Two have degrees from the University of Southern California. Two broadcast Syracuse Chiefs baseball games. Two played Division I basketball. Two hold Master's degrees.
From the general manager of an area baseball team to two local TV anchors, the Capital Region has an array of talent bringing college basketball into area homes.
Grading them is a subjective process, but spend enough time in front of a television or next to a radio and you start to draw conclusions: Graduate school
-- Joe Castellano, Siena radio play-by-play. Baseball is his specialty -- he is the voice of the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, and he called the Olympic gold-medal game for Westwood One -- but he reduces the desire to have more Siena games on TV.
-- Doug Sherman, MAAC television. He, too, has done baseball, and his best work locally was his four years of Siena basketball on radio. He has made a smooth transition into television.
-- Rodger Wyland, UAlbany basketball. In some ways he is the opposite of Sherman, in that his strength probably is television and yet he is doing radio. Wyland gives his partner room to analyze, always vital in a two-man situation. Upperclassmen
-- Glenn Consor, MAAC television. His early days with Sherman, and before that with Barry Landers, were rough, but the former Boston University player has worked at his craft and offers information that enlightens viewers.
-- Charlie Voelker, UAlbany basketball. The Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs' GM has become solid at play-by-play -- which he does in Wyland's absence -- and passable as an analyst.
-- Ari Wolfe, St. Rose basketball. Not many listeners know much about Division II basketball, but Wolfe fills in that gap nicely. With St. Rose entering the Northeast-10 this year, we should expect more of the same. Underclassmen
-- Tom Huerter, Siena basketball. He had a hard act to follow in Marty Marbach, the former Canisius coach who was as good as this market has had (he left the area two years ago). Huerter makes pertinent comments, but he needs to make them more concisely.
-- Jacob VanRyn, St. Rose basketball. He just lacks experience, which he should gain this season. He also will do play-by-play on six St. Rose women's game. Like his broadcast partner Wolfe, he does his homework, which is the first step toward success for any broadcaster. FACTS:MAAC TV DOUG SHERMAN AGE: 34 BORN: Auburn COLLEGE: Syracuse '88 (broadcast journalism) CURRENT GIG: Fifth year, play-by-play, MAAC television FULL-TIME JOB: WRGB (Ch. 6) sports director OTHER ON-AIR WORK: Siena basketball radio (four years); Syracuse Chiefs baseball (two); WSYR Radio, Syracuse (one). LOCAL TIES: First job out of college was WPTR sports director; returned to area in August '95 to join WRGB THE SKINNY: His delivery is as polished as anyone's; voice isn't deep, but he enunciates carefully. GLENN CONSOR AGE: 42 BORN: New York City COLLEGE: Boston U. '80 (special education) CURRENT GIG: Seventh year, analyst, MAAC television
FULL-TIME JOB: Medical sales, Baltimore/Washington/Virginia area
OTHER ON-AIR WORK: Westwood One/CBS radio national game of the week; Big East network TV; Boston U. games; ESPN regional games (all current) LOCAL TIES: None THE SKINNY: Grown into solid analyst; though living in Rockville, Md., New York and Boston accents occasionally slip in SIENA RADIO JOE CASTELLANO AGE: 38 BORN: Hac-kensack, N.J. COLLEGE: Southern Cal '84 (broadcast journalism) CURRENT GIG: Third year, play-by-play, Siena FULL-TIME JOB: Broadcasting; keeps stats for CBS football games on weekends OTHER ON-AIR WORK: Syracuse Chiefs baseball (one year); Rancho Cucamonga Padres baseball (two); Bend Rockies baseball (one); Geneva Cubs baseball (one). LOCAL TIES: Full-time resident; wife, the former Regina Gallucci, native of Glens Falls. THE SKINNY: Brings a big-time presence to a mid-major program; probably needs to corral his analyst occasionally.
TOM HUERTER AGE: 31 BORN: Schenectady COLLEGE: Siena '91 (finance) CURRENT GIG: Third year, analyst, Siena FULL-TIME JOB: Vice president, marketing and sales, Smith Industries, Mechanicville OTHER ON-AIR WORK: None LOCAL TIES: Area native; Burnt Hills graduate ('87); three-year starter for Siena THE SKINNY: Provides valid insight; needs to make points more quickly and to remove focus from the referees ST. ROSE RADIO ARI WOLFE AGE: 29 BORN: Philadelphia
COLLEGE: Emory '93 (history); Southern Cal '97 (master's in broadcast journalism) CURRENT GIG: Fourth year, play-by-play, St. Rose FULL-TIME JOB: Broadcasting OTHER ON-AIR WORK: Albany Firebirds (three years); Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs baseball (one); Massachusetts Mad Dogs baseball (one); L.A. Summer League basketball (one) LOCAL TIES: None THE SKINNY: Great voice, good technical skills; at times wordy, not allowing analyst to speak or audience to breathe JACOB VanRYN
AGE: 23BORN: Voorheesville COLLEGE: Colgate '99 (sociology, education); Boston U. '00 (master's in broadcast journalism) CURRENT GIG: First year, analyst, St. Rose FULL-TIME JOB: Finishing master's; intern at Fox Sports Net New England (on-air promotions) OTHER ON-AIR WORK: Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs (two years); Colgate men's basketball, football, hockey (three) LOCAL TIES: Area native; Voorheesville graduate ('95) THE SKINNY: Well-prepared; lacks polished voice inflection UALBANY RADIO RODGER WYLAND AGE: 39 BORN: Altoona, Pa. COLLEGE: Penn State '83 (journalism broadcasting) CURRENT GIG: Seventh year, play-by-play, UAlbany FULL-TIME JOB: WNYT (Ch. 13) sports anchor; ``Big Board Radio Sports Talk'' host OTHER ON-AIR WORK: Siena basketball radio (two years); Penn State basketball, gymnastics, wrestling TV (three years) LOCAL TIES: None THE SKINNY: Relaxed, confident delivery allows analysts room to talk; needs to be more descriptive for radio CHARLIE VOELKER AGE: 36 BORN: Garden City, L.I. COLLEGE: Albany '87 (communications) CURRENT GIG: Fifth year, play-by-play/analyst, UAlbany FULL-TIME JOB: Vice president and general manager, Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs OTHER ON-AIR WORK: Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs (one year); St. Rose basketball (three); weekend news at WOKO (later WGNA) in Albany
LOCAL TIES: Stayed in area after college THE SKINNY: Better suited for play-by-play (which he does in Wyland's absence); analysis lacks insight that might come from former player Pete Dougherty's TV/Radio column usually is published Sundays. He can be reached by calling (518) 454-5416 or by e-mail at pdougherty@timesunion.com.
