Get to Know Your Loons: Jared Sandler

Full Name: Jared Sandler; No middle name. Of my appropriate nicknames, "Jare-Bear," "J-Boogie," "J-Boog," and "Rard," are most prominent.

Hometown: Dallas, Texas by way of my South African heritage.

Residence: The ESPN 100.9-FM Studios inside of Dow Diamond. When I get time, I mosey over to my man pad in Midland to eat and sleep.

Favorite movie: The Shawshank Redemption - "Fear can hold you prisoner; Hope can set you free."

Favorite TV show: While it's no longer active, I am not ashamed to admit that I was a big fan of Gossip Girl, originally inspired by future wife, Blake Lively. I love sports programming on ESPN and very much enjoy the Hard Knocks series. And, how can you go wrong with Modern Family?

Favorite musicians: I have the strangest, most eclectic taste in music because I like everything. 2pac, Biggie, Pearl Jam, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Sarah McLachlan, Florence + the Machine, Macklemore, Justin Timberlake, Tim McGraw, the Temptations…you name it, I'll listen.

Types of music on your iPod: Everything. Even classical music/movie scores and classic speeches from movies.

Guilty pleasure movies: Pitch Perfect, Love Actually, She's Out of My League or She's All That.

Music to work out to: Other people's broadcasts or whatever my iPhone randomly chooses. AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" and the "Lose Yourself" remix ft. 50 Cent by Eminem always get me going.

Most embarrassing song on your iPod: Just one? Ha! I have a lot of a capella, including songs from Glee and Pitch Perfect.

Favorite actor: Leonardo DiCaprio

Last movie at the theater: World War Z - if you can get past the sci-fi element, it's a solid flick with a story that is analytically challenging to a degree.

Celebrity crush: BLAKE LIVELY. With Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Watson on the podium. But Blake is well in the lead and has been since my freshman year of high school.

Dinner with three people, dead or alive: My dad, Alan, and my brothers, Darryn and Jason-my three best friends. It's my honest trio, but if you wanted to taste my creativity: Nelson Mandela. John Wooden. Jackie Robinson.

Favorite food: Meat-topped pizza, ice cream, sweet potato fries, or frozen grapes.

Favorite restaurant: The Porch (Dallas), The Creek (GLBR), The Yardhouse (LA), Mi Cocina (Dallas)

Farthest you've ever traveled from your hometown: South Africa to visit family (3 times). Family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) in Johannesburg. My favorite city in South Africa is Cape Town. It's rich with history (Robben Island) and beautiful with several beaches and activities.

Top three things on bucket list: Marry the girl of my dreams, have kids, and raise a happy and loving family, first and foremost. Secondly, broadcast the Texas Rangers with one of my friends playing in the game and my dad joining me in the booth, hanging out. Finally, be in attendance for the first World Cup Final won by the United States.

Dream vacation: Cape Town, South Africa or a European tour highlighted by Italy. I'd have to connect and spend 48 hours (but no more!) in Vegas.

Last book you read: The Bullpen Gospels by Dirk Hayhurst. Very good and telling read about the experiences of a Minor League vet trying to crack the bigs.

If you could be anybody else in the word for a day: Mark Cuban-he is brilliant, despite what his "antics" at NBA games suggest to some. He is a self-made billionaire and a true modern-day renaissance man, constantly challenging himself and others to be better and accomplish the unthinkable. If he was unavailable for takeover, any high schooler or third grader to remember what it was like to have so much fun at that age and not have the type of real-world issues to bother me.

Person who taught you the most: My father and hero, Alan, who was very much influenced by his late father, "Grandpa Dave," and my older brothers, Darryn and Jason.

Favorite broadcasters: Eric Nadel, voice of the Texas Rangers, as well as ESPN's Dan Shulman and Mike Tirico, Giants' voice, Jon Miller, and Dan Patrick

If you could work with one broadcaster: I'd love to work with Al Michaels or Bob Costas to learn as much from them as possible.

