Sam Wall | editor@ourvalley.org
Tim Worles has played organized sports for most of his life, and while in college, he became interested in the idea of commentating games as a way to stay involved.
Since graduating from Piedmont International University (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) and moving back to Radford to become the Associate Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, he has turned that idea into a reality. Worles, who graduated from Radford High School in 2012, said that when he played basketball for the Bobcats, he noticed that the games were no longer on the radio like they were when he was a kid.
That was still the case until November, when he talked his former teammate and longtime friend, Josh Smith, into commentating the boys team games over the radio.
Smith, who was a member of the 2011 state championship team with Worles, also came back to Radford after graduating from Emory & Henry, and is now the marketing director for the local Ameriprise Financial Services branch.
“If I’m not watching sports, I’m playing them. I’ve always thought it would be cool to be an analyst or have a sports talk show,” said Smith on why he decided to give commentating a shot.
After exploring a variety of options, Worles decided that using the website www.spreaker.com would be the easiest way to broadcast the games. For $500, they are given five hours of online radio time a day for an entire year.
Local businesses as well as private citizens who were intrigued by the idea donated the money for the broadcasting fee and equipment costs. Smith said that as the word has spread, more people have donated money, and they already have enough to cover next year’s fees as well.
Worles said that broadcasting the games has given him a sense of giving back to the community, and to his old team.
“I feel connected with the program again,” he said. “When I go to games, I want to be involved somehow. I’m not a good spectator.”
They broadcast all home games and away games when their schedules permit, traveling as far as Martinsville to call a game. The fans are not the only ones who have enjoyed the duo’s presence at the games this year.
Head Coach Rick Cormany, who is in his 23rd season with the team, said that he is thrilled to have two of his former players involved in the program again.
“Those two are as loyal as the day is long to Bobcats basketball,” he said. “As former players, they have great insight as to what is going on and what we are trying to do as a team.”
Senior forward Alante Doyle said that he has enjoyed the games being broadcast, and has even been interview for the pregame show.
“We haven’t had anything like that here, so it’s neat that they broadcast the games for the people that couldn’t make it,” he said. It feels great (for the team) that everybody supports us and wants to hear about us.”
The home games for the girls team are also broadcast on the channel by commentators Haley O’Brien and Michael Davis. Smith said that there is a possibility that spring sporting events may also be broadcast, but there are no concrete plans as of now.
Those interested can listen to the Bobcats Sports Live channel at www.spreaker.com/user/bobcatsportslive. To see what games will be broadcast, visit the Facebook page “Bobcats Sports Live.”