Key Takeaways
- Andrés Cantor is a broadcasting legend, globally recognized for his iconic "GOOOOL" call.
- His emotional 2022 FIFA World Cup call for Argentina marked a personal and professional pinnacle.
- Cantor transitioned from an aspiring sportswriter to a pioneering broadcaster, building a significant media company.
- He balances professional detachment with deep personal passion, notably while broadcasting with his son.
Deep Dive
- Cantor initially aspired to be a sports writer, studying at USC and writing for magazines in Argentina.
- He transitioned to broadcast journalism, starting at Univision at age 23 with no prior TV studio experience.
- The shift required moving from lengthy written pieces to concise broadcast segments, ironically becoming known for a single, drawn-out word.
- Cantor clarified his 2022 World Cup-winning call for Argentina was not pre-written, coming directly from his heart.
- He described the intense emotion and joy during the winning goal as arguably the peak of his professional life.
- The host noted the unscripted, emotional call resonated deeply, seen as an authentic expression after 40 years of commentary.
- Cantor recounted a difficult move from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Sacramento, California, at age 14 with no English skills after his family fled political instability.
- He was delayed in Argentina for nearly a year due to his parents' green card process, facing challenges learning English upon arrival.
- His father initially disapproved of his journalism career, predicting he would "die of hunger," but later acknowledged being wrong.
- Cantor described broadcasting a game with his son, Nico, as surreal and a proud, yet emotionally challenging, moment requiring professional detachment.
- He noted being treated as a guest on his son's network, prioritizing a professional broadcast before allowing personal emotion to surface.
- After the broadcast concluded, Cantor broke down emotionally in private, feeling immense pride in Nico's performance and calling it a "bucket list" item.
- Cantor described the pressure of calling the 2000 Olympics in English, comparing the subdued style of some English-language soccer broadcasts to his energetic approach.
- He admitted to being "petrified" during the broadcasts but was supported by a strong production team.
- Mid-Olympics, legendary producer Dick Ebersole praised his work and presented him with a special NBC Olympics varsity jacket, significantly boosting his confidence.
- Cantor's pop culture appearances include "The Simpsons," Super Bowl commercials for brands like Budweiser and Nike, and late-night television.
- He identifies his cameo on "The Simpsons" as a significant career milestone, signifying widespread recognition of his work.
- With nearly 40 years as a prominent soccer broadcaster for Telemundo, Cantor expressed pride in exceeding his initial dreams, particularly in establishing his own radio company.
- Cantor rarely performs his signature "Gooooool" call for individuals to preserve his voice for actual game broadcasts and avoid cheapening its impact.
- He recounted past commercial ventures utilizing his call, including bottle openers, ringtones, and alarm clocks.
- Cantor noted the phrase is difficult to trademark due to variations in pronunciation and its similarity to Michael Buffer's protected phrase.
- Cantor identified Chick Hearn, the long-time announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers, as a significant early influence on his broadcasting style.
- He admired Hearn's ability to simulcast games, his rapid-fire play-by-play, and the emotional connection he created with catchphrases.
- His distinctive, lengthy goal call during a second taped game unexpectedly secured him an immediate full-time job offer during his first professional broadcasting opportunity.
- Despite broadcasting 12 World Cups and witnessing Argentina's previous wins, Cantor described the 2022 victory as his "defining moment," a culmination of 38 years of waiting.
- He expressed surprise at his own emotional reaction, struggling to compose himself while calling the record-breaking World Cup final.
- Cantor, extremely superstitious, avoided preparing any commentary for the final match to prevent jinxing the outcome, even wearing the same blue suit, underwear, and socks after an initial loss.