He Turned Down ESPN to Stay in Indiana | Dave Calabro, Playmakers Podcast

On today's show I sat down with longtime Indiana sports broadcaster Dave Calabro, who spent nearly 40 years in TV, has been a track announcer at Indianapolis Motor Speedway PA since 1985, and is host of IBJ Media's Playmakers, a podcast that features athletes, coaches, executives, and leaders connected to Indiana sports. Calabro traces his start as a Ben Davis High School radio student who needed an FCC license, his Butler years working overnight radio shifts, and an internship with Tom Carnegie that led to his IMS PA role. He shares career pivots from news to sports, traveling with the 1988 Bengals to the Super Bowl after pitching owner Paul Brown, and returning to Indianapolis to help WTHR Channel 13 rise from last to first through ideas like Operation Football and Chopper 13. Calabro recounts moments with presidents, Joe DiMaggio, and George Harrison of The Beatles, explains why he stayed in Indiana over ESPN/ABC offers, and discusses his Playmakers podcast on the IBJ Podcast Network. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - Dave Calabro's Career in Television and Announcing the Indy 500 - Why Calabro Chose Indiana Over ESPN - The Playmakers Podcast Thank you to our partners: Rohrman Automotive Group Cowpokes Work and Western Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Super Bowl Stories Tease 01:13 Guest Introduction: Dave Calabro 02:20 Ben Davis Radio Roots 03:21 Butler Overnight Grind 04:15 DJ Hustle And Crates 05:51 Speedway Internship Break 08:32 Indy 500 Iconic Moments 10:00 TV Career Fort Wayne To Dayton 12:04 Bengals Plane To Super Bowl 15:21 Curiosity And Danica Connection 17:41 Back To Indy And Operation Football 21:12 Chopper 13 And TV Innovation 24:10 Fame Moments And Larry Bird 24:45 Playmakers Origins 25:46 Hall of Fame Breakfast 26:46 George Harrison Encounter 28:34 Handling Celebrity Rooms 29:10 Interviewing Presidents 30:05 Staying at WTHR 32:31 Pat McAfee Rise 34:58 Media Shift to Digital 37:15 Why Start Playmakers 40:09 Tenderloin Hotspots 41:03 Indy 500 Fan Moment 41:53 Why Indiana Home 43:06 Blooper Reel Stories 44:26 Indiana Rapid Fire 47:00 Final Thanks and Plugs Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.