The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 39

The Orlando Sentinel, Sunday, January 17, 1993 C-9 Lmm. 'Smm'mufammm'tm auin inn muMMr-wi i i fib -i' i fill TOM SPITZSENTINEL If David Steele, 39, isn't playing ping pong with his daughter, Betsy, Still no TV, but fans can 'see' Magic It vk and wife, Sally, he has his headset TOM SPITZSENTINEL point game." Steele works without a net or a color analyst. "We actually lucked out getting Dave," said John Cook, the Magic's director of broadcasting. "He's a total professional and one of the few in the NBA who can do it alone." Not entirely alone. At home, statistician Tracy Clayton sits next to Steele and litters his workplace with notes about everything from career free-throw shooting to a player's shoe size.

WDBO engineer Joe Kunaut sits ARE BALDING OR HAVE THINNING HAIR, on (left) providing listeners play by on the other side, working the board that assures Steele's voice will reach your home. Dennis Newman of WDBO also is at court-side at home and in the station's studio when Steele and the Magic are on the road. He handles much of the pregame, halftime and postgame shows. But for 2'2 hours per game, Steele's voice is the one you hear. His monologue is smooth to the point of sounding as if he had time to write his lines before saying them.

"It does require a tremendous amount of concentration," he said. "A psychologist told me that I'm probably in a near hypnotic state during games. It's not brain surgery, but it is hard work." Magic General Manager Pat Williams calls Steele "a pro's pro a stable guy in an unstable world." There's no secret to Steele's stability. It comes from the other and equally important part of his Life Sally, his wife, and Luke, Emily and Betsy, his children. "Far too many people connected with sports sacrifice too much of their family life," Steele said.

"I miss more than I like, but my family is never out of my mind or my heart." During the season, Steele's time at home is limited. He has tried to do a little baseball coaching for Luke, 14, but knows that won't last. That leaves time for some softball with Emily, 11, or board games with Betsy, 5. He and Sally will take on anyone at ping pong. Other than that, Steele likes to read "easy novels" and watch TV "Seinfield and, what else, basketball." When the Magic season is over, he attempts to play golf but says "as poorly as I play, you really can't call it enjoyment." "How did Skiles get to the foul line? The sneaky guy has pulled a fast one.

Catledge was fouled but Skiles is taking the shot and Skiles is an 88 percent free-throw shooter to the Cat's 65 percent There goes Ewing, block by O'Neal! The crowd is on its feet! There goes Ewing, Shaq blocks it again! The Magic have the momentum now!" His approach does not always please everyone. Admittedly, the players rarely hear his comments, but criticism always travels fast. "The only player to ever challenge me was Vernon Maxwell at Florida," Steele said. "He stopped me one day and said, 'I hear you're killing I said to him, 'Vernon, you're killing "Being critical of players is like dealing with your kids. You never say he or she is a bad child but that they did a bad thing.

In the same way, I never talk about a bad player but I will describe bad plays." "Green hasn't missed two free throws in a row all year ajid iww he's missed three in the fourth Afoul on Green and tliat's a big whistle right there. Illegal defense on iwiariHiliiiamwMw THEN PHELAN M. EBENHACK SENTINEL play for Orlando Magic games. on radio I AGE: 39. I BORN: Jacksonville.

GRADUATED: University of Georgia. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Sports director, WJHG-TV in Panama City; sports director, WLOS-TV in Asheville, N.C.; Football and basketball play-by-play announcer at Western Carolina; Network coordinator and play-byplay announcer for footballbasketball at Uni-versity of Florida. AWARDS: North Carolina "Sportscaster of the Year" in 1980; Florida "Sportscaster of the Year" in 1985 and 1988; former president of Florida Sportscasters Association. FAMILY: Wife, Sally; Children, Luke (14), Emily (11) and Betsy (5). Green, who was really in no-man's land, halfway between his man and double teaming." Listeners meaning to be complimentary often remark on "how objective" Steele is during his broadcasts.

That may not be true. Steele is paid by the Magic and his broadcasts are intended for Magic fans. Listening to him is like listening to an articulate, knowledgable Magic fan. Listen to Steele: On Shaquille O'Neal "He's special, not just as a player but as a personality. Look at his All-Star votes compared to Patrick Ewing, who is a great player without a personality." On coach Matt Guokas "Easiest guy in the world to work with.

