1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: Boom. If you thought four hours a day, minutes a 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: week was enough, think again. He's the last remnants of 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: the Old republic, a sole fashion of fairness. He treats 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: crackheads in the ghetto cutter the same as the rich 5 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: pill poppers in the penthouse, to clearing house of hot takes, 6 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: break free for something special. The Fifth Hour with Ben 7 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: Maller starts right now in the air everywhere. We kick 8 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: off the Fifth Hour Weekend Podcast with Ben Maller because hey, 9 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: the overnight show four hours a night not enough and 10 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: eight days a week double barrel action on a Friday 11 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 1: in If you're listening to this show. If you're new, welcome. 12 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: We always like bringing new people into the store. We 13 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: need to have new customers in the store. It's good 14 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: to have you. I'm not gonna blab that much because 15 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: this is an interview conversation podcast. We like to bring 16 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: in ends to hang out and chat. And we're joined 17 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: by a man, David Gascon, who's gonna be on with 18 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: me here on the podcast. Gascon And I'm excited about 19 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: this one because someone we wanted to get on and uh, 20 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: finally we pulled the string on this and made it happen. 21 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: We're gonna chat with the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, 22 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: Charlie Steiner is gonna hang out with us. And I've 23 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: known Charlie casually for you know, a number of years now, 24 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: and I'll see him when I go to these Dodging games, 25 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: hanging out, schmoozing in the press box or whatnot. And 26 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: I've actually known Charlie before he was the voice of 27 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 1: the Dodgers. He's been the play by play guy for 28 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: the Dodgers for the last I think seventeen seasons. I believe. 29 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: I think he's heading into his seventeenth or eighteen season 30 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: now as the voice of the Dodgers. He's a National 31 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: Radio Hall of Famer. Charlie Stunner. Many people know him 32 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: more as the Sports Center anchor, depending on how old 33 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: you are, right from back in the day. It was 34 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: a legend in the in the heyday of ESPN when 35 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: that was the place, the mecca of sports television before 36 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: everything got watered down in sports media. And also a 37 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: boxing guy. Charlie covered synonymous with boxing for so many 38 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:21,519 Speaker 1: years and all the big fights Charlie Stunner was reporting 39 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: on and covering and whatnot, and so excited to have 40 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: him in here, just thinking about him. I don't know 41 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: if you were like this when you were younger, but 42 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: I felt like Sports Center when I was a kid 43 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: was appointment TV. It was like finding him, finding you know, 44 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: all these guys that were on there. I mean, Linda Cohnes, 45 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: she did a lot of you know, stuff with hockey. 46 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: But it's still is Keith Olberman, Um Dan Patrick, Tom 47 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: Lee or it was a Tommyes was on there, Tommy's yes, Bobby. 48 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: There's just guys that were on there from start, Chris 49 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: Berman obviously and Tom Jackson. You know, those guys are 50 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,839 Speaker 1: synonymous with the NFL. But yeah, sports that are back 51 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: in the day that was like our our playground, you 52 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: know as kids. Yeah, I mean it's you know, the 53 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 1: stone age because you're doing it back in the day, 54 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: story you're old, guest gun, you're proving you're old here. 55 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:16,079 Speaker 1: But yeah, I mean we were consuming sports. You Jonesing 56 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: as a kid, you were like, oh my god. I 57 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,799 Speaker 1: mean my experience not to go too long with it 58 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: because I want to be Charlie in here, but my 59 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 1: experience with sports consumption, like I had to watch this 60 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: weekend baseball to get baseball highlights. I remember getting the 61 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: Red and the Green book that they would give out 62 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: before the season for the National and the American League. 63 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: The American League was read, the National League was green. 64 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: They gave these books that that's how you got the stats. 65 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: There was, you know, the the internet as it is 66 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: today did not did not exist, and so but sports 67 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: Center that was like you got everything in an hour. 68 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: Sports Center. You get every highlight, every big story. And 69 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: it was so important to watch that, you know, being 70 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: on the West coast we had it. But I think 71 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: the first sports Center was at four o'clock. I think 72 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: our l a time, California time, and that was big. 73 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: And then they'd have the the late Sports Center after 74 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: the games were over. So and Charlie was such a 75 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: big part of that. So anyway, excited to have him on. 76 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,479 Speaker 1: Let's give it up now, the voice of the Dodgers. 77 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:19,840 Speaker 1: He got the call a final out of the World Series. 