With sport around the world essentially on an indefinite hiatus thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, many sports broadcasters are finding different ways to share their talents with the world, including one high profile PA announcer.
New York Mets PA Announcer Colin Cosell, grandson of legendary sports broadcaster Howard Cosell, has been keeping busy by recording customized introductions from his home office. He’s doing them for free and has announced all types of people to the batters box at Citi Field with their requested music choices.
Ben Walker from the Associated Press did a feature what’s become known as the “Call-ups” by Colin, with the hashtag #CallMeUpColin. It’s a great reminder that even when sports broadcasters or PA announcers aren’t on the air or at a game…we can still have a big impact on people’s lives.
The requests come by the hundreds: the son of an emergency room nurse, the husband of a doctor, a hospital patient.
Colin Cosell studies them, sorts them. Normally he’d be at Citi Field, rousing the crowd as public address announcer for the New York Mets. Now he’s busy working at home, trying to cheer one fan at a time.
His creative contribution during this health crisis — crafting audio clips for everyone who asks — echoes the booming introductions big league hitters get when they step up to home plate.
“As personalized and customized as possible,” Cosell said.
So instead of “the first baseman, No. 20, Pete Alonso!” to the thump of “The Ocean” by Led Zeppelin, it could sound like this: “Leading off for the Mets, the center fielder, No. 44, Fran Kowalski!” to a song by Frank Sinatra. A welcome voice amid the virus.
