40 Years Behind the Rangers Broadcast | Dave Burchett | YDC Ep 241
In this episode of You’re Dark Companion, host Mike Rhyner sits down with legendary Texas Rangers TV director Dave Burchett, who spent over 37 years behind the scenes directing some of the most iconic moments in Rangers and Mavericks broadcast history. Dave shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories from the TV truck, including how he captured the infamous Jose Canseco head bounce on camera and what it was like directing the Rangers’ first division-clinching moment in 1996. The conversation also covers the future of regional sports broadcasting, the culture of teamwork that made the Rangers’ TV crew one of the best in Major League Baseball, and the “Geezerfest” lunch gatherings featuring Rangers legends like Jim Sundberg, Steve Busby, and Tom Grieve.
Chapters
00:00:00 – Introduction & Episode Open
Mike Rhyner kicks off episode 241 with a chaotic, energetic open before welcoming guest Dave Burchett.
00:02:19 – Meet Dave Burchett: Rangers TV Director
Dave Burchett explains his 37-year career directing Rangers baseball broadcasts and describes what it’s like inside the TV truck.
00:10:45 – How Dave Got Into Broadcasting
Dave traces his unlikely path from disc jockey in Ohio to NBA and MLB television director, including his first color analyst being John Wooden.
00:17:30 – Favorite Rangers Moments Behind the Camera
Dave and Mike Rhyner relive iconic broadcast moments including the 1996 pennant clinch, the Jose Canseco head ball, and David Hulse’s four consecutive foul balls into the Angels dugout.
00:26:30 – The Geezer Lunch Club
Mike Rhyner and Dave discuss their informal gatherings with Rangers legends including Jim Sundberg, Steve Busby, Tom Grieve, and Chuck Morgan.
00:31:51 – Mid-Show Announcements & Sponsor Reads
Mike Rhyner previews the upcoming Stan Lynch interview, promotes the Kessler show, and delivers a read for CBD House of Healing.
00:35:50 – Favorite Ballparks on the Road
Dave shares his favorite and least favorite stadiums to broadcast from, including Fenway, Wrigley, PNC Park, and Tropicana Field.
00:41:49 – Dave’s Books, Faith, and Son Scott Burchett
Dave discusses his bestselling faith-based book “Stay,” his leadership book with Clint Hurdle, and his son Scott’s rise to GM of the Frisco RoughRiders.
00:51:50 – The Future of Rangers TV Broadcasting
Dave and Mike Rhyner discuss the collapse of the regional sports network model and the promise of the Rangers Sports Network under Angie Swent.
00:54:09 – Show Wrap-Up & Stan Lynch Preview
Mike Rhyner thanks Dave Burchett and reminds listeners about the Wednesday Stan Lynch episode airing at 7PM.
Read Transcript
Nobody would have thought that I would be the Wanda. Ryder, sports talk. Baseball. Baseball. Baseball. Baseball. Baseball. Baseball. Oh, it's a big mic. Oh, okay. Alright. Yeah. Okay. Now I get it. We got a lightning strike, boys. What happened over there, Grego? We had a little lightning strike right outside the window. Alright. Alright. Here's a tip for all these Americano league teams. Don't what? You said tip. Yeah. Tip. Okay. With a p. I would Keep jamming. The the ticket colon, nothing but a big Gen X jerk off set. Is this a cool night or what? I know somebody would hear that go, bullshit. I'm back, bitches. So the show open is over? Yeah. Mhmm. And it's time to go. We are in show. That's what we are in show. You're telling me that we are we are now podcasting. We are. Alright. Live and in color. Well, if that's the case, hello to one and all. Certainly glad to see you here today even though I can't. I trust that you're out there. I hope you're out there because it's kinda the only way this thing stays going. You know? True. But, yes, we are here inside the nurturing biosphere of the mothership on this, which is the Thirteenth. July 13. And this is episode number which? 241. Mhmm. Number 241. Wow. We are steaming toward 02:50. Woah. Woah was right. I can count on one hand the number of things that I've done 250 times in my life. I don't wanna think about most of those. Yeah. I don't either really. Stay married a time or two. Oh, nice. Fall into that. But months, though. Minutes. How about that? Alright. Today is gonna be Geezerfest up in here because, I fall under that heading and so does our guest, but he proudly owns up to it, as do I. Yep. He is the great, and I do mean great, Dave Burchette. Yeah. Wow. Now you may not know the name, but you have seen the work. If you have seen Rangers baseball anytime over the last how many years? Forty plus. Forty plus years, you have seen his work. Now I would think you probably got a little Mavericks basketball mixed in there too. I did. That's why I came to Dallas in the first place. Oh, really? When the Mavericks started in 1980, they hired Paul Phipps to come here. Norm St. Jude hired him. And I was working for Paul Phipps in California, and he brought me here in 1980. I moved to Texas in 1980 from California thinking I'm gonna be here for about three years and then I'll move on in my career. I'm still here. Yeah. You are still here. Still here. Yeah. Love it here. You are well, it loves you too. Oh, thank you. It loves you back. Alright. Now, you are kind of a behind the scenes figure, albeit a very, very important one with lots of clout and lots of influence on what we see when we sit down to watch Rangers baseball, too. So explain to everybody exactly what it is you're doing. Well, I'm a director, and people ask me, you know, there's a couple ways to describe it. Being a director is a little bit like being the quarterback because all the live action is your responsibility. The the producer is more like the coach. He comes up with a game plan but all the execution is the director. So, in front of me, people come in the TV truck and they're blown away. There's like like maybe a 100 TV screens Yes. In front of you. And and there's like a 20 now, 20 something cameras on a Ranger game that you look at. And so you're looking at all those cameras and you select each camera that whatever is on the air, the director selects. So, if something is missed, it's the director's fault. But typically, that that's what I do and I loved it. I just absolutely love it. You know, I did it for thirty seven years a lot and then about six years ago I stepped away for grandkids and just getting older. Sure. And, so now I occasionally will still pinch it, but, not very often. Not very often. Not very often. You like grandkids? Oh my goodness. I love them. I like grandkids too. It's like the best thing ever. It really is. Yeah. It