I knew I wanted Fischer for a guest as soon as I began the show, because a year earlier, before IU's game at Northwestern, he had told me about his start in broadcasting.

It's a classic story. Imagine someone building a successful sportscasting career from an ad for a correspondence course in the back of a magazine. Fischer did that, but it took a lot of hard work and a fib or two along the way. After his exceptionally humble beginning in 1968 he improved to the point he landed a job as IU's radio play-by-play announcer for football and basketball games in 1973. I'm not sure if he enjoys roller coaster rides, but he's been on one for most of his 40-plus years there: losing seasons most falls, winning seasons most winters.

Fischer called all three of IU's NCAA championships under Bob Knight, which helped make him a vital part of the program in the ears of most fans. His weekly radio talk shows with Knight also became legendary, and the source of a book's worth of great stories. He'll tell a few here.

I talked with Fischer in the studio. As you can imagine, talking to a professional talker isn't difficult.

First aired 2009

Tagged with: Bob Knight Show, Don Fischer, Indiana University radio play-by-play