Aaron Hendel ’14
Staff Writer

Westporter Bob Lorenz and Hamden resident Bob Heussler gave talks and held a Q & A session with members of WWPT sports broadcasting. Lorenz, who has a daughter at Staples, Madison Lorenz ’13, is the YES network studio announcer for the Yankees and Nets, and Heussler does the evening updates for WFAN 660 New York sports talk radio.

Lorenz started off by praising WWPT and STN, especially admiring announcers Eric Gallanty ’11 and D.J. Sixsmith ’11. While he let the listeners try on the World Series ring he was given by the Yankees, he started from the beginning of his career, where he and a friend would announce their high school sports events on a Sony Tape Deck. Once Lorenz got started, he knew it was what he wanted to do.

Lorenz also shared an acronym that he applies that he wished for the students to apply. The WISH formula consisted of working hard, intelligence, sample, or “try everything,” and have fun. From hosting an election day broadcast at age 19 in Torrance, California when he attended USC, to some work at CNN, and now currently with YES, Lorenz has constantly enjoyed this field, and advised to the students in attendance that they should “be passionate about what you do.”

Heussler also does occasional work for the YES network, as a fill in play-by-play Nets announcer, but is best known for the “20-20” sports updates on WFAN (the first 24-7 sports talk radio station) and actually prefers this role as apposed to hosting a show, and boy does he love it. “When I wake up every morning, I feel very fortunate that I love my job.” Heussler started in college, announcing basketball, is area of expertise, as shown by his tall, lean frame, for the University of Bridgeport. However, he definitely lives up to his nickname, Mr. Met, even joking with Mike Zito, STN and WWPT faculty adviser and former college classmate, about how he thought that the Mets had a legitimate chance this year.

Heussler also works as a teacher/advisor for Yale and Fairfield, and said that if he wanted to do anything else in his career, it would be to be more involved in that area of the field, which he calls “extremely competitive.” Heussler showed a full game’s preparation for a Nets broadcast, both before and during a game. He also worked in studio for “Mike and the Mad-dog,” possibly the most well known sports talk show from start to finish, and said that “it was fun to sit back and watch them go at it, and sometimes I might get dragged into the middle, and it was amusing, but it was bad if they turned on you.”

Both men were personal and sincere with the crowd, and gave some sense as to shining moments in their careers. Heussler was the play-by-play announcer for for UConn’s buzzer beater win in the 1990 NCAA tournament Round of 16, a year when the Huskies were picked to finish last in the Big East. And for Lorenz, as a 22 year old rookie, was told to interview Arnold Palmer, and said he was “scared out of my mind,” but Lorenz loved nice guys like Palmer, who was personal and genuine. Lorenz also shared his perspective as a fan, admiring players who went all out, like Paul O’Neil and Paul Molitor, and Heussler, who shared stories of meeting his idol, Marv Albert, hung around at the end to talk sports with a couple of participants. Both presentations seemed to be great experiences for the Staples kids, as well as the guests.