'Burger and a Six-Pack: Bob Hauer
Today we were fortunate and appreciative to catch up with Bob Hauer, the ubiquitous radio personality, PA announcer for the Hershey Bears, and in-game host for the Harrisburg Senators. Bob is one-half of WHP 580's Morning News team and also appears on the local, Allentown and Williamsport Clear Channel markets as well as being a frequent contributor nationally for Fox News Radio. Bob has spent his entire life in Central Pennsylvania as he was raised just outside of Shamokin and graduated from Susquehanna University. Bob is also the very proud father of two boys, Brodey and Cade.
You can like Bob's Facebook page here and follow him on Twitter here.
The Sports 'Burger: Has broadcasting been something you've wanted to do since you were younger? Were you that kid parading around the house using your hairbrush as a microphone?
Bob Hauer: True story: there is existing video footage from 3rd grade of me introducing myself doing news for Newswatch 16 (WNEP-TV). I loved the spotlight as a kid: being the PA announcer for little league baseball or at my high school for basketball games. I loved sports so much, too. I was fed my baby cereal from the bleachers watching my dad coach baseball. Sports and performing were so ingrained in me. There was a long stage in my life that I wanted to anchor SportsCenter, too. In the end, I knew where I was most comfortable: in the spotlight.
TSB: Aside from your regular duties on the network of Clear Channel stations, you are also quite the man for all seasons. You provide coverage of high school football for 1460 the Ticket, are a PA announcer for the Hershey Bears, and an in-game host for the Harrisburg Senators. Is this all part of your plan for global domination?
BH: HA! It's so easy to do what you love on a daily basis. I can honestly say it's been YEARS since I've "gone to work." Whether it's news or the Senators or the Bears, it's all such incredible fun. I count myself as lucky just to have the chance to do it all.
TSB: What sports did you play as you grew up and who were some of your athletic idols?
BH: I was a baseball kid from a very young age (see my comment about baby cereal.) I played 3B and outfield growing up through High School. I played lots of basketball, and some football. My dad coached both little league baseball and CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) basketball...and I buddied him through a lot of that. I played baseball in HS and coached 5th, 6th, and 7th graders in basketball with my dad. I honestly enjoyed teaching the game more than playing it. My dad is one of the main reasons that today, on top of all my responsibilities, I coach CYO High School basketball for Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Enola. There's true value in teaching the sport, how to play it right, and to use it as a mechanism to help young boys become good men.
Athletic idols, aside from my dad (he was no dynamic athlete, but after losing his arm to cancer at 19, he still affected so many lives through coaching...and could consistently knock down a jump shot from anywhere on the floor) I looked up to my cousin Steve, who won a PIAA state title for Lourdes Regional in the early 90s. My other (more national) idol would be Mickey Morandini. The guy played hard all the time...and I loved seeing him choke up so much on that bat. I own two Phillies jersey-shirts - one is for Antonio Bastardo (since I love the wordplay) and the other is Morandini's #12.
Bob between Ron Hornaday (L) and Kevin Harvick
TSB: Who do you have in a mascot fight...Coco or Rascal?
BH: A bear on skates who knows how to drop the gloves or something that crawled out of the Susquehanna River and thrives?!? WOW! Probably Coco in a split decision. Any interference from Grrrounder could sway that brouhaha.
TSB: Twenty years from now what recent Central PA sports story are you going to fondly remember the most?
BH: The passing of JoePa will forever be ingrained in my brain. To me, it's a true statement to one's legacy to emotionally connect to so many people without even meeting them. The other would be the night Strasburg debuted at home for the Senators. The crowd, the delays, the power outage, the pop that echoed through the park from the ball hitting the mitt. I don't think I'll ever personally witness anything like that ever again.
TSB: With what little free time you apparently have, what kind of hobbies and activities do you enjoy doing around the area?
