In any lifetime, mistakes happen. They are always forgivable, but only if one has the courage to admit them. Pete Sousa is no different from anyone else. At one point, he was a rising star in sports media. After a career in NBA public relations, he worked for the Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Bobcats for almost a decade. But Sousa was dealing with his own personal demons tied to addiction, a common trait on his father’s side of the family.
“When I was working in Charlotte to work on radio, I was in bad shape. I was a real alcohol and drug addict, and I brought some of that to work for me. I was not my best self,” explained Sousa, who spent one season with Charlotte. “Day in the day, I used to lament that I let these opportunities slip through my fingertips. But all of that had to happen for me to get sober.”
Sousa’s media career was flourishing in his younger days. It’s rare for someone to pivot from the communications world and take a leap of faith into play-by-play. That’s the journey Sousa took, shifting from years of experience in media relations to becoming an on-air presence himself.
But his struggles with addiction put a pause on his growth in sports media.
“When I was in Charlotte, I was reading this book called ‘Moments of Clarity.’ It’s a collection of notable people who shared their stories of sobriety. The book was so relatable, I figured, if they could do it, why can’t I?” said Sousa.
The Road Back
After wrapping up the season in 2015, Sousa checked himself into rehab for 30 days. After completing treatment, he moved into a halfway house and earned a job at Kentucky Fried Chicken. This came after a promising career in sports media and professional sports, and it was obviously a far cry from where he envisioned himself.
“I really bottomed out and had that gift of desperation. But getting sober came together at the right time,” said Sousa. “When I got sober, I identified what I was going to do. Take the steps to do it and fail. I just went out from working in the NBA to Kentucky Fried Chicken. I endured a shitload of rejection but kept going.”
The work began again for Sousa. He landed a play-by-play role in the NBA Development League and eventually made a short return to Charlotte, working radio for Hornets games. He then pivoted again to local television news in Louisiana and Texas for the next nine years while rebuilding his play-by-play profile, calling college football, baseball and basketball for ESPN, primarily covering the Big 12.
Last month, Sousa added another element to his arsenal when he was named the new co-host of The Drake Toll Show on Westwood One Sports.
“Over the summer, I filled in for Westwood One to get a vibe check for the executives with Westwood One Sports. Armen Williams arranged for me to do some fill-in work previously, so I was on the radar,” noted Sousa. “I’ve known Drake [Toll] from years ago, and always thought Drake was a superstar.”
Sousa’s relationship with Toll dates back to when both worked in Waco, Texas, albeit not together. Over time, they developed a mutual respect for one another as Sousa called play-by-play and Toll began building his multimedia brand.
When Westwood One Sports was beginning to take shape, Toll encouraged network management to take a look at Sousa for potential work with the new network. While the two sides didn’t come to an agreement at the onset, Williams kept Sousa on standby for fill-in work over the summer.
“I told Armen [Williams] I would always love to fill in because terrestrial radio was always something I wanted to do. I was raised on Howard Stern and Howard Eskin, and thought radio was the coolest medium. It meant something to me,” said Sousa. “I do a lot of play-by-play, and I can have a colorful personality. But there’s only so far you can go.”
Sousa admits that while he always had plenty of opinions on sports, he never took any of them seriously. Because of his experience playing, observing and seeing what goes into any role in collegiate or professional sports, he didn’t consider himself at a level where he could confidently express those opinions.
A Balanced Approach
Instead, the support system around him, from personal friends to colleagues in the industry, helped build his confidence and encouraged him to begin expressing himself. He formed a podcast called The Pete Sousa Show, where he began sharing his opinions and analysis on everything happening in sports. His experience working in public relations also provided a prerequisite understanding of how an opinion can feel on the other side.
“When you show up to an arena and see the sports information guy, I have a ton of respect for those guys. I also understand how players are disappointed after being roasted by the media. I’ve seen it firsthand and how it affects them,” explained Sousa. “The human experience is what I’m in touch with, and I feel people respect that about me. I’m more about explaining why instead of shooting from the hip.”
When it comes to opportunities, Sousa has learned never to turn down a chance to learn. He credits his time as a news anchor with helping him battle through his dyslexia while working with a live teleprompter. It was another example of working through a struggle to develop an additional skill in his arsenal.
His journey to sobriety also gave him a new appreciation for every opportunity. Knowing full well that nothing is guaranteed, Sousa makes the most of each one.
“With me, a lot of it is fear because I worked so hard to get here. Getting sober. Living in a halfway house. I’ve done some terrible jobs, but it was about doing whatever I needed to do to get here,” said Sousa. “I don’t say no because I’m scared people will stop asking. I’m so fortunate to get so many opportunities. You always have to think that anyone could be watching or listening.”
Now on the other side of his journey to sobriety, Sousa enjoys every opportunity to share his story. In hopes it can provide comfort or confidence for others. He plans to relaunch his Payoff with Pete Sousa podcast, which showcases the stories of others and their journeys as well.
Understanding that every journey is different for those dealing with addiction, Sousa hopes his positivity, authenticity and perspective can provide hope through his example.
“There’s always hope. Life can be short,” said Sousa. “When you get sober, the sky is the limit. I’m living, breathing proof of that. People thought I was extremely hopeless. I’m here to tell anyone with a problem, if you think you’re hopeless, that is not true. If you go through the right process with the right people, you don’t have to do this alone.”
A New Outlook
For Sousa, the journey is no longer about making up for the opportunities he believes he lost. It’s about appreciating the ones he has today and understanding that every stop along the way helped shape the person and broadcaster he has become.
The road from professional sports to a halfway house and a job at Kentucky Fried Chicken was not the career path Sousa envisioned. But it gave him something far more valuable than another line on a resume. It gave him perspective, and humility. Plus, an understanding of what it means to keep moving forward when the next step isn’t always obvious.
Today, Sousa is still building his career across play-by-play, radio, television and podcasting. But his most important work may be what happens when the microphone is turned toward his own story. By being open about addiction, recovery, rejection and the long road back, he has given others a reason to believe their own story doesn’t have to end at its lowest point.
Sousa knows there will always be another challenge, another opportunity and another chance to learn. After everything he’s experienced, he no longer takes any of them for granted. He simply keeps showing up, keeps saying yes and keeps moving forward.
“I want to continue to evolve and give back to the people who provided me opportunities,” said Sousa. “I know what it’s like to go to a job that you don’t love, and I want people to laugh and enjoy life. That’s what I hope my work with The Drake Toll Show provides. Honestly, I’m waiting for someone to knock on my door and say this is a mistake… I have a great level of gratitude for these chances I’ve been given.”
If Pete Sousa’s journey has taught him anything, it’s that hitting bottom doesn’t have to be the end of the story.
Sometimes, it’s where the comeback begins.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
