Man on the mic
SRA’s Degnan becoming voice of RIIL tournaments
Chances are you’ve heard Tom Degnan’s voice... seeing how it’s become recognizable in the state’s high school sports circles. Degnan is the voice of St. Ray’s sports and has also called his share of RIIL tournament action.
PAWTUCKET – Tom Degnan isn’t quite sure when he first became interested in becoming a public address announcer for sporting events, but his mind did roll back to an instance that may have paved the way.
“I was probably seven or eight, and I started messing with my parents’ old stereo system and a microphone,” he laughed. “I was trying to get it where I could amplify my voice. I don’t remember if I succeeded, but I guess that’s when the intrigue started.”
Nowadays, the 40-year-old full-time city firefighter seems to be climbing the ladder, so to speak, in his beloved hobby. Last weekend, at the University of Rhode Island’s Ryan Center, he served as the PA announcer for the R.I. Open Boys Basketball Tournament semifinals and finals.
The 1994 graduate of St. Raphael Academy admitted he was distraught after his alma mater dropping a 65-57 semifinal verdict to crosstown rival Shea, but claimed he refuses to lose his composure while behind the mic. In fact, following the Raiders’ 66-55 defeat to top-ranked Hendricken in the Sunday night title tilt, Degnan indicated he secretly wished Shea had reigned.
“No matter what the level of announcing I’m doing – be it Little League, high school or college – I always strive to do it at a professional level, like I’m doing a Major League Baseball game,” he stated. “I want to give Little Leaguers and high schoolers the major-league treatment.
“I’m very happy doing what I’m doing right now, but I’d love one day to announce regularly at the professional level, whether it be the local minor league franchises or major sports in Boston,” he continued. “Is it a dream? Well, let’s just say it’s a goal of mine.”
“I was probably seven or eight, and I started messing with my parents’ old stereo system and a microphone.” – St. Raphael’s Tom Degnan
At this juncture of his secondary career, Degnan says he’s having a blast, not only doing Fairlawn Little League All-Star games and R.I American Legion Tournament tilts during the summer, but also announcing at semipro and high school football games; Saints’ boys and girls and Rhode Island College men’s and women’s basketball; area-wide pro wrestling and the like.
He still revels in providing support to the Pawtucket Fire Department, during both fire and rescue missions from the Smithfield Avenue station, because that happened to be his first love, but announcing gives him a chance to escape the stress of his full-time job.
“As corny as it sounds, I’ve always wanted to help people; I’ve always been interested in public safety,” he explained. “I was exposed to the field of fire service through the Providence Fire Department’s Explorer Program when I was a sophomore in high school. I became a volunteer in the summer of ‘93, working with the Saylesville Fire Department in Lincoln, and I kept doing that until 2004.
“Right after that, I got hired by the city (of Pawtucket), but that was after a long stint working for a private ambulance company in Providence,” he added.
In the interim, he took courses at both Providence College and the Community College of Rhode IslandLincoln, though never graduated due to the fact he already was working professionally.
“I’ve been very lucky so far (in the role of firefighter), but it can get stressful at times,” he noted. “When the bell tips and you get dispatched to a site, you have no idea where you’re going or for what reason, but you know it’s possible it could be worse than your initial expectations,” he stated. “I mean, I’ve gone to a house with my colleagues for a reported seizure, and next thing you know a family member is holding a hammer over you.
“We were worried she’d use it against us while we were helping the person in need, so it makes you think, but I still wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Degnan feels the same way about his other craft, one in which he’s compiling quite the resume.
How it came to be still blows his mind.
“I remember when I was 15, my youngest brother, Matt, made the Fairlawn Little League Major Division All-Star team, and it always seemed in the past that they’d grab a father from the stands to do the PA,” he said. “You know, the player introductions, starting lineups, who was stepping up to the plate.
“I don’t recall if it was my dad (Bob), who was coaching the team, or me that offered to do it; I don’t even know if I volunteered,” he continued. “I’m pretty sure Dad asked me. Did I like it? Well, I’m doing it 25 years later, so I must have.”
The following summer, at age 16, he began announcing professional wrestling gigs, the first at Bristol’s VFW Hall. After that, he drew requests from all over New England, all the while promoting shows of his own to raise money for charities. Among them: Power League Wrestling events throughout the state and southeastern Massachusetts.
“Through most of the ‘90s, I was the Fairlawn All-Stars’ announcer, and did the same for PLWshows and other promotional events, like Ringside Wrestling out of Hudson, N.H.” he offered. “In 2000, a semi-pro football team named the Providence Prowlers started up, and a friend of mine I knew through wrestling was playing for that team. He also had played for the (nowdefunct) Ocean State Buccaneers that played at McCoy (Annex).
“He told me the (Eastern Football League) required an EMT to be on the sidelines for every game, and he asked me if I’d do it; he knew what I did for a living. I told him, ‘Well, I work with a bunch of them, so I can ask one of them to do it.’ Then I asked, ‘Do you have a PA guy?’
