Haskins, Moody together again

Throughout much of the 1990s and through the 21st century, they were the voices of Porterville athletics. And now they’re back.

Many in the community remember Mike Haskins doing play-by-play and Chad Moody doing color commentary as they broadcast local sports to the area. And now they’ll be doing it again as part of their new website they’ve established, Valleysportslive.com.

Local sports fans will again be able to listen to community high school athletic events as brought to them by Haskins and Moody by going to their website. They will begin broadcasting local high school football games this fall, featuring a 20-game regular season schedule. That schedule begins on Sept. 2 when they will broadcast the Porterville High-Mt. Whitney game in Visalia.

Haskins and Moody will also broadcast local high school basketball and baseball games as well, effectively picking up right where they left off 10 years ago when they would average broadcasting at least 100 events during a school year. 

Haskins and Moody last worked together in March, 2001. Along the way came many memorable moments, including broadcasting when the Porterville College men’s basketball team won the state title in 2000 in Stockton.

A major reason why Haskins and Moody got back into the business so to speak is because events such as last year’s Division II Valley girls basketball championship game in which Monache won the title was not broadcast.

“Ten years ago that would have never happened,” Moody said.

So Haskins and Moody said they want to restore the long tradition of broadcasting local sports that was really first begun when former Oakland Athletics broadcaster Monte Moore came to Porterville in the late 1970s.

“He brought ESPN to our little town before there was ESPN,” Haskins said.

Haskins said he and Moody are dedicating their first broadcast on Sept. 2 to Moore. “The inspiration for doing this is really Monte Moore,” Haskins said.

So that’s the genesis for the website’s slogan: “A tradition continues — a new tradition begins.”

Among those who are supporting their new venture, Haskins and Moody said, are California Interscholastic Federation Central Section commissioner Jim Crichlow.

And the love that Haskins and Moody have for broadcasting is another obvious reason why they’re in it again. “Now after a 10-year break the itch is being scratched again,” Haskins said. “Once you fall in love with broadcasting it doesn’t go away.”

Haskins and Moody also plan to broadcast other local high school sports when the interest and importance merits. They also plan for their website to provide complete local sports coverage, including local sports reports, athletes of the week and league standings. And they envision the website expanding to areas such as Tulare and Visalia as well.

“It’s not just going to be broadcasts,” Haskins said. “The site itself is going to have a lot of content. We’re excited about bringing some of the coverage back to the community.”

“I’m really excited,” Moody said. “I’ve been out of broadcasting for 10 years. I’m glad we got back into it. I think it’s time to get our athletes recognition again in the community.”

One thing that the website will not be a forum for is smack talk. “It won’t be allowed,” Haskins said.

Listeners will be able to go to the website and listen live to events that will be broadcast. Listeners will be able to listen to events on their personal computers, lap tops, tablets or smart phones and they can download an app for the website to their phones. 

Archives will also be provided of broadcasted events. Listeners will be able to listen to live and archived events for free while there will be a small fee to download or purchase copies of events.

And of course, Haskins and Moody are looking for anyone interested in providing advertising for their venture. Those interested in advertising with the website can go to www.valleysportslive.com.