The Tao of Vin Scully IX: Chris Roberts
As a professional play-by-play man, what can you learn about your craft simply by listening to Vin Scully today?
== Chris Roberts (linked here), UCLA radio football and basketball:
"The first thing that jumps off the page at me is his first three innings are on both radio and TV so the dialog is loaded with infomation because not everyone is watching. The approach to the game is that it's the most important one ever. It doesn't matter what time of the year, standings, won-loss record or whatever. The preparation is very evident. There is a story line on every player. He makes sure that nothing takes away from the moment while weaving it into the current event.
"What I've learned most from him is nobody, or any thing, is more important than what is happening at present. The score is so important, and he gives it often. The current situation is repeated too. Outs and inning and the count are crucial, just like down and distance and quarter in football, and in basketball with time left and who is leading and by what. He is always on top of it. That's what I take away from him. The basics are so important and can never be repeated too much. He still does it when it is just TV, too, when some of the content is more consise.
"One other thing I take away from listening to him is be a professional. No matter how long, boring, one sided, or not much action, kick yourself in the tail and get after it. Nobody cares that you're tired or had enough or fed up with bad play. Work and finish it like it is the seventh game in the World Series, tied with two outs bottom of the ninth, no matter what the situation."
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