is. That's why I tell my sons. That's why we had you to that someday we would get the grandkids. They did not they don't find me humorous at all. But Everyone else thinks it's funny. So I like that. I'm number two forty one. Yes, sir. Wow. I didn't expect to be that high on the list. That's that's amazing. You are. Yeah. Today, you're at the top of the list. Yeah. Till Wednesday anyway. Yep. Really. Oh, man. Now how many cameras do you guys have at a do they generally have at a given day at a given game? Yeah. It's it's at the hulk games, it's 20 plus. And some of them are not cameras that you're gonna use for live shots, but like the dirt cam. You know, they now have the dirt cam that's really, really good. You could take it live, but but you're generally not gonna do that. You have the, the the the wire cam that floats along at the top. But so, basically, you have about 12 to 13 cameras that are covering the primary action. And so the thing about directing a a sporting event is you have to be thinking what your next camera shot is. Right. And a lot of times, you know, the something maybe a crowd shot or something and there'll be something happening and they go, why didn't the director see that? Why didn't they see that that person was doing something obscene obscene? And you go, well, that's because the director's looking at the next shot. And somebody behind you has to go get off that. But, yeah, you're you're thinking of the next shot. So you have to be thinking that, you know, with, let's say, runners at, second and third, you have to have this camera's gonna round the runner, this one's gonna score it. Mhmm. You know, all these things are gonna happen and different reaction shots. So, all those need to be planned and then you're ready to go. How many people are in the truck with you? In the truck in my little space, you have the technical director who is the most important person in the truck. Yes. They punch the buttons and sometimes they cover for the director. They punch the camera that he meant to say, but perhaps didn't say. And Kevin Lewis, is our primary TD here is one of the best ever. This person has to sort of think along with you. It's unbelievable. And they I mean, all the things, all these effects, these flying things, replays, you know, all these just dynamic things that happen on the broadcast, technical directors doing all this. All I'm doing is yakking, just talking kind of like you do. But so I'm just Except you're talking about important stuff. I'm not. And the technical director. So he's next to me at the Rangers. He's on my right. To my left is the producer. Patrick Modroski is is a current one. He's fantastic. We love P Mo over here. He he's fantastic. And then behind me, have the graphics people. Generally, it's Eric Josephson and then you have the graphics operator. Then you have the person that does the score bug also in that space. Then in the other room, you have the tape operators. It's not tape anymore, digital. We still call it a tape room because we haven't figured out what else to call it. Mhmm. We still call it the tape room. And you have three or four in there. You have two video guys, a really underrated part of the broadcast because you have 20 cameras and the good great video that we have, they all match. So every shot matches. All the grass matches. All the faces match. Like all the colors you're saying. All the colors. Yeah. All the shading. It's fantastic. Then you have audio, which is incredible again at the Rangers. Tim I think his name is Tim Record. I only know him as Toast. Yes. Yes. We all know him as that his actual name? I think that might be his actual name. What do you call him Toast? That's his nickname. Yeah. Yeah. And then we have two of the best engineers. So I'm telling you, I have, I'm not saying this because I want them to pat me on the back. They truly are, if not the best crew in Major League Baseball, their top three, and I think they're the best. And I hope Ranger fans, you probably it's hard to realize how blessed you are to have a crew like this, a camera crew like that, audio, video, replay, technical director, somewhat decent directors. It's just amazing what they can do. I believe it. And and Ranger fans are very, very lucky. Yeah. Because there have been a few times when I, for one reason or another, have worked my way inside the truck and seen all of this come down. And, man, it is a very, very high level of focus, a very, very high level of of near chaos a lot of the times. A hell of a lot communication. Hell of lot of communication. A lot of people talking to each other. A lot of people talking over each other. But inside, they all know what each other's doing. They all know what each other's saying, and they're very, very, very calm considering the level of of intensity in there. You know? Kinda feel anxiety when they come in the truck and they see all this and then when this is it's kinda like air traffic control, you know, with all this going on. The good thing is that generally no one's going to crash. Generally. Yeah. Generally. Occasionally, a Ranger season may but Well, as far as have no control over that. No. No. There is no control over that. So how did you get into this, man? Man, how much time do you have? Lots. How much you need? I Yeah. However much you need to tell your story. Well, you'll be somewhat related to this. I started out as a disc jockey in Chillicothe, Ohio. And I loved being a disc jockey. That's what I wanted to be. And I enjoyed radio. I was at a small radio station that let me be creative. I had so much fun. And then Harry Chapin came out with that song W O L D. Yes. And I thought, I don't know if I want to do this or not. So I kind of changed my career direction and I went into more sports sportscasting. I I went to an organization called athletes in action and I did radio and TV for them. And I actually did play by play back then. Oh, really? Yeah. I did play by play and I did television for Athletes in Action. And this is my one claim to fame. So, be prepared. My first color analyst, John Wooden. Yes. Is that incredible? Had just retired. So he, I'm sitting next to John Wooden and he's he's the color analyst. It was unbelievable. And I I gotta tell you a very quick little story here is we went to pick him up. We're all poor. And so we picked him up in this beat up old Toyota at the airport. Two of us picked him up. And so I start to climb in the back seat and John Wooden says, no no no. You're too tall. I'm six five. He said, you're too tall. And I said, no. No. No, sir. I'll get no. He said, no. I'm