyis and production. Dave Pena was the play by play person by the time I left. Stay with it for those of us who can't anymore.
- Tommy Lyle
 
Hey Tommy...I remember you from my days calling games up at Tara Stadium. And, ofcourse, David started his broadcasting career in 1988 as my statistician and then the next year he went into the booth at WSSA. Tell David howdy for me. In 1988 Scott Woerner (The great DB at UGA) and I called 27 regular season football games at Tara. Some weeks we would do games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And we broadcasted some very excting games...with some great players.

Some memories...

Morrow beating Riverdale....Andre Hastings caught a big TD pass at the end of the game from QB Brian Ellis. Hastings made one of the greatest catches I have ever seen and called against Griffin one year. He was double teamed, a corner and a safety, I mean sandwiched...and he trapped the ball against his helmet with one hand and took a hit from both defenders and did not drop the ball. The great Ted Godard (who was doing the color with me) and I just could not believe what we had just seen. The Clayton News Daily had a fine picture of that snag. Hastings was one of the most exciting players I have ever called. Hines Ward was a similar type player at Forest Park..He singlehandely led the Panthers past the Bears in 2 straight seasons. And now Hines is a Super Bowl MVP.

The best play I called at Tara in 1988 was North Clayton vs Lagrange. Donnie Lawrence of NC dropped back into the end zone and threw a 60 yard strike down the center of the field..Ozzie Miller reached out with both hands in stride and caught the ball by the nose and raced in for a 90 yard TD to win the game.

That 1988 season at Tara featured alot of late game heroics. Riverdale ended up being the best team in Clayton County. The Raiders had a FB..named Chris Nash who was impossible to tackle even though he was just a little guy. I also remember Arthur Lavender wasn't he a hard hitting LB?

Alot of people may not remember that Rick Tomberlin was the head coach at Jonesboro in 1988. He left went to Lowndes County..then he established the
dynasty at WACO and now he is the new head coach at Valdosta.

1988 was a long time ago...but yet I still remember alot of those nights that Scott and David and I spent in the press box at Tara Stadium in Clayton County, Georgia.
 
> Provided you don't quit or suddenly sound horrible, a play by play job is
> almost guaranteed year after year.

But that's only true IF there's enough stations doing p-b-p to cover the supply of people able to do it. Otherwise you get the situation we see here, people who can do the job IF they can find somewhere to do it.
 
> Hey Tommy...I remember you from my days calling games up at
> Tara Stadium. And, ofcourse, David started his broadcasting
> career in 1988 as my statistician and then the next year he
> went into the booth at WSSA. Tell David howdy for me. In
> 1988 Scott Woerner (The great DB at UGA) and I called 27
> regular season football games at Tara. Some weeks we would
> do games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And we
> broadcasted some very excting games...with some great
> players.
>
> Some memories...
>
> Morrow beating Riverdale....Andre Hastings caught a big TD
> pass at the end of the game from QB Brian Ellis. Hastings
> made one of the greatest catches I have ever seen and called
> against Griffin one year. He was double teamed, a corner
> and a safety, I mean sandwiched...and he trapped the ball
> against his helmet with one hand and took a hit from both
> defenders and did not drop the ball. The great Ted Godard
> (who was doing the color with me) and I just could not
> believe what we had just seen. The Clayton News Daily had a
> fine picture of that snag. Hastings was one of the most
> exciting players I have ever called. Hines Ward was a
> similar type player at Forest Park..He singlehandely led the
> Panthers past the Bears in 2 straight seasons. And now
> Hines is a Super Bowl MVP.
>
> The best play I called at Tara in 1988 was North Clayton vs
> Lagrange. Donnie Lawrence of NC dropped back into the end
> zone and threw a 60 yard strike down the center of the
> field..Ozzie Miller reached out with both hands in stride
> and caught the ball by the nose and raced in for a 90 yard
> TD to win the game.
>
> That 1988 season at Tara featured alot of late game heroics.
> Riverdale ended up being the best team in Clayton County.
> The Raiders had a FB..named Chris Nash who was impossible to
> tackle even though he was just a little guy. I also
> remember Arthur Lavender wasn't he a hard hitting LB?
>
> Alot of people may not remember that Rick Tomberlin was the
> head coach at Jonesboro in 1988. He left went to Lowndes
> County..then he established the
> dynasty at WACO and now he is the new head coach at
> Valdosta.
>
> 1988 was a long time ago...but yet I still remember alot of
> those nights that Scott and David and I spent in the press
> box at Tara Stadium in Clayton County, Georgia.
>
I remember the Hastings call also, and I was there. It amazed me how he caught the ball with his hand and helmet. I keep telling everyone that we called Hines Ward when he was a QB with Forest Park. They still don't believe he was a QB. Wow he could scramble back then. I thought he would have gone on to be a QB, but Georgia sure did know how to use him. Also, our biggest memory was Morrow winning the state championship. Tara Stadium had almost 12,000 people at the game. They were sitting on the grass hills next the the stands. Those were some prime years for what was known as Region 6 AAAA and Region 4 AAAA. All the clayton county teams, Griffin, Lagrange, Fayette County, Newnan, and Carver of Columbus. It was a tough region that anyone had to play in with all the talent in that region.

