Kasper Says the Right Things After Hire
The Cubs have signed Len Kasper, previously the play-by-play voice of the Florida Marlins, to a multiyear contract to call games on TV for them, replacing Chip Caray, who left for Atlanta. Kasper was the Cubs’ third choice for the job, after Dave O’Brien and Matt Vasgersian, neither of whom were allowed to exit their current contracts. Kasper, however, doesn’t mind, and–at least according to comments by him quoted by the Chicago Tribune’s Ed Sherman (under the roll-your-eyes headline “Kasper the friendly host")–appears to be saying all the right things.
There are several attributes nice to have in a play-by-play man working exclusively for one team.
An excitement about the job. “You need to get a break here or there in this business,” Kasper said. “I waited for the process to get played out. The names that were mentioned were terrific. I didn’t want to leave Florida, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Not becoming bigger than the game, or the color analyst. “I think the TV game in broadcasting is an analyst medium,” Kasper said. “I’m not downplaying my role in any way, but you don’t need me to tell the viewers everything they’re seeing. This opens up the field for the analyst. Bob played and managed. My goal is to let him shine.” TV is different than radio. Sometimes it’s OK to not say anything. And while the play-by-play man must be knowledgable about the game, the play-by-play man shouldn’t get in the way of the analyst.
Having a rooting interest in the team you are broadcasting for. “You’ll know I’m working for the Cubs,” said Kasper. “I try to be genuine. There have to be degrees of excitement in this game. You don’t call an RBI single in the first the same as a two-run homer that gives the Cubs the lead in the eighth. I let the moment carry my excitement.”
Cubs blogger 1060West has listened to Kasper and thinks him boring. I certainly hope he’s not too boring, but a little boring to me is OK. The product is the game. Sell the game, not yourself. There are announcers who make themselves, if not bigger than, equal to the game. I don’t want a Joe Buck. And I don’t even want another Harry Caray (as if there could be another). If Marlins fans are any indication, Len Kasper is going to do a real nice job.