Courtesy The Valley Star

(May 20, 2009) Paul Olden has touched sports history throughout his career. He broadcast games with legends like Harry Caray and Hank Stram, worked with teams including the St. Louis Rams and New Jersey Nets, and had the honor of broadcasting Wade Boggs's 3,000th hit in Tampa Bay. In 2004 Olden, who was growing weary from his travels, decided to leave his position with the Tampa Rays and moved back to Southern California from Florida.

During his hiatus, Olden returned to school at 53 to try his hand at photography. He chose Valley College because it was close to his Burbank home and eventually used his experience from Valley's newspaper as a freelance photographer around Southern California. In January he received a call from the New York Yankees.

"They called and asked me if I would be interested in auditioning for the Public Address position at the new Yankee Stadium," said Olden, who spent 12 years as PA announcer for the Super Bowl. "They flew me in for the audition and liked it and hired me."

The position was available because New York legend Bob Sheppard, the Yankees PA announcer since 1951, has been battling health issues. Olden's latest brush with baseball history as Sheppard's replacement was an exhibition game in April against the Chicago Cubs.

Olden said his path to becoming an on-air talent took an incredible level of determination and sacrifice noting that the hours were long and rest was at a premium.

"I worked seven days a week for a long time," said Olden. "It got to a point that my girlfriends would be ushers at Dodger Stadium and the Forum. It was easier that way. I'd show up to work and they'd be there and after the games we'd go out. I needed a break from broadcasting. I was draining."

Olden got his first taste of history in 1978 as a tall, young reporter with a deep, almost raspy voice. Olden asked Tommy Lasorda a question that sent the venerable former Dodger's manager on his famous Dave Kingman tirade. He was lead to that situation by a childhood dream to be a sports broadcaster.

"I started listening when I was 15 to learn how to do play-by-play," he said. "After I realized I wasn't going to be a very good player myself, I would listen to Dodgers games, Angels games, and Lakers games, especially Chick Hearn."

His determination brought him to where he is now and for the first few months of his tenure with the Yankees, Olden flew back and forth from his home in L.A. to New York for games. However, he has now found a home on the east coast and just before leaving Los Angeles to move to Brooklyn, he gave Valley students a parting piece of advice.

"Students just need to know to be prepared," he said. "See what others have done and try to be a little different. We're all in a box of what's possible but within that square there's room to be unique but still within the boundaries of good taste and what's acceptable. That's what I always tried to imitate as a kid."