I was posting on the horry thread and I metioned Chick Hearn. Then I realize there is no thread in this forum in Chick's honor...so i decided to create one. I understand many of the posters in this forum have never heard (or even heard of) the beloved chick hearn due to location, age etc... I've lived in Los Angeles almost all my life so I don't know the extent of his fame outside of southern california (although I'm sure anybody who has watched basketball has heard his voice one time or another.) So for those people who never heard of him or dont know much about him, this is a good history lesson. For those who know and love him, this is where you can share your memories of chick. I'll type in my own personal comments later but here's a wonderful short column written by Dan Patrick soon after chicks death: There are many notable names associated with the L.A. Lakers organization, but none perhaps more identifiable than broadcaster Chick Hearn. Growing up in the midwest, I didn't have the opportunity to actually hear him broadcast, Hearn was simply a name associated with the Lakers. But people would tell me, "you haven't heard a basketball game until you've heard Chick Hearn." When I finally heard him call a game, I understood what they meant. His descriptive, rapid-fire way of calling a game made him unique -- his color commentator rarely got much airtime. What I enjoyed most about Chick was his honesty. If I asked him about a player or a coach, I would always get an honest answer. His frankness was refreshing and certainly not typical of someone so immersed in an organization. He was always very gracious. But his honesty is what stands out in my mind -- I'll remember him most for that.
Chick meant so much to the Lakers, and so much to the NBA. He's responsible for so many phrases adapted by fans of the game. His "Chickisms" and honest coverage of the game made Chick a legend. He had an unmatched passion for the Lakers and never missed a broadcast until his illness finally got the best of him. Chick was the first to describe the distance of a shot in feet. Chick gave us the term Air Ball, Give & Go, Matador Defense, and his most famous "The game's in the refrigerator, the door's closed, the light's out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the jello's jiggling." R.I.P. Chick
A lot of OPINIONS stated as FACT on this post. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">the lakers would be such a better team with t-mac cause t-mac even said he doesn't want to play that role of scoring 30 a night so there wouldn't be any beef between him and shaq.</div> There has been tension between Kobe and Shaq for years now and they have won 3 championships together. You can't really argue to much against success. Also, to say the lakers would be better with T-mac is questionable. Shaq is known as a player who does it for the first 3 quarters, but really can't be relied on in the 4th. So who would you give the ball to then. T-mac?!! I think not. He's similar to Shaq in that he's one of the best in the league through most of the game, but when the clock is winding down, he seems to disappear. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">he is more mature as a player than kobe also and he would have never made that stupid mistake like kobe did to put his team in jeopardy and kobe can be the selfish player wants to be in orlando.</div> Did we forget why T-mac left toronto (not that I disagree with his decision)? T-mac left because HE WANTED TO BE THE MAIN PLAYER AND NOT IN THE SHADOW OF VINCE. To say T-mac doesn't want to be the #1 option is absurd.
Chick gave so much to basketball. He's coined the terms "slam dunk" "finger roll" "ticky tact foul" and so much more. (you can look them all up somewhere) I'll always remember his unique style of play-by-play. He was one of the few who could do a simulcast (radio and T.v. at the same time) succussfully. He sounded like one of them auctioners because he spoke so fast. The action was never too fast for him. He described every little detail, you didn't even have to look at the t.v. They called his play-by-play a "words-eye-view" of the game. And of course everybody knew him for his refrigerator line. I remember when Chick would put the game in the fridge early, and somehow the oppenents were making a late run, i would get nervous. My dad would turn to me and say "why are you worrying, Chick already put it in the fridge" One of my fondest memories was the first time Chicks put the game away only to have the lakers blow the lead and lose(it happened again a few years later, so 2 in total out of 3,000+ games). It was against the pheonix suns, and the lakers had a 10pt lead with 1 minute remaining. The Suns came back, and Michael Finley hit a buzzer shot to win the game. Chick wasn't just stunned, he was pissed. After the game, he retired the refridegerator only to bring it back later that season due to fans calling in and writing in begging him to bring it back. It was a classic moment.
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