BH: I love being a dad. On top of everything else I do to feed my ADD, taking Brodey to the park to play on the slide...or watching Cade take in his first...well, everything just blows my mind. I won the parent lottery as a kid and know how important the role of parent is. Some kids wanted to be a firefighter or an astronaut growing up. I wanted to be a husband and a father. My legacy will come in the form of who they are and what they accomplish...not what I ever personally achieve.
I'm an outdoors guy who will never turn down a quality microbrew.(I'm an avid mugclub member for ABC in Harrisburg.) Some of the charities that I invest the most time with are the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance, and the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank.
We here at The Sports 'Burger wish to again thank Bob for taking the time out of his busy schedule and cooperation on the interview.
The Snooze Button: 2/22
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• Christian Hanson (right) is going under the knife this Friday to repair a tendon in his wrist that he injured on Saturday night (P-N [Leone]) |
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• Hershey fan favorite Dean Arsene is nearing his 500th career AHL game (The AHL [Mannix]) |
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Former McDevitt and LVC star Andy Panko is leading the Spanish Liga ACB in scoring (P-N [Kane]) |
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• The LVC ice hockey team was recognized with this year's President's Service Award (LVC [Steyn]) |
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Analyzing and guessing who'll start the season on the Senators' 2012 pitching staff (Nationals Prospects [Erickson]) |
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• Maggie Lucas took home her first Big Ten Player of the Week award (BSD [Pettigano]) |
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• Remembering Joe Paterno before he became a legend (BWI [Prato]) |
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• The top 10 most important Penn State recruits of 2013 (VBR [Cogar]) |
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• Mac McWhorter gave up retirement to coach the offensive line at Penn State (P-N [Loh]) |
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• Penn State Harrisburg's Stevie Jones and Kenton Alston were both selected to the NEAC All-Conference first team (NEAC) |
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• Chase Harrison inked a deal to play the upcoming season with the Philadelphia Union (Union) |
Central PA Sports History: Bob Hoffman
Photo courtesy Beverly Pfingsten
Bob Hoffman grew up at the turn of the century as a skinny, sickly kid in the Pittsburgh suburb of Wilkinsburg. But in his mid-twenties after moving to York, Hoffman transformed his body with the use of a simple barbell and a dedicated regimen to physically become a different man. This personal transformation carried over to his professional life too as he also started training other weightlifters, organizing weightlifting competitions, and manufacturing equipment. By 1932, Hoffman had founded the York Barbell Corporation and laid the groundwork in Central Pennsylvania for a future fitness empire in what became known as Muscletown, USA.
York Barbell changed the industry by designing and developing equipment while promoting exercise and weightlifting through education and competition. And Hoffman reaped the benefits as he was recognized as the "Father of World Weightlifting" and named to the President's Council for Physical Fitness. Hoffman passed away in 1985, but thirteen years later a historical marker was erected in his honor to recognize his many accomplishments on what would have been his 100th birthday.
If you go:
The marker is located along Broad Road near the York Barbell factory and headquarters (map). The building is also the location for the Weightlifting Hall of Fame and proudly displays a seven-and-a-half-foot bronze statue of Hoffman out front at the entrance.