He's been a broadcaster, so he understands what I have to do." On the Magic organization "A lot of players would love to be here. Heck, a lot of broadcasters would love to be here. Guys are always asking if I'm going anywhere." Well? There was a dramatic pause. "I don't think so. If there were network possibilities Well, any decision I ever make will be based on what's best for the family and the family is happy," he said.

So, are Magic fans sitting next to their radios and allowing David Steele to "see" the games for them? "Scott's 3-point shot is up and it's good! The Magic 95, the Knicks 94. The Magic have not had a lead since 38-37 in the second quarter for tliase of you old enough to remember. Shot by Ewing, rebound by O'Neal! That's it! An incredible win by the Magic! We'll be back in a moment The voice of the Magic took off his earphones, relaxed for the first time in 2 Mi hours and said, "Whew! What a game!" Then he grinned, a silent gesture the folks at home couldn't see. But chances are they were grinning, too. 1993 CHAMPIONSHIP Magic Radio Network play-by-play announcer David Steele provides insight into Magic games if not sight.

By Jerry Greene OF THE SENTINEL STAFF For some, an evening with the Orlando Magic recently is an evening without magic. Though not their fault, a number of Orlando Magic fans recently have been unable to see their favorite team on television. Worse, their plight may continue because the well-publicized standoff between CableVision of Central Florida and Sunshine Network shows no sign of ending. Many alternatives exist, although one of the best may not be considered by many because it requires some interactive imagination. "See" the games on radio.

You remember radio, those little TV sets without screens you use mostly as an alarm clock. Now you can use them to "see" the Magic. Let David Steele be your eyes. Steele, slender and greying at age 39, is there for you, every game and every play, home and away. He is the voice of the Magic Radio Network, which is picked up by 19 Florida stations, including Orlando's WDBO-AM (580 on the dial).

It's a recognizable voice, providing insight into Magic games if not sight. "Listeners must know they can believe what they hear," Steele said. "Why listen if you are not getting the truth?" "Tlie Knieks are really getting on the offensive boards. It's going to Ik a long night for the Magic if the Knicks rebound like that. The Magic are a frustrated group right now.

They have missed 10 consecutive shots and New York is on a 13-point run." The "cable war" between CV and Sunshine has upset Magic fans who expected to watch the recent homestand on CV. And the frustration will grow because Sunshine is scheduled to carry four more home games at the end of the month that will not be shown on CV unless a solution is reached quickly. Monday's rare afternoon game in Philadelphia was not scheduled to be televised by anyone locally, although sports bars might pick up the 76ers' telecast. The Magic return home for a game Friday night with the Miami Heat and the heat is bound to rise for frustrated CV subscribers if they cannot see the game. Regardless, Steele will be; there.

After seven years of serving as the fwtball and basketball voice for the University of Florida, Steele has been the voice of the Magic since the team's first game. "Since I began, knock on wood, I have not David Steele holding his daughter Betsy and flanked by wife Sally, daughter Emily and son Luke says, 'My family is never out of my mind or my missed a game or even a play," he said. "I came really close in 1981 at East Carolina State. I had the flu and was wishing the microphone cord would reach to the rest-room. "It was the fastest postgame show in the history of radio." "Good penetration by Nick Anderson, who flips it out to tie open Skilesfor two.

That's what they have to do against New York. Tlure's a block by Shaq, Catledge saves the ball by diving over the scorer's table! Good defensive wcrrk by the Magic and it's a two- IF YOU RECIQMLAIRPORT SFfllING THE ORLANDO I DAYTOHA AREA NATIONAL via cawronD'S CENTRAL FLORIDA FINALS KODLO ORLANDO ARENA "HAIR TRANSPLANTS FOR THE 2 1ST CENTURY" Brought To You By a. ID I 1 rvsy rum lltlDi), Sn SMI linU Jebrnan bth- Spin SI Xlltf, li'hrimrv 7lh 2pm EVENTS Bareback Bronc Riding Saddle Bronc Riding Steer Wrestling Calf Roping Team RoDlnn Xompn's Barrel Raclnn Bull .3 Riding Freehanded RODEO Clowns vs. Dreaded Mexican Fighting Bulls The Sons of Tennessee" (Nashville Recording Stars on Horseback Miss U.S.A Arena T0 County Boys Ramn BEFORE AnktuniputM. AFTER Host -Jerry Eden Sunday, WOFL Channel 35 9:30 A.M.

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