Patrick Kinas, the radio announcer for the Durham Bulls, was lost last year when the pandemic shut down most sports. But the one-year delay for the 2020 Olympics gave him the opportunity to call early rounds of the swimming competitions.
SCENE THIS AFTERNOON. >>> A LOT OF THE FOCUS IS ON THE OLYMPIC ATHLETES IN TOKYO. LOCAL VOICES ALSO PLAYED A VERY BIG ROLE. HE WILL HANDLE THE BULK OF THE NBC SWIMMING COVERAGE. IN THE FIRST PART OF HIS INTERVIEW, HE TAKES US THROUGH THE ANNOUNCERS PANDEMIC JOURNEY TO GET THERE.>> IT WAS AWFUL. LITERALLY I HAD ZERO ON MY SCHEDULE.>> THE COLLEGE SPORTS ANNOUNCER. THE PANDEMIC HIT HARD. >> THE TOKYO OLYMPICS. YOUR COLLEGE FOOTBALL IN THE FALL.>> THE FORMER COLLEGE TENNIS PLAYER ADDED RUNNING TO HIS DAILY ROUTINE TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH. >> THAT GOT ME OUT OF BED AND GIVE ME SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO EVEN THOUGH I DESPISE IT. >> A TRIP TO THIS PANDA EXPRESS. AND DIRECTION WITH A HOMELESS MAN ALSO IMPACTED HIM. IT LED TO ROUTINE MAIL DELIVERIES TO THE NEEDY. IT CHANGE THEIR PERSPECTIVE.>> I THINK I HAVE REALLY GROWN TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAT I CAN DO TO SERVICE MY COMMUNITY. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT WHO WAS STARTED TOMORROW'S GAME. >> DID A CHANGE OF AS A BROADCASTER? >> I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SOMEONE HIS BROADCASTING STYLE WAS MORE ABOUT STORIES. MORE ABOUT COOL ANECDOTES AND LESS ABOUT BATTING AVERAGE WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION. NOW, GETTING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC THE STORIES A MUCH MORE MAGNIFIED. WE ALL HAVE GONE TO THIS TOGETHER.>> THE PANDEMIC ACTUALLY HAVE A SILVER LINING WHEN IT COMES TO THE OLYMPICS. MONDAY AT 7:30 PM, FIND OUT HOW EATING AND MUFFIN WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AND HOW IT HAS PLAYED A ROLE IN HIS OLYMPIC ASSIGNMENT.>>> HE IS A REMARKABLE MAN. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF INTERVIEWING HIM IN 2016. OTHER BIG NEWS. HE AND HIS WIFE ARE EXPECTING THEIR FIRST CHILD IN DECEMBER.>> HE INVITED ME INTO THE BOX ONE NIGHT TO CALL INNING OF THE GAME WITH THE BULLS. I STAYED THERE SIX INNINGS.