The Snooze Button: 2/21
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• Behind a career high of 25 points from Nikki Greene, the Lady Lions captured at least a share of the Big Ten title and the conference tournament's top seed (SC [Mink], BSD [Pettigano]) |
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• Men's volleyball swept the weekly awards when redshirt freshmen Nick Goodell and Connor Curry won the EIVA Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors (Go PSU Sports) |
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Morgan Langley officially
signed to return with the City Islanders for the upcoming season (@mlangley26) |
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Reliever Jeff Mandel may have an opportunity with the Nats because of his power sinker (MASN [Kerr]) |
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• Recker is more than just a fighter and enforcer (LDN [Fidler]) |
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• This week's edition of "Snapshots!" (SHoE [Mace]) |
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• One of the first 1,000 fans at the Rev's home opener on May 1st will receive an authentic 2011 championship ring (Revs' Inside Pitch [Seip]) |
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• The Horizon notched their first win of the season on Sunday with a 112-104 over the Washington Madness (HH) |
The Snooze Button: 2/20
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• For the first time ever, THON broke the $10 million barrier (Onward State [Vecellio]) |
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• Penn State football opened winter conditioning to media for the first time in program history (P-N [Loh], BSD [Grovich]) |
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• The five biggest NFL draft busts in the Big Ten era (B/R [McGuire]) |
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After a stellar season in Harrisburg, Cory VanAllen is ready for the next step at Triple-A (MASN [Kerr]) |
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• The Bears ended their 3-in-3 weekend on the road with a 2-1 shootout loss to the Portland Sound Tigers despite another strong game in goal by Braden Holtby (P-N [Leone], SHoE [Hedrick]) |
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• Behind Ryan Potulny's two goals, Hershey topped the Manchester Monarchs 2-1 on Saturday night (Bear Bites and Insights, SHoE [Hedrick], P-N [Leone]) |
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• The road trip didn't start out well as the Bears suffered their most decisive shutout loss in over three years when they fell 6-0 to the Providence Bruins (SHoE [Mace], P-N [Leone], Bear Bites and Insights) |
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• A great story from the top row of section 126 and Pheras Zimmerman who has been a Bears' season ticket holder since 1948 (PA Puck [Goulet]) |
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• Congratulations to the Doug Yingst coached Jr. Bears who beat Winnipeg 2-0 to take home the Pee Wee World Championships (Jr. Bears) |
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• The Piranha have signed 6'11", 450-pound defensive tackle John "House" Taylor for the upcoming season (CPP FB) |
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• Catching up with Anthony Lerew and his trek around the world playing baseball (P-N [Epler]) |
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• Lebanon native Bobby Gerhart won for the eighth time at Daytona when he recovered from starting in the 42nd spot to take the title at the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 (LDN [Givler]) |
The Snooze Button: 2/17
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• The Revs are holding auditions tomorrow at Sovereign Bank Stadium to fill the roll of mascot "DownTown" for this season (YDR) |
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• Penn State kicks off their annual THON dance marathon later today hoping to top the $10M mark in their fundraising effort (Nittany Lions Den [Maxwell]) |
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• Four players in double figures pace the Nittany Lions over Iowa 69-64 (SC [Jones]) |
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• Behind Maggie Lucas' strong second half, the Lady Lions beat the Boilers in Purdue for the first time in eight years (Go PSU Sports) |
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• The Lady Icers got hosed as they weren't selected for the ACHA tournament field (TYT [Rossi]) |
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• Reports have Bill O'Brien completing his coaching staff with the addition of Charlie Fisher as quarterbacks coach (VBR [Tolley]) |
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The Senators are looking to fill a variety of ballpark positions at their annual job fair tomorrow between 10-2 at Metro Bank Park (Senators) |
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• The Bears' updated their roster before their 3-in-3 weekend set on the road as Keith Aucoin was recalled back to the Caps and Phil Oreskovic was sent back to South Carolina... (HB) |
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• ...and they'll have to do it without captain Boyd Kane who's serving his three-game suspension (P-N [Leone]) |
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• All the best happenings this weekend including 3rd in the Burg, the 20th annual Great Guinness Toast, and the Bal Masque (SB) |
The Snooze Button: 2/16
