Blind sports broadcaster offers color commentary at Ogden Raptors game | News, Sports, Jobs

OGDEN — Give a disabled person a chance and that can make all the difference.

“That’s what people with disabilities need in life — someone who will give them an opportunity,” said Bryce Weiler, a blind sports broadcaster.

Weiler, co-founder of a group geared to the disabled, the Beautiful Lives Project, visited Weber County last week, invited by Weber School District officials. He offered an inspirational, can-do message to teachers in the district’s Career and Technical Education program as they prepped for the new school year, discussing the obstacles he’s faced as a blind man working in sports.

Then on Friday, he took things a step further — helping with analysis of the Ogden Raptors baseball game against the North Colorado Owlz, demonstrating in dramatic form his ability to overcome the challenges that life can toss your way. Though blind since an infant, he’s learned the ins and outs of baseball, soccer, basketball and other sports, and jumps at every opportunity to analyze games for on-air broadcasts, even if he can’t see actual play.

Last Friday, he visited the press box at Lindquist Field, offering color commentary on the game against the Owlz as Richard Armstrong, “the voice” of the Raptors, delivered play-by-play action. Armstrong, formally the director of game day operations for the Raptors, provides play-by-play of the team’s games for FloSports.tv, which broadcasts the Ogden team’s games online.

Seated high above home plate, Weiler would take cues from Armstrong’s description of the action on the field, offering insights into players and predictions about what fans might expect in the play to come. He worked several innings of Friday’s game, which the Raptors eventually won 10-8.

“The Raptors are going to try and cut that run down at the plate if that’s possible,” he said at one point, the Owlz with players on second and third base in potential scoring position. “Northern Colorado’s going to try to go for the flyball into the outfield.”

A flyball, indeed, came and outfielder Reese Alexiades fielded the ball, quickly throwing it to home plate to prevent a run. “The flyball was not deep. Secondarily, it was very high, so Reese had a chance to really set up and to really get some power behind the throw,” Weiler said.

Weiler, who lives in Claremont, Illinois, wants to demonstrate that the disabled can defy expectations, do anything they set their mind to. He’s also offered live on-air analysis of Baltimore Orioles games, college basketball games, college soccer games and much more.

More significantly, he aims to open doors for the disabled, push the broader public to give jobs and other opportunities to those with whatever type of disability.

“We know there is an amazing feeling that comes with helping people realize a goal. We believe that when we stop focusing on disabilities and abilities, we start to see what we’re ABLE to achieve and what we’re ABLE to offer someone else,” reads the website for the Beautiful Lives Project, the nonprofit organization Weiler helped create that has a similar goal.

Weiler — also a “disability consultant” for the Orioles, helping the team better serve the disabled population — is a student of various sports. To prep for a stint analyzing a game, he’ll study up on the teams and players, among other things.

“I study the broadcaster’s style, speak to players, coaches,” he said.

Armstrong said he jumped at the opportunity to get Weiler into the broadcast box, noting his efforts to help the disabled through the Beautiful Lives Project. Armstrong’s brother-in-law is blind, he said, and his daughter has severe hearing loss.

“I just look at it — why not? Why not give an opportunity for something like this?” Armstrong said.

He also praised Weiler’s analysis of Friday’s game. “His knowledge of baseball and his research before he came here is outstanding,” Armstrong said.

Weiler said some bristle at the notion of allowing him in the broadcast booth.

“Many broadcasters feel nervous doing that because I can’t see,” he said. But if more people create opportunities and give a chance to the blind, the hard of hearing, those with whatever impairment, “people with disabilities can live their dreams.”

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