Sportscaster Bob Fitzgerald: An ArenaFan Interview
Tim Ball
Friday June 11, 2004
Sports announcers are a very rare breed. Knowledge and excitement is not a combination that finds a home in the common genius. Sporting events can go from a couple of hours watching a game of some kind, to a moment of excitement seared into your mind like a branding-iron forever leaving its mark.
Bob Fitzgerald is one of the Bay Areas most recognizable sports personalities. “Fitz” is one of those radio and television broadcasters that can literally glue you to your seat. Once you hear his voice you know . . . “it’s on.” For San Jose fans, Fitzgerald is “The” voice for SaberCats football.
Along with former 49er All-Pro linebacker Keena Turner, Fitzgerald and Turner make up the broadcast team that has been with the SaberCats every step of the way, having called every game since San Jose’s inaugural season in 1995. Knowing the Arena Football League, its growth and future like few others, ArenaFan was privileged to have Fitzgerald share his time and views on the sport he has come to regard as legitimate in its own rights.
ArenaFan: How does it feel to be involved in the league for so long and to see it now get so much legitimate coverage?
Bob Fitzgerald: Keena Turner and I have done all the SaberCats games for 10 years. When we first got into it, we were saying, if this isn’t a fun sport, we’re just not going to do it for the check. We have enjoyed the arena game from day one. It’s great to see it growing and getting its due.
AF: What are the major factors for today’s success?
BF: Ten years later, today, to see the talent level and see the professionalism, the NFL crossover ownership and see the major media markets, it really is rewarding. The game has always been great. It’s just now that all the things you need on a business level for the success have come into place. Now you have your national TV deal, big cities, you have big corporate ownership. You have the NFL being supportive and you have the best players coming to play in the league.
AF: We see players who could clearly choose other leagues opting for the AFL. Why do you feel this has increased?
BF: You have talented players coming to play in the AFL. There’s not the “I’m going to go to Europe; I’m going to play in the CFL.” No, the Arena League is a legitimate option for a number of guys. To see all that within 10 years is just great.
AF: What was the turning point for the league? What kept it going in a positive direction?
BF: I think Kurt Warner had a lot to do with it. There was a time where people looked at the Arena league and said, “Who are these guys, fullback/linebacker, wide receiver/DB what kind of sport is this?” But with Warner coming out of this league and being the NFL’s MVP and then the Super Bowl MVP on top of that really put Arena Football on the map.
AF: It’s interesting that Warner was not even the best quarterback in the AFL. Who were other AFL players you attribute to giving the league a good reputation?
BF: As any knowledgeable fan knows, Warner was maybe fourth or fifth at the time. Good player, but not the best. Over a 10-year period you have to give Barry Wagner and Hunkie Cooper incredible credit. Because, even if you were a casual fan, you could flip on a game, particularly this time of year in the playoffs and say, “Geez that Hunkie Cooper’s there again, and that Barry Wagner’s there again.”
AF: Those two names do standout without doubt and both are in the playoffs as we speak.
BF: They’re the two best two-way players ever. If you just watch them, like when people were figuring out hockey, they’d watch Gretzky and realize how great he was. If you watch Hunkie and Barry you realize, wow, to line up as a receiver, carry the ball, special teams, cover people. The fact that they can do that so effortlessly, they’re really phenomenal athletes.
AF: Do you buy the NASCAR, INDY comparison? That the AFL and NFL are two legitimate leagues, rather that seeing the AFL as a minor league?
BF: I don’t think it’s a minor league because I think it’s a different game. The Arena Football League doesn’t want to be NFL-like. There’s never been a: “Hey, let’s play Arena Football outdoors. Or, let’s play in the winter in the middle of the NFL season.” There’s never any of that.
AF: What do players say about the AFL game?
BF: The SaberCats have Frank Beede, George Williams, Fred Coleman and a number of NFL guys. They come and play this game and you talk to them and they’ll tell you it’s a tough game and it’s a different game. There’s a learning curve. So it’s not just that any NFL guy can come in and dominate, because they can’t. Tommy Maddox plays fine in the big game for Pittsburgh. Tommy Maddox is a middle of the road Arena football quarterback. That’s just being honest.
AF: There is solid fan base in the league. What do you feel is the main reason?
BF: Quality of the players. These are some of the best professional athletes you’ll ever run across because they’re real people. You just can’t help but pull for people like that. There’s a real identity and a community with the team. I also credit the ownership here in San Jose because they have kept a solid core of players together.
AF: On an important note, if Commissioner Baker were to call you about what to do for further success what advice would you give him?
BF: Embrace and fall in love with High Definition Television. The Arena League is “the” sport for high-def.
AF: In what way?
BF: The fans are so close and you could put cameras everywhere. To see the speed of the game and feel the impact of the wall, in high-definition, really puts you down on the playing field. It would be a major break through. I know the NHL has a little high-def, but the AFL could be the first league to really get in bed with HDTV.
AF: How would it garner new fans?
BF: It’s a coming technology. And this is a video game league. To me it would be something I would insist on. The in-arena experience is awesome and you have to get that experience to people in their living rooms.
AF: Final word, what’s your advice for the future of the league?
BF: They’re on a good roll. The continued upgrade of the cities that host teams, the quality that have they have in Orlando, Tampa Bay, Arizona, LA and San Jose, that should be the goal of all the other cities. New Orleans was a great start this year, same with Philadelphia. If that is where you set your standard as a league, then there is nothing but great things to look forward to. I hope I’m around for another 10 years, to see it. I’m anxious to see where the league is going to go.
AF: I know that fans in San Jose would agree with me in saying we all hope you’re around another 10 years as well.
BF: Thank you. It has been my pleasure these 10 years.
Along with his SaberCats duties, Fitzgerald has been the television voice of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, whose broadcast team has been nominated for five Emmy’s and won two for “Best Live Sports Broadcast.” A graduate of Notre Dame, Fitzgerald also received a Masters Degree from Ohio State University.
Bob and his wife, Carol, live in the Bay Area with their three children, Erin, Ryan and Quinn.
Tim Ball is a writer in the Chicagoland area. Married and father of three, his opinions on Arena Football reflects the positive aspect of the game as a family event second to none in pro sports.
