“This is what I do.” – Dave Sims

Dave Sims answers the phone on a rare off day for the veteran play-by-play man, which is only really half true. Having called the first Sunday night NFL game of the 2009 season from Lambeau Field between the Bears and Packers, he has traveled back Monday afternoon to his home away from home, an apartment in Seattle (his residency with his wife is in New York). Sims, who not only calls games nationally for Westwood One for the NFL, but also for the Seattle Mariners, is a man constantly on the move as MLB season winds down, and the NFL season kicks off. "Travel day" to Sims is an "off day."

But then it seems Sims has always been on the move when it comes to covering sports. With an off day, what is Sims doing? Kicking back having dinner while watching the Patriots and the Bills play on Monday Night Football. As the interview winds its way through, with both interviewer and interviewee watching the game while talking about sports, you truly get the sense that while Sims sees broadcasting as work, it is something that is a burning passion for the man; he loves what he does.

Sims, currently one of only four African American MLB broadcasters, grew up in Philadelphia, and eventually attended Bethany College in West Virginia. He played baseball as a catcher, while majoring in mass communications. As discussed in the following interview, Sims also has a background as a sportswriter including time with the Philadelphia Inquirer and New York Daily News, something he still leans on.

Starting in the ‘80s, Sims earned his stripes by doing WNBC's "SportsNight", a five-hour sports talk show well before sports talk was a staple of programming dial.

In the ‘90s, he went on to co-host the midday show with Ed Coleman on New York's Sports Radio 66 WFAN, followed by the weekend sports anchor spot at WCBS-TV in New York.

In 1991, Sims joined ESPN as a play-by-play announcer for college basketball, and added college football in 1998. He primarily called Big East contests on the ESPN Plus regional network. His most notable call being the George Mason-UConn regional final in 2006 where #11 seed George Mason upset top-seed Connecticut to become the second #11 seed in history to reach the Final Four.

He has since done stints with ESPN (MLB play-by-play), and internet radio (MLB.com).

The following interview delves into prepping for the NFL season; Jay Cutler’s Week One wipeout, missing out on Ichiro’s 200^th hit, a milestone he has now done nine times – a record; whether watching NFL games on a rare off night is work or play; his interest in left-leaning politics; how his diverse background in different sports lends itself to being influenced by the likes of Bill Campbell and Curt Gowdy; what do broadcasters do to kill time in a rain delay; how his print background serves him well in the broadcasting sphere, what sport he would choose if he could only cover one, and; much, much more.

Select Read More to see the interview with Dave Sims

Maury Brown for the Business of Sports Network: As of this interview you have just called your first game of the 2009 NFL season for Westwood One last night – the Bears/Packers game. When did you start prepping for the first game of the NFL season, and what’s the process like?

Dave Sims: We (the Mariners) started the road trip in Oakland, and the final (NFL) rosters were in by the 6th, so on the 7th I went online and started looking up stuff and reading up on everything. I started laying down my boards probably on Tuesday when we got to Anaheim and I was done probably Wednesday morning in Anaheim. Because it was the first game I didn’t have any tape to look at, but this week I’ll have Giants/Cowboys, so I’ll get a disc on the Giants and a disc on the Cowboys probably on Wednesday after I come home from the Mariners game, then Thursday morning and Friday morning bang out the boards and be ready to rock and roll.

Bizball: Sports talk was abuzz with some talk of the Bears’ season already headed for a crash landing due to Cutler’s football IQ, that and Erlacher’s wrist injury, and yet, the Bears were in the game right up until Rogers’ 50-yard strike late in the 4th. It’s Week One… Too much being made of the Cutler situation, or a wake-up call?

Sims: It’s Week One. Somebody had a piece in the New York Times about the percentage of Week One winners who make the playoffs, and it’s extraordinarily high I would imagine. But you can’t panic here; it’s way too early for that. Obviously, I come from a different perspective in that, as a baseball guy and a football guy you can say that you've got a little bit of wiggle room in baseball. In football, you’ve got a lot less wiggle room. You better rebound next week if you lost in Week One, you better darn sure get the next one (NOTE: Cutler rebounded in Week Two, throwing two TDs with no picks in a 17-14 win against the Steelers). I think that’s the importance year after year. I think it’s vitally important to get it done, but if I’m a Bears fan I don’t panic. Although I’d be bummed-out to have Urlacher done for the rest of the year, that absolutely stinks; they put Hillenmeyer in there and they got gashed.

Bizball: The situation with Cutler seemed to show him really forcing the ball quite a bit. Is that the impression you came away with up in the booth?

Sims: One of the things that makes him (Cutler) great is what makes Favre great and Marino, back in his time: These guys think they're invincible, and they can force the ball in there at anytime. If they got a guy open and a needle, they can get it in there. I think Cutler fell victim to that and made a couple bad reads. Let’s be honest, Caper’s defense attack plan with that 3-4, and they have veteran corners in Al Harris and Woodson, although Woodson was smoked on that one play [hurt Culter, as well]. All in all that’s a veteran group and with the schemes they threw at him, it really messed him up. It’ll be interesting to watch the second time around.

