Today’s PXPU Podcast guest is Cory Provus of the Minnesota Twins, who started as the TV voice of the team, but has transitioned into the full-time TV call.
Today’s show notes:
01:41-03:10 - Cory shares his background growing up in Highland Park, Illinois (Chicago area) and attending Syracuse University, plus a recent vacation to Banff
03:10-04:06 - Tony asks about Cory's early career at ISP Sports/IMG College/Learfield and his connection to Chris Ferris
04:06-06:10 - Cory discusses how meeting Dave Pasch at Syracuse led to his first job opportunity calling Virginia Tech women's basketball, and his decision to take this play-by-play job over a Chicago radio update position
06:10-10:46 - Detailed story about ISP Sports' early days in Winston-Salem, NC, including working out of a small ranch house with other now-prominent broadcasters like Tom Hart and Carter Blackburn
10:46-13:37 - Discussion about the business side of sports broadcasting and how Cory gained experience in production while working Monday-Friday as Radio Production Manager
13:37-16:07 - Cory explains how he helped create demo CDs for ISP's pitches to new schools, and what he learned about the production side of broadcasting
16:07-19:32 - Career progression from ISP to UAB play-by-play, including not getting the Houston Cougars job, and the encouragement that "before you can be number one, you have to be number two"
19:32-21:37 - Tony shares his similar early career choices between minor league baseball and sports updates at a radio station
21:37-24:58 - Discussion about interviewing skills and standing out in job applications, including Cory's strategy of creating custom spotting boards for team interviews
24:58-27:23 - Cory explains his interview philosophy of listening more than talking, and how he incorporated elements from different broadcasters he admired into his own style
27:23-30:54 - The importance of making connections with ADs and coaches, including Cory's story about connecting with Chan Gailey through his cousin Brad Sham (Cowboys broadcaster)
30:54-35:18 - Discussion about Cory's cousin Brad Sham (longtime Dallas Cowboys broadcaster) and how this family connection influenced Cory's early interest in broadcasting
35:18-37:47 - Profound story about Bill Roth sharing a letter from a widow whose husband was buried with a Walkman tuned to Virginia Tech broadcasts, illustrating the impact broadcasters have on people's lives
37:47-40:44 - How Cory used to hear his cousin Brad Sham's Cowboys broadcasts on HBO's "Inside the NFL" highlight packages
40:44-42:23 - Story about Brad Sham and AT&T Stadium, including Jerry Jones putting the radio booth in the corner and Brad's one-day complaint policy
42:23-46:45 - Transition to discussing Cory's move from Twins radio to TV broadcasting, comparing it to Denzel Washington's perspective on the difference between film and theater
46:45-49:02 - The collaborative nature of TV broadcasting versus the independence of radio
49:02-52:48 - Cory's process of self-evaluation and adjusting to TV, including learning to use hand gestures and managing pauses
52:48-54:31 - Handling producer communication in your earpiece while broadcasting
54:31-56:53 - Discussion about camera standups and whether to look at the camera or analyst during segments
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