They say in life, never meet your idols. Well, that may be true, unless your idol is Dennis Cometti.
For an enthusiastic teenager in the 1990s who only dreamt of being a sports commentator, Dennis was the doyen. The GOAT. The aspiration. Instead of doing my homework, I’d sit there hypnotised by his commentary, analysing his phrases, his accuracy, and broadcasting prowess.
Rex Hunt, Bruce McAvaney, Sandy Roberts, Drew Morphett – all kings amongst men. But, for me it was Dennis’ style that resonated most.
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Robert Walls, Dennis Cometti and Shane McInnes. Supplied
I first met Dennis in 2008 in my first season at 3AW. At the time he had more than three decades experience calling footy. I had none. Zero; but, we were both new to 3AW, and it was Dennis, despite the gigantic chasm in our levels of experience, who introduced himself.
“Hi there, I’m Dennis Cometti.” Um, yeah. I know you are. “I guess we’ll be learning about this place together.” I laughed nervously. He would’ve been within his right to think “who brought the work experience kid?” But, he didn’t. He immediately made me feel part of a team that he himself had only just joined. Never meet your idols? What a fallacy!
Dennis would be a regular source of inspiration as I began my broadcast journey.
Suddenly my idol was mentoring me in my first year in the cutthroat world of commercial radio. Not wanting to take up much of his time, I’d meet him for coffee thinking, “get to the point and don’t waste his time”.
What I thought was going to be a career advice session, turned out to be anything but. “Alright enough footy talk… What music are you into?” What? Music? How did we get here? He just wanted to chew the fat.
Suddenly, my idol turned colleague was now treating me like a mate. And, that was Dennis. There was no hierarchy- we were both just footy commentators. Footy fans at that (granted I could never get the hierarchy out of my mind!)
Dennis’ kindness would extend to his home town of Perth as well, as he and his beautiful wife Velia took me and my then girlfriend out to lunch at what certainly seemed one of Perth’s finest seafood establishments.
“Choose a bottle of red, oh and lunch is on me.” It was surreal, but comfortable at the same time. The wine flowed, the anecdotes were endless and his wry sense of humour knew no bounds. My girlfriend and I were left with an afternoon of memories we wouldn’t soon forget.
It’s fair to say though, the pièce de résistance came on June 11, 2011. Geelong and Hawthorn at the MCG. In my fourth year at 3AW, and what would turn out to be Den’s last with the station, I got the opportunity to call with the man that drew me toward sports broadcasting.
Dennis Cometti and Bruce McAvaney. Instagram
As someone who gets anxious at the best of times, the nerves were at another level that night. Making a mistake is one thing. Making a mistake in front of one of the greatest sports broadcasters of all time is something different altogether. But, I should’ve known better.
“You take the opening bounce, mate” he said with a smile. And in that moment the nerves dissipated and it was like we’d been calling together for years.
I must admit, that night I was part commentator, part spectator. I probably didn’t do the game justice. I was simply in awe of my co-caller. How he eased between using the binoculars and the monitor to pick up the players. He’d spin his four pen in his hand whilst calling a passage, never missing a beat. His crescendo building as he flawlessly anticipated what was to come. At that moment I wasn’t a commentator. I was again a teenager in awe of my idol.
If Leonardo De Vinci was to create a commentator, then Dennis Cometti would be his masterpiece. He was centimetre perfect.
Vale Dennis. And thank you.