Courtesy Sun Times

(September 14, 2009) One of Jeff Joniak's fellow staffers at WBBM-AM (780) described him to us as ''solid,'' as in totally professional. WBBM's director of sports operations has made us fans of his Bears play-by-play coverage. So with another pro football season beginning, we posed some questions to Joniak about his job, pro sports and the Bears.

Q. You've been a Chicago radio sports guy for nearly a quarter-century. What makes for an effective radio sports reporter and anchor?

A. The goal is to talk ''to'' the listener, not ''at'' the listener, in a conversational style. In both positions, concise and descriptive writing is essential. It is word management. Time is short for a sports anchor in news radio. The clock rules the day. An effective radio reporter does more than just carry a microphone and gather sound from group interviews. To understand what is going on with a team, a reporter needs to create relationships, sources and, ultimately, trust.

Q. How has your Bears play-by-play style changed over the course of the eight years you've had that job?

A. Some of the mechanics may have changed, but not the style. I set out to capture the emotion of the sport and deliver with high energy. To me, it is all about connecting with an audience that loves the Bears. We are riding that roller coaster of emotions on Sundays with them. Tom Thayer and I are passionate about the sport and the franchise, and it comes across on game day. Out of respect for the audience and the players, we invest a lot of time studying the Bears and the rest of the NFL. We give you the plays and the analysis, but also context, insight and, hopefully, a little humor along the way.

Q. Every great radio broadcaster has his or her signature touch. Have you consciously tried to make your distinctive ''Touchdown. Touchdown Bears'' a line to remember you by?

A. It just happened, kind of like ''ridiculous'' when Devin Hester took two returns for touchdowns in St. Louis in 2006. That call has taken on a life of its own. You develop a rhythm calling games. For some reason, one pronouncement of getting in the end zone just doesn't feel right to me. Since I started in 2001, the Bears have scored 288 touchdowns in the regular season and playoffs over 133 games. So just over twice a game, on average, you get to celebrate the most important moment with a double dose of ''touchdown.'' Hopefully, I'll call a lot more touchdowns per game this season.

Q. What bugs you the most about the professional sports business today and why?

A. My only beef is the money involved. Agents and their demands have riddled the industry with trouble. In the NFL right now, there are still two unsigned first-round draft picks holding out only on the advice of their agents. The trickle-down to the fans is significant. Take a family of four to a sporting event, and it is a $300 day. The escalating player salaries create unrealistic expectations and, ultimately, a divide with the fans. They want more wins for their bucks, and the problem is ... it is not easy to win.

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