NEWARK, NJ – DECEMBER 16: Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick takes part in the Scott Niedermayer jersey retirement ceremony by the New Jersey Devils prior to the game against the Dallas Stars at the Prudential Center on December 16, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

There aren’t many sports broadcasters who hold a PhD. Then again, there aren’t many people like Mike Emrick.

The NHL broadcaster for NBC earned his doctorate in communications from Bowling Green State University. He’s not just going about his own work either. He’s helping others hone their broadcasting talents as well.

According to Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated, Emrick encourages others in sports television/video to send him their tapes so he can offer pointers for improvement.

“Mike Emrick has spent part of his August vacation in Michigan listening to tapes or recordings of young sports broadcasters plying their trade. It’s an offer he makes to broadcasting or journalism classes whenever he does a guest lecture but here is something that I found amazing: Emrick actually gave his email on air for any broadcaster to contact him during a recent interview with Nashville sports-talk station 102.5 The Game in Nashville as well as during a speech at this year’s Sports Emmy awards.”

Emrick can’t respond to everyone, but he dedicates a good chunk of time to bettering the future of sports broadcasting.

My wife Joyce and I are always on vacation in Michigan and I can usually listen to one or two a day,” Emrick said this week. “I usually e-mail or handwrite my thoughts to them while I am listening so it’s more stream-of-consciousness than anything else. Some send five to ten minutes, others an hour. I save the discs.

The four-time Emmy Award winner is so good at what he does, he can even make the creation of a Primanti Bros. sandwich entertaining.

Proof that great plays can take place off the ice, too.