Brothers send scores from home to troops overseas

Jim and Eric Butz are two South Jersey guys who are trying to make a difference in the world.

The brothers, who grew up in Laurel Springs, hope to make life more comforting for our soldiers overseas.

The Sterling High School graduates host a weekly sports radio show on WNJC-AM 1360 from Washington Township.

However, along with their rising radio show, they produce a 10-minute podcast they send to troops fighting overseas for an audio update on Philadelphia sports that they can listen to while using their limited time on the Internet.

"If for two people it makes it better for them, it is worth it," said Jim Butz, 36.

Added Eric Butz, 33: "It is not that difficult for us to put together a podcast of 10 minutes for those who are fighting for our country."

The troops can watch the podcast of the Phillies, Sixers, Flyers and Eagles on computers or they can download the podcast to their iPods for later viewing.

"This is something we want to do for our troops. We know it is good and we know the people who are getting it like it," Eric said, "but we want to get to as many people as we can." The hope of the broadcasting brothers is to get more names and e-mail addresses of soldiers who are fighting.

"We have been contacting many of them personally through friends and family and are also working on some agreements with the USO and other government bodies," Jim said.

The podcast started out as an idea of Eric's. He was in Las Vegas listening to a speaker talk about a program he was developing to try and help soldiers overseas.

"Our father is a Vietnam vet so we have heard stories about how hard it is to be away from your family and loved ones," Jim said. "Eric wanted to think of something that would bring home to them since they couldn't be home.

"He also learned that each soldier has limited computer time while they are there so they may not be able to scour and skim all the Web sites for updates on sports because they were too busy e-mailing loved ones and trying to do important family things.

"He wanted to do a podcast where you could log into a site and then navigate elsewhere so you could listen but not have to stay on that page," Jim said.

Their dad, who lives in California, is proficient in computer software and podcasting.

"Now, every week, my brother and I get together at his house, with my dad on the computer, and broadcast the podcast," Jim said. "That night our dad edits the material and puts it up on the Web site so we can distribute the link to everyone on our list."

Both brothers are married and live in Franklin Township.

"It is great they are doing it for the troops," said John Forsythe, the owner of WNJC, on which the brothers broadcast Butz and Butz Sports Radio on Sunday evenings. "Podcast is going to be a very big thing in the future. It is great the troops will have a podcast."

The Butz brothers also recently started the Butz and Butz Fantasy Sports Show on Thursday nights on VoiceAmericaSports.com.

Jim Butz graduated from Rider University in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in education and a minor in business. He is a branch manager for Mid Atlantic Capital in Vineland.

It was at a mortgage company meeting in Las Vegas when Eric hatched the idea for a podcast.

"At the meeting they were saying everyone has to figure out how to help someone overseas,"

Eric said.

Now the goal for the brothers is to have their podcast distributed to 1,000 troops by the end of September. They have other humanitarian goals, too.

"We are looking at if anyone has any ideas how we could send care packages out," Jim said.

"We are just trying to do anything we can to help troops out there."