Central Michigan University Athletics
For Enberg, the Game is Still the Thing
10/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Chippewa Fund
Oct. 30, 2014
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The familiar voice, the familiar refrain of ‘Oh my’, the familiar friendly congeniality.
Dick Enberg, one of the greats of American sports broadcasting, paid a visit to his alma mater, Central Michigan University, on Sunday as part of the dedication of the Jack & Patricia Anson Atrium at the Rose Events Center.
Enberg spoke during the introduction of the Anson family, and later shared memories of his days, well over a half-century ago, as an undergrad at what was then Central Michigan Normal College, and the countless opportunities that awaited him once he had his degree in hand.
“I’ve been very fortunate with the success I’ve had and privileged to be able to do all the things that I’ve done,” Enberg said. “The truth of the matter is, when I was at Central Michigan my colleague said ‘Hey Enberg, you think you’re a good athlete, don’t you?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I think I’m pretty good.’
“And he said, ‘We know better, you only talk a good game.’ Well, talking a good game worked out pretty good.”
Indeed it did for Enberg, and the university. The Mount Clemens native and Armada High School graduate went on to become one of the preeminent names in a sports broadcasting career that has spanned nearly 50 years.
And he is been a major benefactor to CMU and his philanthropy continues. The Dick Enberg Academic Center at CMU’s Indoor Athletic Complex bears his name and is a critical component in the overall mission and academic success of Chippewa student-athletes. He has also endowed three scholarships at CMU and has been named a CMU Distinguished Alumni.
Enberg has come a long way since coming to Mount Pleasant from Armada, as has the university. When Enberg was a student in Mount Pleasant, the campus comprised about 3,000 students and was much more concentrated, geographically, than it is today.
“The growth, it’s magnificent,” said Enberg, a member of the CMU Marcy Weston Athletics Hall of Fame. “Who would have thought a medical school, at Central Michigan, back in my days in the ’50s?”
Enberg said he cherishes the memories of his days on campus, and turned sentimental and a bit wistful at what he said some of today’s students, and young people in general, may be missing.
“I’m a little concerned about modern technology and the fact that you walk on campus and too many students walk with their head down, looking at their next text message,” he said. “My question to them is, Do you lift your chin, open your eyes and see how beautiful this place is?
“Leave that (phone) in the room, maybe one hour a week, maybe on a Saturday, leave it behind and just walk the campus and look at the beauty here.”
The world, Enberg allows, is ever-changing, and technology has played a major role. He, clearly, has embraced and adjusted as media in general and the world of sports broadcasting in particular has evolved.
Clearly, Enberg has transitioned with extreme success from decade to decade, era to era, event to event as evidenced by 13 Emmy Awards.
“I think it’s happening everywhere in our society and there’s a lot of good because of that (technology), but there is something about looking someone in the eye and talking with them rather than on a cell phone,” said Enberg, whose broadcast resumé is among the very best in broadcasting and includes the Lifetime Achievement Emmy and eight Super Bowls.
Enberg is one of 10 finalists for the Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and honors excellence in baseball broadcasting. Among the past winners are the very best the game has ever seen – or heard – such as Ernie Harwell, Vin Scully and Jack Buck.
“It isn’t a job, it’s been my privilege, and baseball’s the best announcer game,” said Enberg, who is entering his sixth year as the television play-by-play voice of the San Diego Padres. “I’m going to turn 80 next year, and I’ve got to think about what I’m going to do with the rest of my life.
“Maybe I’ll go back and teach. I enjoyed teaching and I’ve got a lot to give back especially in communications and broadcasting. We’ve traveled extensively, but we haven’t been to every corner of the world. We’d like to travel more.
“And with six children I’m finally a grandparent. It took forever and now I have a 7-week-old Archie over in London. And now that’s going to change life for us. I want to be able to leave the broadcast booth before they decide to replace me.”
There have been several keys to Enberg’s longevity and success, beginning with education. Humility is another critical component, he said.
“The game’s the thing,” he said. “When I talk to young announcers who are full of themselves -- they think that they’re the reasons that people tune in.
“I say ‘Listen, I’ve done eight Super Bowls and up to 140 million people watch, if the day before the game they decided that Dick Enberg wasn’t doing that game but Sam Liederkronz or Bernie Mazzolla was doing it, you think one person out of 140 million wouldn’t tune in?’
“They’re tuning in to watch the game. And we’re there to try to encourage fans to enjoy aspects of the games that they might not otherwise know or see, to embellish their experience.”
By Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The familiar voice, the familiar refrain of ‘Oh my’, the familiar friendly congeniality.
Dick Enberg, one of the greats of American sports broadcasting, paid a visit to his alma mater, Central Michigan University, on Sunday as part of the dedication of the Jack & Patricia Anson Atrium at the Rose Events Center.
Enberg spoke during the introduction of the Anson family, and later shared memories of his days, well over a half-century ago, as an undergrad at what was then Central Michigan Normal College, and the countless opportunities that awaited him once he had his degree in hand.
“I’ve been very fortunate with the success I’ve had and privileged to be able to do all the things that I’ve done,” Enberg said. “The truth of the matter is, when I was at Central Michigan my colleague said ‘Hey Enberg, you think you’re a good athlete, don’t you?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I think I’m pretty good.’
“And he said, ‘We know better, you only talk a good game.’ Well, talking a good game worked out pretty good.”
Indeed it did for Enberg, and the university. The Mount Clemens native and Armada High School graduate went on to become one of the preeminent names in a sports broadcasting career that has spanned nearly 50 years.
And he is been a major benefactor to CMU and his philanthropy continues. The Dick Enberg Academic Center at CMU’s Indoor Athletic Complex bears his name and is a critical component in the overall mission and academic success of Chippewa student-athletes. He has also endowed three scholarships at CMU and has been named a CMU Distinguished Alumni.
Enberg has come a long way since coming to Mount Pleasant from Armada, as has the university. When Enberg was a student in Mount Pleasant, the campus comprised about 3,000 students and was much more concentrated, geographically, than it is today.
“The growth, it’s magnificent,” said Enberg, a member of the CMU Marcy Weston Athletics Hall of Fame. “Who would have thought a medical school, at Central Michigan, back in my days in the ’50s?”
Enberg said he cherishes the memories of his days on campus, and turned sentimental and a bit wistful at what he said some of today’s students, and young people in general, may be missing.
“I’m a little concerned about modern technology and the fact that you walk on campus and too many students walk with their head down, looking at their next text message,” he said. “My question to them is, Do you lift your chin, open your eyes and see how beautiful this place is?
“Leave that (phone) in the room, maybe one hour a week, maybe on a Saturday, leave it behind and just walk the campus and look at the beauty here.”
The world, Enberg allows, is ever-changing, and technology has played a major role. He, clearly, has embraced and adjusted as media in general and the world of sports broadcasting in particular has evolved.
Clearly, Enberg has transitioned with extreme success from decade to decade, era to era, event to event as evidenced by 13 Emmy Awards.
“I think it’s happening everywhere in our society and there’s a lot of good because of that (technology), but there is something about looking someone in the eye and talking with them rather than on a cell phone,” said Enberg, whose broadcast resumé is among the very best in broadcasting and includes the Lifetime Achievement Emmy and eight Super Bowls.
Enberg is one of 10 finalists for the Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and honors excellence in baseball broadcasting. Among the past winners are the very best the game has ever seen – or heard – such as Ernie Harwell, Vin Scully and Jack Buck.
“It isn’t a job, it’s been my privilege, and baseball’s the best announcer game,” said Enberg, who is entering his sixth year as the television play-by-play voice of the San Diego Padres. “I’m going to turn 80 next year, and I’ve got to think about what I’m going to do with the rest of my life.
“Maybe I’ll go back and teach. I enjoyed teaching and I’ve got a lot to give back especially in communications and broadcasting. We’ve traveled extensively, but we haven’t been to every corner of the world. We’d like to travel more.
“And with six children I’m finally a grandparent. It took forever and now I have a 7-week-old Archie over in London. And now that’s going to change life for us. I want to be able to leave the broadcast booth before they decide to replace me.”
There have been several keys to Enberg’s longevity and success, beginning with education. Humility is another critical component, he said.
“The game’s the thing,” he said. “When I talk to young announcers who are full of themselves -- they think that they’re the reasons that people tune in.
“I say ‘Listen, I’ve done eight Super Bowls and up to 140 million people watch, if the day before the game they decided that Dick Enberg wasn’t doing that game but Sam Liederkronz or Bernie Mazzolla was doing it, you think one person out of 140 million wouldn’t tune in?’
“They’re tuning in to watch the game. And we’re there to try to encourage fans to enjoy aspects of the games that they might not otherwise know or see, to embellish their experience.”
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