Steve Smith joins broadcast booth for Panthers preseason games
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Smitty is bringing his talent to the broadcast booth for the Panthers this preseason.
Former Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith will be in the broadcast booth for Panthers TV this preaseason, according to an announcement from the team. The new broadcast team for the team’s television network will consist of Smith (color commentary), Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play) and Kristen Balboni (sideline reporting), and the trio will work all three of the team’s preseason games this year.
Smith and Zarzour have experience working together on Charlotte radio, so there shouldn’t be any awkward ‘getting to know each other’ phase for the broadcast booth.
According to Darin Gantt’s story on the team website, Zarzour has experience in local radio and SiriusXM Radio, and he also does games for the SEC Network (including the Texas A&M-LSU seven-overtime game in 2018).
This will be the first game day broadcasting experience for Smith, but he certainly doesn’t lack the ability to find something entertaining to say. As told by Darin Gantt, Smith is excited about the opportunity.
“I enjoy elaborating and talking about ball and explaining ball,” Smith Sr. said. “I struggle with that sometimes as an analyst, with the shorter segments we do, you don’t really get to talk ball and Xs and Os. That’s one of the things you fight as an analyst, you don’t want to get too technical. . . .
“I know I need practice, this is my first time doing it, but I know ball. There are going to be little things I can discuss and talk about, and things I bring to the table that will be enjoyable. I can ask coaches questions they don’t roll their eyes at, because I sort of already know why they’re doing certain things, and what they need to see from players. So instead of asking broad questions, I can ask pointed and very narrow questions that can lead me to expound about it on the broadcast.”
Panthers TV airs on select networks throughout the Carolinas. To find the station in your area, you can consult the Panthers TV chart here.
Smitty is bringing his talent to the broadcast booth for the Panthers this preseason.
Former Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith will be in the broadcast booth for Panthers TV this preaseason, according to an announcement from the team. The new broadcast team for the team’s television network will consist of Smith (color commentary), Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play) and Kristen Balboni (sideline reporting), and the trio will work all three of the team’s preseason games this year.
Smith and Zarzour have experience working together on Charlotte radio, so there shouldn’t be any awkward ‘getting to know each other’ phase for the broadcast booth.
According to Darin Gantt’s story on the team website, Zarzour has experience in local radio and SiriusXM Radio, and he also does games for the SEC Network (including the Texas A&M-LSU seven-overtime game in 2018).
This will be the first game day broadcasting experience for Smith, but he certainly doesn’t lack the ability to find something entertaining to say. As told by Darin Gantt, Smith is excited about the opportunity.
“I enjoy elaborating and talking about ball and explaining ball,” Smith Sr. said. “I struggle with that sometimes as an analyst, with the shorter segments we do, you don’t really get to talk ball and Xs and Os. That’s one of the things you fight as an analyst, you don’t want to get too technical. . . .
“I know I need practice, this is my first time doing it, but I know ball. There are going to be little things I can discuss and talk about, and things I bring to the table that will be enjoyable. I can ask coaches questions they don’t roll their eyes at, because I sort of already know why they’re doing certain things, and what they need to see from players. So instead of asking broad questions, I can ask pointed and very narrow questions that can lead me to expound about it on the broadcast.”
Panthers TV airs on select networks throughout the Carolinas. To find the station in your area, you can consult the Panthers TV chart here.
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