Today we got a good one folks. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Wisconsin broadcasting legend Dennis Krause. Dennis Krause is a five-time Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year. He is host of “The Roundtable” and “The Dennis Krause Show” on Spectrum News 1. Dennis serves as the color analyst for home games on the Milwaukee Bucks Radio Network. He is also the host of the pregame show “Packers Game Day” on the Green Bay Packers Radio Network. The resume really speaks for itself, and as a Wisconsin resident who grew up with the Packers pregame show on in the background of my house every Sunday, it was an honor to conduct the interview. In the interview, we talked about his career, Bucks basketball, and his thoughts on the Green Bay Packers.
Read the full interview with Dennis Krause below.
Is WRST where it all started for you? (WRST is the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s radio station and is where Dennis attended college)
Dennis: Yes, I was on WRST radio primarily my freshman and sophomore year. Junior and Senior year, I started doing more TV work, but after my Freshman year, I got my first paid broadcasting job as a DJ for WNAM Neenah Menasha.
And During your time at Oshkosh, were you calling Titans games?
Dennis: I called Some football for both radio and TV, I called basketball for radio, and I called Baseball for both radio and TV.
Do you think that experience helped land you a job after college?
Dennis: Yeah, I think it did. I think the accumulation of everything I did in my time at college helped me land my first sportscasting job out in Peoria, Illinois. I was the weekend anchor, weekday reporter and the nice thing about working there was they had a radio station in the same building where I did a sports talk show from 6:30-7. Another nice thing was a lot of jobs at the time they wanted you to shoot video as well> I wasn’t good at video, but the appealing thing about Peoria is they just had me doing reporting, anchoring, and sports radio.
So, when did you make that jump from Peoria to WTMJ?
Dennis: About three years after I took the job in Peoria, Bob Dolan left WTMJ. Now because I had interned there in college when I applied, they knew me. Now, this didn’t mean I was a synch to get it, but in 1987 I applied to be the weekend sports anchor and got hired.
And from that point, how do you make the transition to calling games for the Bucks?
Dennis: I would say it was around ‘96-’97. Howard Davis was the one doing play by play for the Bucks, but sometimes he would have to miss games because he would be doing Monday Night Football. So, I was asked to fill in for those games. I did that for 2 years, and after the first year of that they said they were going to start doing more TV games. They then switched John Mcglocklin over to TV and said it would be a smoother adjustment for Howard if you just did all the home games with him. And so that’s how all that came to be.
A lot of color guys are former coaches or players; did you ever get hassled that you came from an anchor background?
Dennis: I didn’t get hassled; I did have to make an adjustment in my mind. I was never going to offer what a former coach or player could offer. So, what I needed to do was more homework, particularly about the other team, and find things I could relate during a broadcast. It wasn’t my expertise, and I didn’t feel qualified to critique players and coaches on what they were doing. I tried to add a different element that would bring something to the broadcast that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. I think it’s important for young broadcasters to understand who you are and who you are not, and play to your strengths.
Do you remember your first game that you called and any nerves that went along with it?
Dennis: I wanna say the first game I did color for was in Philadelphia on opening night in ‘96. I don’t remember any nerves because you’re young, stupid, and confident. I’d say I had more nerves when I had to do play by play because I was all by myself carrying the broadcast. Ya know, you’re like sitting there in Madison Square Garden in New York, and you think to yourself I better get this right!
What does the preparation look like for you when you’re getting ready for a game?
Dennis: I’ll just relay what I do for the Packers pregame because that’s what I’m doing now. So what I do is I have a file for each opposing team, and it’s a physical file, not a virtual file because I’m paranoid that I’ll lose it or something. So I have a file for the Saint’s, and when I see something through the calendar year about the Saints, I’ll put it in the file, and that way when I’m getting ready for a show I’ll have that information. I also read the opposing city’s newspapers, keep up to date with who’s hurt, the big stories following the team, etc.. That way, when I’m preparing for a show, I’m not starting from scratch.
As someone who is so close to the heartbeat of the Bucks organization, what’s been the difference in atmosphere with this team the past few years? As opposed to years past when the Bucks haven’t been as dominant.
Dennis: Well, it starts with the ownership expecting excellence. And let’s not kid ourselves Giannis transformed everything. He was the 15th pick, and if he doesn’t develop into the two-time MVP, I don’t know what this Bucks organization would look like. He lifted the whole franchise. Now I don’t take anything away from the ownership, the Fiserv Forum, or Mike Budenholzer. They’re all a part of the ingredients, but to me, it all starts with Giannis.
Speaking of Giannis, he has the supermax in front of him that he can sign this summer. What reasons do you think he has to stay in Milwaukee? And do you think he’ll stay in Milwaukee?
