80-year-old Jim Bodamer recalled a story about when he was a radio announcer and witnessed his son getting taken out during a Titusville High School game. "I didn't know what to do.
The parent was working the mic, and his son was in pain."
This was one of the many stories Bodamer recalled during his decades broadcasting games, many of them from the press box above Carter Field in Titusville. He worked for many years on the radio where he covered his own kids playing.
He also recalled a time when he was covering a basketball game where his son was a star player. His son was having a tough game. "I actually said on the radio, '[the coach] has to get Bodamer out of there'," he chuckled. He said he had to say it like it was. He also said later in the game when the team needed a clutch shot that his son should be put back in because he would rise to the occasion.
Bodamer spent years as a broadcaster in radio where he also broadcast high school sports in New Mexico after he took a job there as a Christian School administrator.
"It's fun to watch kids play, the best sports to watch. High school kids learning a trade. It's important to developing character. These young men and women are our future leaders," he said.
In the last decade he has teamed up with Luke Ruot and The Stream TV in Titusville to broadcast games via the internet. "We bounce a lot of ideas off each other, Luke's a good guy," Bodamer said.
This broadcast team will be announcing Friday night's Oil City football home playoff game against Conneaut Area Senior High School.
Also working the games is grandson Adam who does some of the from the stands camera work of the on field action that his grandfather announces play by play.
"There is a lot of pride to being a Rocket, if it is Friday night you go to the football game."
He and Ruot will discuss coverage and prepare for each game. "You want to present an intelligent program," the retire school administrator said.
He'll research both teams prior to the game so his has information and stats ready to go as he announces the game. He also said he really wants to be sure he announces names correctly out of respect for the player and their families. "I have butchered names and that has always bothered me. They deserve better," he said
ββ
βTo watch this game visit the link to their facebook page by clicking on the photogaph below.