Posted in On the DL Podcast
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06/1 2010

DL379: Scott Franzke on Calling Halladay’s Perfection, Plus: NHL, USMNT, NBA & The Huge Weekend in Sports

Posted by Dan Levy.

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What a holiday weekend in sports. We start with a conversation about Roy Halladay’s perfect game, but rather than discuss the game between us – full disclosure, I was watching the hockey then switched over and tracked back to watch after the fact while Nick had the foresight to watch both – we thought it would make more sense to talk with one of the men who had the opportunity to call the 20th perfect game in Major League history.

Scott Franzke, radio play-by-play man for the Phillies, joins the show to talk about that amazing performance, and what it was like in the booth. At what point did they start to think they might be witnessing something special? How was Larry Anderson during the game, and were they conscious of superstition throughout the broadcast? How many times did Franzke mention the word perfect? Did he say “perfect game” before it happened?

We also discuss the historic nature of calling something like a perfect game. After Dallas Braden’s perfect game this season, Nick and I talked about beat writers crafting the “perfect game story” knowing that more people will be reading that day than, perhaps, any other in a writer’s career. For someone doing play-by-play, Franzke doesn’t have the luxury of thinking out what he’s going to say, and hitting a delete key. So how perfect did he try to be? Did he have something in his mind for the last out should Halladay complete the perfect game?

And seriously, how nervous were they in the booth? More on this later today on The Sporting Blog.

The Weekend that Was:

Nick and I rundown the weekend in sports, including the Stanley Cup finals (and the ratings for game one that some people — looking at you John Gonzalez  – thought wouldn’t be good because of the holiday). We also discuss the rest of the series, and if the Flyers should be worried or feel fine with the fact that, on the road, they were in both games.

Next, we spend a lot of time talking about the game both of us attended on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field. The U.S. men’s soccer team defeated Turkey in their final Send-off Match before heading to South Africa for the World Cup.

I worked the match for Sporting News, so we give a rundown of some of the storylines that came out of the even. I also try to convince you, Nick and myself, that soccer is now for the cool kids. If a member of the media says they don’t watch soccer now because it’s boring, that’s an old and tired meme that will, finally, make them look stupid. Soccer isn’t boring, we just weren’t any good at it. Now, we might be.

Housekeeping:

We talk about Lakers Celtics and if we’re rooting for the Lakers (and Kobe) or just rooting against everything related to Boston. We also talk about which is a more lame way to win a game, a walkoff balk or a walkoff grand slam where you break your leg.

Thanks to Scott and thanks to you for listening. (Sorry I didn’t have the segment drops today).

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Posted on June 1, 2010 at 8:33AM

 

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  1. Steve in Chicago
    06/1 2010

    Haven’t had a chance to listen yet so not sure if you and Nick discussed this … Pronger proved this weekend once and for all that he is a real low life and a baby by taking the puck after both Flyers losses. Puck Daddy has the details. Go Hawks, Red Rising!

    Pumped for the World Cup and glad that the showing in Philly was good.

  2. mlmintampa
    06/1 2010

    As someone much closer to “casual” than “diehard” I enjoy the soccer talk. You are also correct in that ESPN is doing a great job getting everyone into the games. (I would like to hear your take on the ESPN England-US commercial that uses Thomas Paine’s “The Crisis” as the narration. It might be way over the top but very well done.)
    It seems to me nothing is wrong with chatting up the US or group games that impact the US. I think the only way you hook people into the other teams is if it is in the context of filling out a bracket. People don’t know about Saint Mary’s or Ivory Coast, but if there is a bracket to fill out, they will listen.