Smokies Looking for New Broadcaster

[jaxxradio]

The Tennessee Smokies have announced that they will not bring back popular radio broadcaster Tom Hart. No word on who the new radio guy will be, but I can tell you for certain that it won't be me. I have decided to stay with West Tenn for the 2007 season.

 

Even though I am no longer in the Cubs organization, I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hopefully "Santa" can give you fans a CF and a stronger right arm for Prior and Wood. It would be great to see this team win the World Series and witness the incredible celebration that you fans deserve.

 

God Bless you all,

Ron Potesta

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Any specific reason Hart won't be back next season?

 

Good luck next season and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too you too, Ron.

[jaxxradio]

Tom hasn't done all 140 games in a few years because of his commitment to his TV gig (for those not aware, Tom works for CSTV.. he called the ND-Air Force football game this fall). He is very good on TV as well as radio.

 

Anyway, I guess the Smokies management wanted someone there who can broadcast every game. No word on Chip Kain's status (Chip is the Smokies number two broadcaster).

[Hosak8]

Tom hasn't done all 140 games in a few years because of his commitment to his TV gig (for those not aware, Tom works for CSTV.. he called the ND-Air Force football game this fall). He is very good on TV as well as radio.

 

Anyway, I guess the Smokies management wanted someone there who can broadcast every game. No word on Chip Kain's status (Chip is the Smokies number two broadcaster).

 

When I met with Doug Kirchhofer, he mentioned this possibility, and said that it had more to do with Tom having a bright future in TV broadcasting. Said that his potential for moving onto bigger and better things in television was huge. Doug spoke very highly of Tom.

 

Tom was great, and I wish him well. And I certainly hope that the Smokies will be able to fill the booth. Chip is great, and I hope he stays.

 

Hey, maybe it could be me? After all, I have ZERO experience with radio broadcasting...

[Pistolcub42]

Ron,

 

Merry Christmas to you and yours as well. I'll definitely miss you doing the D Jaxx games. You're a mighty fine announcer. I'm sure I'll have to sneak over and give a listen when the D Jaxx and Smokies play...

[Chris]

I have decided to stay with West Tenn for the 2007 season.

 

Awesome! That's the best news of the offseason from the Jaxx as far as I'm concerned. It's going to be great to keep seeing you at the park. It definitely wouldn't be the same without getting to see you.

 

I hope that you and yours have a wonderful holiday season!

[jaxxradio]

The Smokies have their new broadcaster.. an announcement from GM Brian Cox should be coming soon. All I can tell you is that he has spent the last few seasons in the Southern League.

[Chris]

The Smokies have their new broadcaster.. an announcement from GM Brian Cox should be coming soon. All I can tell you is that he has spent the last few seasons in the Southern League.

 

Ribbee?

[Laura]

Thanks for the update, Ron! Hope all is well with you.

 

I don't know how I missed this:

I have decided to stay with West Tenn for the 2007 season.

 

but congrats! The broadcasts would definitely suffer in your absence. Here's hoping that they sort out the 'net problems by Opening Day!

[jaxxradio]

They have already gotten the internet problems taken care of.. the problem was the fact that they had a second rate phone service, not Bell-South.. go figure. Anyway, I have been told that the broadcast will no longer have any dropouts due to poor phone service and that the internet is top of the line. I wish we would have had this last year.

 

Chris, ribbee won't be "the man" (afterall, who could understand his language or lack there of). Actually, the guy I am talking about is/was employed as a number two broadcaster somewhere in the Southern League. I can tell you that you kids are in good hands with this radio guy and that you will forget all about me soon.

[Chris]

Ron, how has the response of the community been to the contract with the Mariners? In regards to forgetting about you, I highly doubt that will happen. I know I can vouch that when the Smokies are in Jackson I'll be listening to your broadcast unless I'm there in person for the game.

 

If there's anything I can do to work with you guys feel free to let me know at any time. In any case, I'm glad to know you'll be back this season.

