{"id":4112,"date":"2013-02-02T14:12:47","date_gmt":"2013-02-02T19:12:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesoulpitt.com\/main\/?p=4112"},"modified":"2013-02-02T14:12:47","modified_gmt":"2013-02-02T19:12:47","slug":"spq-article-spotlight-on-charlie-batch-by-malik-vincent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thesoulpitt.com\/spq\/spq-article-spotlight-on-charlie-batch-by-malik-vincent\/","title":{"rendered":"[SPQ Article] Spotlight on Charlie Batch by Malik Vincent"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Steelers Media Relations<\/p><\/div>\n

Over the past few of his 15-year career in the NFL, you might see Charlie Batch with a headset in street clothes on the Steelers sideline imparting his pearls of wisdom among their franchise quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, during a game.<\/p>\n

With the clock ticking on his durable NFL journey, he\u2019s found other things to do with a similar headset. \u00a0He\u2019s appeared on various local radio and television broadcasts, as a high school football color analyst. \u00a0The former radio version of the Charlie Batch Show that aired on NewsTalk 104.7 tackled various issues that pertain to the sport that he\u2019s loved for decades, until his show was discontinued after one year. \u00a0It was, still, on to bigger and better things for the humanitarian and community mentor in his quest to become a successful player-gone-broadcaster. Regardless of his success in media, Batch is also busy helping the youth of his native Homestead through his \u2018Best of Batch\u2019 Foundation. \u00a0(www.batchfoundation.org)<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been very fortunate for some of the opportunities that I\u2019ve been afforded in media and otherwise,\u201d Batch said. \u201cIt has been something that I\u2019ve thoroughly liked to do. Who knows, it could be something that I\u2019ll be able to do beyond playing the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bulk of his secondary career obligations take place while the season is in progress.\u00a0 He has also represented the Steelers as spokesperson for the United Way Kickoff program. \u00a0Working with the United Way he may give as little as 10 or as many as 20 speeches per season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen football season starts, needless to say, my life gets pretty hectic because I do still have to focus on my day job,\u201d the 38 year old said. \u201cBut doing all of this and seeing what it\u2019s turned into truly makes it worth the effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most recently, Batch has taken his post on the television version of his former radio program\u2019s namesake, which is now a show on the Pittsburgh Cable News Channel (or PCNC, which is the cable arm of WPXI-TV Pittsburgh).<\/p>\n

\"\"

Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Steelers Media Relations<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cHis show has been an incredible addition to our programming,\u201d PCNC station manager Mark Barash said. \u201cHe does a great job explaining his points of view and transitioning his thoughts from an experience standpoint. \u00a0\u00a0I believe Charlie definitely has a future in this.\u201d\u00a0 The show airs every Friday at 7:30 p.m. and at the same time, Saturday, also with an additional 11:00 p.m. airing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe answers questions insightfully and with eloquence,\u201d Gerry Dulac, the Post-Gazette reporter who was Batch\u2019s co-host on the old NewsTalk 104.7 show said. \u201cIt\u2019s natural for him to articulately expound his points clearly.\u201d<\/p>\n

His dynamic schedule of media appearances includes being part of the WDVE 102.5 Morning Show with longtime host Randy Baumann on Tuesdays.<\/p>\n

Also, if he is in the area, ROOT Sports features him during their Thursday night broadcasts of WPIAL football games, in which the Steel Valley alum imparts his knowledge of that landscape to its viewers.<\/p>\n

Batch\u2019s first work as a color analyst came with the Champs Sports Network and their coverage of Western Pennsylvania high school football.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to share what I\u2019ve learned about the game for the hometown crowd has been such an awesome thing,\u201d Batch said. \u201cEspecially since high school football is such a big deal around here, it\u2019s really such a fun thing for me to do when I have the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The league hosts an annual effort to help current and former players transition into careers in broadcast after their playing days. \u00a0It\u2019s hosted in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, the home of NFL films, where participants hone their skills behind-the-camera in rigorous fashion for three days.\u00a0 These sessions are facilitated by guys who have either played or coached the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the time I came back from boot camp, I had went through each of the different phases that media has to offer,\u201d he added. \u201cI was a host, a play-by-guy, a color analyst… I was pretty much all of the things that you see (former players) do when they move into the media field.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taking a look at all of the major networks that regularly cover football, to see an athlete trade in their jersey and cleats for a tailored suit and microphone isn\u2019t uncommon.<\/p>\n

