Meet Ralph Strangis | Sports Broadcaster, Writer, Actor & Lecturer

We had the good fortune of connecting with former Dallas Stars play by play man and former longtime Dallas resident Ralph Strangis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ralph, how do you think about risk?
The subject of risk-taking has always fascinated me. We take risks – large and small every day, but we don’t do a lot of examination either in advance or after the fact about the relative opportunities for loss or gain. Long-established human beliefs and cultural conditioning cloud our minds and inhibit rational examination; we do things, we believe things so often because we’ve always done them or believe them. Here’s one example: As a career sports broadcaster who looks at data and numbers and analytics, it’s always seemed especially interesting (if not blatantly troubling…) that football announcers, some of whom played the game at the highest level, routinely characterize “going for it” on fourth and one as “risky”, or at the very least “gutsy.” To be clear, there is nothing risky or gutsy in taking an action where the success of taking the action is statistically in your favor. With the proliferation of advanced stats and deep analytics, we find that in sports many of our embedded beliefs about strategy, clock management, asset deployment and so on, are just wrong. And if sports gets it wrong – with so much available supporting data – what do we get right and wrong every day? I moved with the Minnesota North Stars in 1993 from my home state to Dallas, Texas, So many people kept asking me how I felt about taking this risk. WHAT RISK?? This is where the job was. The risk was staying in Minnesota without a professional hockey team to work for. I’ve gone on auditions for work – “boy – that was gutsy to go in there cold like that” I’d be told. Gutsy? This is what I do for a living. You called HIM for a job? Of course I did. He owns the team – I better get in front of him. So often, it’s not a risk that we’re taking, but good strategy based on thinking it out in advance. And sadly, too often, we don’t take the time to investigate and act in our own best interest with the odds in our favor.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
While there is more than a little truth in the notion that most problems in life stem from saying yes too quickly or no not soon enough – I have endeavored to say yes as often as possible and figure out the rest once I got in the door. When I was a young man, making the mistakes young men make, I learned hard lessons and was battle tested early. Understanding that I needed to have my game in order and work hard to do the things others were unwilling or unable to do, I focused on sharpening my skills, expanding my network, and working hard to get opportunities and execute. I always wanted to be on TV and on the radio. My greatest gift was career clarity. I knew where I was headed and collected helpful information and contacts and didn’t spend as much time on subjects I knew I would not use regularly. In my first attempt at a college degree – I spent almost no time going to class – but I never missed a shift on the campus radio station or the opportunity to call a game. I discovered at an early age that there are no big tricks – show up early, prepared and ready to go. Follow up after. Be nice to people. And that served me well.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
While I don’t live in DFW anymore, I always enjoyed living uptown and walking the trail, going to theater or museums, and banging around Deep Ellum. Dallas has wonderful arts and population diversity, and I took advantage whenever I could.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To my father, the late Ralph Strangis, Sr who taught me the enormous advantage that comes with being the most prepared person in the room, and who reminded me often not to “check my brain at the door.”

Website: www.ralphstrangis.com