'Burger and a Six-Pack: Bob Hauer
Welcome to a new feature here at The Sports 'Burger where we ask local sportswriters, broadcasters, reporters, and those behind the scenes six informative and amusing questions.
Today we were fortunate and appreciative to catch up with Bob Hauer, the ubiquitous radio personality, PA announcer for the Hershey Bears, and in-game host for the Harrisburg Senators. Bob is one-half of WHP 580's Morning News team and also appears on the local, Allentown and Williamsport Clear Channel markets as well as being a frequent contributor nationally for Fox News Radio. Bob has spent his entire life in Central Pennsylvania as he was raised just outside of Shamokin and graduated from Susquehanna University. Bob is also the very proud father of two boys, Brodey and Cade.
You can like Bob's Facebook page here and follow him on Twitter here.
The Sports 'Burger: Has broadcasting been something you've wanted to do since you were younger? Were you that kid parading around the house using your hairbrush as a microphone?
Bob Hauer: True story: there is existing video footage from 3rd grade of me introducing myself doing news for Newswatch 16 (WNEP-TV). I loved the spotlight as a kid: being the PA announcer for little league baseball or at my high school for basketball games. I loved sports so much, too. I was fed my baby cereal from the bleachers watching my dad coach baseball. Sports and performing were so ingrained in me. There was a long stage in my life that I wanted to anchor SportsCenter, too. In the end, I knew where I was most comfortable: in the spotlight.
TSB: Aside from your regular duties on the network of Clear Channel stations, you are also quite the man for all seasons. You provide coverage of high school football for 1460 the Ticket, are a PA announcer for the Hershey Bears, and an in-game host for the Harrisburg Senators. Is this all part of your plan for global domination?
BH: HA! It's so easy to do what you love on a daily basis. I can honestly say it's been YEARS since I've "gone to work." Whether it's news or the Senators or the Bears, it's all such incredible fun. I count myself as lucky just to have the chance to do it all.
TSB: What sports did you play as you grew up and who were some of your athletic idols?
BH: I was a baseball kid from a very young age (see my comment about baby cereal.) I played 3B and outfield growing up through High School. I played lots of basketball, and some football. My dad coached both little league baseball and CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) basketball...and I buddied him through a lot of that. I played baseball in HS and coached 5th, 6th, and 7th graders in basketball with my dad. I honestly enjoyed teaching the game more than playing it. My dad is one of the main reasons that today, on top of all my responsibilities, I coach CYO High School basketball for Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Enola. There's true value in teaching the sport, how to play it right, and to use it as a mechanism to help young boys become good men.
Athletic idols, aside from my dad (he was no dynamic athlete, but after losing his arm to cancer at 19, he still affected so many lives through coaching...and could consistently knock down a jump shot from anywhere on the floor) I looked up to my cousin Steve, who won a PIAA state title for Lourdes Regional in the early 90s. My other (more national) idol would be Mickey Morandini. The guy played hard all the time...and I loved seeing him choke up so much on that bat. I own two Phillies jersey-shirts - one is for Antonio Bastardo (since I love the wordplay) and the other is Morandini's #12.
Bob between Ron Hornaday (L) and Kevin Harvick
TSB: Who do you have in a mascot fight...Coco or Rascal?
BH: A bear on skates who knows how to drop the gloves or something that crawled out of the Susquehanna River and thrives?!? WOW! Probably Coco in a split decision. Any interference from Grrrounder could sway that brouhaha.
TSB: Twenty years from now what recent Central PA sports story are you going to fondly remember the most?
BH: The passing of JoePa will forever be ingrained in my brain. To me, it's a true statement to one's legacy to emotionally connect to so many people without even meeting them. The other would be the night Strasburg debuted at home for the Senators. The crowd, the delays, the power outage, the pop that echoed through the park from the ball hitting the mitt. I don't think I'll ever personally witness anything like that ever again.
TSB: With what little free time you apparently have, what kind of hobbies and activities do you enjoy doing around the area?
BH: I love being a dad. On top of everything else I do to feed my ADD, taking Brodey to the park to play on the slide...or watching Cade take in his first...well, everything just blows my mind. I won the parent lottery as a kid and know how important the role of parent is. Some kids wanted to be a firefighter or an astronaut growing up. I wanted to be a husband and a father. My legacy will come in the form of who they are and what they accomplish...not what I ever personally achieve.
I'm an outdoors guy who will never turn down a quality microbrew.(I'm an avid mugclub member for ABC in Harrisburg.) Some of the charities that I invest the most time with are the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance, and the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank.
We here at The Sports 'Burger wish to again thank Bob for taking the time out of his busy schedule and cooperation on the interview.
