OFM_Getting_Personal_0519_DEPT 4 / 23 / 19 9 : 37 AM Page 1 GETTING PERSONAL Orlando Magic play - by - play announcer David Steele on his childhood sports aspirations , his morning reading material and what it was like being inducted into the Magic’s hall of fame . retriever and a poodle , and a little more 1 . When I was a kid , I wanted than 1 year old . His name holds a double to be a Major League Baseball meaning — the designer dog in the player . I played shortstop for a athletic family . state runner - up team in Georgia as a high school senior , earned a scholarship to play at Carson - 6 . I like to start each day with reading the Newman College in Tennessee Bible . Beyond that , I enjoy reading American and until my freshman year in history or a good fiction suspense - thriller . college , thought I could play Sociology or faith - based inspirational books professionally . A . 155 batting are on my reading list too . average made me realize I better find another profession . 7 . I’m a big Beatles fan . My wife and I have seen Paul McCartney live in concert twice . I really would like to have seen the Beatles with 2 . My first job out of college Paul , John , George and Ringo all together . was sports director at WJHG - TV in Panama City , Florida . My wife and I graduated from 8 . Every summer , my wife and I get together the University of Georgia on with our three children and their families . Friday , June 13 , 1975 , and I We have a total of seven grandchildren . We anchored the sports on the gather either in East Tennessee in the Great 5 p.m . newscast in Panama Smoky Mountains area or in Lake Lure , City on Monday , June 16 . North Carolina . Very special times . 3 . My wife , Sally , and I met in 9 . My path to becoming the Magic’s play - by - high school . play announcer began more than 40 years ago . It was near the end of our sophomore years at After working as a local TV news sportscaster Briarcliff High School in Atlanta , in Panama City ( WJHG - TV ) and then Georgia , and we were 15 years Asheville , North Carolina ( WLOS - TV ) , I was old . We’ll celebrate 45 years of hired by the University of Florida in 1982 to marriage this summer . handle play - by - play duties for the Gator radio network , and in 1989 was hired by the Orlando Magic as play - by - play announcer on 4 . My favorite thing about radio . In 1998 I replaced Chip Caray as the being the Orlando Magic’s play - by - play Magic’s TV play - by - play announcer and have announcer is the athletes . The fact that NBA held that position since . athletes are the greatest in the world , and on any given night , I might be witnessing an event that people are talking about across the 10 . The highlight of my professional career country the next day . was being inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame . To be recognized by a great organization like the Magic after working 5 . I have a dog named Coach . He’s a golden - there for 30 years was a great honor . doodle , which is a cross between a golden 10 ORLANDO FAMILY may 2019 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM