A standout element of Fox broadcaster Chris Myers’ newly released book (with Travis Thrasher) That Deserves A Wow is the number of remarkable sports moments Myers has been involved in.
His first major interview came in May 1975 when he was just 16 when he interviewed Muhammad Ali for a Miami radio station (where, strangely enough, Myers had gotten a job partly thanks to the skills he showed off pretending to be two different callers to the station).
And that was just the start of decades of being around an extensive roster of athletes, coaches, and other sports figures and being there for incredible moments in sports and beyond.
Myers has been involved in the coverage of an unbelievable litany of events. Some of those have had impacts beyond sports, though.
Those include his coverage of Hank Gathers’ death after a Loyola Marymount game in 1990, his work on early live coverage of the 1989 San Francisco earthquake during the World Series and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing, the way he conducted O.J. Simpson’s first sit-down interview since the former athlete and broadcaster was found civilly liable for the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, and his work on Fox’s coverage of Dale Earnhardt’s death at the 2001 Daytona 500.
But Myers has also been there for many indelible moments within the realm of sports.
He was there for the Boston Red Sox’s 2004 comeback from a 3-0 ALCS deficit and their subsequent World Series sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals.
He interviewed Tom Brady after the New England Patriots’ 28-3 Super Bowl LI comeback. On short notice, he and a crew flew with Expos pitcher Tim Burke as Burke adopted a child from Guatemala.
And Myers even helped Boise State RB Ian Johnson propose to his girlfriend on live TV after the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
In a recent interview, Myers said this book and his sports life felt like a cross between two prominent movies. Those would be 2000’s
*Almost Famous* (particularly for the young music journalist played by Patrick Fugit) and 1994’s *Forrest Gump* (for the way the title character, played by Tom Hanks) winds up present for so many critical historical events).
“If you took those two movies and blended them together, I can see kind of what my life in sports, that’s what this book is, is kind of about,” he said. “I landed in some unusual spots like Forrest Gump, not quite that far, and I was covering sports as a kid. It was my passion. And my family helped shape me to go along for this ride in sports, as did people in the business.”
On the
*Forrest Gump* front, Myers said it is remarkable how many key things he’s been around, and he’s received some jibes from coworkers to that effect. But Myers is careful to point out that that’s included happy sports moments and tragic ones.
What lessons did Chris Myers learn about journalism from covering events like the 1989 earthquake and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing?
## From Muhammad Ali to the 1989 Earthquake: An Interview with Chris Myers
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re joined by veteran sports broadcaster Chris Myers, whose recently released book, *That Deserves A Wow*, takes readers behind the scenes of his incredible career. Chris, welcome to the program.
**Chris Myers:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** Your book dives deep into some of the most remarkable moments in sports history, but one thing that really struck me is how early your journey began. You were just sixteen when you landed an interview with Muhammad Ali. Tell us about that experience.
**Chris Myers:** It’s funny how life works out, isn’t it? I was a young kid, obsessed with radio and sports, and ended up working at a Miami station partly because I could mimic different voices well enough to convince them I was two separate callers. That led to the opportunity to interview Ali, and let me tell you, even at sixteen, I knew I was in the presence of greatness.
**Host:** That’s an incredible story. You also mention covering events that transcended sports, events like the 1989 earthquake during the World Series and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing. How did those experiences shape your perspective as a broadcaster?
**Chris Myers:** Those events were a stark reminder that life can change in an instant. Covering the World Series as the earth shook beneath our feet, witnessing the tragedy in Atlanta – it brought home the fragility of life and the importance of empathy. As a journalist, it’s our duty to report the news, but these experiences taught me the power of storytelling and the need to connect with people on a human level. [[1](https://www.amazon.com/That-Deserves-Wow-Champions-Heartbreaks-ebook/dp/B0CQHQ5JGK)]
**Host:** In your book, you also recount your iconic interview with O.J. Simpson after the events that shook the nation. Was that one of the more challenging interviews you’ve conducted?
**Chris Myers:** Absolutely. It was a deeply complex situation, and my goal was to approach it with sensitivity and respect for all involved. The interview itself was just one part of a much larger story, but it was important to me to give Simpson a chance to share his perspective.
**Host:** *That Deserves A Wow* is a fascinating look at your impressive career. What advice would you give to aspiring sports journalists?
**Chris Myers:** Be curious, be persistent, and never stop learning. This industry is always evolving, and you need to be adaptable and willing to embrace new challenges. Most importantly, never lose sight of the stories that matter, the human element at the heart of every event.
**Host:** Wonderful advice, Chris. Thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your insights.
**Chris Myers:** It was my pleasure.
