Rockets Radio LEGEND and ICON Gene Peterson passes away at 83

Most of you aren't from Houston and have no idea how iconic this guy is

 

He was the best! Back then, I would just as well sit in my car and listen to him rather than watch the game. That's saying a lot since Bill and Calvin were so great. Man those were the days.

RIP Gene.

 

That was a moment! It was awesome the microphone caught what the ref said to Gene as he walked by right after the game ended.

 

RIP Gene; Rockets legend

 

Man, this really really hits hard. Starting as a 9 year old in the 70's, I would listen to Gene and Jim do pbp of Rockets games way past my bedtime. I'd get a transistor radio and listen to the pbp under a pillow on low volume so my parents wouldn't know I was still awake instead of asleep on a school night.

If you want to know how much skill is involved in doing radio pbp, listen to how Gene did it. The dude could paint a picture of where everybody was on the court and where the ball was moving. Of course, his call of TMac's "13 in 33" final moments didn't quite convey that, but I'm guessing it was probably because he was starting to get caught up in the moment. lol.

He honestly should be on the Rockets' Mt. Rushmore. He's a true Rockets Legend (no, really... a real one!).

 

Dang! A tru legend. Gene on radio and Bill &Calvin on tv. Elite

 

Before the Janet Jackson incident at the Super Bowl it was possible to turn the sound down on your tv and listen to Gene on the radio and the broadcast to synch. I did that most of the time especially during post season games because the national guys would always annoy me.

 

Gene Peterson and Calvin Murphy and bill worell

I’ll throw in Lisa Molaskey too
@Jontro
@Os Trigonum

that was real
20 vision

 

Didn't have cable most of the time as a kid, so I was unable to catch virtually any of the home games. He was just as much the voice of the Rockets as Bill Worrell was.

RIP

Remembering him calling barkleys hour long "backin it ins" still gets a chuckle from me.

 

@J.R.
@Space Ghost

 

I'm still looking for videos/pics of when Hannah Storm used to do the Rockets broadcasts and she had a fro.

 

I remember that Utah game
Never heard Gene going ballistic!
And Jim Foley was screaming and pleading for the officials for he's normally the calmer of the 2 adding drama to an already tense atmosphere

Will never forget "How sweet it is!" after every win
Thank you Gene for the memories

 

During a Spurs (?) game, he cursed on "live" radio he was so pissed at a call. I nearly swerved off the road when I heard him curse. Those were gentler times, you know.

 

What an iconic figure. Like many we could not afford cable so listened to most games 88-94 via radio. His voice is embedded in my brain as the ideal sports voice. Made the games so enjoyable to listen to. Backin it in, backin it in…dipsy doodle…3 pt play the old fashion way….how sweet it is! RIP

 

rip

 

Saw this on social media, Rest in Peace, Houston and Rockets Legend

 

The Rockets championships are and always will be why I love basketball and sports. Gene Peterson was the man who made the calls as we watched with the TV on mute.

Thank you sir.

 

Gene will forever be a major part of the soundtrack of our lives. There are the classic moments, but it's the everyday call of the game...growing up with him...In many ways, he wasn't just the voice of the Rockets....Back then, he WAS the Houston Rockets. From the trademark, "How sweet it is" to "so and so drives the lane,walks(quick and casual), two"...he put his personal stamp on all of us. We were indeed fortunate to have him, but at the same time it was a meant to be kinda deal. Rest easy, Geno.