Steve McCall is a veteran PR guy, pulling duty as one of the best media directors in the business. In 2003 he took a job with the World Hockey Association 2 (WHA-2) the spin-off of a spat in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL).
McCall was the media relations director for the Orlando Seals, a hockey franchise that has had a revolving door of leagues and owners, spiraling down from the once mighty AAA International Hockey League (IHL) through the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL) coming to rest in 2003 in the WHA-2. Steve gave both the team and the league a lift in the credibility department. After all, if McCall is involved, how bad could these guys really be?
By the end of the hockey season, it was very clear that the WHA-2 had a lot of problems: Payroll issues, stadium rent issues, and insurance issues were just a few of the league's woes. A victim of a blend of optimism, naievete and some opportunism, the WHA-2 was in trouble.
McCall, working for David Waronker, the league founder and majority owner of many teams, including the Seals, found himself hit with some tough questions about the league's financial viability, its political stability, and league and team management's veracity.
Throughout it all, McCall stayed at his post, and provided beyond Fox-like fair and balanced answers to questions being posed by journalists digging into the dirt under the ice.
After much turmoil, the Seals will roll out with revised ownership in a new incarnation of a hockey league, but without their solid point man.
Yes, Steve is moving on. We hope that it's back in hockey, although he may choose greener pastures. Whatever his fate, we wish him the best (Of course we're biased, and would love to see him come back to a happier home somewhere in the AA or AAA world of hockey.)
Mike Roberts may be to minor league baseball what Vin Sculley is to major league ball: One of the best set of pipes ever to call a game.
A veteran broadcaster of minor pro baseball and college sports, Roberts was the voice synonymous with the Albuquerque Dukes for many years. Dukes GM Pat McKernan's ever-cheapening ways and other issues saw Roberts part ways with minor league baseball. The legend has it that Roberts vowed never to do baseball in 'Burque again.
Ah, but one should never say never. In tradition-bound New Mexico, the ownership of the new Isotopes (PCL Marlins AAA) wanted that connection with the past, and with one of the most respected broadcasters in the state.
For Roberts didn't just fade away. The University of New Mexico made him part of their tradition, calling football games for the Lobos, whose sports stadiums are across the street from whatever incarnation of the baseball park that you care to talk about.
In his second season with the Isotopes, Roberts isn't the day-to-day broadcaster. That job falls to to the exceptional Bob Socci. Still Mike gets in his time, filling the night sky with the mellow tones of great baseball, sports trivia, interviews, discussion and commentary.
With broadcasters, the voice is the thing. Roberts' well modulated voice and smoothness blend with a knowledge base that makes him something special, definitely a worthwhile tune-in on AM-610 The Sports Animal, or via the web.
An institution in New Mexico, Mike Roberts is a broadcaster for the ages who deserves a moment in the national spotlight.
