This past week, the accolades finally rolled in for the longtime “Voice of the Roughriders” Scooter Chapman.
Chapman hadn’t been doing play-by-play on KONP since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. At first, it was because all prep sports were completely shut down for nearly a year.
Then, when prep sports somewhat returned during the winter of 2021, Chapman wasn’t back at the games broadcasting.
It really felt awkward at the Port Angeles football games this fall sitting in the Scooter Chapman Press Box at Civic Field with no Scooter broadcasting the games. Talk about a big void. Everyone in the press box felt it.
Many a night I listened to Scooter calling some big basketball or football road game in Poulsbo or Bremerton, taking notes because I couldn’t attend the game. I’ve missed being able to do that the past 13 months.
It seemed much too quiet of an end to a legendary broadcasting career. That’s why I was so glad to see Scooter honored during the past couple of weeks by KONP and then television segments on KING-TV and KOMO-TV in Seattle and then an excellent column by Larry Stone of The Seattle Times. A resolution was passed by the State Legislature honoring Scooter.
After 70 years and more than 2,000 Port Angeles games called and being in more halls of fame than I can remember, that’s the retirement that Scooter deserved. I can only hope to get a cake when I retire.
I’ve bounced all around the West Coast and Rocky Mountains my whole career. Four years in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., eight years in Friday Harbor, two short stints in Oregon, 12 years in Montana, now in my sixth year in Port Angeles. It’s actually considered a normal career in newspapers. Papers shrink, people are laid off, better-paying jobs can be found over the horizon, etc. My career is actually a lot more stable than some newspaper people I’ve known.
So, 70 years writing and broadcasting in one community? That’s truly amazing. It has to be a record, not only in Washington, but nationally. I won’t come remotely close to that accomplishment. Honestly, I plan to hit Social Security age and quickly buy a camper and travel though Canada and the U.S. Making deadlines is too brutal on my blood pressure.
We’ll still see Scooter around, emceeing events and games. He doesn’t plan on disappearing any time soon.
Scooter’s catbird seat high above the Port Angeles basketball court remains. I’m afraid to climb up to that thing, frankly. I hope to see someone up there broadcasting soon.
I’m glad to see that KONP is looking to bring back the play-by-play of games, beginning with regional and state basketball playoff games. More and more high school games are being streamed online, which is hugely helpful — and was particularly helpful during the height of the pandemic, when infection rates were so high. But, there’s something special and a little magical about hearing a voice over the air talking you through a game and finding ways to help you imagine what’s happening.
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Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be contacted at plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.