78 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 1: We gotta bring that up. We'll get to that, uh, 79 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 1: Charlie Steiner, And why don't we start with this, Charlie, 80 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: you've been calling games from your house over the last 81 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 1: the last baseball season. What is the experience been like 82 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: for you? Uh? And and how different obviously that has 83 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: been for everybody, but for you, as a play by 84 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 1: play guy in Major League Baseball, you're sitting in your 85 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 1: home calling games. Tell me what that's been like. Well, 86 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:50,039 Speaker 1: go back to last July when we were all trying 87 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: to figure out what the season was gonna look like, 88 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 1: and we had a zoom call. And you're not a 89 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: human being unless you've had at least one, uh with 90 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: the entire broadcast group in our bosses. Um. And it 91 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: was that was three or four days before the first 92 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: exhibition game. And upon the completion of the zoom call, 93 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: I got a call from one of said bosses and 94 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 1: he said he didn't look happy. I said, well, I 95 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: don't know about happy, but I certainly am apprehensive. And 96 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: you know I am of that age. Uh. I am 97 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: diabetic in these days, who isn't um. So I talked 98 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: to my doctor and I said, so, what do you think? 99 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: And he said, as as a fan, I love that 100 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: view and bow back because this is what I what 101 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: and who I listened to every summer as a friend, 102 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: I'm not so sure. And as as your doctor, are 103 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,799 Speaker 1: you out of your mind? Um? And so it was like, well, 104 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: that was a slap in the face of reality. Um. 105 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 1: The next thing, I had spoken to Bow and I 106 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: wasn't quite sure. Of course, we're going to do the 107 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:07,160 Speaker 1: games out of Dodger Stadium, even on the road, the 108 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: sixty games all from there, and my doctor suggested, you know, 109 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: you probably shouldn't. Just don't. Uh. And I called the 110 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: next day and I said, I'm feeling really anxious about it, 111 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: and and if it comes to I'm just gonna have 112 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:29,239 Speaker 1: to opt out this year. Um. And that was pretty 113 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 1: much the end of the conversation. I'm thinking, well, gee, 114 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: that's probably the end of my career. And I got 115 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,039 Speaker 1: knocked out by COVID. Next day. They doctors come back 116 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 1: and said, well, what if you did it from home? Well, um, yes, 117 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,039 Speaker 1: you know, I didn't think it was technically or humanly 118 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: possible to be able to do it, and we did it. 119 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: They added two large monitors in what used to be 120 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: my living room. It became the media room, and thankfully 121 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: this year it has returned to being the living group 122 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: as I ended up doing the games from home. UM 123 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: and MO was at at Dodger Stadium along with Dwayne McDonald, 124 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: our producer and engineer. And it took maybe four or 125 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: five days, three of them being exhibition games. UM, to 126 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: get it more technically and sentive. You know, MO and 127 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: I when we're calling a game, we're not looking at 128 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: each other. We're both looking at the field, and now 129 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: our seventeen here we can fill each other's sentences. And 130 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 1: so that was never going to be an issue. And 131 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: slowly but surely it seemed to work. UM. And then 132 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: fast forward to you know, the playoffs in the World Series. 133 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: I finally got a chance to watch the World Series film, 134 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: I guess in January. There was no hurry. I knew 135 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: the outcome, But most importantly, I watched the highlight film 136 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: from the very chair that I announced the World Series 137 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: on the very screen that I watched it. And as 138 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: I watched and listened to the highlight film, I could 139 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: have sworn I was in Texas. So technically it worked. 140 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: And I think what's gonna happen down the road in 141 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: our industry in general and some teams in particular. I'm 142 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: not entirely sure that announcers are necessarily gonna go on 143 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 1: the road for every game. So I think it was 144 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: it was weird. I understood the weirdness of it last 145 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 1: year and still even this year, we have a giant 146 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: asterisk about how we are living and conducting our lives. 147 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: And that was just kind of part of the drill. 148 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 1: And I'll finish up this endless answer with this. The 149 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: very first game I ever called was a Brooklyn Dodger 150 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: game in my basement in my home on Long Island 151 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: when I was five. And the most some Dodger game 152 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: that I broadcast was from my living room at my home, 153 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 1: and they won the World Series and people actually heard it. 154 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 1: So talk about what goes around comes, Yeah, the circle 155 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: of the circle of life. I think we we all did. 156 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 1: That is the same thing. I was like you, You're like, 157 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: I'm doing play by playing my home and you know 158 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 1: you're the final out of the World Series, and you 159 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 1: called I want to bring that up, Charlie, because on 160 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: the Dodgers flagship a M five seventy, the Dodger Network there, finally, 161 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: after all these years, the long suffering Dodger fans got 162 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,719 Speaker 1: to hear a radio call of their team winning the 163 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: World Series, and you had a great call. Uh, finally 164 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 1: the weight is over. Tears of joy let them flow. 165 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: I mean I remember a lot of it. And you 166 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: mentioned eighty eight as well. Uh, you've you've had a 167 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: lot of big moments. How concerned, how nervous were you? 168 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: Did not screw up in that spot? I mean, you 169 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: nailed it, But how concerned were you? Because you you 170 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: can anticipate the Dodges like you're gonna win because of 171 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: the lead they had at the time late in the game. 172 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:05,680 Speaker 1: But what was the what was going through your mind 173 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: as it was getting closer to your You're gonna have 174 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: to make that call at the end of the World Series. 