Chick Hearn dead at 85

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » August 6, 2002, 4:04 am

It is a very sad day in LA, yet a legend is honored in fond memories.

"The door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's gettin' hard, and the Jellooooo-'s gigglin'..."

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Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn, a franchise icon who called the team's games for 42 years, died Monday at 85. Hearn called 3,338 straight games at one point and changed the language of basketball. Hearn fell Friday at his home and never recovered after two brain surgeries.

Karae · Post by **Karae** » August 6, 2002, 5:56 am

Could at least quote him correctly

He will be remembered as the greatest basketball commentator ever. There will never be another Chicky baby.

Truly it was a privelege to listen to him call a game. He is, perhaps, one of the few true rolemodels in basketball. His tremendous work ethic is worthy of emulation at the very least. There are not many people who go to work 3,338 days in a row.

A sad day for sports fans and humanity in general. The voice of a dynasty has been silenced.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » August 6, 2002, 10:13 am

Bah, I never could get his quotes on the money...the thought is there though.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » August 6, 2002, 10:30 am

I think I fixed it..

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » August 6, 2002, 11:06 am

They say he slipped and fell and hit the back of his head on a table or something. Then he never recovered. That sucks. He lived a full life though. He coined the terms "Air Ball" and "Slam Dunk". I bet if he would have woken up from this accident he would have invented the Flux Capacitor.

Moebeus · Post by **Moebeus** » August 6, 2002, 12:56 pm

Don't forget the one time he added: "the beer is chilling"

Some sort of bleeding from the brain from what I heard on the radio. Had to have at least 2 crainiotomies (sp?) but they couldn't stop the bleeding.

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » August 6, 2002, 1:01 pm

it's a bad way to go.. tho on the upside you're not supposed to feel anything once you go unconscious..

Had an aunt do somthing similiar.. the blood was so much (internal) that it pushed her eyeballs out of their sockets before they passed away.

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » August 6, 2002, 2:56 pm

OMG Akaran...

That's so sad. I didn't even know that was possible.

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » August 7, 2002, 2:30 am

Karae wrote:He will be remembered as the greatest basketball commentator ever.

I'd say one of the greatest commentators. It's tough to call out one commentator as the best, as they are typically heard in local markets. In fact, I dont think I have ever heard Chick call a game .... but I sure as heck listened to a lot of Johny Most calling the Celtics, and I know he was pretty darn good.

But as we lost our voice a while back, I know what you Laker fans are going through now. The legends never are replaced.

Karae · Post by **Karae** » August 7, 2002, 5:01 am

Chick coined the terms that have become commonplace for every commentator today. Slam Dunk, Air Ball, Brick, Give and Go, the list goes on. His pervasive influence is what makes him the best, imo.

Doubtless, there are many who were as entertaining as him, perhaps more entertaining, but none as influential. Though you may never have heard him, it is unlikely that anyone who has ever heard of basketball has not heard a word or phrase that he invented. I think it unlikely that any other basketball commentators could make such a claim.

Though I am sure every true basketball fan knows the phrase, "Havlicek stole the ball!" I do, however, doubt that someone who isn't a fan of the game has. To me, this is what separates Chick from the other greats and makes him the greatest.

Though, I am biased, and perhaps my criteria is invalid.

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » August 7, 2002, 10:19 am

Yer right. I am not a fan of the game, other than playing it. I had no clue who this guy was before they announced his death.

Karae · Post by **Karae** » August 7, 2002, 6:56 pm

But you know what a slam dunk is...or an air ball.