Rugby Broadcasters held a farewell picnic for James Maertens, local sports radio’s unofficial King of Kaboom Tuesday, May 30 at its facility on U.S. Highway 2 in Rugby.

High school athletes, Rugby Panther boosters and other assorted well-wishers stopped by to talk to Maertens and eat free hot dogs and chips on the building’s front lawn area.

“Starting July 1, I will be continuing my sports broadcasting career with R and J Broadcasting (in Hillsboro) and Your Live Event,” he said.

Maertens, who grew up in West Fargo, still has parents and family in that area. He said he looked forward to living closer to them when he moves to Hillsboro.

However, he said he would miss Rugby, his home since early 2019.

Early inspiration

Maertens said he decided to pursue a career in broadcasting early in life.

“Ever since I was five or six years old, I was always drawn to sports and the drama and intensity and passion that the athletes show and those great moments, achieving your childhood dreams.”

Maertens said after he graduated from Shanley High School in Fargo, he attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

“I took some classes on the radio side and fell in love with it,” he said. “I had my first radio show and started to do games, and it just confirmed what I’ve always believed – that this was what I was meant to do.”

Maertens started his post-college broadcasting career in Guthrie County, Iowa, with Raccoon Valley Radio,

Coming home

“After two years, I felt it was time to come home,” he said. “I missed my family and I missed North Dakota. I got the opportunity (in Rugby). I’m a man of God and a man of faith, and I felt God was calling me here.”

Maertens said he enjoyed getting to know the people of Rugby, and learning a bit more about sports that were less familiar to him.

“I played basketball growing up in elementary school and middle school, and that was my favorite,” he said. “In North Dakota, basketball is kind of our sport that we get behind. If you ever get to Charlie Hanneman Gymnasium in Rugby or any other gym in North Dakota, you see tons of fans loading up the bleachers. There’s nothing more exciting than that. “

“I’ve loved the opportunity to learn more about volleyball since I’ve been here and do some other sports that I didn’t have as much knowledge about,” he added. “During the last few years, wrestling is a new one that I’ve grown my coverage in. I’ve just loved learning new sports and how to broadcast them and how to get people into the game.”

‘Kaboom’

Excitement from three-point shots landed by Panthers basketball players inspired a catch phrase that would become Maertens’ trademark of sorts.

‘“Kaboom’ kind of came right before I started at Rugby Broadcasters,” he explained. “Toy Story 4 had come out in theaters. A character in the movie is Duke Caboom, voiced by Keanu Reeves. I always thought it was a pretty cool name for a character. So, I was looking for a phrase. I usually go to a spot for a phrase and unite the fan base and make it fun.”

“Before at basketball games, I’d just say something like, ‘Oh, he got it,’ or something like that, something generic,” he said. “But ‘Kaboom’ was more fun.”

Maertens said he began to see posters on the gym wall reading “Kaboom,” which surprised him.

“I never thought it was going to be quite like that,” he said. “I just thought it was interesting to use (the phrase). I never imagined that phrase was going to take off as much as it did.”

“I couldn’t do what I do without the community,” he added. “For every time people say, ‘Oh, gosh, you’re a great broadcaster,’ that’s great, but it’s because of the community helping me out as well.”

“I couldn’t have all the information I have, all the passion I have and all the energy I have without their support and their encouragement, and without, quite frankly, the families raising excellent kids and excellent students that are humble in both win or loss,” he said.

“I want people to know that, it’s because of them that I stayed as long as I did and I hope they appreciate that,” he said.