I got to sit in the booth with him for the first half of a basketball game. This was 1986, so Bob Boyd's last season. I interviewed him before the game and at halftime.
He had his own little booth at the Hump, rather than sit at the scorers table. I guess his booth was considered part of the concourse, because he chain smoked the whole time. (Yes, kids, we used to allow smoking indoors, but by the 80s there often designated indoor smoking areas).
Jack was really nice to this young, once-aspiring journalist. I didn't so much interview him as listen to him while he told me what I needed to know.
I asked him why he stayed neutral rather than being a homer like so many college radio guys. He said, "The only reason people listen to me is because they can't be at the game themselves [not true, but a practical way of thinking back then]. So, I owe them an honest description of the game without adding any of my own feelings. They know when to get excited and when to worry."