Today we were fortunate and appreciative to catch up with Bob Hauer, the ubiquitous radio personality, PA announcer for the Hershey Bears, and in-game host for the Harrisburg Senators. Bob is one-half of WHP 580's Morning News team and also appears on the local, Allentown and Williamsport Clear Channel markets as well as being a frequent contributor nationally for Fox News Radio. Bob has spent his entire life in Central Pennsylvania as he was raised just outside of Shamokin and graduated from Susquehanna University. Bob is also the very proud father of two boys, Brodey and Cade.
You can like Bob's Facebook page here and follow him on Twitter here.
The Sports 'Burger: Has broadcasting been something you've wanted to do since you were younger? Were you that kid parading around the house using your hairbrush as a microphone?
Bob Hauer: True story: there is existing video footage from 3rd grade of me introducing myself doing news for Newswatch 16 (WNEP-TV). I loved the spotlight as a kid: being the PA announcer for little league baseball or at my high school for basketball games. I loved sports so much, too. I was fed my baby cereal from the bleachers watching my dad coach baseball. Sports and performing were so ingrained in me. There was a long stage in my life that I wanted to anchor SportsCenter, too. In the end, I knew where I was most comfortable: in the spotlight.
TSB: Aside from your regular duties on the network of Clear Channel stations, you are also quite the man for all seasons. You provide coverage of high school football for 1460 the Ticket, are a PA announcer for the Hershey Bears, and an in-game host for the Harrisburg Senators. Is this all part of your plan for global domination?
BH: HA! It's so easy to do what you love on a daily basis. I can honestly say it's been YEARS since I've "gone to work." Whether it's news or the Senators or the Bears, it's all such incredible fun. I count myself as lucky just to have the chance to do it all.
TSB: What sports did you play as you grew up and who were some of your athletic idols?
BH: I was a baseball kid from a very young age (see my comment about baby cereal.) I played 3B and outfield growing up through High School. I played lots of basketball, and some football. My dad coached both little league baseball and CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) basketball...and I buddied him through a lot of that. I played baseball in HS and coached 5th, 6th, and 7th graders in basketball with my dad. I honestly enjoyed teaching the game more than playing it. My dad is one of the main reasons that today, on top of all my responsibilities, I coach CYO High School basketball for Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Enola. There's true value in teaching the sport, how to play it right, and to use it as a mechanism to help young boys become good men.
Athletic idols, aside from my dad (he was no dynamic athlete, but after losing his arm to cancer at 19, he still affected so many lives through coaching...and could consistently knock down a jump shot from anywhere on the floor) I looked up to my cousin Steve, who won a PIAA state title for Lourdes Regional in the early 90s. My other (more national) idol would be Mickey Morandini. The guy played hard all the time...and I loved seeing him choke up so much on that bat. I own two Phillies jersey-shirts - one is for Antonio Bastardo (since I love the wordplay) and the other is Morandini's #12.
Bob between Ron Hornaday (L) and Kevin Harvick
TSB: Who do you have in a mascot fight...Coco or Rascal?
BH: A bear on skates who knows how to drop the gloves or something that crawled out of the Susquehanna River and thrives?!? WOW! Probably Coco in a split decision. Any interference from Grrrounder could sway that brouhaha.
TSB: Twenty years from now what recent Central PA sports story are you going to fondly remember the most?
BH: The passing of JoePa will forever be ingrained in my brain. To me, it's a true statement to one's legacy to emotionally connect to so many people without even meeting them. The other would be the night Strasburg debuted at home for the Senators. The crowd, the delays, the power outage, the pop that echoed through the park from the ball hitting the mitt. I don't think I'll ever personally witness anything like that ever again.
TSB: With what little free time you apparently have, what kind of hobbies and activities do you enjoy doing around the area?
BH: I love being a dad. On top of everything else I do to feed my ADD, taking Brodey to the park to play on the slide...or watching Cade take in his first...well, everything just blows my mind. I won the parent lottery as a kid and know how important the role of parent is. Some kids wanted to be a firefighter or an astronaut growing up. I wanted to be a husband and a father. My legacy will come in the form of who they are and what they accomplish...not what I ever personally achieve.
I'm an outdoors guy who will never turn down a quality microbrew.(I'm an avid mugclub member for ABC in Harrisburg.) Some of the charities that I invest the most time with are the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance, and the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank.
We here at The Sports 'Burger wish to again thank Bob for taking the time out of his busy schedule and cooperation on the interview.
Posted by Mick Reinhard at 2/22/2012 1:00 PM 
Categories: 'Burger and a Six-Pack
Tags: Bob Hauer Hershey Bears Harrisburg Senators Mickey Morandini Coco Rascal Joe Paterno Stephen Strasburg Brodey Cade Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank
Categories: 'Burger and a Six-Pack
Tags: Bob Hauer Hershey Bears Harrisburg Senators Mickey Morandini Coco Rascal Joe Paterno Stephen Strasburg Brodey Cade Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank
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