Today’s “Behind the Mic” blog is written by long time RCN personality Scott Barr. He has covered a wide range of sports, including kick boxing, track and field, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, football, and baseball. Most of our viewers, of course, will know him for his work with District XI wrestling. Fans across the valley have heard him call “Give him six!” after a pin, while working with three legends of Lehigh Valley sports—Gary Laubach, Ray Nunamaker, and Jim Best. Outside of RCN, Scott helps small businesses set up retirement plans for their employees, and lives in Macungie with his wife, Melissa, and their four children.
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In about six weeks, at the PIAA Baseball Championships, I will wrap up my 30th season on the air. Most of the hundreds of broadcasts melt together, with a few exceptions. Gary Laubach has been there for most of the “exceptions”, and we talk about them often.
I thought today I would take a look at those 30 years and share some of those moments. Some are on the air, some are not. Some of the details are fuzzy, and some have been enhanced over time, I’m sure. Regardless, it makes me excited about the next thirty!
Best individual performance—I was on the sidelines for the 1995 AAA football championship. In that game, James Mungro was ridiculous. My recollection is that he gained around 320 yards on about 20 carries. He returned the opening kickoff to the 40-yard line, and on the first play from scrimmage, took care of the rest. East Stroudsburg won 35-14, and Mungro went on to a long NFL career.
Luckiest TV assignment—I was assigned to be the sideline reporter for the 1990 AAA football championship at Cottingham Stadium. I forget who was supposed to be the game’s analyst, but he had to cancel at the last minute, so I spent the broadcast in the booth with Gary. During the game, no kidding, more than four inches of rain fell. It would have been miserable down there. Easton won that game over Stroudsburg 41-10.
Longest broadcast, Part 1—Gary and I were broadcasting DXI boys’ volleyball under the old double-elimination format without “rally” scoring. Easton came out of the loser’s bracket and beat Emmaus in a long, five-set match (which we called). This forced a winner-take-all championship, which Emmaus won—in ANOTHER long, five-set match. We were on the air for around five hours.
Longest broadcast, Part 2—Again with Gary, we were covering the Allentown Ambassadors on a getaway game night with the team from Maine. They absolutely HAD to fit the whole game in, and despite a long rain delay—a really long rain delay—they did. We finished at around 2:30 a.m. There were, maybe, 30 fans left at the end of the game. Team owner, the late Pete Karoly, gave Ambassador t-shirts to everyone who stayed.
Sports event I would watch again, right now—Easy. The 2012 NCAA Division II baseball championship. West Chester beat Delta State 9-0, becoming the northernmost team to ever with the title. The dogpile at the end is one of my fondest memories, since my son John is at the bottom of it. If I die with a smile on my face, it’s because my final thought was about that moment.
Best finish—Nazareth was way behind in their annual wrestling rivalry with Easton. They needed pins in the final three weight classes, and got them all. Fans swarmed the mat, and referee Gene Waas had to be rescued from under the pile by Nazareth principal Vic Lesky. It’s a scene that could only happen in District XI.
Coolest TV related event—RCN scored press passes for Jim Best and me to the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia. Jordan Oliver won his first championship, and the atmosphere was electric. This event convinced me that if I have the chance to attend ANY national championship—any sport, any division—sponsored by the NCAA, I will do it. They put on a great show.
Most offbeat assignment—I actually did play-by-play for a kickboxing card in Mountainville around 1990. In the final bout, the heavyweight competitor stood up in his corner for the third round, and promptly fell over, face first. It was weird, and scary. It took a good twenty minutes for the medical staff to get him into an ambulance, and I heard that he was unconscious for a day or so before making a full recovery.
Most fun season—Gary and I had a great time getting to know the Allentown Ambassadors. A bunch of talented kids playing for the love of the game, with big league dreams, and coach Ed Ott who was just a great guy to hang out with. He even let Gary put together the batting order when they were in a slump one night. I think they still lost.
Favorite assignment—I really, really enjoyed being on the Lafayette football sidelines, and hated when my personal situation forced me away. The Leopards’ staff is professional and super friendly, and Frank Tavani might be my all-time favorite guy to interview.
Regrets—None. Absolutely none. It’s been one hell of a ride.