getting in the back seat. So the Hall of Fame coach and the Hall of Fame player gets in the back seat so that I'll have more leg room. That's who that man was. So and I tell that story lots of people will let me have the front seat. So, anyhow. It works. It works. Yeah. It really does. But, you know, so I I was doing this play by play and kind of developing and doing production. And so when the Mavericks started, they brought me here not to do play by play, but to do, you know, different things like the scoreboard stuff Mhmm. And a lot of the creative stuff for the Mavericks. Now what was your hookup with them? It was again through Paul Phipps who my boss with athletes in action. And he came Ron Sangio hired him. I don't know how they met. He would be a good podcast guest sometime. But he hired Paul and Paul brought me. And so I'm doing all this scoreboard stuff and so forth. So they started asking me to go produce the the television broadcast. So I would go and produce them and kinda make sure that, you know, all got happened with Mark Holtz and and incredible talent back back then. And we would hire local directors. We didn't hire them then. We didn't travel them. And so I we come back every once in a while, and the director just wasn't very good that we picked up locally. And so I came back one time and I sat down with Paul Phipps and I said, the director we hired there was awful. And he goes, well, okay. Next time you direct. I go, no. I've never done it. And he goes, yeah, you're gonna do it. And I go, no. And he goes, yeah. I said, well, what if it's a disaster? He said, we won't tell anyone. We'll just say we hired a bad director. And I said, well, that'll be true. That will be true. See, he saw something in you. He did. I'm telling you, he saw abilities that I would never have recognized in myself. So, I went, I survived, actually liked it. And so, I started directing. And here's what, because I had zero experience as a as a director, I learned to depend so much on my crew and in creating this team atmosphere that I need you to be a part of this and we're a team and that it really helped me that later when I actually figured out what I was doing. I kept that that philosophy going. And we're all a part of this. You know, when a mistake happens, it's no one gets blamed. It just it's live television. I don't know if any of you've ever made a mistake on a live broadcast before ever. Never. Never. Well, you're pretty unique. I do Bobby. But it's live television. So mistakes are going to happen. So we would have a mistake on a broadcast and so I would say, and I would see a camera guy or someone beating themselves up. And so I would say, okay, groups is unhappy. Who made that mistake? And someone totally unrelated to it would say it was my fault. Okay, it was that guy's fault. Now we can move on. Everybody laughs, everybody relaxes, and they don't get tense. So anyhow, I started doing Mavericks. Really love that. Enjoyed it a lot. Who's on the broadcast back there? I can't remember exactly. Oh, boy. It was Alan Stone. Okay. Yeah. Alan Stone was a a play by play guy. And, oh my goodness, I just had a senior moment on the current analyst. But, yeah, Alan Stone was a guy. And and so I so I'm doing the Mavericks and working with Mark Holtz initially. Older people remember he was a legend. One of the best ever. And then, he switched over to the Rangers. Yeah. Which I was very unhappy about. They left the Mavericks because I loved him. And so he's at the Rangers. The Rangers And what I under what I've always been told, maybe you know something different, was the way they got him down here was to promise him that next year, you will do the rangers. Oh, I didn't know that. And that that first year, they had him do mavericks, and he he did great at that. But they'd they'd made the promise to him that we'll get you on the rangers as soon as we can, and that'll go next year. Well, I wish I'd known that back then. I would have tried to sabotage that. But maybe maybe maybe I shouldn't. I'll tell you the rest of the story. So he's doing Rangers, and that at that point, the city of Arlington was hiring the the directors for the the broadcast. And so they needed to hire someone. So Mark Holt says, well, how about Dave Burgett? Well, I had now done like a year of NBA, couple years of NBA. I had never done baseball. So, the Rangers hired me to do baseball. I'd never done baseball. So, I'm telling you, when people say, how did you become a TV director? I'd say, you don't wanna follow my story. It's it's not a normal path. I just just, you know, was really blessed. But it worked. It did work. It did work. And I did both Rangers and Mavericks for a lot of years. And then finally I had to make a choice. And as much as I love the Mavericks, I'm going, okay. The Rangers, I can do a lot of games, make a little more money. And, so switched over to the Rangers and, yeah. So. What's your favorite Ranger moment of all time? Oh my goodness. Were you in the truck in in 2023? No. No. That was pass I I basically stepped away in '20, '17. So occasionally again, will pinch hit. But I would say, honestly, it probably goes way back to 1996 when they won the first pennant. Mhmm. And it was such a weird experience because if you remember, the Rangers clinched the pennant when they were in extra innings because Oakland, I think Yeah. Somebody else lost. Yeah. Somebody else lost. So we're still in extra innings. The score goes up that now the Rangers have clenched and they go, what do we do? Yeah. Do we celebrate? The game's still going on. It's still going on. Clinched. And I I think the Rangers wound up losing that game that night. And and if you want to have a fun moment, go to YouTube and and type up that moment of 1996. Mark Holtz's call of that moment was incredible. And so afterwards, life was different back then. So afterwards, I went down into the clubhouse because we're allowed to do that kind of stuff back then. And, as soon as I walked into the clubhouse, Mark McLemore poured beer and champagne all over me. So now I'm after this driving forty five minutes to home thinking I have got to drive perfectly. Because if I get pulled over You didn't buy it. You'll never get out of I'll never get out of this. So, yeah. That and you know the other one that's that's, a favorite moment that's just kind of unique is I was directing the game when the ball was bounced off Jose Canseco's head Yes. Had became a home run. And that will probably be one of the all time baseball blooper classics. Oh, absolutely. And, again, if I can tell you the story