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ENLARGE
Larry Barker • LVN photo Doug Watanabe, a rising star among rodeo announcers, is calling this years Silver State International Rodeo.
Every sport has its legendary announcers.
When one thinks of legendary baseball announcers, names like Red Barber, Mel Allen, Ernie Harwell, Jack Buck, Vin Scully, Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons, spring to mind. In basketball, no name was ever bigger than Chick Hearn. In football, names like Bill King and Ray Scott top the list.
In rodeo, the biggest announcing name is Bob Tallman. He sets the standard that every other rodeo announcer wants to emulate.
One man who's doing a good job of that and rapidly building a name of his own is Doug Watanabe of Silver Springs. His booming baritone voice is being heard over the public address system at the Churchill County Fairgrounds this week as he calls the action in the Silver State International Rodeo. This is the first time he's been the announcer for SSIR.
When one thinks of legendary baseball announcers, names like Red Barber, Mel Allen, Ernie Harwell, Jack Buck, Vin Scully, Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons, spring to mind. In basketball, no name was ever bigger than Chick Hearn. In football, names like Bill King and Ray Scott top the list.
In rodeo, the biggest announcing name is Bob Tallman. He sets the standard that every other rodeo announcer wants to emulate.
One man who's doing a good job of that and rapidly building a name of his own is Doug Watanabe of Silver Springs. His booming baritone voice is being heard over the public address system at the Churchill County Fairgrounds this week as he calls the action in the Silver State International Rodeo. This is the first time he's been the announcer for SSIR.
Watanabe, 46, grew up on a farm outside of Nampa, Idaho. He's been doing rodeo announcing for five years, and he started by calling team roping. Tommy Lee of Fallon helped hook him up with the California Shootout Team roping series and his career took off. He landed a gig doing the announcing duties in both Larry Miller's and Richard Hutchings' roping arenas in Fallon.
While working for Miller and Hutchings, he was introduced to people from the Arizona Quarterhorse Association who asked him to announce for one of their events in Phoenix. That led to him being introduced to people from the American Quarterhorse Association, who have invited him to announce for their junior show later this year in Oklahoma City.
Just prior to the SSIR, Watanabe called the action at the National Reigning Horse Association World Championships in Oklahoma City.
He also does public address announcing for Silver Stage High School football and basketball games along with voice-over work.
Watanabe credits Lee for helping him get his name known in rodeo announcing.
While working for Miller and Hutchings, he was introduced to people from the Arizona Quarterhorse Association who asked him to announce for one of their events in Phoenix. That led to him being introduced to people from the American Quarterhorse Association, who have invited him to announce for their junior show later this year in Oklahoma City.
Just prior to the SSIR, Watanabe called the action at the National Reigning Horse Association World Championships in Oklahoma City.
He also does public address announcing for Silver Stage High School football and basketball games along with voice-over work.
Watanabe credits Lee for helping him get his name known in rodeo announcing.
"I owe at least part of my continuing success to Tommy Lee," Watanabe said. "He helped to get me going and pointed me in the right direction. As I always like to say to fellow announcers, one door opens three. When you get one good gig, you get three more out of it."
Watanabe said that doing team roping is his first love, which was introduced to him by Vern Banks of Red Rock.
"Having grown up in the country and living the western way of life, I've been very fortunate to meet some great people. One of them is Vern Banks from Red Rock. He's taught me a great deal about the western way of life."
Watanabe is dedicated to his craft, so much that he brings his own speakers, amplifier, microphones, music and mixing board with him. His speakers are much more resonant than the bullhorn type speakers normally used at the fairgrounds, so loud that his voice can be clearly heard out into the parking lot.
Unfortunately, his speakers were a casualty of the thunderstorms and related electrical difficulties that hit Fallon on Monday. Just before the start of the first rodeo performance, a power surge blew both them both out. He had to use the fairgrounds speakers for that performance and the one on Tuesday morning before he was able to take his speakers to Reno for repair. The cost to fix them was $600.
Watanabe said that doing team roping is his first love, which was introduced to him by Vern Banks of Red Rock.
"Having grown up in the country and living the western way of life, I've been very fortunate to meet some great people. One of them is Vern Banks from Red Rock. He's taught me a great deal about the western way of life."
Watanabe is dedicated to his craft, so much that he brings his own speakers, amplifier, microphones, music and mixing board with him. His speakers are much more resonant than the bullhorn type speakers normally used at the fairgrounds, so loud that his voice can be clearly heard out into the parking lot.
Unfortunately, his speakers were a casualty of the thunderstorms and related electrical difficulties that hit Fallon on Monday. Just before the start of the first rodeo performance, a power surge blew both them both out. He had to use the fairgrounds speakers for that performance and the one on Tuesday morning before he was able to take his speakers to Reno for repair. The cost to fix them was $600.
While his voice is heard a lot over the PA system as he keeps the audience abreast of the happenings, Watanabe stresses that he is not part of the show.
"I don't believe that the rodeo announcer is the entertainment," Watanabe said. "He's simply the emcee for some great performances and great talent."
And of the legendary Tallman, Watanabe speaks of him with the same level of reverence that many baseball announcers have for Scully.
"Bob Tallaman is the greatest rodeo announcer ever," Watanabe said. "He's the benchmark for all rodeo announcers. There will never be another one of his caliber."
They could be saying the same thing about Watanabe some day.
"I don't believe that the rodeo announcer is the entertainment," Watanabe said. "He's simply the emcee for some great performances and great talent."
And of the legendary Tallman, Watanabe speaks of him with the same level of reverence that many baseball announcers have for Scully.
"Bob Tallaman is the greatest rodeo announcer ever," Watanabe said. "He's the benchmark for all rodeo announcers. There will never be another one of his caliber."
They could be saying the same thing about Watanabe some day.
