Running out
The biggest sports story in today's 0 was run in the tiniest type: "Running" Ann Schatz, former KOIN TV sportscaster, is leaving the Blazer broadcasting team. She's going to be doing play-by-play work for women's basketball on College Sports Television (CSTV).
Schatz (pronounced "shots") is one of my favorite Portland broadcasting figures ever. There's something about her voice and her delivery that lends excitement and authenticity to whatever she's talking about. Her courtside color commentaries for the Blazers were way beneath what she's capable of. But I doubt there will ever be room for a woman at the main table of men's basketball games -- the Blazers tried her out on the radio last year, I believe, and it was a no-go this year -- and so it's on to other things for Ann.
Too bad for Portland. I might tune in a women's game once in a while, just to have that voice coming out of the TV set again. And chalk up one more awkward move, sideways at best, by the Blazers.
| Posted at 5:53 PM | Permalink |
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Comments (6)
I'm with you, Jack.
I always enjoyed Ann Schatz's style. I could never really put my finger on it, but for some reason when she spoke, I listened.
She knows her stuff. I really appreciate that. I am sorry to see her go.
Posted by Rob Kremer | September 23, 2005 10:49 PM
Schatz not making it in Portland is reason #4,238,485 why Portland continues to fail as a city that can cut it in the real world where, you know, competence counts.
And the Blazers kicked out Bill Schonelly just because *they* thought he was too old. So screw 'em.
Posted by Scott-in-Japan | September 24, 2005 2:13 AM
Scott, I don't know if I would go that far. It's just too bad that there isn't a good gig in this town for somebody that bright.
Unless they gave Ann the play-by-play (which would never happen in the men's game) or the main color slot (which they decided to give to Antonio Harvey, a new guy), she was overqualified here anyway.
We'll see whether Harvey is any good. They're bringing him in to appeal to the younger fans, I suspect. And with Steve Jones gone, there was nobody left on the broadcast team who ever played in the NBA -- not to mention nobody of color. So Ann was the odd person out.
Posted by Jack Bog | September 24, 2005 2:20 AM
I'm looking forward to hearing Antonio Harvey full time. The times I have heard him, he comes across as knowledgeablu and erudite.
In the 2000 playoffs when the Blazers blew that big 4th quarter lead and the series by scoring zero points in 7 minutes against the Lakers the Blazers had Jermaine Oneal on the roster and not Antonio. I have always felt Antonio would have prevented that loss if he had been on the roster.
Posted by gus | September 24, 2005 10:25 AM
I was fortunate enough to work alongside Ann at bowl games, NBA playoffs and championships, and in the newsroom at KOIN. We played soccer together and spent some of the best evenings of our lives together and with friends. Ann is one of the best people ever. Her knowledge of all sports is so complete (she named her beloved Lab Colie O'Brien for an obscure Notre Dame quarterback). As a sportscaster, she showed her passion for the games and cared little about her ego or her next career move. It is too bad that sportscasting rarely rewards true talent, but her new bosses will discover how great she is. KOIN and then the Blazers were improved by sharing her talents with Portland. Godspeed Annie Lou.
Posted by John Ray | September 25, 2005 3:37 PM
Yep, I always enjoyed Anne's color commentary on Blazer TV games. She's a great talent. I hope she does well on the college circuit.
Posted by chris McMullen | September 26, 2005 2:51 PM