[PODCAST] At the Buzzer: Real talk with Boom Gonzalez

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In the latest episode of At the Buzzer, a Rappler Sports podcast, host Naveen Ganglani talks with veteran broadcaster Boom Gonzalez about his career and what’s the latest going on in the world of sports. 

The two first discuss Boom’s journey of more than two decades in media, including the realizations both of them have had about working in the industry and how to deal with accusations of being “biased.”

Boom then gives his thoughts about the return of the NBA season in Orlando, particularly on the growing Lakers-Clippers rivalry, and the latest trends in college sports recruitment in the Philippines. 

Then finally, Boom opens up on his thoughts about the disbandment of ABS CBN Sports+Action. 

Here is an excerpt from the podcast:

Naveen: They (coaches) have said that recruitment has changed incredibly from back in the day, because back in the day you go to the player, and you tell this player, “Okay, are you interested to come to this university?” And then after the player shows you in practice and in the games that he can deliver, then maybe you start telling him, “Okay, we can give you this allowance, we could maybe give you this as a bonus if you accomplish this,” but nowadays, it’s become really like NBA free agency. 

Before I can go to your school, or before I will go to you, what can you do for me? What can you do for my family? Is that to trash the players for having this mentality? No, because if other players are being given these perks, why won’t you try to get that for yourself too, right? If you can take care of yourself, you can take care of your family at an early age, I will never knock anyone for ever having that preference. However, I will also say that I will feel for coaches and programs maybe of schools that don’t have much resources, because hindi pa nag sta-start yung games, disadvantage ka na, di ba….

Boom: You can look at it in different ways talaga. You can be one of those guys who gets excited, you know, signs of the time yan eh… It’s like the NBA. The NBA offseason has become a tournament in itself. It has become, kumbaga, must-watch and must-follow yung offseason ng NBA as compared to before na they really overlook those things.

But now again, with coverage, with social media, and you see the moves as the moves are happening real time, it’s become a spectacle in itself prior to the season, unlike back in the day when only the hardcore fans would really pay attention to it: to the movements, free agents, money exchange, all of these things. It’s become a spectacle and that’s why the NBA is where it’s at right now also.

It’s a year-long thing. The UAAP, technically, has become the same – basketball or volleyball. – Rappler.com

Check out our previous episodes:

Episode 1: On Manny Pacquiao and Jose Rizal 

Episode 2: What does it take to become a UAAP parent?

Episode 3: Gretchen Ho on spiking and shifting gears

Episode 4: A La Salle lookback with Mike Cortez

Episode 5: PBA restart prepping with Gabe Norwood