of that, we're in Cleveland, and it's the last game of the series. And I had my center back then okay. This is back then. We had four cameras, sometimes five. We had a lot of money. We had two tape machines, two replay machines, and they were not digital. So if I paused one for replays, I only had one going. And if I paused two for a replay, you didn't record anything, we'd miss it. So that was life back then. So my center field camera guy for three days is going, I get great stuff, man. You need to ISO me. And I'm going, dude, I I I know you are, but we only have two tape machines and our standard thing is to ISO center field and and high home to get pitch and hit, and then an ISO camera in case there's a great play. Mhmm. And I said, I I I know. I and I finally at the last day I said, okay. I've forgotten his name now, but said, okay guys, said all of my camera group. Say hit this groups. Say I'm finally gonna get groups to shut up. We're gonna ISO his camera. Okay. We're gonna ISO his camera. Two innings later, that camera is ISO'd with center field when the ball bounces off of Jose Canseco's head, and it's the perfect angle. He's got the angle hitting off his head, bouncing over. Kaseko with that stunned look on his face. David Hoss over there cracking up. And we had this amazing replay, and people go, man, you were did a great job of directing. I go, not really. I just did happen to listen to a crew member and I got lucky. And so much in live television, those moments like that, is you just get lucky. And I still love that that was Norm on the call for it, right? Saying doink. Yeah. That's a boink. Yeah. Yeah. And you know, another, David Hall speaking of him, if y'all, recall, and this is another good YouTube thing. He had the four consecutive foul balls in LA on October 3. Last game of the season. We just want to get on the airplane and go home. And so this is what you never know when you're going to have a once in a lifetime moment in a game you never expected. So David Hulse drills a line drive in the far corner of the Angels dugout. There are two guys there and they kind of panic and they kind of, you know, react a little bit. The next pitch, boom, line drive exactly the same place. Policeman gets up, was there, starts waving a white flag. One guy goes down, gets a glove, comes back down to the corner. Third pitch, boom, line drive, same spot. They all get up and just start walking out of the dugout all the way toward the clubhouse. So now the entire right side of the dugout is empty, and you've got 20 guys all bunched up together on the left side. And the fourth pitch, boom, same place. So by now, David Hollis is laughing. And and the crew is just like and then the the Angels players are all just waving and laughing. And it was Steve Busby and Jim Sundberg. And, again, that's another moment that's worth watching. It was so incredible. Yeah. The thing I remember most about that is Hulse laughing. Uh-huh. He was laughing out in center field when the ball bounced off his head too. Well, he had he had the two most unique moments of my career of thirty seven years as David Halls. Yeah. He's a unique guy. Yeah. Yep. Saw him just a couple weeks ago. Really? Oh, did you? Yeah. How's he doing? He's doing okay. Showed up at the petty theft show in Tolbert's. Woah. Yeah. He's probably looking a bit older now. You'll recognize him, I promise. Would I? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Cool. Yeah. Still looks good. He's still the incredible hulse. I like it. I like it. Oh, man. But god. I remember both of those things. The the fouls of the dugout and the Consego thing and and all those great moments that the rangers have had. Yeah. Yeah. I also had that special moment in Rugnetto Dore punched out was it Batista? Yep. Joey Bats. Yeah. And so again, just another routine game and we just happened to have the ISO of the the turn. So now when you look at the replay of that, we had, super slow mo of the punch. So could do. And so I've said to Kurt Teichard, our producer, do we replay this? He goes, yeah. I think we have to. We replayed a super slow bow of the perfect angle of one of the most incredible punches I've ever Just incredible camera work. Oh, well, that's again, our camera guys are are just incredible. Man, it's it's amazing the way they've kept that up over the years through all the different outfits, Fox Sports Southwest Right. HSE, even going back to them where you were around when HSE Yes. I was. Weren't you? Yeah. Okay. Just through through it all, the Rangers have always turned out a great TV show. Yeah. Yeah. Well, thank you. I I agree with that. And I, again, I I really give the credit to the crew. We've just this we're just blessed. Well, you know, I know a lot of those guys, and I've chatted with them about what they do a good bit. And I don't know if you know this or not, but they heap mounds of credit on you. They love you, man. Oh, thank you. Thank you. Well, I, you know, I think of the thing that I wanted to create when I started out, the television industry was a little bit of a kind of a boss thing where the producers and directors would be kind of aggressive and and yell a lot and kind of demean people that made mistakes, and I didn't like that. So I came in with a we're in this together. And one of the things that I would do is instead of saying you absolutely have to just do this and this and this and this for your camera shots, I would say this is the basic things I need from you but I want you to have some flexibility. And if you see something that you need to shoot, shoot it. Show me. Because I'm blind in the truck. You're the one that can see things out there with your camera lens. So we kind of created that up and they felt like they were a part of the broadcast. Yeah. Wasn't just us directing them, but they were a part of the team. That's what I always used to like to do too. I used to like to include everybody and make everybody feel like they were a part of things no matter what they were doing or how they may have been involved or tangentially involved or whatever. If you were on our show, to me, you were a part of it, and you were important. You mattered. Absolutely. You know? Absolutely. I love that. I mean and I don't, frankly, I don't understand why more leaders don't understand that philosophy because to me, it just is common sense. Shall we talk about the geezer launch? Sure. Alright. Dave and I are both part of this. Now when you hear who else is involved in this, you'll look at me and go, okay. How'd you get into this exactly? He invited