Published: February 20, 2008 02:40 pm            

Calling the shots...

Tim Carper of WGOH/WUGO Radio has been broadcasting ball games for years

“And the Lewis County ball carrier takes the football around the right end and Wham!… the East Carter linebacker drops him like third-period French!”…

Any listener within earshot of Tim Carper’s radio broadcast that autumn night a few years back had a very vivid mental picture of that specific pigskin moment. Listeners knew exactly how hard the hit was. They could tell by his tone and volume that Carper was impressed by the tackle. And by his accurate detail, as a longtime member of the local media, his listening audience understood Tim knew exactly what he was talking about.

“One I like to use during basketball, if a player is being fouled trying to get the ball up the floor, is ‘they’re riding him like a Wal-Mart pony!’ I don’t know where I come up with these things,” Carper told The Journal-Times of the colorful sports commentary comments he is known for. “That’s just me -- life is too short not to look for the humor.”

Carper is the sports director of WGOH/WUGO Radio and he is about as commonplace at area ball games as hot dogs, ball boys and bad calls – both his and the offficials’.

“My job is not brain surgery, I try to convey to those listening what I am seeing in the game,” he said. “I try to paint a picture with the words. I’m really just a fan trying to paint a picture for other fans.”

With his quick wit and affable manner and vast knowledge of the sports he reports on, Carper’s on-air coverage brings literally hundreds of contests into the living rooms and back porches of Carter County each year. Not to mention doing live remotes at the Carter County Fair, Memory Days or any other activity or event that brings more than two or three locals together. Fans like his style and coaches respect his standards.

Like any good newsman, Carper at least tries to remain objective. Call it like it happens. If it’s a good play, regardless of which team, he applauds the effort. If it’s a bonehead foul, even if committed by a Raider or Comet, he calls that one out, too. But just by listening to the voice, there is always some indication that he wants the local teams to win.

“When our teams play, I might see it differently,” Carper joked about slanting his comments to a pro-Carter County tone. “But I do try not to. I try to call it like I see it -- now it gets real tough when it’s an East vs. West game!”

Even though his voice reaches thousands of listeners, he is just as recognizable to the citizens of Carter County at local ball games, fundraisers or just about any other local event. Carper calls games by profession but he is an active member of the community by choice. The proud parents of Tori (15), Tucker (12) and Tucker (deceased), Carper and his wife Tina spend a lot of time with the family at the ballpark, in gymnasiums and at church.

He has served as President of the Grayson Area Little League and President of the Grayson Jr. Football League. As many area high school, college and all-star games as he has called, Carper had probably coached even more; He has coached Little League Baseball since 1985, spent seven years on the sidelines for the Jr. Football League and is currently in his third year with the whistle with Upward Basketball. Carper is also the Assistant Commissioner of the Eastern Kentucky Athletic Conference.

Carper served the Oak Grove Church of Christ as an Associate Minister to his mentor the late Dr. Dick Damron for 15 years. He assumed the position of Executive Minister at Oak Grove last August where he serves with his best friend and Senior Minister Donald M. Damron.

“ I get paid to talk at both my jobs, that’s great,” Carper said about working as a broadcaster and a minister.

His duties at Oak Grove include preaching, teaching and Director of the Upward Basketball League, This year, 18 players participated in Upward for free through the Titus Carper Upward Scholarship Fund which the Carper family started in memory of their youngest family member who died in March of 2006 at the age of one month.

Perhaps it was irony, or just coincidence, but the Carpers lost their son and brother during the high school basketball postseason. And in spite of their overwhelming grief, the outpouring of support from the community gave them strength. Many teams and individual players and coaches offered hugs, tears and unconditional support during that tough time -- and continue to do so.

“Tim’s a first-class guy,” East Carter High School athletic director and head girls’ basketball coach Hager Easterling said of his longtime friend.

“You won’t find a better person or a better Christian. Losing a son and going through that, you don’t handle that unless like Tim and his family, you are in the center of God’s will.”

Carper was a recipient of the Grayson Chamber of Commerce’s SU Pratt Award in 2004 and he was chosen the Readers’ Choice as Broadcaster of the Year in 2006 by The Journal-Times. He was honored with the Keystone of Grayson Award in 2007.

How has his love of both sports and his church changed him? Easy according to the man usually reporting on the athletic endeavors of others rather than talking about his own abilities and talents.

“Obviously, church has impacted every aspect of my life from being a husband, father, minister, friend and believe it or not even a sportscaster,” he said. “The fact that I look for the good in everything, in all people and situations.

“Sports, you know, I’ve just been a sports nut my whole life -- from the time I was a kid listening to my mentors Cawood Ledford and Marty Brennaman calling University of Kentucky and Cincinnati Reds games. And even now, watching T-ball games or Reds games, it’s still about the sport and I’m a big sports fan. Sports are a microcosm of life -- you don’t always win and it’s not always fair. You can’t always call timeout and you don’t always get to rip a referee -- but you just keep trying.”

Can’t make it out to the next Raider or Comet game? Just tune in to Carper’s broadcast, it’s just as good as being there. Some around these parts might say even better.

“Jeez! did you just see that foul -- obviously the official didn’t”…



Editor’s Note: It has been the local newspaper’s honor and privilege to be seated at media tables across the region with Tim Carper. As members of the same craft but through different mediums, we work together all the time and I certainly believe our association benefits the community. Thanks for all your help, Tim & I’ll see you at the game… Denver

        

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