Today we salute our favorite teams, their accomplishments, the fans, cheerleaders, coaches and media who covered the games. The litany of competitive sports spans from football, basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey, bowling, tennis, golf, track and the list goes on even to the Olympics.
If you were to ask me what are the benefits one gains from participating in sports, I would respond, where do you want me to start? From the most avid amateur to the seasoned pro, those who excel have a distinct love and passion for the game they play.
Denny Wright and Mike at the NCAA National Championship NKU vs. South Dakota Pregame radio show, 2008 (Photo provided)
Let’s take a moment to understand the benefits of sports competition even to where our youth can develop their skills and talent with great habits the can take with them into adulthood.
Let’s begin with benefits such as – teamwork, challenges, leadership, pride, camaraderie, exercise and the development of skills and talent.
Sports has been a huge part of my life that began in high school in 1955 and came to an end professionally November 22, 2022.
With today being National Sports Day, it seems fitting to cherish so many memories over my long broadcasting career. I was blessed with the skills, talent and voice to advance and excel to levels I never dreamed of. It all began at the high school level, college and then – professional baseball. From local radio to ESPN + it was a dream come true.
Over my long career I shared the microphone with 23 of the finest professional broadcasters that ever sat down to call a game.
In order to celebrate and cherish those magic moments of calling play by play; let’s turn back the hands of time – here we go:
NKU Women NCAA 2008 DII Champions celebration (Photo provided)
· THE MOST EXCITING GAME – March 29, 2008 The NCAA DII Women’s National Championship Game in Kearney, Nebraska. With fellow Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Famer – Denny Wright, the game had all the pomp and circumstance of any NCAA Title Game. The women of HOF coach, Nancy Winstel in an incredible game; found NKU down by 10, only to pull it out and win it 63-58! I cannot describe the emotional moments Denny and I had a courtside.
The huge win was the 2nd DII Women’s NCAA Title. The first Title occurred in 2000.
Broadcasters prepare like the teams do. We must be mentally and physically prepared. Before the game, I made a promise to Coach Winstel that if we indeed won The NCAA Title, I would jump into the Hotel Pool clothes and all. She held me to it. Splash – but with a smile!
· THE LONGEST GAME – NKU women vs the Pumas of St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, Indiana at Scharf Alumni Field House. A Saturday afternoon game before we continued on our way to Chicago. The Puma’s were ready and playing to a packed home crowd. I had called double OT games before, but not like this one that was to be one for the books! Back and forth for 40 minutes with a tie and it was OT #1. NKU and St. Joe were both very determined to win, you could feel it. The 5 minute intense OTs began.
Voice of the Appy League Huntington Cubs (Provided)
Tie after tie and finally the 5th OT began. I ran out of room on my scorebook and was taking notes as the battle continued adding 25 minutes to a 40 minute game. NKU won it by two that day and what a great post game interview moments later with Coach Winstel. We left Rensselaer very thankful for the huge win that went down in history.
· THE MOST EXCITING BASEBALL CALL. 1994 – I was in my 2nd season as the Voice of the Huntington Cubs – a Chicago Cubs minor league affiliate. This game would bring back a vivid memory that has been indelible for 30 years this summer. We were at home and playing the Kingsport Mets, always a tough game. Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th inning; the Cubs came to bat with right fielder Brian Bogle leading off. He fouled off two and with the count 1-2, Bogle got a hold of inside fast ball and drilled it into orbit for a tape measure homer giving the Cubbies a huge hometown win.
If you’re a play by play announcer, you can rehearse all you want in regard to your description of a walk off homer. When it happens – it’s all emotion, rhetoric and facts! You just do it – it’s natural. My radio partner that night was the Sports Editor of the Huntington Herald Dispatch – Tim Stephens. In his column the next day, he described my walk off home run call as the best he ever heard. That’s quite a compliment.
Richard Friley WSF Channel 12 camera man 1975 (Photo provided)
· THE 1983 KENTUCKY WILDCATS AND ME Dateline – November 1983, Rupp Arena, Lexington. My assignment from WTSF TV Channel 12 was to host a 1983 UK Wildcats Basketball Season Preview with my partner George Conley. From the moment we walked into Rupp with the Wildcats in a shoot around, I had a very special feeling. It was like walking into a cathedral. First, we met with Coach Joe B Hall and the ’83 Wildcats such as Same Bowie and Melvin Turpin. The filming and commentary began even with meeting legends who were attending – Ritter Collett of the Dayton Daily News and Oscar Combs owner of Cats Paws magazine. The hour passed by like a blink of an eye, but the memories of that evening in Lexington with the Wildcats resonates even today. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.
· THE LONGEST ROUND TRIP EVER TO CALL A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME – BY CAR November 1975 and the Kentucky High School Athletics State at Large Championship game was set with Ashland versus Paducah on a very cold and windy November night. I was calling games at this time for Tower Cablevision Channel 12. The decision was made to send our camera man, Richard Friley and me to tape the game in Paducah and play it back on Saturday morning. For the record, the round trip was nearly 800 miles and right at 8 hours one way. We arrived in plenty of time to get set up for the early evening kick off.
Ashland won the game that night when Ashland’s Gary Thomas ran 85 yards for a touchdown for the final score of 13-7. It was a good bet those Ashland fans would be waiting for sure to see the game replay on Channel 12. After some dinner, Richard and I hit the road back to Ashland dreading every mile coming up. The Ashland football team flew down to Paducah compliments of the Ashland Boosters $10,000 which paved the way for the flight. They flew back Saturday morning. We would have loved to hitch a ride.
Mike Tussey, ESPN+ pregame show 2022
On the way back, the heater went out on our van. We couldn’t believe it. The temperature was at 30 degrees that night and fixing the heater was out of the question. After almost freezing coming home; we finally arrived in the wee hours of Saturday morning with the treasured tape which was ready for play at 12 Noon. It was replayed several time over the weekend for the fans to be sure and catch it. No one ever knew what it took for us to get the championship game film back home and ready to be aired on local TV.
The final years of my long career were spent with ESPN+ calling play by play of Ohio Valley Conference Basketball at Morehead State. I retired in 2022 and even today, I thank God for the talent and skills I was given for my success. It was quite a ride over those 57 years having called so many games.
My trips over the years were North to Michigan, East to Erie Pennsylvania, South to Boca Raton Florida, and west to Kearney, Nebraska.
So, on the National Sports Day, be sure you recall and cherish those magic moments that you enjoyed around sports. I do every day.
By the way, today is also “BOSS’S DAY”!
Be sure and be nice.
It could pay dividends – you never know.
Mike Tussey has “retired” from a 60-plus-year career as a legendary play-by-play announcer for over 2000 football, baseball, and basketball games, including most recently for ESPN+. His career also includes a stint in law enforcement, teaching and coaching, and writing books, including the “Touchdown Saints.” He grew up in Eastern Kentucky and now lives in Florence with his wife, Jo. He has opened another “Door of Opportunity” and is now a regular columnist for the NKyTribune.