himself. Yeah. Yeah. Classic. That's pretty much it. Typical rhymes. But he and I and, let's see. Jim Sundberg goes. Steve Busby Mhmm. Goes. Who are some of the others that Kurt Dikert. Yeah. Kurt Dikert has gone before. Mhmm. And all the guys who have been or former players that have been involved in in the TV scene. Tom Greave. Yeah. Tom Greave is another. Yep. And we just had a guess last time. Chuck Morgan. Yes. That's right. For the first time, Chuck Morgan made it. I was not the junior geezer out there for once. And as you know, you leave there going these stories. Oh. It's just like it just fills up your heart and you just leave there just so happy hearing the stories. Tom Greave and Steve Busby and Jim Sunberg. We heard a Jim Sunberg story that we probably can't share. He'd probably be very mad at us. But if you want to get in the privately groups, I could tell you. Oh, I absolutely will. As soon as the show's over, I'm asking you about No, it's going to require lunch. Fair enough. I'll take you to Chili's. Yeah. The last word in geezer lunch is lunch. That's right. Fair enough. Yeah. Wait. He qualifies for a geezer lunch? Oh, no. No. No. He's This is separate thing. He's on he's on his way, but Yeah. He's got he's got a time, hopefully. Yeah. He's got a ways to go yet. And to to clarify, you know, Ryan's kinda did say, hey. I'd like to join you, but it was a unanimous vote for you to be join us. So Congratulations. Well, believe me, at these get togethers, I have nothing to add because they're telling stories about, you know, back in the day and guys they played with, managers, guys they played against, game situations, and stuff like that. And while I may remember my fair share of them, I just don't have much to add, but that's okay. I'm there to listen, and I'm I'm there to soak it all up. It it's great. I'm just really thrilled to be a part of it. It it really is amazing. And Tom Greave, we've talked about that. Is there anyone like him that's his career. Yeah. You know, a player, a general manager, broadcaster. I mean, he's just to me, he's a Hall of Fame level I don't maybe not as a player. Sorry, Tom. But he's a hall of fame level. Oh, he'd be the first to agree. Yeah. And just as a broad he's a human being. Yeah. He's a hall of fame. Yeah. A human being, he's definitely a hall of famer. Yeah. And and, you know, he's he's probably one of the guys that I would never have thought would get into broadcasting. I agree. Because, you know, he's he's, you know, he's up from from the New England, and he's a little bit he's got a little bit of the New England thing working and a little bit withdrawn. And, you know, probably early in his career career, he didn't say too much in the room or anything like that. You know? But number one, he's get him off the air and he's awesome. And number two does. I mean, he he's gotten used to it now. Yeah. I mean, he's figured it out. He really has. And if you've been in the TV truck, you know that we have that capability of speakers there where the announcers can talk to us in the truck and it's not on the air. It's called the TalkBack mic. Oh, yeah. And so Tom Greave, one time he got in trouble, he didn't realize that he wasn't off the air yet. But with the TalkBack mic and Tom Greave was hilarious. Saying some things that prob that he definitely could not say on the air. So, I often said, if we could ever put Talk Back Tom, like, onto YouTube, it would be so viral. It would be and he's incredible. And Steve Busby, got to work with him for so many years. Wonderful guy. And he would have been one of the greatest pitchers ever except for that injury. Yep, he would have. And they couldn't fix it. People don't realize what a badass he was early in his career. Yeah, yeah, Yeah. He really was. And they couldn't now they could've repaired that. Back then, they couldn't. And back then, they kept going instead of Yeah. Yeah. He he's kind of been the big revelation of the thing for me because I didn't know him at all hardly when he was broadcasting. And, I don't know if I've really warmed up to him too much ever, but now that I've been around him, he's a great guy. He is. He really is. Awesome guy. Yeah. Alright. This is Dave Burchette with us today. He directs Rangers TV or he did direct Rangers TV. Probably still does in a pinch. Right? Yeah. Occasionally, come out of the bullpen. Yeah. And Mavericks and what you see on TV with these teams is really it starts with him pretty much back in the day. And we'll have more with Dave in just a minute, but right now, you can relax for a couple seconds if you want because I know I've beaten you down here. No. Not yet. Because right now, it is time for the dreaded and feared mid show read. Alright. We have a couple of things here today. Item one is that on Wednesday, July 15, YDC will be airing, a little bit later than normal. Usually, we go live at five as is the case today. We're gonna be going at seven on this Wednesday because we're going to have the privilege of hosting a very, very special guest, one that makes me as happy as a little girl because I'm getting to invade a circle that I never thought I'd never have before, never thought I would. But we will be visiting with hall of fame drummer Stan Lynch, cofounder of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They mean a little something to me. Now he's on tour with his first band project since his time with the Heartbreakers, The Speaker Wars. Now I don't know if you've, checked out The Speaker Wars music yet, but if you haven't, you need to because it is good, good, good. It is high quality stuff. And he's granted little YDC an appearance before hitting the road. They're practicing up in Denton. So Stan Lynch and the Speaker Wars are going to play Dallas the July 18 at the Kessler. Doors open at seven. Show goes down at eight. Catch us next Wednesday, July 15, a bit later at seven when we will be visiting with the great Stan Lynch, and get your tickets to join me at the Kessler for Stan Lynch and the Speaker Wars, Saturday, July 18, showtime, 08:00. Tickets are available at thespeakerwars.com. That's speakerwars. So the thespeakerwars.com. Let's see. What else we got? We got one more? Okay. Alright. Let's talk about the CBD house of healing. If you are roaming around in pain in this world, and I'm speaking mostly to guys here, but it certainly applies to women too. There is no reason for that because there are ways to get you around it. How do I know? This is how I know. This is the full spectrum fav stick from the CBD House of Healing, And I'm running around in pain myself. I'm