The Southern California Sports Broadcasters organization was created in 1958, the year the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. The legendary Tom Harmon, then a sports anchor for KTLA Channel 5, was elected president. The idea behind the creation of the SCSB was to make it easier for local television and radio sports reporters to do their interviews. Sports stars such as Sandy Koufax and No
rm Van Brocklin -- whoever was making news in sports at the time -- were invited to weekly luncheons at various restaurants, such as Taix, located on Sunset Boulevard near Dodger Stadium. The SCSB luncheons were well-attended major events. Large television cameras were mounted on stands to tape interviews, and radio reporters brought along their bulky tape recorders. But over the years, as television equipment became lighter and more mobile, the need for these weekly luncheons lessened. The weekly luncheons became monthly, then quarterly, although the annual SCSB awards luncheon continued to thrive. And the fact that the beautiful Lakeside Golf Club in Toluca Lake had become the site for all SCSB luncheons was a definite plus. We are happy to report that the SCSB is alive and well, thanks mainly to the efforts of former president and current treasurer Joe Cala, current president Chris Roberts, executive director Randy Elkins, and tech whiz Martin Leon. And it is now open to anyone who has an interest in sports, whether they work in the industry or not. A $40 annual dues fee enables one to become a member, which means receiving the SCSB newsletter and all news bulletin and get a discounted luncheon price. College students who are interested in sports broadcasting can come to one luncheon free of charge. The SCSB board of directors has been revamped with a few new additions. The new board members have helped line up some outstanding programs that have included such people as Peter O'Malley, Jeanie Buss, radio talk show hosts Steve Mason and John Ireland, former Ram greats Vince Ferragamo and Fred Dryer and many more. Please mark your calendar for Monday January 30, 2017. Our Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon is shaping up to be the best we've ever had. More details will be announced soon, as well as the event schedule for the rest of 2016.