[jaxxradio]

Chris, I have no idea how the city feels about the Mariners. I don't live in Jackson year round anymore. I moved to Illinois in late September and only work in season with the team.

 

As far as missing me goes, I appreciate the kind words. My four years with the Cubs organization was and is something I will always cherish. Having said that, the guy that is "replacing" me is a solid broadcaster. The Smokies are in good hands with the broadcasting thats for sure.

[Chris]

I moved to Illinois in late September and only work in season with the team.

 

Ok, I couldn't remember where you were moving to. So, did your team win in the Super Bowl? Either way, I'll remember that and we'll have to go see a game at some point out of the minor league season.

[jaxxradio]

Living three hours south of Chicago, I rooted for the Bears and was very dissapointed in the loss.

I feel bad for Rex Grossman because he is getting pounded when in reality, the play calling from the sidelines was the real reason for the loss. That and a paper-thin defense that had no clue how to stop the run.

Oh well, the good news is two months and we start the season in Montgomery.. woo-hoo..

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Living three hours south of Chicago, I rooted for the Bears and was very dissapointed in the loss.

I feel bad for Rex Grossman because he is getting pounded when in reality, the play calling from the sidelines was the real reason for the loss. That and a paper-thin defense that had no clue how to stop the run.

Oh well, the good news is two months and we start the season in Montgomery.. woo-hoo..

 

Let's not talk about that game, please. :(

[jaxxradio]

Mick Gillispie is the new Smokies broadcaster. Mick was the number two guy in Chattanooga the past two seasons. He is a very talented broadcaster and I am sure that you folks will enjoy his work this summer.

[CUBZ99]

What is the natural progression for a baseball broadcaster? Is it similar to minor league players?

[fromthestretch]

What is the natural progression for a baseball broadcaster? Is it similar to minor league players?

 

If your last name is Buck, Caray, or Brenneman, you just show up one day and they hand you a microphone.

[jaxxradio]

Broadcasters have to "pay your dues" just like the players. The difference between the players and the broadcasters is the fact that the broadcasters are not bound by any organization. Take me for example. After spending four years in Independent baseball, I got a job with the Vero Beach Dodgers, the then High-A affiliate of the LA Dodgers. After the 2002 season, I got offered to broadcast for West Tenn, the then Double-A affiliate of the Cubs. I didn't have to ask permission from the Dodgers to leave because the Dodgers didn't own my rights.

 

BTW, Joe Buck (who is one of the best baseball broadcasters today) and Thom Brennaman (who is also very talented) didn't just get handed their jobs, although they didn't spend alot of time in the minors either. Nepotism is a reality not only in my industry, but in all of the jobs today. It sucks, but I've accepted it.

[fromthestretch]

Broadcasters have to "pay your dues" just like the players. The difference between the players and the broadcasters is the fact that the broadcasters are not bound by any organization. Take me for example. After spending four years in Independent baseball, I got a job with the Vero Beach Dodgers, the then High-A affiliate of the LA Dodgers. After the 2002 season, I got offered to broadcast for West Tenn, the then Double-A affiliate of the Cubs. I didn't have to ask permission from the Dodgers to leave because the Dodgers didn't own my rights.

 

BTW, Joe Buck (who is one of the best baseball broadcasters today) and Thom Brennaman (who is also very talented) didn't just get handed their jobs, although they didn't spend alot of time in the minors either. Nepotism is a reality not only in my industry, but in all of the jobs today. It sucks, but I've accepted it.

 

We'll have to agree to disagree about the quality of Joe Buck's work. I'd place him as average-at-best, but you could make the argument that his broadcast partner drags him down a bit. However, I actually think Brenneman does a decent job.

 

The problem with a lot of today's broadcasters, especially the guys that have started in the past 10-15 years, is they all sound the same: Chip Caray, Josh Lewin, and to a certain extent, Buck and Brenneman. Very few of them bring anything unique to the broadcast.

