Legendary Bay Area P.A. Announcer for your San Jose Earthquakes and neighboring San Jose Sharks Danny Miller will be spending the next few weeks working several 2016 Olympic Field Hockey games in Rio. We managed to catch up with Miller during his busy schedule in Brazil to talk about how he was approached about the opportunity, what preparation has been for these games and what he plans to do during his downtime.
sjearthquakes.com: Danny Miller: announcer of 2016 Olympic field hockey in Rio. That has a nice ring to it. Has it had time to sink in yet?
Danny Miller: I had no idea what to expect from this very emotional journey up to this point. Getting the job offer a couple of months ago was one thing. “Getting on the flight to Brazil was another. We have had 5 days of rehearsal and have been dealing with technical issues at both hockey venues. However, nothing could have prepared me for the moment of the first game but I got to announce which was Argentina versus USA. My announcing partner Vinny, the Portuguese translator, said that he could hear the passion in my voice as I announced the anthem for the United States of America. I'm glad that came across, because I sure felt it! That's when it all sank in for me how real and exciting it is to be a part of the Olympic Games! It was a bonus that USA beat the heavily favored team Argentina!”
SJEQ: Explain how you were approached about the opportunity to work the 2016 Olympic games in Rio.
DM: “I received some emails back in January with an invitation to apply. The process involved reading scripts, sending the resume and filling out a lot of paperwork. It took several months for them to narrow down the applicants. In one of my final interviews, I was able to mention the Copa America Games that I got to be a part of at Levi's stadium. That, combined with my history with the Earthquakes and Sharks pretty much sealed the deal.”
SJEQ: What games will you be calling down in Rio? I’m sure your scheduled is packed in the next couple weeks.
DM: “I’m teamed up with a Portuguese announcer on Pitch 2 at the Hockey Center. We will call a minimum of two games a day for 8 days straight.”
SJEQ: Were you able to attend Friday night’s opening ceremonies?
DM: “Unfortunately, our entire announcing team was still working late Friday night along with the technical and video crews. We didn't even get to watch it on TV.”
SJEQ: What has work preparation been like for you ahead of the field hockey games?
DM: “My first day here consisted of a work shop with all venue producers and announcers. I thought there would be more announcers from the U.S., but there are only a few. The other days leading all the way up to opening day were long and very tiring! Twelve to 15 hour days of reviewing scripts, team lists and pronunciations, and timing with the broadcast teams and on site technical crews. In addition, there has been quite a bit of education on the sport itself. It's almost as if my Earthquakes and Sharks worlds have collided! Two teams of 11 trying to score hitting a ball with sticks. If a player is shown a caution card, they sit out for two minutes, or five depending on the severity. A red card will send the player off the field. I'm really enjoying the sport, and the pitches are amazing. I hope it comes across that way on TV.”
SJEQ: Whether it’s catching other Olympic events or taking in the sights, what are you most looking forward to while being down in Rio? Any plans?
DM: “I do have Wednesday evening off, so a group of us are planning on catching some beach volleyball. Our hotel is across the street from the volleyball stadium on Copacabana Beach. Also, before I head home, we're going to visit the Christ the Redeemer statue. I've heard the views are spectacular from up there so I'm hoping to get some great pictures. We've been coming in pretty late every night, but I’ve had a chance to walk up and down the beach and take in some of the night life here. The locals near the area couldn't be more friendly and excited. The Olympic vibe is amazing and they've done a really nice job with the venues that I've seen so far.”