a lot of stuff hurts. I'm an old guy. You know? When you're an old guy, stuff starts to hurt, and you need a little help. Well, this stuff has really worked for me. It doesn't make it go away, but it makes it feel better. And I will take that any day of the week. Now if it'll do it for me, it will do it for you. And you need to stop by the CBD House of Healing and talk to them about what's going on with you and see what they've got for you. They approach everything from a medicinal standpoint there. Their owner is a registered nurse. And so she has done her homework on the whole CBD thing. She knows how it works. She understands it, and she can help you out. They are located at Plano Road and Northwest Highway in the northeast quadrant of that burgeoning intersection. Stop by. Tell them you heard about it from us here on YDC and start your healing at the CBD House of Healing. Is that good? That's great, Shoopy. Alright. Be proud. Have some tea. I think I will. Yeah. You've earned it. Was that good? I think I have too. So did you go on the road with the team back in the day? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. What were your favorite stops? Oh, wow. Fenway. I love Fenway Park. It it's just one of the blessings of of being in, you know, a broadcaster or a media person is you're allowed to go down on the field. You're allowed to go in the dugout before the game. So, at Yankee Stadium, the old Yankee Stadium, which I loved and not the new one. But in Fenway Park, so you're in the dugout. Babe Ruth was here. Yeah. Lou Gehrig was here. Yeah. Ted Williams was here. Yeah. And just go down the list of hall of famers, and they were all walked down this little path from the clubhouse to the dugout. And and it's it's just like, wow. This is incredible. And the same thing at the old Yankee Stadium. Loved it there. I just I mean, I Are you talking about Yankee Stadium senior or junior? Senior. Okay. Junior is not anywhere close to me, to something I like. I I just felt like, I don't know. It's not the same. But I love those two. Love going to Wrigley. Grew up as a Reds fan, so, you know, I did enjoy going back there. Grew up in Ohio. But, yeah, I mean, I just, all all around the country. There aren't too many places I didn't like to go. Oakland was one of them because that stadium was awful. However, one of the best crews. So that kind of balanced it out of it. Yeah. And I gotta tell you, and I know I'm in the vast minority here, but I had two or three swims through a game out there in Oakland. And even though nobody was there and even though the stadium was just awful, I don't know. It it kinda had a certain vibe to it. I I I didn't hate it nearly as bad as I was ready to. Yeah. Yeah. But when we But it didn't compare to Fenway or anything like No. And some of the ballparks was like Tropicana down in in in Tampa. Yeah. I've never been there. It's just was awfully ugly inside. And I remember someone from the studio back when we used to, you know, they would get shots from us when they're doing the pre and post game shows. And he said, can you give me a beauty shot at Tropicana? I go, no. Doesn't exist. Nope. Can't do it. I can show you the roof or something, but no no beauty shots. Well, what are the good beauty shots? Oh, man. Well, San Francisco Yeah. At their new stadium. Oh, yeah. Just just beautiful. Yep. Been there. Yeah. San Diego, beautiful. And you know, there were some nice shots at Oakland before they they built that big thing out in center field. Yeah. Change it for football. You could shoot the mountains back there. That was really pretty. I love Kansas City. Their stadium is I've never been there. Yeah. It's really nice. The fountains they have out there. And and and one of the things the TV guys used to do is back in the day, was a time when I was producing and directing. We didn't travel producers. So there's a period of time where I was in the truck. And and sometimes you're in kind of a desperate situation where you have to go to the bathroom. But in Kansas City, it was five minutes away to go to the bathroom, so I really couldn't go. So my beloved camera crew during every commercial break would shoot all the fountains when I had to go to the bathroom. Love those guys. That's how you know your crew loves you. Yeah. How's that place held up? You know, it's getting a little up there in years now, but It is, and they're they're gonna replace it as you as you probably know, and they're gonna build a new downtown Yeah. Kansas City. But I've I've just thought that it's really been beautiful, and they've kept it upgraded really, really well. So I like it up there. Yeah. It always seemed like they did really go to great lengths to make it as nice as it could possibly be. Yeah. Does it seem like one of the oldest stadiums No, going doesn't. Yeah. It doesn't. Yeah. Which is crazy. Dodger Stadium is one of the oldest and it's like it's only ten years younger than me. So it's like, wow. Pittsburgh, another stadium with a beautiful I love that place. Mean Teams are very good, but the stadium's awesome. Yeah. I mean, if I had to pick one that's my favorite, it would definitely be that. It'd be that or San Francisco probably. Yeah. Yeah. And Clint Hurdle, the former Rangers hitting coach, he did a great job there with Pittsburgh. He got them turned around, but they just didn't stay with him. I wish they would've. Yeah. I wish they would've too. He's a great leader. He is an incredible I got to know him very, very well. And he's amazing. I've heard that about him. I didn't get to know him at all, but everybody who did says the same thing. Yeah. That he's really a great guy. Yeah. He's a fantastic leader. And we actually kind of did a project together. We wrote a book together, a leadership book about our different philosophies of leadership. Several publishers looked at it kind of seriously and liked the content. But they said, you know, and this is the new world, you guys don't have enough social media contacts. You don't have enough platform, and, you know, you're just kinda old guys. So we can't take a chance on publishing. You hear that, Ashley? You hear that? Your social media is great. I don't know what you're talking about. No. Every every time I hear social media, you're the first person I think of. Oh, good. Because your social media is doing great, Mike. You'd be able to publish a book right now. Any any Anything I know about it, I learned from you. Okay. Maybe At least I give you that kind of credence. Could write the forward for y'all's book and you could get it published. There you