 

The difficult part about getting to the top in broadcasting (besides nepotism) is the growing number of former athletes that are given opportunities. This probably isn't as big of an issue on the lower rungs of the ladder, but as you climb up, you'll probably have more and more former athletes blocking your way. The one good thing is that most of them end up doing color commentary rather than play-by-play, but you do see a few here and there calling the action. Another issue is that there are only a limited number of these jobs and a lot of guys tend to stay right where they're at once they get a job broadcasting big league games.

 

And by the way, in the real world, companies don't promote nepotism. They call it a "referral program." :lol:

[jaxxradio]

I agree with you grassbass on the lack of originlity with todays broadcasters. I take great pride in being an original and anyone who has ever heard me call a game will tell you that.

 

As far as former players getting in the broadcast booth, in a way thats a "distant cousin" of nepotism. I say that because these athletes have been in the baseball "family" so players interested in a post-career move to the broadcasting booth get a better opportunity. I understand and accept that more because there is a need for a color analyst in the booth (especially on TV).

 

Just out of curiousity (and I ask this to all Cubs fans who don't care for Joe Buck), is it because he is from Satan Louis and is neck deep in the Cardinals organization? I think he does a very fair job in broadcasting the game, even with a very large handicap in the booth named McCarver.

[NCCubFan]

I take great pride in being an original and anyone who has ever heard me call a game will tell you that.

Aunt Florence and Mr. Rawlings agree. :lol:

[goonys evil twin]

Just out of curiousity (and I ask this to all Cubs fans who don't care for Joe Buck), is it because he is from Satan Louis and is neck deep in the Cardinals organization? I think he does a very fair job in broadcasting the game, even with a very large handicap in the booth named McCarver.

 

Maybe there's a bias there, but I honestly think he's terrible. He's an obnoxious jerk who takes himself far too seriously, and he's just not good at describing the action, both in football and baseball. He's far more interested in being witty and cool than calling the game.

[fromthestretch]

Just out of curiousity (and I ask this to all Cubs fans who don't care for Joe Buck), is it because he is from Satan Louis and is neck deep in the Cardinals organization? I think he does a very fair job in broadcasting the game, even with a very large handicap in the booth named McCarver.

 

Maybe there's a bias there, but I honestly think he's terrible. He's an obnoxious jerk who takes himself far too seriously, and he's just not good at describing the action, both in football and baseball. He's far more interested in being witty and cool than calling the game.

 

I echo goony's sentiments on this one. I think Buck comes off as arrogant, and his bias is evident in some of his broadcasts. As I said earlier, the person sharing the booth with him certainly doesn't help matters. I just try to zone him out when watching a game that he's calling.

 

I bolded the last sentence of goony's post for a reason. To me, that sentence perfectly describes Bob Costas these days. I used to think Costas did a great job whenever given play-by-play duties, regardless of sport. But these days, it's almost like he's trying too hard to make every single play seem dramatic.

[CubColtPacer]

Just out of curiousity (and I ask this to all Cubs fans who don't care for Joe Buck), is it because he is from Satan Louis and is neck deep in the Cardinals organization? I think he does a very fair job in broadcasting the game, even with a very large handicap in the booth named McCarver.

 

Maybe there's a bias there, but I honestly think he's terrible. He's an obnoxious jerk who takes himself far too seriously, and he's just not good at describing the action, both in football and baseball. He's far more interested in being witty and cool than calling the game.

 

 

 

I bolded the last sentence of goony's post for a reason. To me, that sentence perfectly describes Bob Costas these days. I used to think Costas did a great job whenever given play-by-play duties, regardless of sport. But these days, it's almost like he's trying too hard to make every single play seem dramatic.

 

I liked Bob Costas doing games-the only thing I didn't like is what Pacers fans were his Bulls bias. I never bought into most of it, but one fact was unmistakeable-for a couple of years in the late 90's, Costas called just about every Bull by their first name, and called absolutely 0 Pacers by their first name-that was a little annoying to me. That didn't completely detract from his good announcing though-I haven't heard him enough lately to know if he's changed other than on the NFL pre-game show, where he seems fine.