Chick Hearn
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TV ClubHouse: archives: Chick Hearn

Weinermr

Saturday, August 03, 2002 - 11:22 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Chick Hearn, the play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers for the last 41 years is very ill. He has had two craniotomys today, is at least 85 years old, and is in critical condition in a Los Angeles area hospital.

Chick IS basketball for me. As long as I have been listening to and watching professional basketball, I've listened to Chick Hearn. Chick invented many of the phrases used by all announcers to describe the events in a basketball game - common terms like "slam dunk" were coined by Chick.

Chick is a legend in broadcasting, and is a member of the broadcasting arm of the NBA Hall of Fame.

I know there are many many more serious things going on in our country, and in the world, but Chick has such personal meaning for me, and evokes such strong thoughts and feelings, that I am very saddened by this news tonight.

I'm sorry if you don't like basketball, I'm sorry if you don't like the Lakers, I'm sorry if you don't like Chick Hearn, but for me, basketball will never be the same when Chick is gone. This is all just a sad reminder of our mortality, and of my own, as if I or any of us need such reminding.

Wargod

Saturday, August 03, 2002 - 11:27 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh no, Weiner, that is awful news! When he was sick awhile back and missed those games, basketball just wasn't the same. I can't imagine what it will be like when he is gone.

Very sad news indeed.

Paulyaceiii

Monday, August 05, 2002 - 10:07 am EditMoveDeleteIP
A brief story...I used to work at a radio station in Clearwater, Fla. back in the early 90s, and we would carry LA Lakers game into the wee hours of the morning here on the east coast....on the Lakers...basketball...network..

Chick is a national treasure for his work on pro basketball, just like another LA announcer, Vin Scully, is the wordsmith of the balls and strikes (no pun intended) of our national pastime.

Ketchuplover

Monday, August 05, 2002 - 01:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
If the Lakers need a replacement they can have the Milwaukee Bucks radio guy Ted David or Davis.

He goes hyper when the opponents score. Very irritating :(

Bob2112

Monday, August 05, 2002 - 02:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hey Mr. Weiner,

Sorry to say the news I read today doesn't look very promising.

I can understand how you feel since we went through a similar situation here in Chicago back in 1998 when Jack Brickhouse (back, back, back ... Hey, Hey!) and Harry Caray (Holy Cow!) both passed away within 6 months of each other. For a life long Cubs fan, it was truly a tough time and brought back many childhood memories of day baseball in the summer. :(

{{{{{weinermr}}}}}

Just to somewhat put into perspective how many catch phrases Chick Hearn invented, here's a condensed list of Chick-isms that are quite commonly used today.
(Note: One of these is not true. See if you can find it) :)

  • Air ball
  • Blooooows the layup!
  • Boo birds
  • Building a House
  • Caught with his hand in the cookie jar
  • Charity Stripe
  • (It'll) Count if it goes... it goes!
  • Didn't draw iron
  • Dribble Drive
  • Faked the floperoo
  • Finger roll
  • Frozen rope
  • Garbage time
  • Give & go
  • Hanging out to dry
  • (In & out,) Heart-brrrreak!
  • Hippity-hop dribble
  • (The mustard's off the) Hot-dog
  • Matador defense
  • Nailed to the floor
  • Nervous time
  • No harm, no foul (, no blood, no ambulance)
  • No-look pass
  • Picked his pocket
  • Pressure cooker
  • Sends it back air-mail special.
  • Slaaaaaam Dunk!!!
  • SpongeBob has taken over the game!
  • Tattoo Dribble
  • Throws up a brick
  • Throws up a prayer ... (it's answered!!!)
  • They win the tip, that means they get the ball to start the fourth quarter!
  • Ticky-tack
  • Triple-double
  • (He's) Wound up like a toy on Christmas morning
  • Yo-yoing up and down

Weinermr

Monday, August 05, 2002 - 02:55 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Bob, your quiz is MUCH too hard. I just can't for the life of me find the non Chick-ism. LOL just kidding and thanks for the great list. It brings back so many wonderful Laker moments.

Paulyaceiii is right about Chick and Vin Scully being here in the same town. I remember listening to baseball and Vin Scully even before I ever paid attention to the Lakers. Vin is the voice of baseball for me.

Thanks everyone for the great memories. But uhhh Ketchuplover, your offer doesn't sound very enticing.

Moondance

Monday, August 05, 2002 - 07:09 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Chick has passed... 6:30 this evening. He will be so missed and always loved as part of the Laker's Legacy:(

My prayers go out to his family and friends

Wargod

Monday, August 05, 2002 - 07:34 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I am so saddened to hear this. Chick was always half the fun of watching the Laker's for me.

I'm joining my thoughts and prayers with yours, Moonie.

Littlebreeze

Monday, August 05, 2002 - 08:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
WM.... Although I know nothing of basketball and had not heard of Chick Hearn before I came to this thread, the depth of your post made this man very real to me.

I'm sorry to hear that he has passed. His legacy will live and be carried in the hearts and minds of people like you, and others, all those who loved this unique man, this American treasure. When you think back across the decades, picking through your memories, he'll be there, sharing in your personal history of times spent with family and friends and basketball. Every time his name crosses your mind or your lips, he will live on.

His name will surely be ringing to the Heavens tonight, WM. He and his family will be in my prayers.

Juju2bigdog

Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 05:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well, and this morning, I received this e-mail from my older sister:

"did you see that our old neighbor, Chick Hearn, died, Juju ? He lived in the big old house with the big yard on the corner of Missouri and Corrington, across from the floral shop. He was a nice man...I remember talking with him and playing with his kids. And he gave Daddy tickies to the Bradley Braves basketball games he called so Daddy could take me to them. And. of course, Tommy C******* gave him tickies too. Tommy's brother was half of Amos & Andy......small world."

I grew up knowing the name Chick Hearn but never knew specifically why. I was too young to know things when we and Chick lived in that neighborhood. Small world indeed.

Weinermr

Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 06:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yes it's very sad about Chick. He is part of me, and always will be. I don't even know him and I feel like I lost someone I knew. Oh well. That's about all the wisdom I can muster right now. Oh well.

Egbok

Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 06:06 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Weinermr, our family too, feels your pain with the loss of Chick Hearn.

Bob, you are the silliest sponge I've ever come across! Thanks for the smile you gave me with your Chick-isms, and oh yeah...I think I found the one that isn't a true Chick-ism.

Juju, wow...thanks for sharing that story. It is a small world indeed.

Lancecrossfire

Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 06:34 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm not a Lakers fan at all. Actually since the players wanted all that extra money a few years back and didn't want any of the risks, I'm pretty anti pro basketball.

However, folks like Chick will rise above all of that. He is a part of basketball history befoe all the problems with money. Before the continual drug use. He was around before all the players who currently are on the court.

Vin Scully, as mentioned at the beginning of the thread is the same way for baseball.

These people honor the game and respect it. They become a part of what the game is all about. They give us descriptions you couldn't get unless you were there.

Thanks Chick, for all of your years.