Bizball: We’re also still in the midst of the baseball season, so that means you’re doing your play-by-play for Mariners on top of the Westwood One games for the NFL. You wound up missing a bit of history last night doing the call for the Bears/Packers game. When did you get word on Ichiro getting his 200th hit?

Sims: Probably during a timeout. I pulled out my iPhone and checked on Twitter and some of the people that follow me and some of the people that follow the team I follow them, and I guess about ten o'clock I got word. The other thing I was concerned about, I knew they were playing a deuce (doubleheader) yesterday I was hoping it wouldn’t go on forever and it seemed like it did. I was bummed out for everybody on that regard. But, I’m happy for Ichiro. That’s an unbelievable accomplishment.

Bizball: We’re having this interview on a rare off day for you after flying back to Seattle from Green Bay this morning. It’s Monday night on Week One of the NFL with the Pats and Bills, and then Chargers and Raiders playing. So, the Mariners are off Rest or work tonight?

Sims: That was huge, having every Monday off in September. It’s perfect for me, because I got back here from Green Bay at two o’clock but I was here at the apartment at about three I guess. So I've been chilling ever since and that’s all I’m going to do today. I’m just going to sit here and watch the game and just relax and not do a whole hell of a lot.

Bizball: Do you ever get tired of watching sports?

Sims: Yeah, it happens. More often than not when I come home after a game I go to the opposite end of the spectrum and pop on MSNBC. I’m a liberal democrat. I watch (Keith) Olbermann, who I know a little bit, I don’t know Rachel Maddow but I really enjoy her work. I usually watch that for an hour and a half or two hours and I love that show. If I’m not falling asleep I’ll watch them, so I may watch three hours of politics; that happens more often than not.

Bizball: Have you hooked up with Olbermann and talked baseball and politics?

Sims: Yeah, we ran into each other at the stadium when we were in New York, it was great. Shannon (Drayer) had a picture of it and Jeff Baker had a took one with us chatting in the visitor’s dugout. I like the guy and politically we’re on the same page, so I was basically telling him, “Hey man, just keep doing what you’re doing.”

Bizball: A lot of broadcasters wind up with one sport and stick to it. Your path is about as diverse as it gets. Was there a conscious decision to delve into baseball, football, and basketball to expand the resume?

Sims: It’s just the way it worked out. I always wanted to do some baseball, particularly after I got a shot with ESPN in ‘93 and ‘94 and then again in 2004 and I knew I could do it if the opportunity (with the Mariners) jumped up. Meanwhile I built up all this equity in football – the NFL, college football – Big East and basketball. It’s just the way it played out; there’s no playbook, life just happens and you rock and roll from there.

Bizball: You grew up just down the street from Connie Mack Stadium where the Philles played for so many years, so I imagine the sounds of the game must have filled the house. How much did radio guys like Bill Campbell influence you, and who are others that you looked up to as you got going in your career?

Sims: Growing up in Philly, Bill Campbell was huge because he did the Eagles… and as a matter of fact I still get chills when I hear his call of the ‘60 Eagles championship when they beat Green Bay. It’s funny, the other day I was sitting with Jerry Kramer and he was saying, “I’m still pissed at Bednarik for sitting on Taylor and not letting him up” because the clock was running out from seven or eight seconds. I still get chills from listening to that, and Bill went on to do the Phillies, and then he did the 76ers. So he’s one of my all-time favorites from growing up in Philly. Then the usual roster of guys, the national guys who I always liked; Curt Gowdy was always great. Jim Simpson. I loved Chris Schenkel. Jack Whitaker, who started out in Philly and went on to CBS to do golf and football, loved him. Charlie Jones; I got a chance to work with in ‘88 at the Olympics and in ‘90 at the Goodwill Games, so that’s a thrill and a half. To have met (Vin) Scully and work with (Dave) Niehaus and guys like that... It’s been great, but those were the guys who have been the biggest influence. When you think about national TV, Gowdy was doing everything; he was doing all of baseball, he was doing all of football, and then he went into the NCAA tournament. Here’s a guy who you could say I traveled a similar type of road, certainly not on as high of level, but all three sports and be able to get after it every week, it’s a lot of fun.

Bizball: I have to ask, as we’re both watching the game… I have to ask you about these AFL throwback uniforms for the “Legacy Games”; this year marks the 50th season for the eight original American Football League teams. I grew up in the Bay Area watching the Raiders and never remember the referee's wearing this hideous orange (during the AFL years). All I can think of is TGI Fridays.

Sims: The orange doesn’t bother me, but I was watching black and white in the ‘60s too and didn’t have color, so it’s sort of news to me that it’s orange to be honest with you.