175 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:16,559 Speaker 1: That morning I called Vin, who with whom we still 176 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: have a wonderful friendship. He has been a mentor, a 177 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: father like that, You're again the babe Ruth of our business. 178 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: So I called him that morning. I said, so, I 179 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: got this if they win to night, I had this 180 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 1: great idea and he said, oh yeah, what's that? I said, 181 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: I have had a line like in a year that's 182 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: been so improbable. Uh and he said, I believe it's 183 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: taken um and so, and I said, so, you know, 184 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: it was one of those you just go you go 185 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: to the Grand puba for just not advice. We just 186 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: talked and who was not talking off the ledge, It 187 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: was just going in before a big game and talking 188 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: to a former player in this case. So what I've 189 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,199 Speaker 1: been thinking about. And one of the things you really 190 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: don't want to do is uh prepare and write out 191 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 1: a script any of that stuff. You just let it, 192 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: let it rip from your head and your heart and 193 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 1: your eyes. And the word that kept going through my 194 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:32,959 Speaker 1: head all day was joy and how much joy this 195 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: would bring and how little joy any of us had 196 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: experienced that year, And it just all came together. Um 197 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: And I was, I was, And you're right, there is 198 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: that nagging fear, old lord, please don't fuck it up. 199 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: Um and and and I remember when I had the 200 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: Aaron Boone call in two thousand and three, when he 201 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 1: at the game winner and the Yankees walked off against 202 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: the Red Sox would go to the World Series, remembers 203 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 1: of the circling the basis, and I had made the 204 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: call in the back of my head because it happened 205 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: so quickly, I said, please, you know, finished the call cleanly. 206 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: Um And I did with that, and I guess I 207 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 1: did with this too. But you know, again, the story 208 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: was obviously the Dodgers had won, and finally there was 209 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: something for all of us to be happy about. Yeah, 210 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: it was. It was a great call. And you mentioned 211 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: you did the Yankee games for for a few years 212 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: back in the day. What's the biggest difference. These are 213 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 1: the two biggest markets in the country, and you know 214 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: you're on the on the radio doing Yankee games, you're 215 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: doing Dodging games. You've been doing Dodging games for in 216 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 1: almost twenty years now, But what's the what's the big 217 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 1: difference between a Yankee broadcast and a Dodger broadcast or 218 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:55,959 Speaker 1: is it all the same? You know, at the end 219 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: of the day, without sounding high falut the game is 220 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: still a game. The moment is still a moment, and 221 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: when you go and do what it is we do, 222 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: all you can do is the best that you can. 223 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: Um You know, in New York, I was working with 224 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: John Sterling and it was really to play by play 225 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 1: announcers and sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. But 226 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 1: at the end of the day we had a pretty 227 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 1: good broadcast and that was that. And then when we 228 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: came out here to work with mo and this is 229 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 1: you're right, it's gonna be my seventeenth year now, um 230 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:40,079 Speaker 1: are our roles were more clearly defined, and that I 231 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: think makes for a cleaner broadcast and and we're very lucky. 232 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: Mo and I we become friends, were family, um, and 233 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: we're talking about it right after the that night, at 234 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: the end of the post game coverage. UM. Because of 235 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 1: the year that was, you know, so improbable. There's moat 236 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: Dodger Stadium and I'm at home, and Dwayne is at 237 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: Dodger Stadium. We didn't see one of them. Yet we are. 238 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: Our bond, which was always strong, grew stronger because we 239 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: persevered all this craziness together. And it was it was 240 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: a It became a lot more meaningful than even just 241 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: winning a World Series that we've managed to persevere like 242 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 1: everybody else, like every Dodger, like every Dodger fans. Somehow 243 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: we got through it. And uh and one, yeah, it was. 244 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 1: It was great to listen to you. And I couldn't 245 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: tell I did. I thought at one point I thought 246 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: you were actually in Texas. It sounded it did sound 247 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: like you were. You were there where the World Series 248 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: was going on. But I here's the things I want 249 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: to tell a story, Charlie. And you probably don't know 250 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: this story because it's not important to you at all, 251 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: but it's important to me. So when I first met you. 252 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 1: You were doing Sunday Night Baseball for ESPN Radio with 253 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: Kevin Kennedy. This isn't like the late nineties, and I 254 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 1: actually did stats for you. I don't if you probably 255 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: don't remember that, but I did stats for you a 256 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: few times. And my shining moment, Charlie, was a Giant 257 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: Dodger game on a Sunday night and Ellis Burks was playing. 