DO you think that our lives are pre-ordained?
Maybe. Maybe not.
But sometimes, life places stepping stones on our path. It is up to us to understand them and to take them and see where it goes.
It is amazing when you connect the dots of Franco Finn’s life and where it has led him today as the Golden State Warriors’ Hype Man for the last 20 years, a media person, a professional host, and a marketing person.
Franco is a Bay Area born and raised Filipino-American who inherited a love of sports from his mother, Angeles, who migrated to the United States in the 1970s.
“My mom is a fan of all Bay Area sports teams from the 49ers to the Giants to the Warriors. She even saw the very first championship team of the Warriors that featured Rick Barry!” crowed Franco.
As for his getting into his first taste working a microphone…that came from his step-father, George Finn. “He was my first talent agent because one day, he got me to work the lectern at St. Anne’s Church which was next to my house where I read the readings of the day. I took it so seriously that I wanted to bring the Lord’s Words to life.”
After that first time he read the Scriptures in Mass, this elderly church goer made a beeline towards him.
“Oh, no, she’s coming for me. Oh, boy. I must have messed up,” young Franco thought to himself.
Except the lady praised him because she thought that through Franco’s manner of reading and intonation, the words came really alive to her. “Young man, you brought the Scripture to life like I have never heard before. You can do every Sunday and I will be here to hear you. I wish you the best for your career.”
“I think that is when I first thought, ‘Hey, maybe I have a career in public speaking.’”
Also as a youngster, Franco went to school in France for a spell. There he added French as a third language (after English and Filipino) and even learned a fourth… Spanish.
“I’m a Filipino-American man with an Irish name who can speak four languages,” he quipped. “It sure helps in communicating with people.”
Communications.
When Finn went off to college in nearby Santa Clara University, he first signed on as an Engineering major. That all changed when a friend brought him along to the communications department’s television studio. One look, and Franco knew he where his career lay. He made the switch.
After graduation in 1999, Finn worked for Radio Disney in San Francisco and his talent for entertainment and hosting became apparent that he moved on to hosting major Disney events like meet and greets and concerts.
It was during a Lizzie Maguire (former teen star Hilary Duff) concert in Oakland where he was asked to get the crowd hyped up for about 20 minutes before Duff hit the stage (there was no opening act).
Recounted Franco, “The producer of the show went up to me and said, ‘This is our first concert of the tour. Hype them up. Make up some stuff. Talk to them for 20 minutes. Here’s the microphone. Good luck.”
Thought Franco, “What do I say for 20 minutes? I don’t know what I did, but I was out of breath. But the Warriors had their kids in the audience and they gave me their cards and said they would want to see me in the arena for the next season.”
And the rest is history.
How many people get to say they were at one point in their life the opening act of Hilary Duff?
How many people who grew up to be fans of the Golden State Warriors as a kid and now work their game’s as their Hype Man?
How many people get to do special events for the San Francisco Giants, do events with Manny Pacquiao in the Bay Area? Host auctions? Work for Alaska Airlines and even do television commercials?
How many non-basketball people get to say they have a National Basketball Association championship ring?
Yes, as a member of the Warriors organization, he was also give his own championship rings although they are smaller than what the players wear.
Even so, it is a blessing.
“Not a day goes by where I don’t pinch myself and ask, ‘is this really happening?’” summed up Finn.
Yes, it is happening because every step of the way was an opportunity. Franco Finn took everything and ran with it.
And now his mom has gotten to see the Warriors win even more championships. What makes it even more special is, her son is a part of it.