Bizball: I grew up watching George Blanda with the Raiders and I was thinking of him yesterday with the situation going on with Drew Brees (NOTE: In his 1961 season with Houston, Blanda threw for 7 touchdowns in a game against the New York Titans on Nov 19, 1961. He shares this record with 4 other QBs. Brees threw for 6 TDs in Week One against the Lions). His opening day was incredible. It was, however, against Detroit which probably didn't hurt his chances…

Sims: They’re still professionals. It’s not your fault they stink, so you go out there and do your job and that’s what he did.

Bizball: Rain delays have been a part of baseball since it began. The Mariners just dealt with this in Texas… What do you and guys like Blowers, Rizzs, and Niehaus do to entertain yourself when you’re not on the air during one?

Sims: Friday we got rained out, that’s why I bring my laptop. It’s like you’re a fireman, nine out of ten times you won’t need it, but that one time you can catch up on things, read up on what’s happening elsewhere, catch up on your email, Facebook, Twitter, and for me, Major League Baseball and the NFL. So I get a chance to check out all that stuff on sports pages, I read your stuff (The Biz of Football, The Biz of Baseball, etc). I research that stuff and I just keep up, it keeps you from going crazy. You have so much down time. On radio we do a hit every half hour maybe to update everybody on what’s going on. A couple times I went into the dining room, they have TV’s in there in Texas, so hopefully is on and you can watch that. Just try to keep busy and try not to fall asleep.

Bizball: If you were in a position where you had to choose between one sport to call games for, what would it be?

Sims: I have no idea. Hopefully I don’t have to deal with that because you could probably give 100 merits to each one. Baseball is obviously a slower pace, particularly following a ball club, you form relationships and likes and dislikes and you get to see a lot covering one team in one particular league. I grew up in the National League and I barely know the National League anymore, but I love all that and I love the explosiveness of football. For this three hour period, actually a whole day… Whoa! (Dave and Maury get distracted as Packers DT Johnny Jolly makes a spectacular one-handed pick of a Jay Cutler pass) Back to where we were, it’s like asking you which one of your kids do you love more? You love them equally. I’ve been in the position the last few years to be able to do this NFL package I started out that's now in its fourth year doing Sunday nighters on a regular basis. I did six years of afternoons and I also used to double up because I had Big East on Saturday; it’s a great life man. I get to work with a lot of good people. I consider the Big East to be my conference being a New York guy, being there and doing football when Big East football started back in ‘90 I guess it was. I’m obviously very partial to those folks and those relationships over there. I’ve built relationships in baseball, I think I know just about everybody that needs to be known in the American League; managers, players, that kind of stuff and even a few GM’s. It’s all good. I knock wood and I thank God every day.

Bizball: For the aspiring broadcasters reading, what advice would you give them?

Sims: Be prepared to be in airports at stupid hours, be prepared to be walking in a thousand buildings at ridiculous hours, eating sandwiches, even at the level that I’m at.

I was just saying the other day, “They don’t teach this in Journalism school”. We were in a rain delay and I was just bored out of my mind walking around, getting a cup of coffee, just sitting around, shooting the breeze. Doing this and that, getting updates, a little humor, hanging out and you get great relationships with the people you work with, so that’s really cool. The main thing is, be a good person and be willing to work your ass off at a moment’s notice. Make sure you’re prepared, and be ready to be able to adapt to any situation at a moment’s notice. That’s the biggest thing. There was a time years ago when I was an intern at the Inquirer in Philly and they asked me, “Do you know anything about soccer?” and I said no, and they said, “Well guess what? You’re going to learn. Nobody wants to do soccer so you’re it.” That’s how I got into soccer which led me to cover Pele and the Cosmos and those guys.

Bizball: That brings up a good point: You have a background in print journalism. Has that served you well?

Sims: Absolutely, because the ability to write on a deadline and think quickly and write 500 words in a half hour and maybe another sidebar; 250 or 300 words. I worked at the New York Daily News and it was traumatic. The first time when I was an intern in ‘73 and went to the Inquirer in Philly where it’s an AM paper and you’ve got to write a running story about a 0-0 first half, you learn how to be creative; you learn how to take in every event and every little scoring opportunity and build some drama with that. Certainly it enhances your ability to express yourself and recreate situations, and that’s been huge for me. Learning to work under a deadline, I’m now used to the deadline process, being able to file stories when computers break down you’ve still got to do what you’ve got to do to get it in. It really helps you think on your feet when you’re doing radio and TV. I used to do WNBC radio. I was doing four and a half hours basically by myself with Mike Breen producing and another fella. So I’d be on there for four and a half hours so I mean, it’s been a unique run and it’s been a fun run and I’ve been able to do a whole lot of things.

Interview conducted by Maury Brown on 9/14/19

The Biz of Football gives extra thanks to Nick Kappel and John Doran for their hard work in the transcription process

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