258 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: I think he came up from the Rockies that year, 259 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: was playing for the Giants and uh and uh this 260 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: was like the Bonds Kent Giants and it was fact 261 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: and Brian worked together. Yes, there you go. So Brian 262 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 1: Bohanan was he had the Dodgers picked him up. He 263 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: was the picture. So I found some stat about al 264 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: Ellis Burks had this great career, you know, a bunch 265 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: of home runs against Brian Bohanna. So I handed you 266 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: this like note, right, I gave you this note and uh, 267 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 1: the like the next pitch after you had gave the stat, 268 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: Ellis Burks hit a home run into the pavilion at 269 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: Dodgers Stadium. That was a long time ago, but I 270 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: bring that up because it makes me feel good because 271 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 1: I remember it. And how have stats changed because there's 272 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: so many more stats now, Charlie, and you're the play 273 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: by play guy, and I think I out of baseball 274 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: on the radio is more telling stories. But there's a 275 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 1: status of everything these days. So how do you handle that? Ben? 276 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: You're absolutely right, Um. On radio it's a much more 277 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: of a storyteller's medium. If you know, when you start 278 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: talking about war and VIP and this and that, if 279 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: you see it on your screen, okay, you kind of 280 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 1: get it. And even then you need some interpreters say 281 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: what does this actually mean? Except some numbers on the radio, 282 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: if you start running off numbers like this plus three 283 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: minus two, somebody stuck in traffic, it's just gonna go 284 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: either over their heads or through the ears from one 285 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: side to the other. So for me and for Moe 286 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: and again we're we're older. We are less in terms 287 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 1: of broadcasters statistically driven than younger broadcasters. We still stick 288 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: with the story, Um at the end of the day. 289 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 1: And again, I'm proudly an old school baseball guy. Give 290 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: me the back of a baseball card. If I haven't 291 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: seen a player before, then I can have at least 292 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: a pretty good idea of what he is capable of doing. 293 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: But you know, the defense of this and and offensive that. 294 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:27,400 Speaker 1: It's like it's still a game played by people. It's 295 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: not like my Apple computer is better than your Mac 296 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: or your your bell or whatever it is. Um and 297 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: it's it's just for me. Let the players play and 298 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: how they play. It's up to us then to describe 299 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 1: what they're doing well or not And does a guy 300 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 1: make a catch or not make a catch based on 301 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 1: some arbitrary statistics to me, not necessarily so. I again, 302 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: most been around a long time. I've been around a 303 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,640 Speaker 1: long time, and we've seen a lot. Hopefully we can 304 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: tell stories pretty well. Be sure to catch live edition 305 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 1: so the Ben Maller Show weekdays at two am Eastern 306 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: eleven pm Pacific. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports 307 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 1: talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows 308 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: at Fox Sports Radio dot com and within the I 309 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: Heart Radio app search f s R to listen live. 310 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 1: And Charlie speaking of those stories and the history that 311 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: you have for the game of baseball, what about when 312 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 1: you're at the ballpark. I don't know if Ben wants 313 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: me to bring this up, and I'll do it anyway. 314 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: He hit outcasted me a few years ago to go 315 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: to Bakersfield to call minor league baseball, and uh I 316 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 1: did so, but con took some of his advice about 317 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 1: journaling everything that you do. It's about that story, right. Um, 318 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 1: So it's fascinating to learn about these guys that are 319 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: minor leaguers trying to get to the show. But when 320 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 1: you're in the show, what about the interaction that you 321 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 1: have with these players prior to first pitch, when they're stretching, throwing, 322 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 1: limbering up up that it has changed dramatically over the years. 323 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: It is and again now you're gonna hear some cranky 324 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: old guys screaming, get off my law and you're rotting kid. 325 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 1: But the reality is the interaction between writers and broadcasters 326 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:22,640 Speaker 1: and players is so significantly different that it was certainly 327 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:25,639 Speaker 1: when I first started out and the years before I 328 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: got into it. That was in a day when you 329 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: went back to the hotel after a game and you'd 330 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: have a beer with a player who is relatively speaking 331 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:43,120 Speaker 1: of contemporary where the dollar disparity between players and those 332 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: who cover them was not so vast, in a day 333 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 1: when now players and their agents can control whatever it 334 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: is they want to say or not say, through their 335 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:59,200 Speaker 1: own social media accounts. So all of that has fundamentally changed, 336 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 1: um and and and for us old guys, that's sad 337 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 1: because part of what it was that drew us to 338 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:12,919 Speaker 1: calling games was to be able to paint the picture 339 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 1: and get inside the heads of these guys, which doesn't 340 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:22,440 Speaker 1: frankly exist very much anymore now because of the pandemic 341 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 1: and zoom calls and all of that. You don't see 342 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:32,439 Speaker 1: or hear um no matter the newspaper or the radio 343 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: station or the network anything different, They're all saying the 