Congratulations to all those who helped run the national meet in Tempe. Apart from all the great swims I got to see, the most impressive part of the meet was the excellent announcing during the competition--in two pools at once. I have been to some very well run, and well-announced meets (Rick Osterburg's work at the recent New England Championships comes to mind), but I have never heard such well-informed and articulate announcers at any swim meet, ever. Not only did the two (?) announcers know the swimmers, their backgrounds, and their abilities, when they "called" the race you could feel the excitement, even if you were outside the pool area. It made you want to get a look at the "great race." We all know that sometimes swim meets can drag on and get pretty dull as we wait for our turn to compete or for the race one of our friends is swimming. This meet was different. The way those guys called the races I felt like I'd arrived at the "Mecca" of swimming...and maybe I had.
So, my thanks to all the work that went in to preparing for the meet and for the excitement you announcers brought to every race. I am sorry to say that I don't know your names...perhaps someone who does know could send them in.
I loved the announcers too; the background information on the swimmers was fun to hear. I did notice a lot of local Arizona swimming knowledge!
I do have a warning for anyone who does this announcing, though. I did see one heat at the meet where the announcer was announcing the race in one pool (odd) and the race was starting in the other pool. The announcer managed to say "Lane 4" just as the swimmers had come to their marks and the swimmer in lane 4 stood up just as the horn went off, thinking that the starter was speaking to her. She did not swim the race, and I'm sure she was very displeased. So be careful if you are the announcer. It is a lot of balls to juggle.
Swim fast,
Greg
I loved the announcers too; the background information on the swimmers was fun to hear. I did notice a lot of local Arizona swimming knowledge!
I do have a warning for anyone who does this announcing, though. I did see one heat at the meet where the announcer was announcing the race in one pool (odd) and the race was starting in the other pool. The announcer managed to say "Lane 4" just as the swimmers had come to their marks and the swimmer in lane 4 stood up just as the horn went off, thinking that the starter was speaking to her. She did not swim the race, and I'm sure she was very displeased. So be careful if you are the announcer. It is a lot of balls to juggle.
Swim fast,
Greg