I have not talked to Dave in 10 years. I heard he is working doing some stuff in Henry and Coweta cable now.
 
> The high school baseball is underway and the region games
> are about a week or so away. If your station would like to
> carry the play-by-play of your local team but you don't have
> an announcer, please contact me.
>
> I have 23 plus years of play-by-play experience, 18 of which
> are doing high school sports in Georgia. I have worked
> closely with the following schools: Griffin, Toombs County,
> Appling County, Crisp County, Vidalia, Newnan, Morrow,
> Jonesboro, Riverdale, Forest Park, North Clayton, Mt. Zion
> and Lovejoy. I have won 11 AP and 6 GAB awards for my
> sports coverage in Georgia. If you would like for me to send
> you a MP3 file of my baseball work. Email me:
>
> [email protected]
>

Barney,

I feel for you, friend. I've done radio (not pbp, but everything else)
for 23 years and now all of the stations are owned by the megacorps and are
either satellite, brokered or leased out. It really is tough for the little guys now.

Wonder if there are any regional networks, even, that might use p-b-p
announcers. I was thinking, like in our market, we have the FSU Semonole sports network, and the late Lee Bowen handled a lot of games. I don't know who is
doing the baseball now, though. Maybe there's something along those lines in Georgia.

A lot of us here on the board are pulling for you Barney!

Kind regards,

Alan<P ID="signature">______________
WJJD The Country Giant Revisited streams at
http://www.live365.com/stations/alanmccall</P>
 
> There are alot of barney Bonfields out there in this big ole
> country..and they are all just trying to stay above water,
> so to speak.
>

Barney,

Seeing posts like your are inspiring for those of us just getting into the industry. Keep up the good fight!

-Andy<P ID="signature">______________
Album 88 - 88.5FM
Psychobilly Freakout Mondays from 8-10pm</P>
 