344 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 1: same thing based on the limited availability that they have 345 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:44,400 Speaker 1: to the players. So there, it's fundamentally different. And so 346 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: what what I'm trying to do, And as this technology 347 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:54,360 Speaker 1: evolves and how the game has changed, it has tried 348 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:59,159 Speaker 1: to reflect on players or instances that are similar to 349 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: what the players are given players in this given play 350 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: might have been. So it is different, and I'm not 351 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: entirely sure it's going to go back to what it 352 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: once was because of the differences now in time. Then 353 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 1: have you ever had or even recently, have you had 354 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: one of those? David Price, Dennis Eckersley, I guess, uh, 355 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 1: you know, And if I have, I don't care. You know, 356 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 1: the player might you know, I can't. That's where it 357 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: is fundamentally different. Um, when players tell you they don't watch, 358 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: or they don't read, or they don't listen, they are 359 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:46,719 Speaker 1: so full of it. Um, they just are. They know 360 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 1: exactly what's been said and what I think. We all 361 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 1: have to understand what you're doing, Ben, what I'm doing, 362 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:01,119 Speaker 1: what players are doing. We all live in this cohes system. 363 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: The players play and we talk about it. May make 364 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 1: an error and we have to mention it. Um. That's 365 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 1: not to say we're not going to make a mistake 366 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: or we're gonna blow a call. But we're all in 367 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: this giant ecosystem. And the more we all, all of 368 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:25,720 Speaker 1: us understand it, the better it is ultimately for the customer, 369 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: and that's the fan who wants to learn as much 370 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 1: as they can about the game, about a moment, about 371 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: a player. But again, that's where it has fundamentally changed 372 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: over the years, and and there's a greater distance between 373 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: media and players, and I think that I've ever experienced, 374 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 1: and I've been doing this a long time now. Well 375 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 1: with the reduction and travel that that's added some time 376 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 1: onto the time stamp for you do you have an 377 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: end date at all, Charlie or do you feel like 378 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,400 Speaker 1: you're well? You know, and the Doggers have been so 379 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,880 Speaker 1: unspeakably good to me. The fact that I am not 380 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 1: traveling much anymore. Um, you know, I've been lucky enough 381 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: in many ways to walk in the same path that 382 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 1: then did, and then was the first one to start 383 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 1: cutting back on schedule and travel and the road you 384 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 1: do it a lot. It beat you up, and at 385 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:27,200 Speaker 1: some point I just said, okay, I this is this 386 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 1: is now not as much fun as it used to be. 387 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: And as I say that, you don't have that much 388 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:36,879 Speaker 1: of a relationship anymore between players, whether it's a you know, 389 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 1: a local bar and whatever it is now. Of course, 390 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 1: with the pandemic, nobody's going anywhere anyway. So it's still 391 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:48,719 Speaker 1: fun to call a game, only the discipline has changed 392 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 1: because the circumstances around us have changed. What's your favorite 393 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: sporting event to call? Oh, I guess the seventh game 394 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: of the World series? Like take all that aside, Like 395 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,120 Speaker 1: a championship is one thing, but I mean, like if 396 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 1: it's just a regular game or just a regular boxing match, Like, 397 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:11,359 Speaker 1: what is your favorite event? I've been so lucky. I 398 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: covered boxing in theirs last Golden era. It began with 399 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: Ali and ended with Tyson biting Holy Fields here and 400 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:26,639 Speaker 1: pretty much every big fight in between. The night of 401 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: a heavyweight championship, when you know there tens of thousands 402 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:36,680 Speaker 1: at the arena, millions watching around the world, the loneliness 403 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: of the two fighters coming down from their respective locker rooms, 404 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 1: in their in their satin robes, crowd going crazy. There's 405 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 1: nothing quite like the adrenaline of that. And one of 406 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 1: the reasons why I decided to get away from boxing, 407 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:57,920 Speaker 1: it was because that wasn't existing much anymore either. So 408 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 1: one of those or the end, it's a patient of 409 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,680 Speaker 1: a championship game. I did a bunch of rose bowls, 410 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 1: and look, I've had a very gumpy and experience. I've 411 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 1: been really lucky. I've covered a lot of big stuff. 412 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: But you know, as crazy as it was, calling the 413 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:19,560 Speaker 1: World Series from my living room had the same adrenaline 414 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,159 Speaker 1: rush for me that night as uh, covering any of 415 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 1: those championship fights. Charlie, it's time to get out the 416 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: crystal ball. You've mentioned that you don't think things are 417 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 1: going to go back to the way they were. Uh, 418 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 1: let me let me quiz you here, Now, what does that? 419 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:38,439 Speaker 1: What does that mean the locker room access? Do you 420 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 1: do you believe that we will get back to non 421 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 1: zoom calls once we move on from the pandemic? Or 422 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:46,879 Speaker 1: are they are they just gonna limit access to the 423 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: locker room in general and just have the way it 424 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 1: is right now be the new normal. The answer is, 425 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 1: I'm not sure, but I am reasonably sure that players 426 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 1: are very happy not to have me media in their workspace. 