go. There you go. I'm here to help. Clint did do a book called hurdleisms that if you wanna check it out. It's kind of some of the sayings and philosophies that he's had of leadership. So, really good. But Dave, you have written a couple books, right? I have. Or faith based and all They're faith based books. They're by far the best selling one, if you're familiar with that, is called Stay. And it's lessons I learned on life loss and grace from my dogs. And from two Labradors, two rescued Labradors. Mhmm. And I've often said that, you know, I'm a faith based person and love going to church. And church would be awesome if they were dog based because dogs dogs have unconditional love. When you, you know, don't handle them well, they forgive you right away. They live in the moment. They don't live in regret of the past or fear of the future. And a church of Labradors and Golden Retrievers would be awesome. Maybe the butt sniffing would be kind of weird. But it would be awesome. But anyhow, was Work around some things. Just basically things that I learned from our dogs and it sold really well. Sold really well. I like the title too. Stay. Yeah. And that's basically based on the idea if you're gonna grow in your faith, you just need to stay and remember who you are in your faith. And instead of lashing out or reacting, just sit and realize that because of my faith, in my in my case, my my faith in Christ, that that's who I am. You know, people may not realize also that your son Mhmm. Is breaking into the sports world as general manager of the Frisco Rough Riders. He's a big Yeah. That's that's a little bit more than breaking into it. He's broken into it. Yeah. He broke in a while ago. Yeah. And, you know, he's that's another story I love to tell younger people that are trying to start their careers. Scott was Scott, my son, who was a general manager as you said for Frisco Roughriders. He was gonna go to Ohio University to get his sports management degree many many years ago. And back then that was the best one. And so he was all set to go to go to Ohio. I was pretty happy about that. Mhmm. Go to Ohio where I grew up. And then he was an intern, just at the the Roughriders. Just kind of doing random stuff here and there. They loved him. They loved his work ethic. And at the end of the summer, they said, if we create a job for you, we kind of have to be secret about it. But if we create a job for you, would you stay? He goes, yeah. Yeah, I think so. And I was actually a little upset because I wanted to go get that degree. And so, but he decided I'm going to stay here at least. So he was just an intern and then twenty years later he becomes a general manager. And he is just, again, you talk about a guy that that his leadership is about teamwork. It's like when he's a general manager but when there's a storm and umbrellas are blowing, he's running out there and taking them down with his crew, with his staff. Hands on. Hands on. Yep. He's like a great, great leader, a military leader. I'm not gonna just send you. I'm gonna go with you. Yeah. And, yeah, he's he's done a fantastic job. We've had some dealings with the Rough Riders, and I've been impressed with him. Thank you. To the to the small extent that I've been around him and talked to him. He's a very impressive young fellow. Thank you. I got to work with him quite a bit when I was with the Rough Riders as the ambassador of fun. Yeah. He had to deal with my stupidity few few times a year, and he just always Who better as an ambassador of fun than you, Shoopy? Well, I agree with that. But Scott having to deal with me just wasn't really fair to him, but he still, you know, treated me with as much respect as he treated everyone else. He was always just on top of everything, knew what I was gonna be doing throughout the game and just he's incredible. So big, big credit to you. Thank you. Well actually, because I was traveling so much with when he was younger. I'm gonna say his mom did a fantastic job. All three of our boys have just are really so proud of them. And Scott has done an amazing job. That lazy river there. Oh my gosh. I don't think anyone can afford to do that now. But that is such a unique and the things they come up with, I mean, they're so creative. Was I gonna say we love Chuck Greenberg too and just the ideas that he has Yeah. Combined with Scott and that whole crew, it's a hell of a thing up there. It really is. Thank you for saying that. That, that that that warms my heart. So thank you. It's really neat that Chuck Greenberg kind of is pretty hands off on the whole thing and lets those guys, you know He trusts his crew. Yeah. Lets lets those guys try new stuff. Yeah. You know? Yeah. He's not particularly married to any old idea or anything like that. No. He's definitely all for innovation and Yeah. It's basically if you have an idea, make it work, make it good, make it fun. I like him. Yeah. It's so just again, the Rough Riders are so creative now. Mhmm. And you know, you talk to Scott and go, you know and he'll he'll explain to you. We don't ever know what our team is going to be. So we have to make it about the experience here at the ballpark. Yeah. Because you know, this first half of the season, they're in, they won. So they're going to be in the playoffs. But when they get to the playoffs then in the second half of the season, their whole team may be at triple a or with the rangers. Right. So they may be playing with a a brought up single a team in the playoffs. So you just never know. So it's all about the experience. And I and not just anyone that's watching this, go. It's so much fun there. Just it's it's a great experience to go there. I love going there. It is fun there. I like it too. You know what else is fun? What? Rangers baseball on TV. With this guy at the helm. He made it awesome. That's right. You didn't make it awesome. You guys are too nice. I I love I got to work a little bit with, you know, with Dave Raymond here recently and the last few years and it's been so much fun to be back with him. And he sat in that chair before. Has he? Yeah. Oh yeah. I bet he talked a lot. Yeah. He talked his fair share. He was not reticent. He's a great storyteller. Oh, he's he's an awesome guy. Oh, he is. He is. And you know, he is so smart and so creative. And we have so much fun when I do games with him because Patrick, my producer because there's so much stuff you have to get in on the broadcast like things, you know, promos and all that good stuff. But Patrick will let me have a couple of moments where Dave and I can come out of a break with