No keeping Miranda from the mic
This is the last in a series of articles profiling the 2023 Butler Football Hometown Hero honorees
BUTLER TWP — Jay Miranda is not an athlete ... but he’s been prominent in athletics.
The 1983 Butler graduate handled the public address announcing at Golden Tornado football games from 2009 through 2021. He was the elementary wrestling coordinator for Butler, president of the Butler Wrestling Boosters for six years and did the P.A. announcing for Butler varsity wrestling from 2004-23.
He did P.A. announcing for the Center Township Athletic Association baseball games from 1999 through 2005, playing music at the fields as well. He’s been the P.A. announcer for baseball games at Pullman Park since 2009.
Miranda has done all of this despite suffering numerous physical setbacks while battling diabetes through the years. He’s lost sight in one eye, has had two fingers and a leg amputated, gone through four heart procedures, has had renal failure and is no longer eligible for a kidney transplant.
Yet he keeps going.
“Once I had my leg amputated, it was just too difficult for me to get to the press box (at Art Bernardi Stadium) to announce the football games,” Miranda said. “I really miss it.”
Miranda is one of five people who have handled the microphone in some capacity for Butler football — Randy Fillhart, John Hartle, Mickey Haley and Craig Lucas the others — who will be honored for their dedication on the field prior to the Golden Tornado’s Sept. 1 home opener against Meadville.
“I’m deeply honored by this,” Miranda said. “I never knew I was even eligible for this honor. I thought it was just for athletes. I’m thrilled just to be a part of it.
“When I see all of those Hometown Hero banners put up all over the stadium, thinking my name is going to be on there ... That’s a brother and sisterhood I’m extremely proud to join.”
Miranda’s son, Alex, was a youth wrestler in Butler, which got him involved in helping that sport. Alex played CTAA baseball as well.
“I went to the Little League fields and thought it’d be extra fun for the kids if we played music there and announced their names as they came up to bat,” Miranda said. “I started out using an old karaoke machine. It added to the atmosphere of the games and everybody loved it.
“I eventually became field director of the league, vice president of the league, president ... It was no big deal. Whatever they wanted me to do, I did.”
He began doing p.a. for Butler football “because Jeff McAnallen saw me doing baseball and asked if if I could do football, too. I was like, why not?”
Miranda does more than the Butler BlueSox games at Pullman Park, though that was the team he originally started working for there. He also does Butler, Knoch, Karns City and Moniteau games at Pullman, along with other teams that wind up playing there.
“Other high school teams may play at Pullman because their own field is too wet or they just have to get a game in,” Miranda said. “They always ask me if I’ll do the p.a. for them, too. I’m always happy when they think of me.”
He has definite reasons for continuing to announce sporting events when he can.
“I have a passion for the sports I announce,” Miranda said. “I study up and get to know the sports to add to my knowledge. Then there’s that ‘no quit’ attitude I’ve always had. And I want the kids to feel special when they come up to the plate, start a wrestling match or make a tackle.
“I like making Little Leaguers feel like big leaguers.”
While Miranda does not let his mobility issues stop him, he’s also not hesitant to talk about his physical issues.
“Diabetes is a silent killer,” he said. “I want people to know what I’ve been through. I know other people go through it, too. If anybody battling ailments ever needs somebody to talk to, I’m available.”
