Call of the Game [Hardcover]

Gary Bender (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 3, 2003

How many times have you listened to play-by-play on television and thought, I could do that job? With this book, perhaps you can. At the least, you'll learn what it takes to be a play-by-play announcer. Your teacher? A consummate professional. For more than 25 years, Gary Bender has described the action on the playing field of 29 different sports, 27 at network level.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Television sports announcer Bender is both faceless and ubiquitous: you probably don't know who he is, but you would if you heard him utter a sentence or two. To Bender, that may be the ultimate compliment; the announcer shouldn't be the show, he should describe it. This is a combination how-to and look-what-you're-getting-into overview of play-by-play sports broadcasting. With more than 25 years of experience and a master's in broadcast journalism, Bender presents both the textbook theories and the daily realities for budding broadcasters. He peppers his guide with personal anecdotes as he progresses from choosing a broadcast career to pre-event preparation to calling the event. The amount of preparation is daunting; for fun, just try to memorize the names, numbers, and a bit of background for all the starters of your favorite NFL team. Then imagine trying to do the same thing for two different teams each week. Bender also examines what happens during a typical broadcast, from working with a partner and crew, to handling controversy, to developing a personal style. This is both a very entertaining book and a valuable introduction to an interesting career. Wes Lukowsky

About the Author

Bender

Product Details

• Hardcover: 263 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 1st edition (November 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566250137
• ISBN-13: 978-1566250139
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #640,994 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Journalism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for Young Sportscasters, June 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Call of the Game (Hardcover)

I am not a big reader of books. Often I will buy a book, set it down and not pick it up for weeks, or even months or years. However, this book I sat and read almost cover-to-cover. As a sportscaster myself, I found it entertaining, informative, and provides excellent direction and insight for younger men and women who are hoping to break into this field. If you are planning or hoping to one day go into the broadcasting industry, whether its in sports, news, or whatever, I would say this is required reading!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and informative, August 16, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Charleston, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Call of the Game (Hardcover)

This is a well organized, enjoyable look into this dynamic profession. Bender's work is professorial; young broadcasters would do well to pay attention to his sagacity. Although Bender provides ample warning of his bias toward exacting preparation, he might lose a little of the essence of sports broadcasting. In treating broadcasting as tantamount to a science, he leaves you without the reason why he does it (and why I do it and why we all do it) -- sports broadcasting is FUN. It is revitalizing. Bender at times treats it as something that requires such precision that it saps his energy. I will say, however, that stripping some of the luster away from this coveted and misunderstood profession is necessary. As mentioned in the Booklist review, he provides plenty of "look-what-you're-getting-into" advice. He's done a good job at that, along with providing clear and understandable advice for someone willing to follow in his shoes. Besides, nobody needs to be told how much fun it is. What we DO need to be told, Bender provides.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for kids interested in this career!, January 31, 2010

By 

JPSMOM (EAST HAVEN, CT) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Call of the Game (Hardcover)

I flipped through it a bit myself before giving it to my son, whom it was a gift for, just to see if was going to be an easy read and knew instantly it was appropriate for high school levels and up. He is almost through with it now and said he has learned so much and gained such insight into a career he has long anticipated becoming involved in and studying in college next year. I cant speak about what actual tips etc it contains, because I havent read it myself, but he makes time each day to read it and then keeps going so obviously it has captivated him and that is a good enough sign for me to say go buy this book!!