Episode 43: Ian Eagle | CBS Sports, YES Network, Westwood One Play-By-Play
Episode 43: Ian Eagle | CBS Sports, YES Network, Westwood One Play-By-Play Announcer
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Rich Take On Sports
Show Notes:
- Rich Spotlight: Ian Eagle
- Finding balance in life now while spending the year broadcasting NFL, college basketball, NBA, and Tennis
- First fell in love with the personalities in sports
- Sports was an escape for him with divorced parents who were entertainers
- Entertaining was also easy for him and wasn’t afraid to be on stage
- Attended Syracuse University and Mike Tirico became a mentor
- After interning at WFAN in NY, he got his first job as a radio producer from 7 PM – 12 AM at the station in 1990
- Howie Rose provided on-the-job training in those early years before getting the job on the YES Network as the play-by-play announcer for the New Jersey Nets where he was paired with Bill Raftery who Ian considers the best
- His nickname of “Bird” or “Birdman” is up for debate on who coined the nickname first, either Bob Raissman of the NY Daily News or Bill Raftery
- Ultimate goal in TV play-by-play is not to get in the way and to create the vision for the audience for radio play-by-play
- Words of Wisdom from Ian Eagle: “Treat everything with respect, treat people with respect and you’ll get respect.”
Social Media:
To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports
Featured Image Photo Credit: CBS Sports
About the author, Richmond Weaver
Richmond, a graduate of Clemson University has been involved with sports for most of his life and developed a passion for basketball and sports at an early age. He currently lives in Greenville, SC with his wife Karen, founder of Upstate Esthetics and their three kids.