By Paul Sykes
Paul Rogers, the play-by-play announcer for University of Louisville basketball and football, was among five people inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Sportmen’s Supper Club Thursday at the Wildwood Country Club.
Rogers has broadcast U of L sports for almost three decades, and has been voted “Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year” three times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. He also has called the Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup for both radio and television. The Associated Press has also honored Rogers on numerous occasions with the “Best Sportscast in Kentucky” award.
Rogers spoke glowingly of his association with the University of Louisville and for being paid for his lifelong passion with sports. He also paid tribute to his mentor, legendary sports announcer Cawood Ledford.
Joining him was Al Parrish, a long time U of L supporter, who was active in fund raising activities for Papa John’s Cardinal Football Stadium. He is also the founder of the Parrish House, located across the street from the stadium, which serves as headquarters for a large group of Cardinal fans.
Parrish closed the evening with an entertaining and revealing recap of his time as director of the Stadium Committee at UofL and incredible fund raising efforts for local high schools. He reminded the attendees that nothing should ever be considered impossible until all efforts were made to accomplish and complete the intended goal.
Other inductees included jockey Calvin Borel, golfer Kenny Perry, and George Sauer, a former Jefferson County coach and administrator. The Sportsmen’s Supper Club, which was formed 45 years ago and has a limited membership of 150, meets monthly at the Parrish House and Wildwood Country Club.
And a humble guy as well. Had the chance to meet him a few years back when UofL was playing the in the C-USA conference basketball tournament in Birmingham. We went to Dreamland BBQ several hours before the game and he was there with a few guys from the UofL SID department.
No airs, just a regular guy enjoying some ribs and talking Cardinal sports.
BTW, if you ever get to Birmingham…makle sure and visit Dreamland. Ribs so good they’ll make you want to slap your pet pig…
Congratulations to Paul Rogers on entering the Hall of Fame.
While Paul has been the Voice of the Cardinals for many years, I believe his really strong suit is calling Thoroughbred Racing. He’s one of the best in the country in that area. And there are three good reasons he is.
First, Paul loves horse racing and it shows in his work. He has just enough tension in his voice to let you know that he’s as excited as the fans are about what is about to happen. Some pros refer to this as “expectancy”. It;s even more important on radio than on TV.
Second he is a hard worker who is his own worst critic. He worked very hard to develop his own, clean, no gimmick style. He doesn’t try to imitate anyone else. Doesn’t use catch phrases or lingo to tyr to impress the listener..
Third, and maybe most important, he had one of the absolute finest as a tutor…none other than Caywood Ledford one of the best ever horse race announcers in America. Ledford, by the way ranked right up there with Win Elliot, Clem McCarthy and Dave Johnson.
So Paul gets a well-deserved award. But in my view he also deserves a network radio or TV assignment calling at least three horse races to a world wide audience…the Derby, the Belmont and the Preakness. That would be the cherry on the sundae of a fine career,
Paul Rogers is the man, period. No better play by play on radio out there.