Steve Moulton - The Selflessness

I took a leap of faith changing my career in my late 20's. It was daunting. Leaving home for the first time in my life, moving halfway across the country, and beginning a career (broadcasting) that I been studying and learning about consistently for the last couple years but still had some nerves about the whole thing. I felt reassured when I got my first job, calling games for the Mississippi RiverKings of the SPHL, a team that was owned by a local non-profit and had been going 26 years strong. Naturally, as my luck is always this way, the RiversKings folded after one season. In my panicked brain, I thought, 'Welp, this is it. My new career is over before it really got started'. But then I got a phone call from Steve Moulton. Steve works at 97.7 ESPN The Zone out of Huntsville, Alabama. He was also the voice of the Huntsville Havoc, a team in our league. Steve was an incredible colleague and friend for me that season, helping me in the booth whenever I needed it as I learned my way. But on this day, the day of the call, Steve went above and beyond.  Steve wasn't just calling to send his condolences on the death of my employer and to wish me luck in my future endeavors, he was calling to gauge my interest IN a future endeavor. Steve's idea, though not fully-fleshed out at the time, included a partnership with myself and him in the booth. I can't begin to tell you how selfless that is. Especially in the cutthroat world of radio broadcasting. A firmly established, voice of a team, offers up his seat to a young kid guy just getting started in his career? Just, wow. To this day I don't know what he saw in me, but at that time, Steve's call was the first person to offer somewhat of a solution to me. Not only that, it was the first call that told me "Hey TJ, maybe your career isn't over before it began. Steve wants you, he sees something in you, you'll get more chances just like this." 

​I was completely on board with joining Steve and the Havoc, in whatever capacity. If it could keep my broadcasting dream alive, sign me up. After some time, deliberations between the team and the station, it turned out that there just wasn't any room for me so our plan never came to pass. That said, I landed on my feet okay in Minnesota, and he remained calling games for the Havoc with this past season being his last. I'll never forget his kindness, his offer, his selflessness. We've kept in touch throughout the years and he's always there offering me help of one kind or another. Giving me advice on using a new piece of equipment like my first Rodecaster Pro or offering up logins for different websites so I could bolster my broadcast. Steve is good people. Every broadcaster, young or old, should aspire to be Steve because every broadcaster, young or old, needs a Steve in their life. 

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