This episode features my conversation with Larry Morgan, the voice of Drake University hoops and a stalwart of the Des Moines market. Topics of discussion include:
- Continuing to learn and work on his craft even after 40+ years in the business.
- The parts of the business that bring him happiness.
- How stops in Illinois and California led to him eventually find his way to the Des Moines market.
- Learning in college under both Tom Hedrick and Gary Bender, both legendary broadcasters who literally wrote books on broadcasting.
- Being quoted in the book “The Art of Sportscasting.”
- Applying for jobs in the 70’s.
- The challenges of also hosting a morning radio show as a play-by-play broadcaster.
- Working on a classic rock despite not enjoying classic rock.
- Bouncing back after losing his play-by-play job due to a rights change.
- Landing the job as the TV voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
- His relationship with Bill Rasmussen, the founder of ESPN.
- Switching from primarily a radio announcer to a TV announcer.
- What he learned from his short stint in sales.
- Why he left full time radio.
- Why he turned down several TV anchor jobs.
- Covering legendary athletes at the college level.
- Covering Kurt Warner in his arena football days.
- His basketball game prep process.
- Creating his own custom basketball scorebook.
- Preparing for a broadcast before the internet existed.
- The unique experience of covering arena football.
- The coaching advice his broadcast team received from Bob Knight.
- Dealing with paranoid coaches.
- The importance of treating people nicely.
- Balancing a great career with a great family life.
- Winning the NSMA State Sportscaster of the year four times in a row.
- Staying social media free.
- Deciding to retire from his full time position.
- The strange people watching stories from volunteering at the airport information booth.
- His broadcast horror stories.
- Mentoring Brian Sieman from the Clippers as he rose through the ranks.
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