http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/0802/1413638.html I duno what you guys will feel like, but being a Lakers fan, I think he is one of the greatest annoncer in NBA..just wish all the best to him! without chick, stu is like pippen without Jordan, I will not watch Lakers game anymore without chick!
Although I'm a Rockets fan, I agree with you that Chick Hearns is one of the best announcers in the game,and I wish he gets well soon.
My ChicK Hearn story, Couple of years back I was at a Rockets/Lakers game fairly early and both teams were in shoot around. Some frail guy walks out of the tunnel and at about mid-court Francis approaches him and begins talking. Mobley joins them. I am in the upper deck, but you could tell it was a real conversation. Francis kept putting his arm around him and such. Goes on for about five minutes. I am wondering who this is, as Francis and Mobley are hanging all over him. The only other time I saw anything like this was when Lenny Wilkins came on. Virtually every Rocket came by and said hello, Rudy did that two hand shake thing, and wouldn't let go till the got to the Hawk bench. The Refs also came up and gave their respect to Wilkins. It was like a scene from The Godfather. Finally the conversation ends and the frail guy begins to slowly walk away, and Francis runs over and begins to clear a chair out of the Lakers "bench", so the guy can cut through and not have to walk all the way around the bench. The chairs were tied together or something, and Francis and Mobley both begin directing traffic and everybody near by drops what they are doing and starts to help with this project. I figure this guy must have some pull, so I keep an eye on him. He goes and sits in the Laker press section. Suddenly it dawns on me, that must be Chick Hearn, I have heard he is well respected. I gome home and make it a point to watch a Laker game on the dish. Chick Hern is great. I mean great. He says it like it is. Not Bill Walton "contriversial" like it is. He just says very insiteful things about both teams. He is clearly a Laker fan, but disses the team when they are not playing up to their capabilites. As a guy who has seen about 65 Rocket games on tv a year for the last 4- 5 years, I learned several new thing about the Rockets and players from Hearn. He is great. And will truley be missed. Wish I had discovered him sooner. Now if only Calvin would take some lessons and stop babbling about cookies and focus on hte game.
It has been clear for about a year now Chick hearns needed to hand over the reigns to someone else, whats sad is the guy knew basketball and was not biased to his home team. He gave credit where credit was due and even agreed with alot of bad calls refs made or missed calls even if i meant ging against his hometown team. The man was so good at what he did but as age progressed you could tell sometimes Chick did not know what team was playing who. His love of the game and the Fans have kept him alive with energy, all these years... I remember when they used to show Chick alot during play by plays but as anyone noticed his hands shaked alot and out of respect for Hearns they opted not to show him on camera as much,,,, Chick get well and get on with your retirement because you have totally earned it!
As I've been stating for a while, Chick is the best play-by-play guy of all-time. Most objective and knowledgable PBP guy I've ever heard. The man did his job the way it was meant. He didn't kiss anyone's ass by being a blatant homer.
The doctors said this type of injury suffered by Chick is "not compatible with survival". And even if he does make it the doctors said he will never been able to call a basketball game ever again. This is horrible, this guy is a legend and a treasure to basketball. I hope a miracle happens, but it isn't looking good.
who cares if he ever calls another game again? lets hope he survives first! not to make light of the situation but, dont you think he has called enough games? he sure has left his mark allready. he has set up his family nicely. he is 85 and hopefully he can survive this fall and enjoy watching laker games from his living room from now on.
The LA media said that he had a cranioscopy to correct a brain hemmorage and had another one soon after to correct another brain hemmorage. They also said that after he came to, the doctors noticed some mental loss, which probably means he won't call a game as well as he used to, if he still can.
I don't think people are worried about him calling another game or not, it was the doctors THEMSELVES that brought up the fact of him not ever working again, I think that's why people are commenting about him being a great announcer. Even if he pulls through he's never broadcasting again so people are paying their respect to his career at least and praying he survives and does well.
guess we will have no luck hearing chick commenting on Yao . but I guess Chick would something like this "He (Yao) is a very good kid, and I love to watch him play. he will be great some day in NBA. Oh!..what a block by Yao! he dribbles the ball, run like a deer, put Shaq into the popcorn machine, what a finish! Watch out, big fellow (shaq)"
In terms for alot to describe he is basically in a vegetable state with little to no brain functions.... Chick was a saint he will be missed......
Really sad. I'm as anti-Laker as they go, but as it looks now Chick Hearns' unique style of commentary will be sorely missed! Big aaaarrggh!!
R.I.P. Chick Hearn edit: Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn dies at 85 Associated Press LOS ANGELES -- Play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn, who made phrases like "slam dunk'' and "air ball'' common basketball expressions during his 42-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, died Monday. He was 85. "Chick Hearn passed away at 6:30 this evening,'' Los Angeles Lakers spokesman Bob Steiner told a hushed news conference outside Northridge Medical Center Hospital, where Hearn was taken Friday night after suffering a fall. Hearn fell Friday in the back yard of the Encino home he shared with wife, Marge. The two would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on Aug. 13. Surgeons operated twice Saturday to relieve swelling in his brain, but he never regained consciousness.
