Preparation is important for any PA announcer, but Gary Ross can only plan for so much – the rest comes on the spot

A large body of work goes into pronouncing a few names right. Scripts are proofread, and then proofread again. Rosters have phonetic notations scribbled on the side. Assistants shuffle notecards with pronunciations to the scorer’s table as phones buzz with similar information. As a tiny few blanks are filled in what seems to be a 25-page script, it’s PA announcer Gary Ross’ time to shine.

Making sure names are read right is a major piece of Ross’ job, which has a strange dichotomy to it. Half the time he literally reads off of a script, while the rest is reacting to and accurately reporting a chaotic basketball game to the crowd; he constantly juggles the two. While calling out fouls or “Demps for three," in his head Ross is prepping for the promotional material he must announce in two minutes.

Spending the last 20 seasons sitting at court level next to the scorekeeper and within hearing range of the referees, Ross has come to innately understand the flow of the game, be it tipoff or a tie game with three seconds left. Not that this makes his job a breeze.

“When players are coming in and out of the game, that can be the hardest thing," Ross said. “There are some teams, especially in the non-conference season, where they’ll sub in their entire team. When you’re announcing all the names of the guys going in and the guys going out, that’s 10 names.”

With all the action going on, Ross needs – and accepts – all the help he can get.

Ross admits to being a piece in the marketing puzzle, an active organ in a sort of public address organism. He is the voice, the video system acts as the hands and marketing director Heather Obering is the brain. When Ross reads too quickly or too slowly, Obering corrects the tempo. When a video plays between announcements, it’s Obering that cues Ross and the video board.

When asked about his favorite memory, Ross couldn’t decide. There were too many exciting moments and close games to choose from. He was happy, however, that a player has never crashed into him at the scorers table.

“I’ll tell you what, it’s an absolute blast to do," Ross said. “To do this at my alma mater, it’s really an honor and a thrill.”