Calling a real winner
Jeff Tully
Working as a public-address announcer for a professional
basketball organization, John Tyler III realizes his team isn’t going
to win every game.
That is evidenced by the team’s 342 losses, coming against squads
like the Washington Generals and the New York Nationals.
However, when you take into consideration the loss total is over a
76-year span, and the team has amassed 20,978 wins in the process,
maybe Tyler’s squad might just expect to win almost every time out.
But for an organization like the Harlem Globetrotters, winning
always takes a back seat to having fun, clowning around and putting
on a good show.
“It is just amazing to be involved with an organization like the
Harlem Globetrotters,” said Tyler, a longtime Burbank resident who
graduated from Burroughs High in 1995. “There is just so much history
with the team, and so many people know who the Globetrotters are. I
am just thrilled to be a part of it.”
Tyler joined the organization Nov. 16 for the Globetrotters’ tour
of Mexico. The team began the North American leg of its tour Dec. 27
-- its 77th consecutive season -- which will take the squad coast to
coast, visiting 43 states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian
provinces. The schedule will include more than 200 games in four
months before heading for an international tour.
Founded in 1926, the Harlem Globetrotters have become perhaps the
best known professional basketball team in the world. Along with
playing an athletic brand of basketball -- involving wild dunks,
long-distance acrobatic shots and amazing passes -- the Globetrotters
also blend humor into their contests, often at the expense of the
opposition and the audience.
Although he wasn’t exactly schooled in the Globetrotter style of
announcing, Tyler said he has been able to catch on quickly and
enjoys being a part of the high jinx.
“For the first few games, I worked with someone who helped me get
a feel of what they wanted me to do,” Tyler said. “But after that, I
was able to get right into it.
“There is a script that they want me to follow, and I have to do
certain things at certain times. But other than that, I just kind of
do my own thing and get into the moment.”
On the tour of Mexico, Tyler said he was able to experience first
hand the love, fascination and affection fans have for the Harlem
Globetrotters.
“The Mexican people are very fanatical about their sports and
sports teams,” he said. “It was amazing to see the reaction the
Globetrotters got, especially from the young fans.”
*
Traveling around the world and being a part of the most successful
sports organization ever is a far cry from the friendly confines of
Burroughs’ Brian W. Hurst Gymnasium, where Tyler got his start
announcing.
During his sophomore year, Tyler approached Burroughs girls’ Coach
Doug Nicol and asked if he could announce some games. Nicol
reluctantly agreed.
“Here was this skinny kid coming to me and asking if he could do
our games,” Nicol said. “I didn’t know if he could do it. He also
told me he wanted to be the next Chick Hearn.
“But I was amazed at how good he was. He came with his own trivia
questions and things like that. He really made the game enjoyable for
the fans.”
Nicol said he thinks Tyler will be a benefit to the Globetrotters.
“John is just a great guy who works very hard to be the best that
he can,” Nicol said. “He will fit in perfectly with the Globetrotters
and I know he will do a great job.
“But we also hate to lose him. He is part of our Burroughs
family.”
Tyler said he not only received a great deal of help about
basketball from Nicol, but was able to benefit from the guidance of
former assistant principal Brian Hurst.
“Mr. Hurst helped give me the confidence that I could really do
the job,” Tyler said. “He also helped me out and showed me what I was
doing right and what I needed to work on. I owe him a lot.”
Along with announcing high school basketball and football games,
Tyler has also worked collegiate ice hockey, professional
summer-league basketball, youth football and youth hockey contests.
He also worked a Philadelphia Flyers alumni game.
With a vast sports knowledge, Tyler said he is fortunate to be
working in an arena where he can hone his skills. However, like many
public-address announcers, Tyler hopes to make the jump to calling
play by play.
“I grew up listening to the Lakers’ Chick Hearn,” he said. “I
would love to one day become a play-by-play announcer. But for now, I
am very happy to be with the Harlem Globetrotters. It’s a great
organization.”
That’s a Harlem Globetrotters’ organization with a .984 winning
percentage.