The voices of the Lions
Professional sports in the Northwest has a long illustrious history, and part of that history includes the story telling that the announcing crew brings to life.
For fans that are unable to attend the game in person, these gentlemen (and ladies) make you feel as if you were sitting front row.
Don’t forget to take a read of previous Mic Check stories (Jim Robson, Dave Niehaus, Kevin Calabro)
While separately they have well over a decade of broadcast experience each, for almost ten years, the team of Rick Ball and Giulio Caravatta have teamed up to bring the gridiron action to life over the radio for BC Lions fans.
Rick Ball
While Ball’s football playing career hit a ceiling in the Okanagan minor league ranks, his color commentary partner Caravatta is able to relate a little closer to the on field action under the BC Place lights as a former quarterback and punter for the Lions.
A graduate from BCIT’s broadcasting program, Ball has carved out a career following his dreams, covering the two sports he loves the most, hockey and football.
Rick Ball and Giulio Caravatta: the voices of your BC Lions
After a stint calling the action for the Western Hockey League, Ball was presented with the opportunity to host a show on Vancouver’s sports radio station TEAM 1040am.
From there, the chance to do play by play for the Vancouver Canucks became available and so too did a place in the Lions broadcast booth.
Recommended and praised for his knowledge and talent on the mic, Ball received a call last season from CBC and Hockey Night in Canada to help cover a number of their games for the Winnipeg Jets.
Giulio Caravatta
Caravatta, played his university football up on Burnaby Mountain for the Simon Fraser Clan and then signed as a free agent with the BC Lions, where he played under the Dome for seven years.
Following his career with the Vancouver franchise, Caravatta took to the sidelines covering the pre and post game shows for the local media outlets.
In 2000, Caravatta joined JP McConnell in the broadcast booth as a color commentator.
After lending their voices to the mic through separate ventures and opportunities, Ball and Caravatta’s paths finally crossed in 2004 and for the most part they have been inseparable ever since (last year Scott Rintoul filled in for Ball during his work with CBC).
For Lions fans, the familiar and knowledgeable voices of two of the best in the game are a welcome sound each weekend.
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