The Mavs Fan With a Microphone: Inside the World of Dallas Mavericks PA Announcer | Sean Heath

Show Notes

If you’ve ever been to a Dallas Mavericks game at the American Airlines Center, you’ve heard his voice — even if you didn’t realize it.

On this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner, Shoopy, and Ashley sit down with Sean Heath, the longtime public address announcer for the Dallas Mavericks, to talk about the strange, unpredictable path that led him to one of the most unique jobs in sports.

Sean didn’t grow up dreaming of being an NBA PA announcer. In fact, the first sporting event he ever announced was a Dallas Mavericks preseason game. Before that he had been a DJ, a software engineer, an actor, a translator, a motivational speaker, and even spent time living in Spain.

Somehow all of those experiences led to the moment where he auditioned for the Mavericks job — and never left. 

YDC Ep 203.mp3

Sean explains what it’s like being the “Mavs fan with a microphone”, sitting courtside just feet away from some of the best basketball players in the world while trying to turn a basketball game into an unforgettable arena experience.

The conversation dives into:

How NBA PA announcers shape the energy of a game

The chaotic audition process that landed Sean the job

What it takes to pronounce international NBA player names correctly

His work as a voice in the NBA 2K video game series

And the delicate balance between being a professional announcer and a die-hard fan

Sean also shares stories about working with the Mavericks game presentation crew, interacting with players, and why his real goal isn’t to be noticed — it’s to help fans have the best night possible.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like behind the microphone at an NBA game, this episode offers a rare inside look at one of the most unusual jobs in sports.

Chapters

0:00 — Meet the Voice of the Dallas Mavericks
5:20 — Becoming the “Mavs Fan With a Microphone”
12:17 — From DJ to Mavericks PA Announcer
16:10 — The Mavericks Audition That Changed Everything
19:31 — The Game That Sealed the Deal
27:32 — Finding the Right Voice for an NBA Arena
29:15 — The PA Announcer as the Narrator of the Game
35:12 — Sponsor Break: CBD House of Healing
36:57 — Eric Nadal Birthday Benefit & Mental Health Awareness
38:18 — Music, Tribute Bands & Mike’s Tom Petty Connection
42:27 — Influences in the World of PA Announcing
48:33 — The Challenge of Pronouncing NBA Player Names
55:04 — Balancing Professionalism with Being a Fan
59:15 — Bringing the Mavericks Arena Experience to NBA 2K
1:00:43 — Final Thoughts on Sports, Opportunity, and Saying Yes to New Challenges

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Creators and Guests

Host

Mike Rhyner

Mike Rhyner… "a little on the bumpy side, but rather likable"…so stated famously by a grade school teacher in Oak Cliff, where Mike grew up. A complicated guy, yet a guy who can do long division and remember call strike three to A Rod. Probably best left unattended. Don't expect assistance from him if a medical situation arises.

What is Your Dark Companion Podcast?

"Whatever I want it to be about on a given day; is what it is." Your Dark Companion couples your familiar friends from radio, Mike and Grubes! Mike brings his classic interviews that draw you in, and Grubes—The Devil—drops…well the drops, and throws the occasional grenade. Mike likes to draw on his fascinating acquaintances and friends allowing them to tell their stories as you've never heard them. But he also goes outside his network, sharing Grubes' network, and often outside of both, to bring you those they don't know, but believe have a story that will make you laugh, make you think, think differently, or just entertain you…"that's what we are trying to do here."