Sunday, October 12, 2008
The voice of Washington
Charlie Brotman's basement is just the kind of place you might expect to find the legendary impresario of Washington sports mulling over seasons past.
Need a place to sit? How about the presidential box seats from Griffith Stadium? Or box seats from D.C. Stadium, RFK Stadium or Nationals Park? Mr. Brotman has them all.
During his long career, the announcing and public relations man made a place for himself and his listeners on the ice, behind the dugout, on the court and along Pennsylvania Avenue for Inauguration Day parades.
The native Washingtonian remembered his first day announcing for the Washington Senators in 1956 and his excitement as a fan getting to introduce Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Andy Yost and Roy Sievers.
"It was so exciting for me I couldn't wait to get home to tell my wife about it," Mr. Brotman said. "Sada you will not believe what happened to me. The players couldn't do anything until I introduced them. The president of the United States couldn't even throw out the first pitch until I introduced him."
His excitement was short-lived as his wife asked him to take out the trash before she heard any more about his day.
"I haven't felt important since," Mr. Brotman joked.
Others obviously feel he has been important in that he has been inducted into 10 Halls of Fame including the Washington Hall of Stars, Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Jock's Hall of Fame, Public Relations Society of America Hall of Fame, Advertising Club of Washington Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Award Hall of Fame, Washington Quarter-Century Broadcasters Club Hall of Fame, Congressional Baseball Hall of Fame and the Touchdown Club of Washington Hall of Fame.
When Mr. Brotman came back to Washington to announce the baseball games, the team was having trouble creating an identity. In addition to doing the stadium announcing, he served as an assistant for public relations.
"In 1956, the name of the team was the Washington Nationals," Mr. Brotman said. "I started trying to put things together and I was confused about 'who are we?' because I saw in newspapers we were the Nats, the Senators and the Nationals."
Mr. Brotman decided there needed to be consistency. The Nats and the Nationals made it difficult for graphics to be marketed while the Senators allowed for caricatures of throwing and fielding. He decided, "as of right now, we're the Senators."
In announcing President Eisenhower at the Senators' Opening Day in 1956, Mr. Brotman made an impression on White House officials as he later received a call asking him to be the announcer for the president's second inaugural parade.
Since that call, Mr. Brotman has served as "the president's announcer" for every inaugural parade since 1957, a time frame spanning nine presidents and 13 inaugural parades.
That streak should continue next year to 10 presidents and 14 parades as Mr. Brotman has made his contacts with the committees to be considered for the announcing job.
"Every four years, I try my best to find out who is in charge to offer my help," Mr. Brotman said. "It doesn't matter whether you're a Democrat or a Republican or an independent. It's just now that I have some experience they would ask for my help in organizing it."
Mr. Brotman has noticed that the inaugural parades are an extension of the president's personality. Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush have been fairly basic and to the point whereas Presidents Kennedy, Reagan and Clinton have been more elaborate.
With the upcoming election, Mr. Brotman believes the same differences will hold true depending on whether Republican nominee John McCain or Democratic nominee Barack Obama will be celebrating on Jan. 20.
"In my opinion, if McCain wins, it'll be more traditional," Mr. Brotman said. "And I think that Obama and his personality lends to more action and entertainment."
There have been times when Mr. Brotman's sports background has surfaced in the inaugural parades. He has organized the crowd into doing the wave while waiting for the president to finish his luncheon.
"I feel responsible to inform and entertain and help people have fun," Mr. Brotman said. "I counted 'one, two, three, lets go!' and they started the wave just like at a ballpark."
In addition to his role in the inaugural parade, Mr. Brotman has been heavily involved in sports since he founded his own sports public relations firm, Charles Brotman & Associates in 1969.
"Basically every professional sports team in Washington, I have been associated with in one capacity or another," Mr. Brotman said.
Some of Mr. Brotman's sports clients include Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, George Allen, and countless others.
Despite these numerous professionals, Mr. Brotman feels some of his most rewarding work has come from announcing the annual T-ball games on the South Lawn of the White House.
"President Bush invited me to be the play-by-play announcer at the White House for the kids," Mr. Brotman said. "So that is fun and it is a reward for me."
Another reward or recognition Mr. Brotman received for his work was his own "Charlie Brotman Day" on his 80th birthday. The day was officially declared by D.C. Council member Jack Evans.
Also, the Legg Mason Tennis Classic unveiled a new press box dedicated in his name for being the announcer for the tournament since it began 40 years ago. Mr. Brotman has also worked public relations for the tournament.
"It was a surprise and a shock as I looked up and saw 'Charlie Brotman Press Box,'" Mr. Brotman said. "I don't deserve it, but I accept it."
Mr. Brotman still serves as the founder, CEO, and chairman of the board for Brotman Winter Fried Communications.
"I keep getting questions 'When are you going to retire? You're 80 years old'" Mr. Brotman said. "I find that the hardest thing for me to do is nothing. And so doing things like PR and publicity of sports and teams and attending things is something that I thoroughly enjoy and it keeps me active. So I'm going to do it as long as I am around."