Jonathan Rifkind, Play-by-Play Broadcaster
I’ve been surrounded by sports for as long as I can remember. From my first swings at three years old to my brief peak as an eighth-grade all-star, competition was always part of the fabric. But my path in sports changed in high school, when I shadowed Clippers broadcast legend Ralph Lawler. That experience opened my eyes to the craft of broadcasting and sparked a deeper interest in storytelling, preparation, and the rhythm of a great call.
Soon after, I founded the sports broadcasting club at Oak Park High School, where I called football, basketball, volleyball, and softball. Those early reps became the foundation for everything that followed. They taught me how to prepare, how to listen, how to pace a broadcast, and how to connect the game to the people watching or listening.
At the University of Oregon, I joined KWVA 88.1 FM as a freshman and immersed myself in every opportunity I could find. I called nearly every sport the university offered, hosted live talk shows, and helped build the broadcast infrastructure for nearby Bushnell University. That work led to a local radio contract and created a lasting pipeline of on-air opportunities for student broadcasters. During the summers, I served as the voice of the Conejo Oaks in the California Collegiate League, building a broadcast operation from the ground up that continued beyond my tenure.
After graduating, I returned to Southern California and began freelancing across radio, television, and digital platforms. I got my introduction to professional sports radio working on the award-winning Darren Smith Show in San Diego, gaining early experience as both a producer and on-air contributor. Since then, my work has continued to expand across multiple levels of the sports media industry.
Today, I call television play-by-play for the San Diego Clippers of the NBA G League, serve as the radio voice of Ventura County FC, and work as the play-by-play voice of Cal State Fullerton Men’s Basketball. I also call Division I college soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, and water polo.
In addition to live game broadcasts, I can be heard regularly on iHeartMedia’s San Diego Sports 760 and across the iHeartRadio app, contributing to live broadcasts, fill-in roles, studio programming, and drive-time sports radio.
Sports broadcasting is more than a career for me. It is a front-row seat to moments that matter, a responsibility to honor the athletes and communities involved, and a chance to connect fans to the emotion of the game. To me, the job is about earning trust. From the preparation to the call itself, I take pride in being ready, respecting the game, and doing right by the people listening or watching.
