Episode Details

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

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