Until it isn’t fun anymore

Tradition runs strong in communities like Solon, including Friday night football.

Part of that tradition is the steady voice originating in the press box and booming through the speakers, introducing the players, welcoming the visiting team and fans sincerely, providing details of the game, promoting the concession stand, and giving shout-out’s throughout the night.

The voice is Don Ellis’ and he’s been on the mic since 1988 when he did the big ‘welcome back’ for the State Championship football team for what was intended to be a temporary substitution.

“Larry Meister (who died in June) had cataract surgery. He was ‘The Voice of the Spartans,’ and he asked me if I would take over for him while he was out and I Wally Pipp’ed him!”

Pipp was a longtime first baseman for the New York Yankees. Legend has it one fateful June day in 1925, he called out sick with a headache. Miller Huggins, manager of the Yankees told Pipp to “pop an aspirin,” and gave the nod to a relative newcomer, a player named Lou Gehrig who’s performance relegated Pipp to the bench.

“I basically got the job and never looked back.”

For basketball Denny Gruber gave the starting line-ups and then turned the microphone off.

“I can remember, back in the day, hearing Reverend Bob Holzhammer at Carver Hawkeye Arena. He was ‘The Voice of the Hawkeyes,’ ‘Father Bob,’ and he would do all the fouls and bring on the people, and where they’re from.”

Rev. Holzhammer, an Episcopalian minister, started calling Hawkeye football and basketball in 1974, retired from Carver Hawkeye Arena in 1999, and called his last football game in the 2000 season. Holzhammer died in 2015.

“So, one time I stayed on the mic and the people loved it, staying on and announcing the fouls, enhancing…’three-pointer by Johanson,’ and so on. To me it’s about putting the right spin on a game; (you) don’t take away from the athletes, the athletes are the reason we’re all here, but if we can enhance that’s what we want to do.”

Ellis has a pregame routine for basketball, which involves checking with the opposing bench for proper pronunciations of their names. He also compiles information on each team’s record, any rankings (number one in Class 3A, for example). Football is a bit simpler in prep due to the large rosters of players vs. 12-15 for basketball.

“You get the starters’ names and we know the names of most of our kids, but the visitors, we’re going to miss on some of the pronunciations and you just live with it. I wouldn’t do that in basketball because it’s just too easy to fix it.”

While he’s a passionate Solon supporter, he’s not a ‘cheerleader,’ opting instead for respect and a welcoming environment for all who enter Spartan Stadium or the high school gym.

“You’ll never hear me get on the microphone like (a particular Mid-Prairie PA guy) who whispers the Solon starters and then brings out his own guys with a WWE wrestling fervor. I won’t do that. I try to give the visitors their respect and then let the actions on the field speak for themselves. I welcome the fans and make them feel like they’re part of it. Obviously I want the Spartans to kick tail and take names, but that’s not my job.”

For Ellis, calling the games is the farthest thing from a job.

“It’s fun. It’s a way to stay close to sports, I’ve been in sports my whole life. I certainly enjoy it and get to meet new families, you get to meet great guys like the guys in the press box (Kevin Miller, Scott Seagren, Scott Stiegelmeyer, Brad Kruse, and Jeff Sears) that really help me do my job with the spotting and helping out with tackles and giving the opportunity for people to hear their kid’s name.”

Eventually Ellis will pass the mic on to a new ‘voice,’ but it will be some time yet.

“I certainly enjoy it and as long as it remains fun and not a job I’m willing.”