"An afternoon to remember"

In the city of Vancouver, I am very fortunate as a broadcaster to have some pretty good broadcasters around me to look up to.  Without saying, Jim Robson, Jim Hughson, Don Taylor and Barry McDonald are in my opinion, the tier one guys in the business.  Robson's historical calls of the Canucks, Hughson's tremendous voice and inflection, Taylor's quirkly, humourous yet insighful delivery and BMac's ability to put you at ease giving some of the best 'interview' in Canada.  I am very lucky to have those so good, so close to me to learn from.  But on a hot, humid day in Spokane, Washington - I got a taste of what it was like to learn from a 'legend'.
 
Bob Robertson has been the voice of the Spokane Indians for the past ten seasons.  For most, that is a pretty decent career.  But with it comes 47 years as the voice of the Washington State Cougars Football Program as well as time with the University of Washington Huskies and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, yeah, those Fighting Irish.  Its a career that in a nutshell is as impressive as any other - and although Robertson doesn't name drop or recite his resume to you...  You get the feeling he has been a part of some magical moments and been a part of some special athletes lives.  And with that, there I sat across from Bob eating breakfast at 12:30pm listening to him describe the best way to save a few bucks on the menu at IHOP.  And that is when I learned just why Bob Robertson has become such a renowned voice here in the Northwest.  Not because he knew the rooty, tooty fruity was cheaper than the 2 by 2 by 2...  But because over the course of that meal - he spoke with the same passion, sincerity and dignity that only a man with nearly 60 years in the business can.  He spoke to me the same way he has been speaking to listeners for decades and you couldn't tell the difference.
 
So many of us 'young guns' in this business think you have to speak with the swagger of a Jim Rome, or be as funny as a Chris Berman or Dan Patrick.  Listening and learning from Bob, you could see the message within the conversation.  He never spoke of his accolades, not once - unless I pulled it out of him (Robertson is in the NCAA College Hall of Fame, the Washington State Hall of Fame, the State of Washington Hall of Fame, the Spokane Indians Rim of Honor and has a lifetime contract with the Indians to broadcast until he chooses to walk away, and those are just some of the honours bestowed on him).  It was great to have a bite with such a wonderful person.
 
After lunch, Bob took me around Spokane.  We stopped by Gonzaga University and the baseball field that is a gem of a ballpark.  We stopped in at the bookstore and picked up a few things before I got the tour of Downtown Spokane.  If you ever want to find one of the Northwest's true diamonds in the rough, Spokane is in my opinion, the best kept secret in the entire Northwest.  Modern eateries, clean and refurbished heritage buildings, a river that flows right through the heart of the town and a nightlife that is both sophisicated and energetic.  I have been completely floored by how special Spokane, Washington is - and Bob could see that.  After a drive up to Whitworth University, we made our way back towards the stadium, all the while enjoying each others conversation about the business and sport in general.  We didn't ramble on about Brett Favre going to the Jets, or how the Red Sox and Yankees are the teams to beat.  It was more about what he saw from his perspective, and what I saw from mine.  He never once spoke over me and never left me without something to think about.  It was an opportunity for me to learn, and in his own way - a chance to provide some insight to a young mind.  In wrestling, I think Bret HJart called it 'doing the honours'.  Where one wrestler allows himself to get pinned by the other to advance that wrestlers career.  Make no mistake about it, Bob has no plans of rolling over.  But I think today I saw a veteran understand he has a student willing to learn and eager to absorb - and he took it and ran with it.
 
As we both walked up the stairs at Avista Stadium towards the broadcast booth, not one person failed to say hello to Bob and try to spark a conversation with him.  He has that magnetism all over this city.  Me, I could have been invisible and gotten more attention - but when you walk beside Bob, that's just the way it is - and personally I loved every second of watching him 'work the room'.  He spoke to them the same way he spoke to me and to the listeners that have tuned him in for nearly 60 years...  And that is his secret.  Talk with people, not at people, and remember those fans have a deep rooted passion for the team you are calling - and that game to someone, means a great deal - and they deserve the pleasure of hearing it as best as you can give it to them.
 
Like I said, I have a ton of great broadcasters to watch and learn from in Vancouver - but one things I hope one day I can pass on to the next generation of broadcasters - look outside your inner circle and remember, when you do come across a Bob Robertson, listen, ask questions and understand those types of moments don't come along everyday so enjoy it.  Because their aren't many 'legends' left in this business - but Bob Robertson - is one of them.