Kevin Calabro enjoying soccer

(December 21, 2009) Now that he's finished an incredible opening year with the Seattle Sounders, one that saw them make the playoffs and set attendance records along the way, announcer Kevin Calabro looks back on it all.

Goal.com: What were the high and low points for you this year?

Kevin Calabro: The high points are the unbelievable fan involvement, fan participation, fan support. I just can’t describe adequately what it meant to me personally. You’re going to have 30+ thousand there for the game full volume , fired up out to have a good time, great supporters and believers of the game.
That to me was really impressive. The downside is as it always is and there’s no way to get around it, and it’s travel.
It comes with the territory. It’s much less travel than in the NBA, 15 versus 41 road games, so no complaint in that regard.

Goal.com: Did you have to make a big adjustment in broadcasting soccer?

Calabro: Obviously, I didn’t know the game at the beginning of the season, certainly not as well as say a broadcaster who has been doing soccer for a number of years. To me it’s going to take a couple of seasons to really get it. I felt much more comfortable by about the second or third month of the season with the pace, and a better idea of what information the fans need and what they didn’t need.

Goal.com: By all indications, television ratings were higher than expected in Seattle and for MLS matches overall. What do you attribute this to?

Calabro: I had heard that, and I knew that the numbers through the year for our broadcast were good, were very good. But I think it ties in with what we’ve talked about before, the unbelievable fan involvement. When the fans take ownership, they watch you, they listen. I assume they go out and patronize the sponsors.
It’s a delicate balance. Because just as fast as those ratings go right up through the ceiling, they can fall right down if you take them for granted.

Goal.com: In our last conversation, you mentioned having to make a difficult personal choice of staying in Seattle rather than moving to Oklahoma City with the Supersonics. Do you still have a yearning to go back and broadcast basketball on a full-time basis?

Calabro: Basketball’s always been my passion personally. I also think it helps my announcing by doing something that stretches me and get me out of my comfort zone. That pushes me to learn a new sport, a new way to deliver a broadcast. Soccer’s like every other sport, it has its own language, its own nuances and subtleties.
I do still have a passion for basketball. I did a few ESPN games in the spring, and then hooked up with the soccer team. I look forward to doing that again next year.

Goal.com: Besides your soccer announcing responsibilities, you started a daily show on the local Seattle ESPN affiliate earlier this year. How is that coming along?

Calabro: It’s going well. You have to have your notes, the newspaper, ear to the phone, and really stray abreast of things to really make the show work. I think one thing we’d like to continue to do is give MLS and soccer more attention, a little more focus. I know a number of people have suggested that to me. It’s something you don’t normally hear about on sports radio…a lot of discussion on MLS and soccer across the nation, so maybe we can change that.

Goal.com: What’s your assessment of Seattle’s year and what are some things they need to do in order to improve in 2010?

Calabro: There was no secret. It’s all about work ethic and depth. Good leadership with Keller, with Ljunberg. I think Freddie really came on and developed into a leader in the last part of the season. I think Brad Evans also did a terrific job as well. Also, the rookie Zakuani I thought came on and started to find himself late in the year. For next year, a striker with absolutely no conscience, consumed with scoring and scoring opportunities. I would think also some more size in the midfield. Find someone that could control the ball up the field and someone that can physically intimidate defensively through midfield.

Click below to hear audio of the interview with Kevin Calabro!

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