something funny or fans or something that's we just have a blast. And and we just we just love it. I've loved working with Dave. And and Basick, he's one of a kind. Mike Basick. Man. He is That guy has taken leaps. Yes. Great leaps this year. Yep. And then David Murphy. I've never met a nicer person in my life as a former big league star player. He's a sweet guy. Oh, he's as nice as can be. I've been impressed as how quick he got good. Cause I worked with him when he was doing the pre and post game studio stuff and, know, started off, you know, kind of very Murph where just kind of chill, kind of trying to find a spot and just working his way into, you know, being more comfortable. And now he can talk, he can illuminate, he's great. So it's been really fun to see it because it's been nearly ten years, I think, that he's been, doing now play by play, but doing announcing in Right, yeah. Some You're right though. He has really really grown and as I am the father of three Baylor grads, I think that's a big part of who he is being a Baylor guy. But could be wrong about that. Maybe not. I don't think so. Maybe not. Yeah. So, yeah, I love working with him and he's just awesome. I do have a question for you. Many years ago, Craig Miller helped us out and occasionally did some like roving Yes. Reporting. The professor, right? Yeah. And one of the great moments of my career is in we're in extra innings. And we shot him and he's sitting up in the upper balcony in an empty area asleep. Faking it, obviously, but asleep. And it was so funny. And then he had to step away from doing that. Was that your fault? I think it was I'll never tell. I get the feeling it was the morning show's fault. Yeah. Yeah. It was the morning show's fault. 4AM wake It was those wicked hours. God. It was the fault of those Yeah. Wicked Getting up at four. Oh, god. Yeah. But he was great at it. He was great. He was great. But I understand him staying with the morning show. I I I get that. Yeah. I worked out We for would've we would've taken him. I'm telling you. We would've taken him. Wow. He was great. What could've been? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And who knows what happens to the musers if that comes about? Man. Oh. Those two. Wow. They're awesome. They really are. Well, Dave Burgett, you are awesome too. Oh, thank you. And I cannot thank you enough for doing this today. Oh, hi. I feel privileged when you when when groups called me, I thought, man, you must be scraping the bottom of the barrel or maybe even looking under the barrel. So We are, but we're still happy to talk to you. I'm just happy to be here. You're the kind of guy that I like, though. You know? Oh, thank you. Like, you you perform a very specific function, but it's kinda behind the scenes. And I like getting guys like you to come in here and tell us what it is you do and how you do it. And I would say we've achieved that today. Thank you. Alright. The great Dave Burchette there. Check out his work on Rangers TV. Oh, one more thing. Yes, sir. Wait. What happened to the opponents? The crowd died. They died. They died. But they'll be back. Oh, okay. They'll be back. Where do you think this TV situation is going now that the regional sports network model seems to have gone by the by? That is a really good question. To be honest with you, I don't know that I know the answer to that. My concern is maybe it's gonna start going more into the Netflix prime kind of world. Yeah. But I'm but I love what the rangers have done with the ranger sports network. Yeah. And Angie Swent is doing a fantastic job of leading that. She I'm telling you, she is amazing. Yeah. She is amazing, and and has sat in that chair too. She No. We're out of the ballpark with her. Oh, yeah. That's right. That's right. We were out of the ballpark. That's right. And she has she's recreated the atmosphere where people really enjoy being they feel appreciated. Yeah. They feel valued. They feel affirmed. And that's part of the culture that she set up. So RSN is fantastic. So I hope that continues. Who knows where it's gonna go though? I mean, this industry has changed so dramatically even since I quit seven years ago. I mean, I was, you know, Fox Sports Net for many, many years and all of a sudden it just starts falling apart. What caused it to fall apart? Superbroadcasting. Yeah, that certainly didn't help. But it's just I I think the financial aspects of it got really really difficult. Yeah. So Well, all I know is we've all gotten very very used to Rangers baseball in our living room every game. And, man, if that ever goes away, that's gonna be hard to adjust to. Yeah. Well, support RSN. Yep. Subscribe. Support. Yes. I do. Yeah. So I will. I want that one to I love I love the people there. And so, yeah, I want that to succeed. You've had a lot of success in your scene. And we appreciate you, man. Thank you. He is the great Dave Burchett. The crowd's back. Yes. They like you. I will get my kids to watch this. So, yes. Okay. We'll make sure and send it to Extra couple of buzz. There you go. Now for all of you out there, don't forget that this Wednesday, we are live at seven as opposed to the more customary live at five live at five as we get to sit down with the great Stan Lynch of the Speaker Wars and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This will be my first foray into talking with somebody associated with the Heartbreakers. But maybe not the last. I have no idea. But Well, what'd you say that for then? Make you excited. You just got me worked up. Honestly, you get excited like a little girl. I mean, he started it. Say that is weird. Yeah. It is weird. Dump it. It is. Can't What'd use that for, Shoopy? We don't have a seven second delay. Alright. So, yes, 07:00, Wednesday with Stan Lynch of the Speaker Wars. Check out some of their music because I wouldn't come on here and tell you this if it weren't so. It's really, really solid stuff. And they're getting ready for a gig up there. So, we'll tell you more about that on Wednesday when we get together with Stan, and, it'll be a lot of fun. Thank you, Shoopy. Thank you, Ashley. Thanks to all of you for being by the channel. Help us out with social media. Get us out there on yours. Circulate us. Get us in the mix out there. That's what we need. TikTok. Yeah. TikTok, especially all you TikTok guys. Toshing it down on TikTok. Oh. Gosh. Look at her. Yeah. Like it's nothing. Social media. Yep. That's right. Alright. Till next time. Bye. Alright. I'm gonna go take your pants off. You're Dark Companion is a stolen water media presentation.