The Early Years: How John Russell Leahy Jr. Built His Foundation in Broadcasting
John Russell Leahy Jr.’s path to becoming a respected voice in sports broadcasting didn’t start with a polished microphone or in a high-tech studio. It started in the heart of the city of Boston, where his childhood was shaped under influences that extended through his life. Born on November 28, 1964, John grew up with the booming voice of legendary local broadcasters like Fred Cusick, whose calls of the Boston Bruins games were a staple of his young life. These early experiences were not only entertaining but planted seeds that blossomed into the fullness of time with calls.
In a city as alive with sports as this, it is probably no surprise that John's love affair with broadcasting started with a radio. At an extremely tender age, during periods of play, he would be glued to the radio, fascinated by the ability of the announcers to bring the game to life. It was more than the score or the plays; it was the energy, excitement, and feel of a game being broadcast. John would listen intently as Cusick and others painted vivid pictures of the action-voices filled the airwaves and often the rooms of countless fans. Those voices were doing more than their job; they were creating moments, etching themselves in the memories of listeners. John knew early on that was what he wanted to do.
But it wasn't just the broadcasters that caught his attention. Growing up in Boston meant being surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a city that lived and breathed sports. Whether it was the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, the Bruins on the ice, or the Celtics heating up the hardwood, John was surrounded by the fervor that defines Boston sports. It was through this connection with his city's teams that his passion for broadcasting grew.
However, John's route did not involve just the happenstance of an open door; education was important. After graduating from Stoughton High School in 1983, John continued his higher learning at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, where he graduated in 1989 with a degree that would serve as a stepping stone toward what would follow. While UMass-Boston provided him with a good education, it was outside-the sporting culture of Boston-that helped him to realize his future lay not within four walls of classrooms but was out in the open at living the dream of becoming that voice, which for over years the fans would hear.
But let's be realistic: college was not enough. He knew the game's most cogent rule: if one wanted to make it big in competitive sports broadcasting, he had one thing to do. In 2005, he attended the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. That is actually where things started to take a turn. He really took at this time from his personal experience that cultivated this childhood aspiration he had into professional material. Broadcasting School had provided for him the skill acquisition: latticing the art involved with timing when saying something that counts, the power of commentary delivery, and being educated on the entire technical aspect attached to the job. Of course, issues of learning speaking from a microphone to shaping skills of contacting an audience-so the decision was far-reaching, but above everything, an enormous thrust was required by his immediate circle.
John had attained a foundation through both formal education and self-driven passion. Still, as it happens with any true journey, it wasn't exactly a smooth ride-up the ladder; there were some grimy years of small gigs, practice runs, and a lot of learning. Apart from knowledge, the talent of connecting
with the listeners and making them feel just about in the action is inborn and seems to singularly be the biggest requirement in broadcasting. Whereas for John, this is a skill honed over time.
Now, in retrospect, it's easy to see how these early years-his childhood in Boston, his education at UMass-Boston, and his training at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting-set the stage for the broadcaster he would become. It wasn't about having the right piece of paper or the right people in your corner; it was about the foundation. It had more to do with growing up in love with the sports teams of the city, with radio legends, and feeding it at every educational opportunity.
John's early years set the stage for everything that followed. His passion wasn't something he learned; it was nurtured. Those early foundations that he had laid down, sculpted by his childhood, his education, and a deep love for his city, gave him all the means to become the sports broadcaster who would one day be recognized for his witty and insightful commentary.