“There’s a long drive… it’s gonna be, I believe… The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!”
“The Shot Heard Round the World,” one of the famous calls in the history of games, happened on October 3, 1951. It is also one of the most famous moments of sports broadcasting.
So students, hold onto your seats and welcome this years’ player of America’s pastime radio talk show host in the Bay Area, English teacher Lowell Tuckerman!
“Media happens to be something that appealed to me because I really love sports, and media and sports really go hand in hand,” Tuckerman said.
He’s going in! He’s in! And he made it! Tuckerman is succeeding in one of the most difficult jobs in the field with the ability to present information in an enthusiastic way.
Since 2008 he has been able to go out, be in the press box, and provide coverage of sporting events using a variety of different media outlets — radio, television, and hand-held microphones to interview.
Folks, this is going to be a hard one. Tuckerman takes his seat and prepares for the tense and difficult part. Notepad out, pen in hand, and eyes set on the field. He’s ready to multi-task. And the game begins!
He has been in the press box regularly since then: two A’s, two Giants, 10 Warriors, three Raiders, and two 49er games.
Every press box is from a different angle. Behind home plate for baseball, at the 50 yard line for football, and half court for basketball.
Tuckerman described the press box as exclusive and like hanging out in a lounge. “In the press box we are not allowed to take pictures, cheer, and no team wear,” he said. “It was initially difficult but now I’ve gotten to the point where I mirror the others.”
At times Tuckerman gets the urge to cheer but remembers that it isn’t allowed. Ahhh! Could it be! He wants to but he’s not! Will he! And he misses! He ignores the urge! All is well.
“When I first started I thought that I’d never get used to it, but I’m used to it now,” he said, “but now it’s more business as usual.” If violation is made toward any of the rules, he said that they will look down on you.
However this year was Tuckerman’s first chance to cover a World Series in press box. Giants vs Royals. “It felt very festive yet intense.”
Being in the press box gave Tuckerman a different view rather than being in the stands. “You can’t top that — World Series.”
Realizing that it was difficult to go into the radio full time, he did it part time and decided to become a teacher. The decision was made after he subbed last year to have a feeling of what teaching was like. Being an English teacher, he still is able to use his skills of persuasion and making the subject interesting.
In the summer Tuckerman stays in radio that’s located in San Jose. The radio station is an Indo-American station and 500,000 Indo-Americans view it. Because it is only a seasonal job he needed one that is more permanent and securing. So being a teacher was the way to go for Tuckerman.
However, he plans on never leaving media completely.
But he plans on bringing media into his teaching on campus next year and with that he said, “I will use this opportunity to teach what I teach best — media.” And there he goes, he sends it home, Tuckerman has done it again.
Tuckerman ends with this, “I want to bring something new.”