Bound For Greatness
Only A Game host Bill Littlfield talks about discrepencies in modern sports, his enthusiastic listeners, and how both helped contribute to his new book. Listen to this interview
ONLY A GAME, listeners (some sports fans, others not) rely on Bill Littlefield to find stories not typically covered in traditional news media. “The trick,” he says from his studio at WBUR, located a lengthy home run’s distance from Fenway Park, “is not to surprise people with a story they’ve never heard, but rather find the story within the headline.”
“For example, I recently talked to Mike Beres, champion of the 2007 Boston Open Badminton Tournament. I asked him how much money there is in badminton, and he says, ‘I’ve won in Southeast Asia, and in Miami, and the prize money was 0 dollars and 0 cents for both!’ I think listeners get pleasure from features that go against the grain of the story of the 12 million dollar baseball player.”
When Littlefield does speak about those highly-paid ball players, his perspective is usually unconventional: “With baseball, the teams with the most money are going to have an advantage. However, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig is very fortunate to be able to cite teams like the Minnesota Twins and Oakland A’s who have been competitive over the years. Both have surprised teams spending millions more. Selig can point to them and say ‘Look, it can be done-just because George Steinbrenner or the Red Sox are spending a lot doesn’t mean you necessarily win.’”
“Some people may not think sports are something that NPR should be involved in, but by telling good stories well, we involve people and create an enthusiastic audience.”
Bill Littlefield began his career in public radio doing commentaries for WBUR and later NPR’s Morning Edition. He’s also penned several novels and is releasing a new book also called Only A Game, which is a collection of the best pieces from fourteen years of the weekly program.
“It was difficult to put this book together because sometimes you write about a subject and a week later it seems dated,” says Littlefield. “So I picked the stories that would have some resonance and be fun for people to read for years after the events.”
Littlefield is always listening for feedback from his fans for new ideas. He’s received many story requests and believes that engaging fans helps to enrich the listening experience.
“The tone in which the listeners suggest their story ideas leads me to believe they regard the show as belonging to them. I get emails like, ‘I know your show and I know you should do this story about my cousin kayaking down the Mississippi,’” Littlefield says with a smile.
“It’s great fun to know that we’re speaking to people in a way that they feel they’re being included. I hope this doesn’t change.”
The book Only A Game hits stores this October. The radio program airs Saturdays at 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM on WBUR.