427 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 1: I think they've always treated it, even in less antagonistic 428 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: days between media and players, as their workspace. It's their office, 429 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:15,439 Speaker 1: and they don't like people coming into their office. Um 430 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 1: And I get that. Um so will it at some 431 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 1: point return to what it was? I don't know, Ben, 432 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 1: you're down there before games, how many guys are actually 433 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,880 Speaker 1: in the club house when you go looking for room 434 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: there in the quiet room, there, in the trainers room. 435 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: It's not like, oh, hey, here's Ben, let's go talk. Yeah. No, exactly. 436 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:40,480 Speaker 1: And that's the big too, each because especially with these 437 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 1: new locker rooms, well I guess they're not new anymore. 438 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: They're all old lock But remember the old days, they 439 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: didn't have as many hiding places so the guys had 440 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 1: to stay A lot of them had to stay in 441 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:49,679 Speaker 1: their lockers because there was there weren't a lot of 442 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 1: places to go. But now and they and they rather 443 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 1: enjoyed it. I must tell you again, going back to 444 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 1: years when I would be in a clubhouse with an 445 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:02,359 Speaker 1: old tape recorder over my shoulder and a little hand 446 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 1: mike and all of that, there was a greater understanding 447 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: of that ecosystem I was talking about earlier, where okay, 448 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: this is part of the drill, and so after a 449 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 1: game you might sit with a player, have a beer 450 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,120 Speaker 1: with him, and smoke a cigarette with him, and again 451 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:21,120 Speaker 1: showing how much how far back it goes, but it 452 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 1: was it was part of the understanding of their workspace, 453 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: our workspace, and our mutual love for baseball. Uh. Now 454 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 1: you've got players who've got their agents, they've got their 455 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 1: their Twitter feeds, I've got all this other stuff that 456 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:43,159 Speaker 1: seems to take a greater priority for their time and 457 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 1: space than players who preceded them by So it's it's different. 458 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:54,359 Speaker 1: So to answer the questions, they're gonna go back, it 459 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:58,879 Speaker 1: might will the relationships be what they once were? Not likely? 460 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:03,160 Speaker 1: And then, as you also reference the play by play 461 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 1: guys on the road, and that a lot. I understand 462 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 1: a lot of teams this year also, at least at 463 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 1: the beginning of the year, the broadcasters are not going 464 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:15,159 Speaker 1: to travel this this season in general. So is that 465 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:18,920 Speaker 1: something that you think the majority of the teams are 466 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 1: just gonna avoid paying for. There's a lot of money 467 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 1: to travel and stay at these hotels and it's a 468 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:27,560 Speaker 1: big expense, absolutely right. I think that maybe I'm not 469 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:33,680 Speaker 1: saying definitively, but it may be a a by product 470 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 1: of the post pandemic era. Um And again, if I 471 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 1: can listen to the World Series films and I hear 472 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: me and I know I'm in this room having broadcasts 473 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 1: that yet watching it there and knowing that we're sounding 474 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: like I was there when I wasn't, I think what 475 00:28:56,920 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 1: will eventually happen to some degree it will cut down 476 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:07,240 Speaker 1: on announcers traveling because they don't have to. Yeah. Well, 477 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 1: and Charlie, just in general, you've had such a great 478 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 1: run here with your many stops along the way. But 479 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 1: there's people, some listeners, a little younger guys that they 480 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 1: want to they want to be you, Charlie. They want 481 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:21,479 Speaker 1: to reach the heights of Charlie Stein, any pearls of 482 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 1: wisdom you have for the younger generations that are listening, 483 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 1: they want to follow in your footsteps. Don't be afraid 484 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 1: to fail, be available, Um, be prepared. There are no shortcuts. 485 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 1: It's hard. It is Uh. It is a very subjective business. 486 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:48,760 Speaker 1: Some people may think you're wonderful, and different people here 487 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:51,120 Speaker 1: the same thing that the others heard. It's like chiefus, 488 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 1: he's awful. Um. All you can do is the best 489 00:29:54,480 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 1: you can um and and work real hard and be around. 490 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 1: And as branch Rickey said, luck is the resident of design. 491 00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 1: If you're there, you might get lucky. But nobody's gonna 492 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:16,640 Speaker 1: knock on your front door and say, hey, would you 493 00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 1: like to come and be a Major League Baseball announcer. 494 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:21,160 Speaker 1: You kind of work your ass off to get there, 495 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 1: and even then, there's no guarantee you're gonna get it. Yeah. Absolutely, 496 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:30,040 Speaker 1: And Uh you mentioned earlier social media. Uh, that is 497 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: something that's changed in our lifetimes. Charlie A lot with 498 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:37,200 Speaker 1: the the importance the importance of social media. And I 499 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 1: have a love hate relationship with with social media. I'm 500 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:44,200 Speaker 1: on there because of the job and did a talk show. 501 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 1: You need to be on there and whatnot. But it's 502 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 1: I'm not a big fan, but how how has that 503 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:53,600 Speaker 1: entered into the equation because so many of the stories 504 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:56,160 Speaker 1: today in the sports news cycle seemed to come from 505 00:30:56,240 --> 00:31:00,719 Speaker 1: Instagram or Twitter. It's, uh, it's a fascin any change 506 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 1: that's taken place. I don't know if it's a change 507 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: for the better. Do