Thanks to a recent post in the STAA Forums on hockey broadcasting, I got reminded of a fantastic resource from a very very good broadcaster.
Phil Giubileo is the play-by-play announcer for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders. His website, http://www.playbyplay.biz serves both as a portfolio of his work, but also a blog on his own experiences in this industry. While there hasn’t been an update in a while, the information contained is excellent. He covers a variety of topics including how to deliver a storyline, not just a set of stats and descriptions. He also touches on how he breaks up his preparation and what he focuses on, as well as the following excerpt on memorising rosters
There’s nothing more frustrating when you’re listening to a game on radio, and the play-by-play announcer has trouble identifying who has the ball (or the puck). Even worse (in my book) is when the announcer tries to cover that up simply by identifying the number of the player. The only thing that might drive me more nuts is when I tune in, and it takes forever to get the time and score.
In some cases, the lapse is simply a mental one. The announcer simply can’t get the name out of his mouth, although it’s in his head. It’s happened to me, and if you’re a play-by-play announcer reading this, it’s likely happened to you as well. There’s not much you can do except to forget it and move on.
