There was an earlier post about Dan Neaverth and this article about former Bills star, Jeff Burris in Tuesday's Buffalo News that gave me pause.
How do people in this business define themselves? Seems like most people who post here are broadcasters; real broadcasters who dig the business and have had a measure of success to one degree or another. There are some who've left the business but stay in touch, such as Mark Giardina. But really, how do people in the business define themselves, especially when the end of their careers are in sight? What happens when the career is over? Do they hang on pathetically or, like Tom Shannon, ride off into the sunset with a lasting farewell?
There are times when I think Neaverth got screwed by Entercom because he never got to say "goodbye" on his last day. Then again, you might ask, why should he be any different than most of the poor bastards who get fired in the business. You might offer that his last day could have turned nasty with him busting on the company and his callers joining in the outrage. Still, the guy was a legend and you'd think Entercom would have allowed him the dignity to sign off one last time.
And then, there are the athletes who transition out of the locker room and think they'll easily and automatically transition to the broadcast booth. Most soon realize that doing play by play, color or full blown sports on TV or radio isn't as easy as it looks and sounds. Some ex-jocks rise to the top, while others get a dose of hard reality and move on. Steve Tasker and Paul Maguire are examples of guys who understood that being a broadcaster requires hard work. Jim Kelly, one of the greatest Bills ever, never really cut it on ESPN and although he's improved, is better accepted locally.
It really is too bad for Jeff Burris. He was a magnificent athlete, but he was battling a serious illness and didn't understand what it took to be a good color man, especially what it takes to rise to the level of a broadcaster like John Murphy and a vastly improved Alex Van Pelt. One wonders if the Bills will give him a second chance to turn his life and his career around.
-9-
How do people in this business define themselves? Seems like most people who post here are broadcasters; real broadcasters who dig the business and have had a measure of success to one degree or another. There are some who've left the business but stay in touch, such as Mark Giardina. But really, how do people in the business define themselves, especially when the end of their careers are in sight? What happens when the career is over? Do they hang on pathetically or, like Tom Shannon, ride off into the sunset with a lasting farewell?
There are times when I think Neaverth got screwed by Entercom because he never got to say "goodbye" on his last day. Then again, you might ask, why should he be any different than most of the poor bastards who get fired in the business. You might offer that his last day could have turned nasty with him busting on the company and his callers joining in the outrage. Still, the guy was a legend and you'd think Entercom would have allowed him the dignity to sign off one last time.
And then, there are the athletes who transition out of the locker room and think they'll easily and automatically transition to the broadcast booth. Most soon realize that doing play by play, color or full blown sports on TV or radio isn't as easy as it looks and sounds. Some ex-jocks rise to the top, while others get a dose of hard reality and move on. Steve Tasker and Paul Maguire are examples of guys who understood that being a broadcaster requires hard work. Jim Kelly, one of the greatest Bills ever, never really cut it on ESPN and although he's improved, is better accepted locally.
It really is too bad for Jeff Burris. He was a magnificent athlete, but he was battling a serious illness and didn't understand what it took to be a good color man, especially what it takes to rise to the level of a broadcaster like John Murphy and a vastly improved Alex Van Pelt. One wonders if the Bills will give him a second chance to turn his life and his career around.
-9-