you think it's a change for 508 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: the better? Not? Really? No, I do not have a 509 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 1: Twitter account. Um My feeling is if I have something 510 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 1: to say, I will say it on Mike during a 511 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:21,600 Speaker 1: game or with you. Um, and that's as far as 512 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 1: it goes. You know, I don't care much about what 513 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 1: I think let alone. Uh do I necessarily want to 514 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 1: share that with people that I do not know? So no, 515 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:35,760 Speaker 1: I'm not a fan of it. I do look at 516 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: it on occasion just to get a sense of, you know, 517 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:43,520 Speaker 1: what fans are thinking about. But I would I would 518 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 1: never engage in that because it's just not that's not 519 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:50,600 Speaker 1: a neighborhood I want to live in. Now. You were 520 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 1: the you were a big guy at ESPN when in 521 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:57,040 Speaker 1: the heyday I consider the heyday of ESPN. Uh, you know, 522 00:31:57,040 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 1: it's still a monster, is probably bigger now than it 523 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:03,240 Speaker 1: was then, but as far as financially, but that matter, Charlie. 524 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:05,560 Speaker 1: In those days when you were doing Sports Center and 525 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: there was no there wasn't social media and the Internet 526 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:11,560 Speaker 1: was still you know, in the early stages and it 527 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:15,480 Speaker 1: was archaic and and things like that. That Sports Center, 528 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 1: when you hosted that show, that was musty TV. That's 529 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:21,520 Speaker 1: how people got the sporting news. What was it like 530 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 1: in those early days at ESPN when I mean all 531 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 1: you guys became big stars, you know, in that time 532 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:30,360 Speaker 1: and then in the years that followed, but you guys 533 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 1: have had great careers. But what was it like when 534 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:35,000 Speaker 1: you were doing that? And that was that was the 535 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:41,480 Speaker 1: epicenter of sports media. I was, I was so lucky. UM. 536 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:46,640 Speaker 1: I got hired in nineteen eight, never having had a 537 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 1: look of television experience. UM. But a fellow named John 538 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:55,480 Speaker 1: Walsh came in and his task was to turn Sports 539 00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:59,920 Speaker 1: Center into something UH. And then they started to high 540 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 1: or people UM and I was. I was the first 541 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 1: of the new breed that they brought in as an anchor. 542 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 1: And again I had to learn on the fly. UM. 543 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 1: Peter Gammon's was just starting, Andrea Kramer was just starting UH, 544 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 1: and they had no television experience either. Uh. And then 545 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:28,160 Speaker 1: within a year year and a half, Dan Patrick came in, 546 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:32,560 Speaker 1: Keith Olberman came in, Robert Roberts came in, Young Mike 547 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:37,320 Speaker 1: Tarico came in UM and it was this surge of 548 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 1: talent um and we were working in this little pip 549 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 1: squeak town, Bristol, Connecticut. And it was in fact my 550 00:33:46,520 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 1: agent at the time when when when they find they 551 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:51,680 Speaker 1: made an offer to me, they reached out and said, 552 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:54,480 Speaker 1: do you want to come here? Okay, he said he 553 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 1: didn't think it was a very good idea. It's a 554 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:00,960 Speaker 1: you know, it's a little cable station in Connecticut. I said, well, 555 00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:04,560 Speaker 1: if ever I was gonna try television, this is as 556 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: good as any and if it didn't work out, I 557 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 1: could always go back to radio, where I had had 558 00:34:08,160 --> 00:34:13,760 Speaker 1: some success. And so all of a sudden, this sports 559 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:17,200 Speaker 1: center thing is beginning to take off. And we were 560 00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:21,759 Speaker 1: the last ones to realize. I mean, we just lifted Connecticut, 561 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:27,520 Speaker 1: were playing TV and this thing. ESPN was coming on 562 00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:32,160 Speaker 1: the air, MTV was coming on the air, CNN was 563 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:38,160 Speaker 1: coming on on the air. All in the late seventies 564 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:41,919 Speaker 1: early eighties, and it was like WHOA, so we got 565 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 1: swept up on it, uh and in it had no idea, 566 00:34:46,239 --> 00:34:49,759 Speaker 1: I mean, no idea that it would become the thing 567 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:53,080 Speaker 1: that it became. And then I think the thing that 568 00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:55,960 Speaker 1: really kind of put us over the top ultimately, at 569 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:59,440 Speaker 1: least in terms of Sports Center personalities and all that, 570 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:03,120 Speaker 1: were the Sports Center commercials, which still have a pretty 571 00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:07,440 Speaker 1: good shelf life. So again we were the last ones 572 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:09,640 Speaker 1: to know. And the other thing I think that made 573 00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:13,680 Speaker 1: it successful was the fact that we were in Bristol 574 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:18,920 Speaker 1: and we had nobody else except us, So it became 575 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:25,040 Speaker 1: this nuclear family inside this concrete building uh in Connecticut. 576 00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 1: And so we as a group grew up together and 577 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:34,680 Speaker 1: we as a group were watched by, you know, as 578 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:37,960 Speaker 1: it turned out, millions of people, and everybody was wondering 579 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:39,960 Speaker 1: how they got to sit twenty four hours a day 580 00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:44,719 Speaker 1: of sports. Wow, they did. And we were just all 581 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:48,000 Speaker 1: very fortunate. I got to work with Bob Lee for 582 00:35:48,920 --> 00:35:52,279 Speaker 1: every day for twelve of my fourteen years there, and 583 00:35:52,719 --> 00:35:55,640 Speaker 1: Bob and Robin Roberts and either three of us were 584 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:59,400 Speaker 1: together every day for about seven years. So we're just 585 00:35:59,520 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 1: lucky and it worked out. You know, luck is the 586 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:06,080 Speaker 1: residue of design. Yeah, and and even all you know 587 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:08,320 Speaker 1: these years later, since you've been doing the baseball those 588 