Dennis: A couple things, he can make much more money here than anywhere else, and I think he values loyalty. This is a guy that didn’t come from an entitled AAU basketball system, he was selling watches on the streets of Greece, and I think he is very appreciative of what this Bucks organization has done for him. I can’t guarantee that he’ll stay, but I would be surprised if he chooses to go somewhere else.
Do you think this Bucks team needs a reliable 3rd scoring option?
Dennis: I have mixed feelings about that. Obviously, they need to do something because the last two seasons have not gone as they wanted. To get that third option, you’re going to need to give up something, and how will that player mix with Giannis?
And my final question for you on basketball. If you could make a starting 5 of any players you’ve called a game for who would that starting 5 be?
Dennis: I’d start with Jordan… Lebron James would be on there. I didn’t call any games for Kareem so I can’t put him on there. I called games with Shaq, so I’ll put him on there. Kobe Bryant….
“Do you have Lebron running point in this starting 5?”
Dennis: *Laughs.. Great question! Yeah, that’s a good idea. Lebron, Jordan, Kobe, Shaq, and then… Tim Duncan. And I’m sure I’m leaving off a lot, but that’s who comes to mind.
Dennis Krause’s Starting 5
Lebron James
Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Shaquille O’Neal
Switching gears to the Packers back in April, you wrote an article about the incoming Packers rookies. Which rookie so far has stood out to you so far this season/training camp?
Dennis: I know he’s hurt as of right now, but Deguara could be a really good tight end if he can stay healthy. We haven’t seen enough of AJ Dillon to make an assumption about him. Jordan Love, I think most people understood that he wasn’t drafted for this year or even the next. Obviously, in the long run, if Jordon Love doesn’t become a starting quarterback, well that’s a first-round pick you invested. He’s going to be the face of the draft good or bad in five years.
Back in 2006, you wrote about an unexpected interview you had with a soon to be undrafted rookie Tony Romo. He goes on to have a fantastic career in and outside of football. Do you recall any other memorable interviews you had over the course of your career that were unexpected?
Dennis: I’ll take this in a different direction than football. One night, it must have been ‘95 or so. I was doing a Bucks game in Houston, and I needed a halftime guest. I was waiting for Calvin Murphy, longtime Rockets player, and at the time Rockets broadcaster. Well, he was taping something, and so that didn’t work out, but I needed a guest. That’s when I spotted former President George Bush Sr. Sitting courtside. So, I walk up to his secret service guard and ask if the president would be willing to do an interview. Not about politics or anything, just a quick interview about sports. They allowed it, and I remember he was drinking a beer, had his presidential cowboy boots, and was eating a taco. And we just talked about what sports can do for a city, he was a very famous Houston resident, and he was very nice.
Packers pregame plays such an integrated role on a Packers game day. How have you seen the show evolve over the years?
Dennis: Well, it used to be 3 hours long. So, by the time you kicked it over to the broadcast, you were kind of tapped out. Now it’s an hour and a half with commercials, so you have to get as much content in as you can. The cast has changed over the years with the different panels, and that’s what makes it fun too. With all the different personalities, you want to try to bring out the best in your guest. For example, if James Jones is on, you want to ask him wide receiver questions because he brings a unique perspective on that position. He’ll know things other people wouldn’t know. So, you have to play to the strengths of the people you’re working with.
For the first time in my memory, there was no preseason this year. Are you for or against a shorter preseason or the elimination of the preseason entirely?
Dennis: I think with all the early season injuries we’ve seen thus far this year, NFL teams are going to be reluctant to do away with the preseason entirely. I think the preseason is a great chance for teams to sprinkle in veterans, but more importantly make decisions at the bottom end of their rosters. Now, could the preseason be cut from 4 to 2 games? Yeah, but I don’t see the preseason going away.
My final question is about your relationship to other broadcasters in Wisconsin. Guys like Wayne Larrivee, Bob Uecker, Matt Lepay, and obviously Ted Davis. Is there a legendary Wisconsin sportscasters group chat that the public is unaware of?
Dennis: If there is a group chat, I am unaware of it. I’ve just had the chance because I’ve been around such a longtime that I’ve had the chance to meet all these guys, and work with some of them. Bob Uecker was always nice to me, and Wayne has done interviews with me when he hasn’t had to. I never got a chance to work with Matt, but I think there’s a mutual respect there. Ted Davis and I have built a chemistry over the years together, and it’s not like we spend every day on the phone with each other. I like to think one of my strengths is I can work with just about anyone and can supplicate my ego to the broadcast. So, with Ted, it’s his show. He’s the play by play guy, and I’m just there to support him.
In my time talking with Dennis Krause, I could tell he’s a hard-working, humble guy. Off air, we talked a bit about what the future holds. He talked a little about retirement, and how he’s been a paid broadcaster since 1984. He’s grateful to have been in the business for as long as he has, and he mentioned how there’s more days behind him than in front of him for his broadcasting career. Truly a living legend, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with him.
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