Q & A with radio broadcaster Mark Nasser

(Photo: Omaha Royals)

Continuing our “Getting to Know You” series with Omaha Royals’ radio broadcasters Kevin McNabb and Mark Nasser ... we turn our attention to Nasser. (Here's a link if you missed the Q & A with McNabb.)

In addition to being a radio broadcaster with the Omaha Royals since 2001, Nasser is also the director of broadcasting for the team. Before he joined the Royals he called games for the Wilmington (DE) Blue Rocks (Class A), the Portland (ME) Sea Dogs (Double-A) and the Burlington (NC) Indians (Rookie).

“Baseball America” has named you as one of the top ten broadcasters in Minor League baseball. That’s quite an honor. Talk about what went through your mind when you first heard the news.

I thought it was a joke! Who ranks minor league broadcasting prospects? Coupled with the date, April Fool’s Day 2000, it all sounded unbelievable to me. When I found out that the prospect list was legitimate, like anyone in any job, it was flattering to be recognized for what I do.

What is your favorite moment in the broadcast booth since you’ve been with Omaha (can be funny, serious, dramatic, anything that comes to mind)?

My favorite moment was the first time calling play-by-play of a major league game. The Kansas City Royals has been gracious enough to invite me down to call about ten games since I’ve been in Omaha. Knowing how difficult it is to get a big-league play-by-play job, being able to say that I’ve called big league games, with Hall-of-Famer Denny Matthews and Ryan Lefebvre, no less, is an especially gratifying accomplishment.

If it’s strictly related to when I’ve broadcast for the Omaha Royals … Favorites are always tough because you feel bad leaving things out. Kerry Robinson having to leave the game before it started for laughing too hard and Calvin Pickering hitting ten home runs in nineteen at-bats – those were pretty memorable. But from a personal standpoint, Bob Costas unexpectedly joining me in the booth last year while I was in Des Moines, Iowa was my favorite. Costas was in Omaha for the U.S. Olympic swim trials, and he drove over to Des Moines with his son to catch a game. He heard that I went to his alma mater, Syracuse University, and popped in my booth for an inning. Calling a game with him – a person whose work I admired growing up, was a thrill.

Do you have a “most embarrassing moment” in the booth?

My first road broadcast ever in Bluefield, WV in the Appalachian League, I was calling games for the Burlington (NC) Indians. And like many a minor league broadcasters, I described a fly ball to deep left field as a home run – only that it wasn’t. (In fact, the left-fielder played the ricochet off the wall and threw the guy out at second.) It’s happened to just about every broadcaster, so much so, it’s a cliché embarrassing moment. But in the tiny confines of Bluefield press box, the PA announcer, Bud Gallimore, decides that I’m not embarrassed enough with my butchered call. He gets on the public address and tells everyone at the stadium about my call! Thanks Bud.

How much time do you spend preparing to call a game?

It’s an all-day thing. I wake up and spend a couple of hours scouring all the baseball news from the previous night. Then when I go the ballpark in the afternoon, it’s another few hours preparing, talking to players/coaches, and after the game visiting with the coaching staff to review the game. The best part about it, however, is that it doesn’t feel like work because I enjoy it so much.

What do you enjoy most about calling a game?

I enjoy being the fan’s connection to the game.

Name something about your job that the average fan might not know about or expect.

The number one question I get about my job is, “What do I do during the offseason?” I still work for the Royals doing a little bit of everything – marketing, community relations, etc. That surprises most people.

What will you miss most about calling games at Rosenblatt after this season?

There’s no trademark feature that I think I will miss. I think it will be the intangibles of knowing that Rosenblatt has been the home to hall-of-fame players, like Bob Gibson and George Brett, and the site of so many incredible games and moments. That cannot be replaced.

What do you like to do when you aren’t calling games?

All the things I don’t get to do during the season – spend time with family & friends, home-cooked meals and cook outs, reading about other things besides baseball and going to sporting events as a fan.

What are you favorite movies? Books? Bands?

Some of my favorite movies are “The Godfather,” “Pulp Fiction” and “Silence of the Lambs.” For books, “The Catcher in the Rye,” “The Great Gatsby” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” For music, I’m all over the map – a little bit of Rock (U2, Tom Petty), a little bit of R & B (Michael Jackson, Prince) and a little bit of soul (Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder.)