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:12,160 Speaker 1: those highlights on on YouTube. Some of your the commercials 589 00:36:12,160 --> 00:36:15,359 Speaker 1: are still popular, the blooper videos that I gotta ask 590 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:17,560 Speaker 1: you about that now. You mentioned you have not done 591 00:36:17,560 --> 00:36:22,560 Speaker 1: TV before. Your laugh so infectious. My My favorite was 592 00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 1: you were doing the Mitch blood Green uh story, and 593 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:32,480 Speaker 1: that was what was it like? Like? What were the 594 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:35,160 Speaker 1: people like around the camera and the support staff and 595 00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:37,160 Speaker 1: the people you're working with, because you you lost it 596 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:39,640 Speaker 1: a couple of times on it was great television. But 597 00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:42,000 Speaker 1: what was were they busting your chops while you were 598 00:36:42,040 --> 00:36:45,919 Speaker 1: doing that? What was that like? The first time I 599 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:50,279 Speaker 1: lost it was Carl Lewis and his wretched rendition of 600 00:36:50,360 --> 00:36:55,840 Speaker 1: the national anthem um. And at that point that was so, 601 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 1: I'm I'm on the air maybe three years. I'm still 602 00:36:59,719 --> 00:37:04,320 Speaker 1: trying to get my uh my, shea legs under me. 603 00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 1: And that morning, uh, driving to work, I listened on 604 00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:12,000 Speaker 1: the radio and they had about a ten second clip 605 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:15,880 Speaker 1: of Carl Lewis butchering the anthem. It was the Nets 606 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:20,400 Speaker 1: and Bulls in Jersey And so we had a production 607 00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:22,640 Speaker 1: meeting every day about ten ten thirty for our seven 608 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:25,319 Speaker 1: o'clock show, and I said, I heard the damnedest thing 609 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:27,719 Speaker 1: on the radio today, Carl Lewis doing the anthem, and 610 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:31,400 Speaker 1: it wasn't very good. Maybe the tape room has it 611 00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:35,480 Speaker 1: from last night. We fift twenty minutes later, they come upstairs, 612 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:38,920 Speaker 1: back when there were cartridge tapes, put it in, and 613 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:45,400 Speaker 1: the entire anthem is in there, and oh this is gold. Um. 614 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:48,480 Speaker 1: And they always would give me the kicker, the final 615 00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:52,520 Speaker 1: story of the of the night. You know, something stupid 616 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:57,319 Speaker 1: that I was. I was good at stupid. So now 617 00:37:57,520 --> 00:38:02,680 Speaker 1: we decided that's gonna be the last story of the day. Um. 618 00:38:02,719 --> 00:38:05,720 Speaker 1: And throughout the day people keep hearing about this Carl 619 00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:09,600 Speaker 1: Lewis thing. And they came by and and and where 620 00:38:09,640 --> 00:38:13,879 Speaker 1: I sat. Long before we had offices, we had little pods. Um. 621 00:38:14,239 --> 00:38:18,080 Speaker 1: They kept they popped in the Carl Lewis anthem and 622 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:20,719 Speaker 1: it it was awful. And every time I heard it, 623 00:38:20,760 --> 00:38:24,919 Speaker 1: I laughed. And I'm figuring by seven o'clock, having heard 624 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:27,640 Speaker 1: it maybe twenty or twenty five times that day, I 625 00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:33,240 Speaker 1: would have been laughed out raw. Um. So he sings 626 00:38:33,280 --> 00:38:35,040 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna make it up to you and all 627 00:38:35,080 --> 00:38:41,720 Speaker 1: of that, and it was historically bad, and I got lucky. 628 00:38:41,760 --> 00:38:47,040 Speaker 1: I gotta as I'm losing it now. Um that popped 629 00:38:47,040 --> 00:38:50,080 Speaker 1: into my head Francis Scott off Key. I don't know 630 00:38:50,120 --> 00:38:52,799 Speaker 1: where it came from, but I'm glad that it did 631 00:38:53,239 --> 00:38:56,080 Speaker 1: so anyway, So now I have thoroughly lost it. I'm 632 00:38:56,120 --> 00:38:58,719 Speaker 1: on the air for about thirty seconds and bookers are 633 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 1: flying out of my nose and spits coming out of 634 00:39:02,040 --> 00:39:05,839 Speaker 1: my mouth. And I go back upstairs when the day 635 00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:09,400 Speaker 1: has done, put my earpiece in my desk and all that, 636 00:39:09,880 --> 00:39:12,799 Speaker 1: and I'm thinking, I'm I'm done, I'm fired. This is 637 00:39:12,920 --> 00:39:15,839 Speaker 1: this is not gonna this is not gonna last. When 638 00:39:15,880 --> 00:39:19,680 Speaker 1: I go up into the newsroom, everybody is still laughing, hysteric. 639 00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:22,920 Speaker 1: I'm thinking, Okay, well, maybe I can survive this thing. 640 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:25,919 Speaker 1: That night, at the eleven o'clock show, Keith and Dan, 641 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:29,160 Speaker 1: I think the first and only time they ever re 642 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:32,480 Speaker 1: aired an entire segment from the seven o'clock show of 643 00:39:33,160 --> 00:39:37,480 Speaker 1: me and Carl Lewis, and and then the reaction was 644 00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:40,520 Speaker 1: such and it became in many ways kind of liberating 645 00:39:40,640 --> 00:39:43,640 Speaker 1: that if I could survive that, and I wasn't worried 646 00:39:43,680 --> 00:39:47,160 Speaker 1: about what the camera was seeing because I had lost it. 647 00:39:47,680 --> 00:39:52,000 Speaker 1: Then it just naturally loosened me up on television, and 648 00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:56,279 Speaker 1: so it was it was therapeutic for me as a broadcaster, 649 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:59,040 Speaker 1: and so then when I saw funny and stupid stuff, 650 00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:04,680 Speaker 1: it was easy you for me to just let it go. Charlie, 651 00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:07,879 Speaker 1: what's your favorite ESPN commercial that you ever did? Ben 652 00:40:07,880 --> 00:40:09,719 Speaker 1: and I were talking about an off air, so kind 653 00:40:09,719 --> 00:40:12,120 Speaker 1: of curious to what you thought. I guess followed me 654 00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:18,160 Speaker 1: to Freedom only because works. You know. I did one 655 00:40:18,200 --> 00:40:22,520 Speaker 1: with Melrose Place. It was Bobby the pool Boy, and 656 00:40:23,719 --> 00:40:27,760 Speaker 1: again they gave me a lot of you know, punch 657 00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:30,879 Speaker 1: line that was a walking punch line for fourteen years there. 658 00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:33,560 Speaker 1: But I guess followed me to Freedom, which is now 659 00:40:34,040 --> 00:40:40,600 Speaker 1: more than twenty years old, still works. Yeah, it does that. Hey, Charlie, 660 00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:43,759 Speaker 1: thank you so much. I appreciate it. I hope to 661 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:46,120 Speaker 1: see you at the ballpark when things get back to 662 00:40:46,360 --> 00:40:48,320 Speaker 1: some sense of normal there. I haven't seen you in 663 00:40:48,360 --> 00:40:51,799 Speaker 1: a while, but thanks for coming on and continued domination 664 00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:54,640 Speaker 1: on the Dodge and broadcast. I hear you all the time, 665 00:40:54,760 --> 00:40:56,880 Speaker 1: and you're you're doing a great job. So thank you 666 00:40:56,920 --> 00:40:59,440 Speaker 1: so much, and thank you so much for having to 667 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:02,600 Speaker 1: appreciate it. Be sure to catch live editions of The 668 00:41:02,640 --> 00:41:06,360 Speaker 1: Ben Miller Show weekdays at two am Eastern eleven pm Pacific. 669 00:41:06,520 --> 00:41:09,440 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 670 00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:12,480 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox sports 671 00:41:12,560 --> 00:41:15,640 Speaker 1: Radio dot com and within the I Heart Radio app 672 00:41:15,719 --> 00:41:17,840 Speaker 1: search f s R to listen live.