Darrell Moody: Estes enjoying Giants broadcasting gig

When Shawn Estes retired from Major League Baseball in 2008 after 13 years and 101 victories, he knew he wanted to stay involved in the game.

“I wasn’t interested in coaching,” Estes said from his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. “They (coaches) spend so much time at the ballpark and away from home. It meant too much time away from the family.”

That didn’t leave Estes many options — front-office work, scouting or broadcasting. He ended up choosing the latter, and he currently works as a studio analyst for Comcast Sports Net Bay Area doing San Francisco Giants games.

“In 2010, I interviewed for two days for a job for the 2011 season,” said Estes, a Douglas High graduate. “The Giants were playing the Diamondbacks in the NLDS. I guess I did a good enough job.

“I like it a lot. It’s a good job. I come into town once a month. I work about 40 games a year. It allows me to stay in baseball, and see my family.”

Estes has two sons, 12 and 11, and a 17-month-old daughter. Both boys play baseball, flag football and hockey. Whether they excel in baseball remains to be seen. Estes is currently coaching a 12-under club team in the Major Division, the top circuit in the area, and loving every minute of it.

Estes said preparing for a broadcast is just like preparing for a start on the mound, and he admits he always has butterflies. He’s always looking to bring something extra to every broadcast.

“It’s not an exaggeration, if you don’t do the job and get better, they will find somebody else,” Estes said.

Estes, the latest inductee into the NIAA Hall of Fame, is flying into Reno on Feb. 24. All 10 of the newest NIAA Hall of Fame inductees are taping video interviews to be shown at the Hall of Fame luncheon on Feb. 25 at Lawlor Events Center.

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On a Carson note, belated congratulations go out to Brady O’Keefe who finished fifth at the prestigious Doc Buchanan Invitational in Clovis, Calif.

O’Keefe chalked up a 5-2 record at the event which is just by invitation.

The sad thing is, O’Keefe’s dad, Will, said the school was balking on allowing his son to go because it meant meant missed class time.

Are you kidding me?

Seems to me the CHS administration should have bigger concerns than a student-athlete missing two days of school, especially at the start of a semester.

This was/is an event that can make or break a wrestler’s chance to get a college scholarship.

I know O’Keefe has already been accepted into a couple of colleges, so his academic standing can’t be too bad.

Wrestling tournaments, especially the big ones, are usually on Friday and Saturday because high school events are not held on Sundays.

In my opinion, the current administration and district folks seem to be making things more difficult for student-athletes than in past years.

High school is more than just academics. Extra-curricular activities are just as important.

I know for a fact many colleges look at activities beyond academics before admitting students.