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10 Questions with ... Pete Medhurst
September 16, 2008
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NAME:Pete MedhurstTITLE:Sideline Reporter (football); Play-by-Play Announcer (basketball)STATION:Navy Radio NetworkMARKET:Annapolis, MD and networkBORN:MarylandRAISED:Maryland
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
WNAV Annapolis; Radio on Maryland's Eastern Shore; WTEM Washington; WGH Norfolk; Traffic reporter Metro Networks/WMAL Washington; Play-by-play voice of Navy football on CSTV; Track announcer, Rosecroft Raceway; Navy Radio Network1. How did you get your start in sportscasting? When did you decide that sportscasting was what you wanted to do, and why?
Pretty much from age 5 on. I used to sit in front of the TV with a tape recorder and act like I was doing the play-by-play. I've always enjoyed sports at all levels and figured this would be a great way to make a living. I got my first job at WNAV in Annapolis right out of high school, and I've been doing it ever since.
2. About what are you most passionate these days?
I love college sports. The environment at most college sporting events is awesome. The fans, the schools, the players... unlike most pros, each Saturday IS the most important day in their lives! I enjoy being able to bring a piece of the kids lives to their families and friends watching on TV or listening on the radio or internet.
3. You've been calling Navy football for the last few years on TV, and now you're doing the sideline reporting on the radio side -- what are the things that make the Navy football experience special, more so than the average college football program?
For me, it's getting to know the kids and their families as well as the game day atmosphere at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. It gives you a great reality check when after they graduate and you share emails with parents who can't disclose where their kids are, because in some cases they don't know or aren't allowed to say. You never fail to meet someone who hasn't served our country and put themselves in harm's way. The fans are loyal to the brotherhood. There was a time when our program wasn't that good and people still showed up. There are many teams in the country where that's not the case.
4. You've tended to multitask, career-wise, handling traffic reporting, hosting, play-by play, and track announcing, seemingly all at once. How and why do you do so much at once? And, long-term, if you had to pick one of the many things you do, which would be the one you'd want to do the most?
Great question. I love to earn, learn, and hopefully one day make enough to where my wife can stay home with our new daughter. Certainly play-by-play is my first love, but I got to admit nine years ago, when I got the traffic reporting deal, I was honored to be following in the footsteps of people like Captain Dan and Andy Parks who had set the bar incredibly high. I was probably the only kid who listened to AM radio as a kid, but I can name you any guy that had been on WMAL since like 1976! The track announcing is fun. I've been involved in harness racing since I was 14. The fact that Rosecroft only raced two days a week allowed it to somewhat fit into the schedule! I enjoy hosting shows. It's a great chance to share opinions; no one ever agrees on everything, but to be able to share your knowledge with people who may not have known something is cool. We all know how fans want to be the first to tell their friends something about their favorite teams now: just look at the banter on any team's message board.
You never know when a job may come your way and, let's face it, with most companies now, the more you can do, the more valuable you are to them; that's why I've tried to expand the skill set as much as possible.
5. You've handled pretty much every sport -- which is your particular favorite and why?
Tough call here. Slight edge to college basketball. The things that players can do on the basketball floor now are spectacular. There is nothing like March Madness. I mean, when a team I see a lot, Bucknell, can dispose of a Kansas, and you see them celebrating like they won the national title, for a school that size, you know that win means as much to them as the whole tournament does to the winner.
However, with that being said, calling the Navy Lacrosse team's run to the National Title game in 2004 was the most exciting series of games I have ever done. The games were incredible. Close games, exciting finishes, you couldn't ask for more from a broadcasting perspective.
6. Who are your influences, mentors, and inspirations in the business?
No question, in terms of hands-on, current Wizards Radio play-by-play guy and WTOP Sports anchor Dave Johnson. He gave me my first crack at it on WNAV in Annapolis when I was 18, doing sports on the weekends, and was tremendous in teaching me how to do this. Bob Socci, my colleague at Navy, taught me the difference in being someone who could open his mouth and how to do it professionally and be prepared.
I think, in terms of global scale, I've always enjoyed Verne Lundquist, a versatile guy. Football, hoops, golf. Tom Hammond, the same thing. Notre Dame football one day, the Breeders Cup the next! Ian Eagle does an awesome job on hoops and football both. Cowboys announcer Brad Sham. Saturdays still aren't the same without Keith Jackson and Sundays aren't without Pat Summerall.
7. Of what are you most proud?
In life, being a husband and a dad. Professionally, still being employed in the profession I love. In an industry that is getting smaller, jobs are at a premium. Being associated with the Naval Academy since 1997 has been an awesome relationship; the friends I have made there are invaluable.
8. What do you do for fun?
Riding the Carousel at Kings Dominion with my 13-week old daughter the other day may have been the most fun five minutes of my life.
Helping coach my kids in high school sports. Both are 6'4"; my oldest son is a senior and my youngest son a sophomore. Helping coach basketball and lacrosse at their high school and helping the kids improve as players and people is very rewarding.
Cruising the world with the most important woman in the world. My wife Brenda has been awesome; she has allowed me to pursue my broadcasting career no matter how stupid some of my decisions have been. She has been there no matter what.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ____________.
...kissing my daughter a million times!
10. What's the best advice you've ever gotten? The worst?
Best: Former Redskins play-by-play man Frank Herzog spoke at our board of education when I was 16 and said if you can't talk or are uncomfortable talking, you should try something else.
Worst: When I was younger, listening to people who tell you how great you are... and believing it. You lose the edge to be prepared and be the best when you do that.
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