Gordie Wise article
Nov 11, 2007 7:49:55 GMT -5
Post by Doliboabros on Nov 11, 2007 7:49:55 GMT -5
Voice of Raiders will be softball hall-of-famer
By Marc Katz
Staff Writer
Sunday, November 11, 2007
FAIRBORN — Gordie Wise teaches marketing at Wright State University, where he is actually retired.
"I've been here since 1966," Wise said, "although I officially retired 14 years ago."
He also is well-known for being the public-address announcer at men's basketball games, something he has been doing since the school started a program 36 years ago. He also was WSU's faculty representative to the NCAA for 18 years.
What isn't as well-known is his association with the International Softball Congress, which named him to its Hall of Fame. The induction is next August in Kitchener, Ontario. Wise, 73, was a longtime player and administrator, yet he seemed surprised by his induction.
"Quite honestly, I simply don't think I am worthy of this honor," Wise said. "It is really a big thing in the ISC. Yeah, I am pretty much blown away by this development."
In his words
"I was also founding Commissioner of the Buckeye Classic Fastpitch Conference in 1984, director of marketing for the ISC from 1985-2000, ISC information officer and parliamentarian from 2001 to 2006 and was founder and general manager of the Piqua Fastballers from 1982-90, winning the ISC Ohio title in 1985 and ASA Ohio championship in 1986.
"I enjoyed the 20-plus years I spent as a mediocre left-handed pitcher, and, trust me, that career had nothing to do with this Hall of Fame recognition, although the last game I pitched was a 1-0 victory that won the WSU intramural championship. Jim Brown, who was a basketball coach here and now coaches at Northmont, was my catcher.
"This (WSU basketball) team looks like it has lots of promise, and I have all four freshmen (Kyle Pressley, Troy Tabler, Cooper Land and N'Gai Evans) in my class (Horizons in Business). I can tell you they do not miss a class and hand in weekly assignments. Last year I had John David Gardner (now a sophomore), and he was a very good student."
"I know a good question you could ask. How much do I get paid for announcing? Well, Don Mohr said he was doubling our (all the game workers) salary every year, and I'm guessing Mike Cusack is doing the same thing right now. That means we're getting nothing to do these jobs, but I love doing it."
"We played at old Stebbins High School, and I don't think anyone heard me, the PA system was so bad. But I've been doing it ever since."
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/11/10/ddn111107sportspeople.html
By Marc Katz
Staff Writer
Sunday, November 11, 2007
FAIRBORN — Gordie Wise teaches marketing at Wright State University, where he is actually retired.
"I've been here since 1966," Wise said, "although I officially retired 14 years ago."
He also is well-known for being the public-address announcer at men's basketball games, something he has been doing since the school started a program 36 years ago. He also was WSU's faculty representative to the NCAA for 18 years.
What isn't as well-known is his association with the International Softball Congress, which named him to its Hall of Fame. The induction is next August in Kitchener, Ontario. Wise, 73, was a longtime player and administrator, yet he seemed surprised by his induction.
"Quite honestly, I simply don't think I am worthy of this honor," Wise said. "It is really a big thing in the ISC. Yeah, I am pretty much blown away by this development."
In his words
"I was also founding Commissioner of the Buckeye Classic Fastpitch Conference in 1984, director of marketing for the ISC from 1985-2000, ISC information officer and parliamentarian from 2001 to 2006 and was founder and general manager of the Piqua Fastballers from 1982-90, winning the ISC Ohio title in 1985 and ASA Ohio championship in 1986.
"I enjoyed the 20-plus years I spent as a mediocre left-handed pitcher, and, trust me, that career had nothing to do with this Hall of Fame recognition, although the last game I pitched was a 1-0 victory that won the WSU intramural championship. Jim Brown, who was a basketball coach here and now coaches at Northmont, was my catcher.
"This (WSU basketball) team looks like it has lots of promise, and I have all four freshmen (Kyle Pressley, Troy Tabler, Cooper Land and N'Gai Evans) in my class (Horizons in Business). I can tell you they do not miss a class and hand in weekly assignments. Last year I had John David Gardner (now a sophomore), and he was a very good student."
"I know a good question you could ask. How much do I get paid for announcing? Well, Don Mohr said he was doubling our (all the game workers) salary every year, and I'm guessing Mike Cusack is doing the same thing right now. That means we're getting nothing to do these jobs, but I love doing it."
"We played at old Stebbins High School, and I don't think anyone heard me, the PA system was so bad. But I've been doing it ever since."
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/11/10/ddn111107sportspeople.html