Broadcasters you sound like: I have been told I sound very similarly to Eric Nadel. While I love some of the guys I've previously mentioned, I don't have the deepest, purest voice ever. I compare in that to Eric and Toronto's Jerry Howarth. I think those two are so strong in their descriptions and their technical proficiency.

Favorite MLB team when you were growing up: Texas Rangers

Favorite athletes in other sports: NBA: Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and LeBron James; NHL: Mike Modano, Jamie Benn, and Brendan Morrow; NFL: Aaron Rodgers, Charles Woodson, and Sam Acho; Soccer: Garreth Bale, Hunter Jumper, Messi, and Clint Dempsey; Golf: Ernie Els, Tim Clark, Rory McIlroy, and Bubba Watson; Tennis: Maria Sharapova, Andy Murray, and Andy Roddick

Best moment as a broadcaster: I'm still waiting for one of those that moments with the Loons, but I really do enjoy every game in the booth with my partner, Brad. Sharing the booth with my dad is always special. But for now, I'd have to reserve this for when I was in Missoula, MT, working for the Great Falls Voyagers in the Pioneer League, an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Not only did we win the Championship that year, but the season included a no-hitter and the opportunity to call the first hit and a few days later, the first home run of one of my best friends, Joe De Pinto (Voyagers), as a professional ballplayer.

First car: Silver Honda Accord-I totaled it two weeks after I turned 16…and yes, it was my fault.

Most rowdy Loon on bus rides: James Baldwin is the loudest/most active

Best dressing Loon: Paul Sterrett (Strength Coach)

Your BFF on the team: Nick Knieling; he produces Crunch Time. We spend way too much time together because of work and outside of work, it's scary. He is in a tie with my broadcast partner, Brad Golder. We have a really neat relationship, a brother-type relationship.

Loon most likely to be on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette: Trent Elliott

Loon that is always on their phone: James Baldwin, hands down

Favorite thing about Midland: The commitment to excellence culture that exists with the Michigan Baseball Foundation.

Best place to go in Midland: Outside of Dow Diamond, my apartment is pretty cool. I am a fan of NCG Theatres and any place you can play sports.

Favorite city to visit on a road trip: Fort Wayne when it comes to MWL destinations. I love going to Ann Arbor to cover the Wolverines though.

Favorite thing to do on an off-day: Work out, play some basketball or some sport, read, do work, broadcast a bit, watch TV, see a movie, and eat food all day long…

Favorite websites: ESPN.com, SI's Extra Mustard, Twitter, Facebook, Awful Announcing, Deadspin

Favorite video game, then and now: I tragically don't play very often anymore. I love the Madden and FIFA series', but Tony La Russa baseball on Sega Genesis will always have a soft spot in my heart (ca. 1993?)

First job: Coaching at basketball camps or working for Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket and The Texas Rangers, simultaneously, in Dallas.

Favorite sport besides baseball: All of them. Asking me to choose is honestly a waste of time. I genuinely love competing and the art of competition.

Actor that would portray you in a movie: Michael Angarano and I have (or, had) a similar look

Best and worst part of being a sports broadcaster: Getting to eat, breathe, and live sports every day and getting to go to places and see events I never before would have imagined I'd be able to do. The toughest part? Tough is too strong of a word but the unique schedule of sports is a challenge because for those who have a different schedule, it is tough to jive with them.

Biggest fear: Public speaking (ironic, I know) and that a family member, loved one, or someone about whom I care deeply, will pass away with our last interaction as less than positive-I always say/text/email I love you as the last thing to those people.

Plans after broadcasting: I want to broadcast for my entire life until retirement. At that point, I will fully immerse myself in my family with some coaching on the side-or, depending on age and money, philanthropic work.

Most famous people in your cell phone: Nolan Ryan and Mark Sanchez.

Biggest broadcasting influence: Norm Hitzges and Eric Nadel

Biggest life influence: Dad, Alan, and brothers, Darryn and Jason. My best friend, Benjamin, is right there, as is another close friend, Hurricane Katrina survivor, Parham.

Best advice you've ever received: "Don't give up, don't ever give up" - Jim Valvano