Below is a transcript of our conversation with CMU play-by-play announcer Adam Jaksa:
David Nicholas:
I'm David Nicholas, and this is Central Focus, a weekly look at research activity and innovative work from Central Michigan University's students and faculty. Adam Jaksa is all about sports. His uncle, a former longtime coach of CMU baseball. A CMU grad who cut his teeth in sports broadcasting, covering just about every team, In 2019, he stepped into the role of lead play-by-play announcer for CMU football and men's basketball. This summer, he got to call two innings of a Detroit Tigers game. I got to hear about that and the experience of working with the former voice of the Chippewas, the late Don Chido…
Adam Jaksa:
Wanted to help me get reps. So, basketball and football games and coaches shows, he would give me opportunities to host or do play-by-play for those. And that was something that I just was extremely grateful for. I mean, football reps are so difficult to come by when you're a student or you're just graduated. And then to get D1 football reps or D1 basketball reps, you know, that was something that I just, at the time, I was like, wait, you don't want to travel to Miami, Florida to call the football game against an ACC opponent in Miami, Florida? And he's like, nope, you go ahead and go. And I'm just like, what? So, it was part of him just being willing to give me opportunities, but also him being there to lean on and to grow from and really feel the connection that I now do have to be able to call games in the Don Chido home radio booth and to keep his legacy alive. I mean, he was the perfect person to look up for, to look up to and have that person that helped me out and made me feel comfortable in this industry as I grew and continued to try and get better at what I was doing.
DN:
What about that balance between the one calling the game and trying to keep your fandom somewhat in check for the home team, as it were?
AJ:
Yeah, it's a good question. It's something you wrestle about, like how, what style do you want to be? And I think it's just, it's personal preference. It's who you are. Like, I want my emotion to come out in the call because I grew up loving sports and that passion, that love for the game and what I remember as a kid, I want that out now. That's the reason that I do this. But I also hope that maybe there aren't just CMU fans that are listening. Maybe there are in terms of Michigan or Pitt or San Jose State, the three teams we played already, it's only fair for them if they are listening that we do our due diligence. We're doing the prep for both teams that we're getting excited for both teams. So obviously we're going to be more excited for CMU, but if San Jose State makes a great play or something like that happens, you're going to tip your cap and say, hey, that's a great football play. And it really depends on the medium, not to get too much into the nitty-gritty, but like I do our ESPN3 games. Those are a completely neutral broadcast. So, when Central Michigan basketball hosts Akron, I am getting excited for good basketball plays. When I'm on the radio on the CMU Chippewa Sports Network, I am the home broadcast option for Central Michigan against this weekend, Wagner. So, it depends on the medium, it depends how you're calling it, but if we're talking in terms of home broadcast, we're getting excited for CMU. We're not going to be a complete fan and unprofessional, but you'll definitely hear that we love the Chippewas, and we try and make it a nice listen for the opposing fans as well if they happen to fall upon our dial.
DN:
You've also said, and I don't think anyone would be too surprised, eventually you would want to be with a major league club, major league baseball. And you and Jesse had that chance to do that back earlier in this season. What about being in that atmosphere and you're out there with the major leaguers at that point?
AJ:
That was unreal. You know, those stupid moments where you're like, why is this aligning so perfectly? To get a chance to do that game with Zach McKinstry and Dietrich Ens, two guys that played for my uncle here at CMU that I called their games when I was a student or just graduated here. And then to do it at the park that, again, I grew up going with my dad was just incredible.
DN:
Congratulations on all of the achievements to date, certainly, and representing CMU as proudly as you do. And all the best as your career opportunities move forward from here. It's been a pleasure. Thanks for joining us.
AJ:
Appreciate it. Thanks so much for having me.
