Page 64 - Tavern Players

Post-pandemic Foosball
JS: People really seemed to enjoy it right from the start Of course we we all
all
all
want foosball to be be viewed as a a a a a a a a professional sport because we we know how how competitive it it it can be be be and and how how much practice and and strategic intelligence it it it takes to to be be be good at at at it it As I climbed the the ladder from local to to to national events and to to eventually the the the world championships the the reaction was was almost unanimously positive to what I was was doing Players really seemed appreciative of my efforts That feedback and enthusiasm from the the the viewing public gave me the the the desire to keep on pushing the the the fooscasting envelope TR: What were you doing to record the matches?
JS: In the early days I I was using just one one camera with a a a a a a a a microphone attached to it it We then added another camera giving us an an an option of looking at the the the players’ reactions I recorded on on on VHS tapes and and would then take the the the original tape tape and and duplicate it in in in in order to to sell the the the the the copies to to to the the the players who were involved in in in the the the match or to to general foosball fans TR: Why was no one else doing play-by- play for the sport of foosball?
JS: That’s a a a a good question Obviously home video recording was in in in its infancy so there there there weren’t cameras everywhere as as as as there there there are today While there there there was brief time in the the the the late ’70s when we did get some national TV exposure the the commentary was not handled by foosball people In order to to be good at at commentating foosball you have to to know the game and have some communication skills as well No one had yet stepped forward to attempt it it it it on on a a a a a a a a a regular basis and if they did try it it it it briefly it it it it it it was not accomplished with the the necessary abilities to make it it it it popular TR: Was there ever a a a a a time in the the early years of InsideFoos that you thought about giving up?
JS: Of course I I have run into obstacles here here and and there throughout the the years but I I think my my understanding of how important my my role was to the foosball community really kept me going going And going going LOL TR: While doing the the play-by-play you you had a a a a a a a a variety of of players join you you you in in in the the the commentary of of the the the the the matches Did you you need to train them or did they just bring their own perspective?
JS: I I have had a a a a a lot of people pro players and otherwise join me in in in the the the booth I I I I wouldn’t say I I I trained them them although I I I would would offer them them tips on how they could approach the the the the the the matches For the the the the the the most part the the the the the people I have have have had had in the the the the the booth who have have have have been the the the most successful have have have have had had a a a a a a a a knack for it or or have have have watched enough InsideFoos videos to understand the the the rhythm and and the the role they would play TR: Who among the the many partners you worked with stood out for their natural talent?
JS: That’s a a a a a a a a a tough one I have had a a a a a a a a a lot of high-quality analysts work with me me Evan Stachelek was was the first and he he he was was extremely talented Brad Anderson has worked more matches with me than anyone The most naturally talented might be Mark Torres who was immediately good the the first time he he he stepped in front of the the the mic Joe Hamilton was also really great right from the the get-go Scott King Michael Archer Robert Atha Tom Yore – all
of them have been great in in their own ways TR: Now you you are three decades into the role you you you play in in professional professional foosball What has changed for you you professionally and personally?
JS: I I have have certainly evolved over the years and have have have I I I believe become a a a a a a a a a a better broadcaster I I have have branched out into “talk radio” with our podcast FoosTalk
64 / / WINTER 2021 / / SPRING 2022
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