In Front Of The Camera And Behind The Mic With Dean Linke

The North American Soccer League’s TV universe has expanded this year to include the CBS Sports Network, which joins ONE World Sports, beIN SPORTS, and ESPN3 as national broadcast partners in the United States. Each week, NASL.com will speak with one of the people whose words paint the pictures of the beautiful game.

Jack Bell spoke with Dean Linke, 48, the play-by-play announcer for the Carolina RailHawks, an Ohio native who moved to Chapel Hill, N.C., in 1999 and has since dedicated himself to soccer and the NASL. He teams with analyst Sam Stockley as Carolina celebrates the club’s 10th anniversary with a regional broadcasting partnership with the Time Warner SportsChannel and locally with the Capitol Broadcasting Company (the parent company of WRALSportsFan.com and Triangle sports radio stations 99.9 FM The Fan, Buzz Sports Radio and 1550 AM The Ticket).

Bell: Let’s start out with a bit of background.

Linke: I grew up in northwest Ohio, went to Ohio University, and started working in U.S. Soccer when I was still in college. I moved with U.S. Soccer offices to Colorado Springs, then Chicago and was the senior press officer for the ’94 team when I was 22-23 years old. I lived in LA and was the first director of communications for MLS.

When the Colorado Rapids team was named, they knew my background and that I loved Colorado, so I went there as an assistant general manager with the condition that they would allow me to do TV stuff. They did. I got married and moved to Chapel Hill in 1999. It’s the place I’ve lived the longest for an extended period.

Bell: How did that lead to the job with the RailHawks?

Linke: I always wanted to be a broadcaster and I did Rapids games for three years. When I moved here I thought I was done. Then the Carolina Courage of the WUSA started in 2001 and I was back in the booth. I did their games for three years. It was great. They won the championship the second year, then the league folded and I thought, now what?

The RailHawks got started in 2006, and then the WPS [in 2009] and I did the Fox TV package. With the RailHawks I did some front-office stuff, but my intention was to always do their TV, and I have the last couple of years. Curt [Johnson, the club’s president and general manager] and Steve [Malik, the club’s new owner] have really professionalized things. They treat me like a broadcaster should be treated and it has been phenomenal. I give them total credit. This is a great place to work and [WakeMed Soccer Park] is an amazing place to go to a game. On game days I wake up with a big smile on my face. And they allow me to do my work on FOX [the NSCAA College Game of the Week for the past seven years] and on the Big Ten Network [calling soccer, lacrosse, rowing, golf, cross-Country, and swimming championships].

Bell: You said they treat you like a broadcaster. What’s that mean?

Linke: They have professionalized the entire staff, and it starts at the top with Steve and Curt. The focus on the quality of the TV presentation, it goes beyond me and Sam. I’m the tiniest piece of it. I’m working with one of the best production teams. The accommodations at the stadium are top notch. They ask for my input and give me access to talk to Colin [Clarke, the team’s coach] whenever I want. They want me there at press conferences to emcee. From top to bottom, soup to nuts, it’s night and day compared to when the club started 10 years ago to now. The focus on the broadcast has been phenomenal.

Bell: With the NASL’s TV deals you’re getting additional national exposure at times on ESPN3 and the CBS Sports Network. Have you noticed any reaction?

Linke: I honestly haven’t really thought about that. Of course being on TV, we all love the exposure. The simple answer is yes. I don’t want to say my phone is blowing up with calls from around the country, but I think it is phenomenal. Yes and I love it. I do get some feedback, more tweets and extended contact from family and folks. Everything about it is positive. It’s another positive step in right direction for the league and shows the dedication from NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson to ownership to give the league and its players the exposure they deserve. And it’s also fun to hear from people who now know what a RailHawk is!

Bell: You mentioned the influence of Steve Malik, the club’s new owner. I got the feeling your experience has been nothing but positive.

Linke: With Curt Johnson, a guy who was already here and has worked tirelessly to professionalize the operation, and now Steve brings resources and vision. We have new offices, terrific benefits, we’re all treated like professionals and he’s doubled, tripled the staff. Here’s what he’s done the most: He made a promise to put resources into the team, to bring in players, make the TV package better. He made promises, and you know, he’s followed through. A lot of people make promises, but he’s kept them. The addition of Omar Bravo has just been amazing. It was an honor to be on the same field and introduce the guy. Steve is legit. He’s delivered and he’s just getting started. Steve has shown he’s about handing things over to quality people and get the job done. For me, I’ve been able to sit back on game day just overwhelmed by the growing crowds. The goal here is to win championships.

Bell: You call a lot of sports, especially on the Big Ten Network. Do you have a favorite?

Linke: Soccer is my favorite, for sure. I’ve been around the game since 1989 and got dropped into the highest level at a young age with [Tab] Ramos, [Thomas] Dooley, [Alexi] Lalas, and others. I’d been hanging out with best from Day 1, and that makes it hard not to get hooked on soccer. It’s my favorite.

Bell: Do you have a favorite event among all the ones you’ve covered?

Linke: That’s a tough one. I will say that any time I can do a championship, and I’ve done a lot for the Big Ten Network – I love doing any kind of championship. When the RailHawks make the postseason, it’s a different environment. A great day for me was at the 1994 World Cup when I was on the field when the USA beat Colombia in the first round. I’ll never forget that. Being with the Colorado Rapids, who were the worst team in the first year of MLS, then go to the final in their second year, that was pretty neat.

My favorite frankly – it’s going to sound corny – is every game I do. I love it that much. I mean it. I love broadcasting a Big Ten women’s gymnastics or rowing championship. I just love what I do. Wish I could do a game every day. If I could, I would do it.

Bell: You’ve been around the NASL for quite a while now. Are you encouraged by its growth and progress?

Linke: I think what the league has been doing is on par with what Steve and Curt have done here. There’s been strong leadership from Bill Peterson and the growth among the current teams and the entry of the new teams has been phenomenal. I feel like we can all pump our chests out and be proud of our place in the soccer landscape. The quality is incredible – in last Friday night’s game (a 3-3 tie between Carolina and Miami FC) you had [Kwadwo] Poku on one side and Omar on the other side going toe to toe, with all that talent around them. That was some quality soccer – six goals, attacking soccer. Just great stuff.