Saying Steve Jones, the play-by-play voice of Penn State basketball, is "just" a sports fan is like saying Michael Jordan was "just" a basketball player.

Nobody who is "just" a sports fan knows this much about them. Jones can rattle off sports facts like Dick Vitale can rattle off annoying hyperboles.

"He knows so much, it makes (the broadcast) easy," said Brian Allen, Jones' broadcast partner. "He can tell me things that I did when I played that I can't even remember," added Allen, a former Nittany Lion guard.

Before listening to Jones, a walking sports almanac, you wonder where he got his knowledge.

"I have the God-given ability to read something (related to sports) and remember it," Jones said modestly in a voice a bit higher than his low, on-air, professional voice.

After listening to him, one realizes that he speaks the truth. He could tell you point guard Danny Earl's career high in points (22). He could tell you who won the 1968 American League batting title (Carl Yastrzemski), and who finished second (Danny Cater). And he could even tell you how many points David Robinson scored in a game he played against Penn State a decade ago (24).

"(My sports knowledge) is invaluable for what I do," he said, referring to the four-plus hours of preparation he endures for every basketball broadcast. That preparation includes the compiling of charts and notes and numerous interviews with players and coaches.

Enduring is easy for Jones when it comes to his job as the voice of Penn State hoops. It is a job he has imagined having since he was a boy growing up in Enfield, Conn. He would listen to the broadcasts of the legendary Curt Gowdy and envision himself in that role.

"I always knew I wanted to do something with sports in one form or another," Jones said. "When I was in junior high, the realization hit me that I was not a good athlete," the 36-year old added, with a bit of a chuckle. It was around that time that he started to look at broadcasting as a possible road to follow.

That road led him to Penn State, where he first worked for the campus radio station broadcasting football and basketball games. His work there helped get Jones his big break in the broadcasting business.

In November 1981, the regular basketball announcers for the Penn State Sports Network were in Pittsburgh covering football. Jones was called on to fill in as the play-by-play man. From there he was given the job as color analyst on the network, and eventually took over as play-by-play man in 1986.

He also does television work for WPSX-TV and the news on WZWW-FM. There he teams with good friend Jeff Brown, the morning disc jockey, who marvels at Jones' sports brilliance.

"He's amazing," said Brown, "an encyclopedia."

But some things are more important for Jones than just his knowledge of sports and his play-by-play job. Listeners were made aware of that during last week's broadcast from Wisconsin, which Jones missed because he was home with his wife for the birth of their fifth child, daughter Megan.

"My family means everything to me," Jones said. "My wife, Cathy, is just . . ." his words trailing off, "She truly is my best friend."

His wife is his best friend and his children are his greatest asset.

"I have five wonderful children who I just enjoy doing things with," he said.

He enjoys coaching his sons in little league baseball and basketball. He gets involved in as many activities as possible with his two daughters, including week-old Megan, although, "I haven't done anything but hold her yet," admitted a smiling Jones.

His family is his life, and Penn State basketball is his passion.

"There are times during a Penn State basketball game when I'll actually sit back and say, 'I have the greatest job in the world right now,' " he said.

Despite the fact that Jones is a noted figure in the State College area -- Brown calls him "a local sports legend" -- he does not consider himself more than just a part of the Penn State community.

"All I know is that everybody's been so nice to me (at Penn State), whether it's staff, administration, other reporters or fans," Jones said. He happily returns the favor. "I think it's always important to say 'hi' to someone, because if they want to take the time to talk to me, I'm more than willing to take the time out to talk to them."

It is this disposition on life that has him smiling constantly, not to mention the fact that he has the job of his boyhood dreams and a great family life. At 36, he has the tiger by the tail, and he couldn't be happier.