Perched atop Sam Boyd Stadium in the spacious, air-conditioned Wells Fargo Tower press box, game announcer Dick Calvert remembers well a time when his “office” left a lot to be desired.
In the 1970s, the stadium’s press area was “a single-level shack somehow concocted from the top row of seats,” Calvert recalls. A railroad I-beam ran through the open-air viewing area. “That beam caused so many fits; we’d put foam on the corners, rubber, pieces of hose, everything we could think of. And without fail, we’d get caught up in a game, turn around for a stat sheet, and walk right into that beam. It still gives me nightmares.”
For more than 35 years, Calvert has been the voice of Rebel sports, calling more than 3,000 Rebel sporting events and working under every UNLV athletic director and all but two of its presidents. He’s become a well-respected announcer for his ability to play on the excitement of the crowd without stealing the spotlight from the players.
“I’ve learned how to use inflection to show my enthusiasm — maybe by the way I call a three-point goal or by the subtle inclusion of a nickname,” he says. “I’m able to be heard without being heard. The real show is on the playing field. I’m simply there to give the information necessary to make the game flow.”
Trademark Phrase
Though he tries not to steal the show once the game begins, Calvert’s trademark phrase “And now…” boosts the adrenaline of Rebel fans during player introductions. His unique introductions became the inspiration for the Chicago Bulls’ nowfamous pre-game montage.
“‘And now…’ is just one of those things that stuck. I’ll try out new things occasionally, and the crowd will let me know whether or not to continue,” says Calvert. “That phrase has become the cue for our elaborate introductions, a theme for the UNLV basketball media guide, and has even attracted attention from the (National Basketball Association). Not bad for a spur-of-themoment decision.”
Prepping for game time takes hours, he says. He pores over rosters and studies formations no matter which sport he is calling. Getting a player’s name right might sometimes require a personal visit before a game. It’s a lesson he learned from a Radio Hall of Fame broadcaster. “Vin Scully would never mispronounce an athlete’s name; attention to detail is the mark of a true professional,” he says.
Scully inspired Calvert to try announcing after playing and scouting for the Los Angeles Dodgers through the 1960s. His scouting territory brought him to UNLV, which in 1971 needed a basketball announcer. He got the job despite never having been in a basketball press box and a year later was asked to do football.
Beyond announcing nearly every home basketball and football game, Calvert has called some of the Thomas & Mack’s most significant sporting events. His most memorable was the game in which Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. “I still remember the play vividly,” says Calvert. “It was on a pass from Magic Johnson to Kareem on the right wing. It was fitting Kareem would break the record with his patented sky-hook.”
Calvert has called games for the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, and the NBA Summer League, and is one of the most experienced broadcasters of American professional soccer. But according to Calvert, nothing compares to the thrill of sitting behind the mic for a UNLV game — except maybe watching the action from the stands. He was just a fan for two of his most memorable games: the Runnin’ Rebels 1990 NCAA Championship game and the football team’s 1981 upset victory over BYU, which pitted UNLV quarterback Sam King against BYU’s Jim McMahon. “First and foremost, I’m a fan of college sports,” he says.
Miss Ann’s Husband
Inside the press box, Calvert calls the plays alongside his wife, Ann. “She is my biggest fan, and my biggest critic,” he says. “As a volunteer in the press box at football games and as a fervent supporter of UNLV athletics, Ann is probably more well known than I am. In fact, if someone doesn’t recognize me, I just tell them I’m Miss Ann’s husband.”
Though now officially retired from the UNLV athletics department, Calvert remains an active game announcer. In fact, he announced more than 200 UNLV sporting events in 2005, including baseball, softball, soccer, and volleyball.
“I had a courtside seat for the entire Tarkanian era, where I was able to watch a tiny school blossom into a national powerhouse,” he says. “It’s been great to call the highlights of countless star players, but I get just as much joy out of announcing the name of a senior reserve who worked his tail off for years to get the chance to play.”
