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Back in 2004, Dodger’s owner Frank McCourt made the unpopular decision to get rid of radio play-by-play announcer Ross Porter. Porter had been on the job for 28 years, and considering he had to work with color commentator Rick Monday since 1993 he should’ve gotten hazard pay.
Porter was by no means as eloquent and compelling as Vin Scully. With a few exceptions no one can enter the realm of Vin Scully. But Porter did a good job, and for those of us commuting during a Dodger game he was always very entertaining to listen to.
Since his release after the 2004 season, Porter inexplicably had not gotten a job. That is until today’s announcement via Dodger Thoughts.
Beginning October 1, "Real Sports Heroes with Ross Porter," 90-second vignettes produced and narrated by Porter, will air every weekday afternoon on KLAC [AM 570] at 5:25.
The segments will focus on positive role models in the sports world.
"There are people in sports who are doing positive things, and we want to focus on them," Porter said in a press release. "I think the public is craving for good news. We have been very fortunate in finding some fantastic and inspirational stories."
It's not a play-by-play job and we still have to be forced to listen to Rick Monday, but at least we get to hear his voice once again on the public airwaves.
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I whole-heartedly applaud this move. Porter had his detractors when he was doing play-by-play, but he is miles ahead of the current crop of craptastic creatures that sit behind the Dodger mics (except you Vinny. You're OK in my book). Rick Monday won't tell you the score, Jerry Reuss doesn't talk much (mostly because Monday won't let him), and Charlie Steiner and Steve 'Pshyco' Lyons are just not Dodgers. Oh, and they suck. Hard. Fire everyone, except Vinny. Re-hire Porter and, for good measure, hire A. Martinez. Something tells me he's being underused as the Coca-Cola trivia guy.
not being a big vin fan, i always enjoyed ross porter's commentary even though it was a little stat laden. but hey, i enjoy statistics. that's part of being a baseball fan. i was very sad when don drysdale died as his no holds barred commentary was a great counter to vin's folksy reporting which rarely deals with the game being played. one of the best things i had seen in a long time was a roundtable with vin, ross and believe it or not rick after the season ended a few years ago. they all played off eachother brilliantly and the collective baseball experience was overwhelming. why the dodgers insist on solo broadcasting for vin is ridiculous. put ross back in the game, coach.