BCSN will pay tribute to late coach, announcer

1/13/2010

BCSN will pay tribute to the late Tim Smith, a high school basketball and tennis color commentator on the cable television sports network, during its weekly high school sports round-up Friday.

Mr. Smith, 70, died Saturday of cancer.

He was a longtime high school basketball and tennis coach. Using material from the archives of The Blade, BCSN will highlight Mr. Smith's career on T-Sports Report, which starts at 10:30 p.m. Friday.

"He inspired so many kids in such a positive way," said Tom Cole, a co-host of the program and BCSN community coordinator.

"I consider him one of the most important on-air talents at BCSN," said Allan Block, chairman of Block Communications Inc., parent company of BCSN and The Blade. "He represented the success of BCSN."

Mr. Block knew that technical challenges could arise as the network began six years ago. The first time he saw Mr. Smith on BCSN, he was reassured that it could find quality on-air talent.

"He was outstanding in the way he came across, behind the mike, on camera, his knowledge of the sports he covered, and the clear warmth and affection he gave to the sports he covered," Mr. Block said.

Nancy Duwve, retired BCSN director and general manager, said that Mr. Smith believed in what BCSN stands for - promoting local high school athletes. "He thought [BCSN] was the perfect forum to present themselves to the community and make themselves local stars," Mrs. Duwve said.

Mr. Smith knew high school sports. He'd coached basketball at St. John's Jesuit High School, Lake High School, and Sylvania Northview High School. He also coached tennis.

He was inducted three years ago into the Ohio High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Before each game he was to announce on-air, he made a point of studying the teams' lineups, Mrs. Duwve said.

"He was very mellow and believed in sportsmanship and believed everyone had a place on the team and was very good about pointing out the best features of every student athlete," Mrs. Duwve said.

He also was expert at explaining, at untangling the action on the field or court "so the average person could understand what really is going on," Mr. Cole said.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Corpus Christi University Parish. Arrangements are by the Neville Funeral Home.