Dulac believes that the man who lines up under center is one that is likely to experience success on a television sports show. \u00a0\u00a0For example, CBS Sports\u2019 weekly NFL coverage boasts three former QBs, with fellow Pittsburgh native Dan Marino and Boomer Esiason on their program, \u2018The NFL Today\u2019, that offers news and commentary on the League\u2019s daily issues.\u00a0 The network also has former New York Giants great Phil Simms as a color analyst, paired with veteran Jim Nantz for their weekly top game broadcasts.<\/p>\n

Also, to the likes of ESPN\u2019s Monday Night Football analysts Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden– both former signal callers– Batch has caught the attention, locally, of his media parallels and superiors with his progression in what could potentially be his job after football.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/dt>\n
Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Steelers Media Relations<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cQuarterbacks are a different personality,\u201d Dulac said. \u201cThey\u2019re used to screaming things in the huddle. \u00a0They\u2019re usually well spoken and able to combine all factors of a matter so that they are more apt to be insightful than the average football player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before leaving Pittsburgh to begin, what\u2019s been a 17-year career, at the network that has pridefully referred to itself as the \u2018Worldwide leader in Sports\u2019, Merril Hoge took a similar path as Batch to begin his journey, behind the camera.<\/p>\n

Hoge played eight NFL seasons after being a 10th round draft pick of the Steelers in 1987.\u00a0 \u00a0He was a member of the Chicago Bears for one year and retired after the \u201894 campaign, early, due to a long-lived battle with head trauma. \u00a0Since his mid-90s arrival, he\u2019s hosted ESPN programs such as NFL Match Up, NFL Sunday Night Countdown and SportsCenter.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter retiring from the league in 1994, I came back to Pittsburgh to work for WTAE,\u201d Hoge said. \u201cI was the first color analyst that worked in the booth with Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play commentator) and Myron Cope (legendary colorman).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie is doing all of the things that he needs to do to position himself for a career in media,\u201d Hoge said. \u201cWhat a lot of ex-players don\u2019t understand is that this is still work. You have to put in your fair share of hours before you hit that set.\u201d<\/p>\n

Batch has already had his fair share of face time on the big network, making guest appearances on ESPN\u2019s First Take with Skip Bayless via satellite and, most recently, on Dan \u2018Le Batard\u2019s \u2018Highly Questionable\u2019 where the Miami Herald<\/em> columnist attacks various issues along with his Cuban-born father, Gonzalo.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great being involved in those programs and such an honor to be called upon,\u201d Batch said. \u201cIt was kind of cool because both times, they set up at the facility and it was taped here in Pittsburgh.\u00a0 I mean, what can I say? It\u2019s just a ton of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the program, LeBatard, in his usual colorful style, questioned Batch about his emotional reaction after the December 2nd<\/sup> Steelers victory on the road against their hated rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, in what could have been the last start of his career.\u00a0 He asked him if he was crying.<\/p>\n

As kicker Shaun Suisham\u2019s 42-yard field goal split the uprights, several cameras caught Batch and injured starter Roethlisberger in an embrace on the sidelines.\u00a0 In reply to LeBatard\u2019s question, Batch said, \u201cYes, there were tears.\u201d<\/p>\n

The classy Batch admitted to getting caught up in the intense aftermath of a performance in which the wily veteran threw for 276 yards on 25 of 36 passing, including a 7-yard touchdown toss to Heath Miller in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

Gearing toward his life after football, Batch has recently launched his personal website, charliebatch.com to market all of the things that he plans to do upon walking into the sunset.<\/p>\n

Malik Vincent has written about sport topics in the Pittsburgh area since 2008 for various publications, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Sports Report.\u00a0 He can be reached at malikvincent@gmail.com or on Twitter @malikvincent.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the past few of his 15-year career in the NFL, you might see Charlie Batch with a headset in street clothes on the Steelers sideline imparting his pearls of wisdom among their franchise quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, during a game. … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-soul-pitt-quarterly"],"featured_image_src":"","blog_images":{"medium":"","large":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"ams_acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thesoulpitt.com\/spq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thesoulpitt.com\/spq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thesoulpitt.com\/spq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thesoulpitt.com\/spq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thesoulpitt.com\/spq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4112"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/thesoulpitt.com\/spq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4112\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thesoulpitt.com\/spq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thesoulpitt.com\/spq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thesoulpitt.com\/spq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}