The Albert-family pedigree continues to be on full display with the start of the NFL season, as FOX Sports stalwart Kenny Albert returned for another season calling games for the network. Albert, of course, recently added PBC boxing to his portfolio via NBC, joining sports that currently include the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA, along with past runs that range from NFL Europe to college football, basketball and even wrestling (which he calls his most challenging gig).
With media evolving and the demand for versatile talent at a premium, Cynopsis Sports chatted with Albert about life in the broadcast booth, changes to production and how venues impact calling a game.
Albert on the evolution of the sports industry: I’m very fortunate to be involved in all four of the major sports, between football and baseball at FOX, hockey at NBC and a little bit of basketball fill-in at MSG as well. The industry continues to evolve, and with the NFL for example, you look at the ratings every year and think, how could they possibly get any higher? But they do. The interest in NFL football and the amount of people who watch the games every week is mind-boggling and social media has contributed to that as well.
On adding boxing to his resume: The PBC has been a lot of fun. Boxing is a sport that I hadn’t been involved in obviously as much as the others. I had done a bunch of shows through the years but getting to work with Sugar Ray Leonard, DJ Flores and Kenny Rice is so much different than everything else I’ve been involved in. There is no ball or puck, so a lot of it is storytelling, meeting the fighters the day before and getting their stories out there. Clearly, it’s a little different than calling a football or hockey game, but I enjoy the challenge of it and really enjoy the television aspect of the sport.
On preparation: You really have to be organized. I learned growing up around a father and two uncles, who were heavily involved in sports, that preparation was the number one factor. That was the thing that was ingrained in me but it does get challenging during the busier portions of the year. For example, in October, I always have the football/hockey overlap with some basketball thrown in there as well and there could be some baseball thrown in as well. There was a span a few years ago when I was involved in all four sports over a four-day stretch. I’ve had two in one day. In April, during the hockey playoffs, I might have ten or eleven days in a row with a game. I think organization is the key and right now, with the schedules released, I could pretty much tell you where I’m going to be every day for the next eight months.
On the rise of data: I’ve always been a big numbers and stats guy but I think you really have to filter it. You have to keep in mind that the game is the most important thing. People are tuning in to see the same, to hear about the players and the strategy and the numbers are certainly a part of it. The NFL was really ahead of its time with the number that the coaches use. I remember meeting with teams 15-20 years ago and coaches would talk about looking at every third down and six play that a certain team ran over the last three years, etc. Now, with the numbers getting out there in the mainstream media, I think there is certainly a place for it but you don’t want to bog down the broadcast with too many numbers.
On game-changing production elements: I still feel that the FOXBox, which David Hill brought in in ’94 with the score and time graphic in the upper left-hand corner, might be the single most important technological element in sports television. It is hard to fathom now to turn on a game and not see the score, but prior to ’94, that just wasn’t there. There were other networks in the 90s who did not take to it right away because they felt that if somebody tuned in and saw that it as a blowout, they would turn it off and it would hurt the rating. But now, when you watch some of the older games on ESPN Classic or other networks that carry them, it feels strange to look at it and not see the score.
On favorite venues to call a game: For me, I love some of the old, traditional stadiums and ballparks such as Wrigley and Fenway, as well as Lambeau Field in football. In hockey, even though they are newer buildings, Montreal and Chicago are tremendous atmospheres as well. Of course, I have always been partial to Madison Square Garden. But to me, there are certain things I look for to make my job easier as the location of the broadcast booth certainly comes into play. I remember back in the day at Sun Devil Stadium where the Cardinals used to play, it was so high up that the players looked like ants in the field. The Liberty Bowl was another one that was really high. Fortunately, a lot of the new stadiums have made it easier, I was in St. Louis this past week and the booths are in a really good spot. The Ravens and Redskins also have two of the better ones.