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• The seedings and pairings for the 2012 ACHA Men's Division I ice hockey tournament were announced and Penn State nabbed the top spot (TYT) |
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• 11 Greatest Nittany Lions in NFL History (B/R [McGuire]) |
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• The problem's not with Recker, but with Caps' coach Dale Hunter stuck in the '90s (HBHB) |
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• The usual collection of great links in this week's Chocolate Fix (SHoE [Mills]) |
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This week's Old Barn Hockey Show is a star-studded affair without Brock who collected his fourth scratch of the season |
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• Part 1: Fond memories of playing street hockey, Gregg Mace talks Bears, and the loquacious Tim Leone joins in |
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• Part 2: Old friend John Walton on Dale Hunter's lineup changes with the Caps and the playoff chase in the East |
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• Part 3: Greg Wyshynski from Yahoo's Puck Daddy shares his thoughts |
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• Lancaster and Kitchener, Ontario renew their annual "rivalry" with this year's Friendship Hockey Exchange (PA Puck [Goulet]) |
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• The 16th Annual Millennium Music Conference kicks off today in and around the Central PA area (MMC, Sara Bozich [Cavanaugh]) |
The Snooze Button: 2/15
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• The 76ers purchased the Hershey Sports Arena floor Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points on and are handing it out as a giveaway on their March 2nd game celebrating the 50th anniversary of the momentous night (CBS 21 [Bristol], P-N [Jones]) |
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• Keith Aucoin, Braden Holtby, and Joel Rechlicz were reassigned back to Hershey (DSP [Nichols]) |
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• The AHL suspended Boyd Kane three games and Rechlicz one game from incidents last Saturday night against Worcester (AHL) |
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• D.J. King has been the consummate team guy during his time in Hershey (P-N [Leone]) |
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• The next stop on the bubble hockey tour hits Champions in Highspire tonight with Patrick Wellar and Patrick McNeill making an appearance (HB) |
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• Cornerback D'Anton Lynn's rise from golf to football and his preparation for the NFL combine (P-N [Loh]) |
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• Due to budget concerns, Millersville is discontinuing men's indoor and outdoor track and field and men's cross country (MU) |
Central PA Sports History: Charles Albert "Chief" Bender
Photo courtesy Beverly Pfingsten
Although Bender was born in Minnesota as a member of the Chippewa tribe, he attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School at the turn of the century. While at the school, Bender was a baseball star under the tutelage of legendary football coach Glen “Pop” Warner. After graduation, Bender attended Dickinson College and during the summer pitched for the semi-pro Harrisburg Athletic Club where he was discovered by a scout for the Philadelphia Athletics.
Bender tallied 212 wins, one no-hitter, and three World Series titles during a stellar 16-year professional career as a starting pitcher. Bender utilized outstanding control with an arsenal that included an excellent curveball and one of the game's earliest sliders to become a clutch performer during pennant races and championship games. As one can imagine for the era, Bender managed to do this all despite an extreme prejudice and bigotry against the pitcher because of his Native American heritage.Bender was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans' Committee in 1953 and inducted a year later. Unfortunately, Bender passed away three months prior to the formal ceremony and didn't live to see his plaque added to the Hall.
If you go:
The marker is located on Ashburn Drive near the athletic field of the old Carlisle Indian Industrial School (map). ID will be required to enter the base and your vehicle will be thoroughly inspected.
The Snooze Button: 2/14
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• Stephen Basso officially signed to return with the City Islanders for the upcoming season (@SBasso13) |
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• Early yesterday, Braden Holtby and Joel Rechlicz were recalled to Washington for last night's 5-3 loss to San Jose with Holtby between the pipes and Recker getting a ten-minute game misconduct (RMNB [Hansen], Japers' Rink [Parker], CSN Washington [Gormley]) |
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• Garrett Mitchell and the fourth line are providing a spark (LDN [Fidler]) |
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• “Snapshots!” takes a look back at the week in photos (SHoE [Mace]) |
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• Former pitching coach Randy Tomlin shares his thoughts on the Guz Two, Ryan Tatusko and Tanner Roark (MASN [Kerr]) |
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• Freshman Doug Persing is pursuing his dream playing basketball at Penn State Harrisburg despite being deaf (CBS 21 [Bristol]) |
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• The Revs signed two southpaw pitchers for the upcoming season when they welcomed back Jesus Sanchez and inked Ian Thomas (YDR [Seip]) |
