A frigid arena, no seats, rowdy fans, and a team named after a disease. It's Oberlin sports at its finest and you can catch all the action at the ice rink Saturday as The Plague finally returns to action.

(photo courtesy Bruce Michaels)

How long have you been announcing?
I began announcing at Oberlin for three years starting in the Fall of '97. I actually got the job two days before the Thiel game (the last game varsity football won). I was a DJ [in college].

How objective are you in both your play-calling and "home cooking?"
I call the game for the fans, first and foremost. I'm not supposed to cheer for anyone. I've never tried to consciously influence anything, though I am a fan of our team. I like to see the game more than anything.

What's your favorite catch-phrase or announcer slang?
I try to vary everything. If it's close at the half, then we have what I call a "good-un" at the half (a good one). I did use "twice as nice at the same price" for a doubleheader, even though it's free. Who's your favorite announcer?
Joe Taite, who does Cavs games, is very relaxed on the mic. He sucks you right into the game. Herb Score, who did the Indians for 30 years, made a lot of boo-boos, but he's still a hometown favorite. There's always Dick Enberg, Ernie Harwell, Vin Scully and Jack Buck.

What's up with John Rocker?
I think he was silly to say that in a public medium. I feel bad because this is America and you are supposed to say what you want. Why tease the lion even if it's in a cage?

Do you prepare your voice, like with Halls Vapor Action?
No, not really. When I sing, I used to do some warm-up exercises. I go from the highest falsetto to the lowest bass or I do a "me-mi-moe-moo."

What's the last book you've read?
The last book I've read is the autobiography of Carl Jung. From when he was a kid he had all kind of supernatural experiences.

Do you have any network aspirations?
Not at this point. Although I did audition for the Indians twice. I may want to move on to John Carroll or Case, closer to home (Cleveland). But I do have a quartet, "The Geeze Cats." We do oldies from late 50s to early 60s - Beach Boys, Bobby Vinton, Everly Brothers.

Finally, if there was a movie made about you, who would play you?
Tom Hanks, he's always a little boy even when's he's a grown man. I think I identify with him more than anyone else.

This Week's Events

Women's Basketball

Saturday at Earlham 1 p.m.

Feb. 22 through 26 at NCAC Tournament TBA

Men's Basketball

Saturday at Earlham 3 p.m.

Feb. 22 through 26 at NCAC tournament TBA

Swimming and Diving

Women - at NCAA Div. III Championships at Emory University March 9-11 TBA

Men - at NCAA Div. II Championships at Emory University, March 16-18 TBA

Indoor Track and Field

Friday at Baldwin-Wallace 6 p.m.

Friday Feb. 25 vs. Bethany, Mt. Union, John Carroll, Walsh, Defiance at 6 p.m.

What are they talking about?

This week...

'Home Cooking'

Sport: Any of them

What it means: This term is really a slang term of a slang term. It refers to 'home court advantage' or the general school of thought that playing at home, on your turf, gives you a sort of intangible edge. The crowd is (hopefully) for you and against your opponent, you're more likely to know the idiosyncracies of the playing surface and, some argue, the ref's calls are more likely to go in your favor.