A good arena announcer becomes part of the game, without hogging the spotlight or missing the moment.
For 36 years, Don Hall provided the narration for Wichita State men's basketball games with his voice a constant part of the experience.
He delighted in hometown introductions – calling "from right here in Wichita, Kansas," for Shockers such as Samajae Haynes-Jones. He started games by exhorting fans to "put your hands together." He elongated "Shockerrr" before the crowd finished with "threeee" and occasionally slipped in ad-libs during timeout promotions.
"He knew the team so well," said Mercy Crisp, a former neighbor of Hall's and a basketball season ticket-holder for 42 years.