SMW Q&A with Bob Rathbun.

Longtime Atlanta Hawks play-by-play voice Bob Rathbun spoke with Sports Media Watch last week. Among the topics of conversation: Atlanta’s bad reputation as a sports city, his play-by-play debut at the tender age of 12, and the unenviable task of replacing a broadcasting legend.

SMW: “You’ve been broadcasting Atlanta Hawks games since 1996. With the Braves, Thrashers and Falcons struggling in recent years, how has the Hawks’ relative success affected their popularity in Atlanta?”

Rathbun: “It is certainly on the up-tick, but this new found popularity has been bubbling beneath the surface during the Hawks downtimes. This is a big NBA town, it just hasn’t been a big Hawks town. (More in Q2 below). One thing about Atlanta, when you become the ‘hot’ team, make extra room on the bandwagon! And the Hawks are enjoying the wave right now, no doubt.”

SMW: “There’s been a general sentiment that Atlanta is a bad — or disinterested — sports city. Do you think there’s any truth to that?”

Rathbun: “I understand the perception. A few observations on all that: a) the NBA is very popular here. The Finals attracted audiences in the 14-15 range without a dog in the hunt. So this is a solid pro basketball market. Hawks ratings rose significantly last season. The town has just been waiting for the Hawks to put a consistent, winning product on the floor. And the excitement is building for 09-10, based on their last two playoff runs. That will manifest itself in more tickets sold. The team, despite the economy, rates at or near the top in new season ticket sales league-wide. b) This is a unique market. With the execption of UGA football, the local teams (Ga Tech included) rise and fall with their wins and losses. One main reason for the perception of disinterest is this: not very many natives. Over 5 million in the ADI, and they seem to bring with them their allegiances from where they grew up: Red Sox, Red Wings, Lakers, Knicks, you name it. These same fans are with you when you win the rest of the time. Sure, there are loyal, hardcore fans of each team. But Atlanta, a big league city since only the mid-60’s does not have the live-and-die mindset that exists with the older teams/cities like Boston, New York, Philly, Chicago, etc. I think that is true of most of the Sun Belt major league cities.

“But is it a ‘bad’ sports city? I disagree. The interest here is big. Perhaps not as passionate, but big.”

SMW: “Your broadcasting career actually started when you were just 12-years-old. Could you give some details on how that happened?”

Rathbun: “I grew up in Salisbury, NC, and one Sunday afternoon, I called the local radio station, WSTP, and the announcer on duty invited me down for a tour. I started hanging out every Sunday, and one Sunday the sports announcer stopped in, discovered my interest and asked if I would like to help him on the local American Legion baseball broadcasts. I did, and one day the announcer asked me if I was ready to make my debut. I said, “Sure!” and he let me announce the bottom of the 7th inning. Our local boys were very good and with a great following (why the games were broadcast). Our first baseman, Joey Brown, hit one of three home runs that club hit all season, and I got to call it. The announcer got the mic back in the 8th and said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been waiting all season to call a home run. And when we hit one, I’ve got some 12-year-old kid on the mic”. That announcer was Marty Brennaman, the HOFer of the Cincinnati Reds, who was beginning his career at WSTP at the time. Great memories.”

SMW: “You had the task of replacing Ernie Harwell on Detroit Tigers radio broadcasts in the 1990s. Could you describe how difficult it was to replace someone of Harwell’s stature?”

Rathbun: “I always tell people that I replaced the retiring Paul Carey, and my partner, Rick Rizzs, replaced Ernie! It was easily the worst experience of my life. I dreamed and worked so hard to get a full-time big league baseball opportunity, and it was a nightmare from the first day of spring training. No one wanted us there, particularly the print media. Every day was painful. There was not a moment of peace.

“Before Detroit, I was a six-time Virginia sportscaster of the year. After Detroit, I’ve won eight regional NATAS Emmy awards for my play-by-play on FOX Sports South, a Georgia sportscaster of the year award, worked for CBS and ESPN, etc.. So, I’ve proven myself, I think, over the years.

“If I knew then what I know now….”

SMW: “In addition to your work on Atlanta Hawks telecasts, you’ve called several other sports, including college football, college basketball, and Major League Baseball. What sport do you enjoy calling the most?”

Rathbun: “I’ve enjoyed them all. Being with the Braves during their run of consecutive division titles was a thrill…calling ACC basketball championships was great…working with Billy Packer at CBS was tremendous…I’ve been blessed, no doubt. I’ve worked with so many great color men and women, and producers and directors, they made me sound better than I deserve.”

SMW: “Do you think the WNBA Atlanta Dream will be able to survive over the next five years?”

Rathbun: “It’s a legitimate question, one that can be asked of virtually every team in the league. They are much improved, and as I mentioned earlier when you asked about the sports climate here, if they win and win big they will be successful.”

SMW: “Is Michael Vick still a big story in Atlanta, or have fans moved on?”

Rathbun: “It will always be a story here, just as it will always be a story in Newport News, Va. But I think the vast majority here have moved on, because they know he will never wear a Falcons uniform again.”