“It basically came in my direction, and – 16 years later – I’m still involved with semi-pro football, now with the Boston Bandits (of the New England Football League).”
In 2010, Degnan found himself driving up Smithfield Avenue, and he saw the St. Raphael baseball team practicing at Vets Park, a stone’s throw from his home firehouse.
“A thought occurred to me,” he remembered. “The field doesn’t have a press box, so unless somebody brings a portable PAsystem with him, they don’t have anyone to announce their home games. About that time, I was trying to take it more seriously, trying to find more opportunities to announce, get my voice out there.
“Steve Lennon, a guy I work with and one who was involved with Saints’ football, knew I dabbled in PAannouncing, and figured I’d love to do those games,” he added. “I knew that wasn’t going to happen any time soon, not with the longevity and talent of George Patrick Duffy.
“I eventually called Steve to see what the possibility was of announcing Saints’ baseball in the spring of 2010; that’s when I had an epiphany – if I wanted to get more serious about it, that was the time. Steve gave me (varsity skipper) Tom Sorrentine’s number. I asked him, and you know ‘Saar.’ He just said, ‘Sure.’ “It was fun.” Degnan still hasn’t uttered a sound over his self-bought loud speakers when then-Athletic Director Bruce Gammell approached him, asking if he’d be interested in doing the SRA boys and girls hoop games.
“My response? ‘I’ve never announced basketball before, but I’m familiar with what needs to be done,’ so – like Saar – I said, ‘Sure.’” he mentioned with a grin. “I did that first season of Saints’ baseball, then decided to reach out to the R.I. Interscholastic League, though thought they’d be all set.
“I offered my services to do the state baseball finals at McCoy Stadium. I talked to Richard Magerian, who was second in command, and he told me they were set for baseball, but asked if I’d be interested in announcing the state lacrosse tournament, then at RIC.
“I immediately told him, ‘Well, I’ve never done lacrosse before, but I’ll prepare for it,’ then I said, ‘Sure.’” Notice the symmetry? “That began my relationship with the Interscholastic League,” he said. “Later that fall, George Patrick stepped down from the Saints’ football gig due to a health issue, so school officials asked me to do the final two home games; now that was great. I did basketball that winter, and baseball the following spring, and was announcing sporadically for the Interscholastic League.”
Due to word getting out about his deep voice, natural penchant for provid- ing necessary information and justplain-entertaining music, in the late summer of 2012, officials requested he announce the R.I. American Legion baseball playoffs at West Warwick’s McCarthy Field. He did, and still is their go-to guy.
When asked if he had experienced any moments of grandeur, he laughed.
“I remember doing a Legion playoff game at McCarthy a few years ago,” he smiled. “The thing about the press box is, when people sitting in the top row stand up, they block your view. During one seventh-inning stretch, I naturally played ‘Take Me Out To The Ball Game.’
“Before I started it, I invited folks to stand up and stretch,” he continued. “One gentleman sitting in the top row did, and he happened to make eye contact with me. He proceeded to ask, ‘Are you from Pawtucket?’ Being that I grew up and went to school in Pawtucket, I replied, ‘Yes,’ and he just said, ‘I thought so,’ then sat down.
“A few minutes passed, and all of a sudden I realized he meant the Pawtucket Red Sox! I took it as a monumental compliment, but I knew I didn’t want to misrepresent myself. When he stood again, I tapped him on the shoulder and said, ‘Yes, I’m from Pawtucket, but not with the PawSox.’ He seemed surprised.
“Over the years, people have asked me similar questions, like ‘Are you from McCoy?’ to which I reply, ‘No, not even close.’ It’s nice to think about, but I just consider this a hobby because I have so much fun doing it.”
He doesn’t announce what most would think are “the big time games,” but he says he’s ecstatic doing what he does now – and looks forward to more events presented to him.
“I announced 66 basketball games this winter, between the Saints and RIC games,” he stated. “It’s been busy, but I’m satisfied; I truly enjoy this secondary career I’ve created for myself. I’d like to call it a part-time job. I get paid sometimes, and you can’t survive on it, but I don’t care. I love it.
“I do it because it’s fun,” he added. “I’ve always enjoyed sports, but I wasn’t that athletic, and I’m still not. I’m not on the field participating, but I’m still involved, and I still feel like I’m a part of that organization (or team).
“I would say I’m rather modest, but it’s really nice to hear compliments, especially from people from a visiting school, like at Saints’ games … It all goes back to I feel I’m participating in sports, that I’m part of a team, and that I’m contributing in some small way.
“I know Mr. Tom Mezzanotte (the RIIL’s Executive Director) has told me he loves my professionalism, and I’m humbled by that. I’ve been blessed with additional assignments from the league, like the 2015 state hockey finals and state baseball tournament last year at McCoy.
“For all that, I’m very thankful.”