Although the Lakers are "hugging up against their worst record ever," team PA announcer Lawrence Tanter "learned long ago to maintain professionalism," according to a profile by Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. TIMES. While pro sports teams continue to depend more and more on in-arena entertainment, Tanter is "far from the screaming fanatics employed by so many other NBA teams, cheerleaders with courtside microphones at their disposal." Tanter, who has attended almost every home game since '82, said, "I've talked to a lot of guys around the league over the years and the majority of them are being told to do that by the franchises. Fortunately, the man who employed me until his untimely death two years ago, [Late Lakers Owner] Jerry Buss, never told me anything like that, and I appreciated that." Tanter added of Buss, "He never said 'Be louder' or 'More inflection.' He said, 'I like the way you call the game. It's professional and it reflects what we want to be as an organization.' I've tried to keep that as my mandate over the years" (L.A. TIMES, 3/15).
VITAL ORGAN: In Tampa, Chelsea Tatham profiled Krystof Srebrakowski, who is in his "third season" as the Lightning's organist. Originally from Poland, Srebrakowski, 51, is "classically trained with a diverse musical background." Amalie Arena in '11 "installed a digital organ with five keyboards and a 300-speaker sound system." Designed by Pennsylvania-based Walker Technical Co., it is "one of the largest electronic theater organs in the world and one of the largest instruments in the NHL." Lightning VP/Game Presentation John Franzone said, "It anchors our Lightning game presentation as kind of 'connective tissue' … linking a new generation of Lightning fans to hockey's long, great past, while serving as a fresh addition to our show." He added that the choice of pop tunes like "I Can See Clearly Now" and Jimmy Buffett's "Volcano" "makes the arena a 'hockey paradise.'" Franzone: "It's a magnificent sound that is unique to our arena" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/15).