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Many thanks to Mark Nasser for taking the time to answer my questions.

If you haven’t listened to a Royals’ broadcast for a while, games can be heard on KOIL-1180 AM and they are also streamed live at oroyals.com. Opening Day is April 8 at 7:05 pm.

Q & A with radio broadcaster Kevin McNabb

(Photo: Omaha Royals)

With baseball season just about a month away, I thought it would be fun to do a “Getting to Know You” series with Omaha Royals’ radio broadcasters Kevin McNabb and Mark Nasser.

We’ll begin with McNabb. In addition to being a broadcaster, he’s also the director of media relations for the team.

McNabb joined the Omaha Royals in 1994 as the #2 guy to Frank Adkisson who called games from 1994-97. From 1998-2000, McNabb was the director of broadcasting for the team and he called the games solo. In 2001, Nasser joined the organization and McNabb slipped comfortably back into the #2 role. The two of them have been calling games together ever since.

Prior to joining the Omaha Royals, McNabb called games for the Jacksonville Suns (Seattle’s Double-A affiliate at the time) in 1992-93. He was the director of broadcasting for the Columbus (GA) Indians in 1991. And he began his career as a part-time #2 announcer (on weekends) for the Colorado Springs Sky in 1988.

In 2000, you were selected as the play-by-play announcer for the radio broadcast of the Triple-A All-Star Game in Rochester, NY. That must have been a thrill for you. What do you remember about that game? And do you remember who represented the Omaha Royals?

It was an honor and a lot of fun. Anthony Medrano represented the Omaha Royals quite well, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI singles as the PCL defeated the IL 8-2. Joe Vitiello, who had played with Omaha from 1994-99, played for the PCL representing Las Vegas in that game and was 3-for-3 with a single, double and triple, scoring three runs. If I remember right, he won the Star of Stars Award.

What is your favorite moment in the broadcast booth since you’ve been with Omaha (can be funny, serious, dramatic, anything that comes to mind)?

It’s a tie. On July 12, 1996, the Royals staged a promotion called “Blast for Cash” Night where if one Omaha batter hit two home runs in the game, five fans would each win $1,000. Ramon Martinez started that game at second base, batting second. He entered the game having hit four homers on the season. In his 12 seasons so far in the big leagues (1998-2009), he has hit a total of 29 round-trippers. But, he must have had his Wheaties that day. His first time up, he hit a two-run shot to left. The Royals batted around in the first inning and he came to the plate again and – you guessed it – he hit a three-run homer to left, probably making him the new favorite player of five fans here.

The next season, on April 17, 1997, Jim Converse and Allen McDill combined to toss a no-hitter, so that was cool too.

Do you have a “most embarrassing moment” in the booth?

I think back in 1991 when I was announcing a game in Columbus, Georgia, I combined phrases to say a reliever was “throwing up” in the bullpen.

How much time do you spend preparing to call a game?

Usually a couple hours. I’d like to do more, but have a lot of other duties here that keep me running around the ballpark most of the afternoon.

What do you enjoy most about calling a game?

Everything. It’s the best part of my job.

Name something about your job that the average fan might not know about or expect.

Either the hours (13-14 per day for night game days), or the fact that we are advertising and ticket sales representatives in the off-season.

What do you like to do when you aren't calling games?

Love to golf. Watching movies is a hobby too.

What are you favorite movies? Books? Bands?

Field of Dreams is #1 (I know, need to diversify). Have to be honest, the only books I read are baseball-related like media guides. As far as music, I really like Green Day, Pearl Jam and Everclear (miss the 90s) and a lot of stuff from the 70s when I was growing up. I used to really get into the local music scene too ... liked Five Story Fall and Anonymous American ... but I’m slowing down now as I get older. Oh, and Martie Cordaro [the vice president and general manager of the team] would kill me if I didn’t say he’s my favorite drummer!

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Many thanks to Kevin McNabb for taking the time to answer my questions.

The "Getting to Know You" series will continue with a Q & A interview with Mark Nasser in the days to come.

If you haven’t listened to a Royals’ broadcast for a while, games can be heard on KOIL-1180 AM and they are also streamed live at oroyals.com. Opening Day is April 8 at 7:05 pm.