Melissa Meek, Spring 2009 Features Editor
It may be the referees who call the plays during a soccer game, but its announcer Brian King who makes sure the spectators know exactly what is going on.
King is in his fifth year of announcing women’s soccer games at Pierce College.
“I played soccer myself. I used to come watch the women’s soccer playing,” King said.
He got his start in announcing through Bob Lyons, former athletic director at Pierce and current professor of business.
“He asked me if I’d be interested in announcing soccer games, and I had no idea what it was all about,” King said. “There was a little miscommunication. I thought he was looking for a play-by-play announcer when all they were really looking for was a regular announcer like what I do now. It was kind of chaotic because there’s quite a difference.”
He still announces the basics of the game, allowing spectators to keep track of what is happening up to the minute.
“Since most people who watch soccer are not familiar with the game, I call the free kicks, substitutions (of players) and all that good stuff,” he said.
King puts together a script before each game, improving each as he goes along. He types each script of exactly what he is going to say, including who Pierce is playing and their current record, the coaches, players and the visiting team’s players.
Adolfo Perez, head coach of the women’s soccer team, said, “He does a great job for us. He does all of our home games. There’s very few schools who have that.”
King is very knowledgeable about the team’s players, even though they change every season. He said by seeing them every week, he is able to learn who the good players are as the season progresses.
Leonard Ramirez, athletic trainer, said, “If the announcer knows the roster and knows the team, it helps them announce the game.”
Some of King’s obtained knowledge of women’s soccer comes from his coverage of the games during his time as a Roundup reporter.
“I covered mainly the sports. Soccer games, of course,” King said.
“I used to wear two hats,” he joked. “One was the announcing and, of course, when the game was over, I’d go and talk to the coach.”
As professional as King sounds during the games, he admitted this is his first season announcing.
“It’s entirely my own style. Different announcers have different styles. I just play it straight,” King said. “I have a very conservative style.”