Johnson column: Voice of Tide good as Gold

Eli Gold is considered one of the most versatile sports broadcasters in the nation.

He’s called countless professional hockey games, is part of the NASCAR radio family, is a regular on NFL broadcasts and has done stints in minor league baseball and arena league football.

  But none of it really compares to being the radio voice of the University of Alabama football team.

“Alabama football is a big challenge because every word you say is analyzed,” Gold said.

“God forbid you make a mistake.

“I wouldn’t trade the Alabama gig, but it’s a lot of pressure. Nothing I do has more pressure.”

Gold was in Dothan last week for a book signing of his new publication, From Peanuts to the Press Box, which is his story of a man behind the microphone.

Gold grew up in New York and sold peanuts at the famed Madison Square Garden to get his foot in the door to meet sportscasters and “pick their brains” about the business — guys such as Marv Albert and Bob Wolff.

He moved to Birmingham in 1978 to become the play-by-play announcer of the Birmingham Bulls hockey team of the old World Hockey Association, and has made that his home ever since.

The stories he relays in the book fascinate me, from his many adventures to his mind-boggling weekly schedules.

Gold says his favorite sport to call is hockey, and the most challenging is baseball because of the dead time between when the baseball is actually in play.

Calling Alabama football, however, is different from all the others because he can actually do it as a fan of sorts.

“I love doing Alabama football,” Gold said. “I get emotionally tied up with it, which is fun.

“I want Alabama to win, Professionally, it’s one of the best jobs in America, bar none.

“At the same time, when I’m doing a NASCAR race, I don’t care who wins. That’s fun because I don’t have that emotional tie.”

Gold has been married 32 years and has a daughter who attends the University of Alabama. He’s even recently opened an Italian restaurant in Pelham named Nino’s.

Gold says his family has been understanding and supportive of his career.

“I was traveling when we met, and it’s something she understands,” Gold said of his wife, Claudette.

While in the Wiregrass, Gold took the time to speak to children at an alternative school in Ozark.

“I tried to convey to them that if you’re a guy or girl who is a teenager, pursue that dream and give yourself the best odds you have to make it come true,” Gold said.

Gold worked hard to make his dreams come true. It started by selling a bag of peanuts.