> Wow...I didn't quite expect this kind of response..all I am
> trying to do is get a gig so I can pay my rent and buy some
> food.
>
> Nothing I said in my first post was untrue...its just hard
> to get play-by-play positions..supply and demand. Baseball
> is a particularly hard sport to get on the air and alot of
> stations don't want to fool with it.
>
> If I had any sense I would probably just quit the business
> and go into another line of work. However, when you are 47
> years old and really all you have ever done is radio and
> TV...whats a guy to do?
>
> My mother and I have started a website and maybe that will
> work out.
>
> http://boostyourmemory.com
>
> In the meantime...I am trying to piece together a radio
> career. I did football in Cordele....basketball in Baxley
> and now its baseball season. I thought I had slot but that
> hasn't worked out yet.
>
> For those above...who kind slapped me around....thats
> fine...I do it to myself all the time. There is just one
> thing you have to realize....sports broadcasting is a
> difficult profession to make it in...I have survived, but
> not flourished for 23 years... so thats not too bad....Not
> everybody is a Larry Munson or a West Durham....Most in the
> business never really make it big. If you don't believe me
> check out this website for play-by-play guys.
>
> http://callofthegame.com
>
> There are alot of barney Bonfields out there in this big ole
> country..and they are all just trying to stay above water,
> so to speak.
>
I hope you did not take my post as negative....it was meant to be positive! I have heard you are good at what you do....and finding a small market broadcaster who is really good is hard to find.(You know what I mean if you work in small markets!!)
Don't slap yourself around.....and don't worry, the right door will open for you. Keep the faith!!
 
No Taylorengineer I wasn't refering to your comment but to the one by jsradio who started the whole thing. No I appreciate your comments. Thank you.

I worked for Chuck in the fall of 1994...did the Newnan Cougars who had a real tough season on the field. Newnan went 1-9...the Cougars only win was 6-0 over Jonesboro at 12 Oaks Stadium (my favorite high school football stadium in Georgia in which to call a game. The press box has a great view of the field).

The Cougars played alot of good teams tough. Lost to Lovejoy 14-13...I think in OT..could have, probably should have won that game.. Lost to Rival East Coweta 21-3....Carston Bailey who played at Auburn threw a halfback TD pass (Coach Danny Cronic always seems to call one of those in a game and at just the right time) Lost to LaGrange 17-7...and Fayette County 12-7. It was Max Bass's last season of coaching. So every week I got to talk to one of the funniest guys in Georgia High School Coaching history.


-10
 
> 12 Oaks Stadium (my favorite high school football stadium in
> Georgia in which to call a game. ... )

Just as a possibly pleasant aside for a moment ... I never had a chance to work a game at 12 Oaks, but given the variety of venues you've worked over the years it must be a pretty nice set up to earn that accolade from you.

Elsewhere in the post though, you mentioned one of my _least_ favorite places to do a football game -- Fayette County. As a professional trying to do a job, there's not a worse combination than no facilities (I just loved being stuck out on "the veranda" of the press box), an administration that was openly hostile toward visiting broadcasters, and fan base that was a serious contender for the most obnoxious collection of people-without-perspective I've encountered in recent years.

My favorite place to do a game is one that you might find a little strange -- Pike County. The facilities weren't exactly spiffy, but in over two decades of doing games, I was never treated better, welcomed more enthusiastically, nor made to feel more wanted by any place I visited. And their food was quite a bit above average for Friday night fare, and that's always a plus ;)

As for favorite stadiums, I also really enjoyed a couple of trips to the Granite Bowl up in Elberton. It's a different atmosphere for HS football, from the design of the stadium to the old Sanford Stadium scoreboard in the end zone, it was just a different feel & made for a good change of pace.

All of this stuff means very little of course, I just thought the side-topic was interesting & might provide a brief but pleasant break in your day. Good luck with your search.
 
I like stadiums with good sight lines. 12 Oaks has the best. There are no poles blocking you sight lines and there are no windows...you can just see the game real good....not to high..no to low and not to far away from the field.

Tara Stadium isn't bad...a little too far away from the Field.

I also like McConnell Tolbert in Warner Robbins. Newnan and East Coweta are fine. I hope they got some new or brighter lights at Memorial Stadium in Griffin. Too dark for the 10 years I was there...Turn on the lights.

Down here in SE Georgia my favorite stadium is at Jeff Davis. Great Press box and fine sight lines. The Cougar Den in Cordele is also fine.

As for Fayette County..I actually like calling football games from the roof of the press box...You could see the field real good. Just always hoped it didn't rain. I did baseball games at Fayette From that little porch off the press box. I would take a little TV tray and a chair. They were just building that thing the last time I was there way back in the 1900's.
 
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