Broadway, living here (born here) on the west coast in beautiful and sunny "
Southern California", has spoiled me rotten. Since the
Dodgers moved here from Brooklyn in 1958, Angelinos have had the pleasure of listening to
Hall of Fame broadcaster "
Vincent Edward "Vin" Scully" call Dodgers games. No one calls a game like Vinnie!! As most of you know, Scully began calling Dodger games with the legendary (and his mentor)
"Red Barber" and Connie Desmond back in 1950 in old Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn New York. The late
Jerry Doggett was his broadcast partner when they moved here in 1958. Vinny has seen ALL of the greats. He can tell stories while calling the game, and not miss a beat. Scully can go back to the early 50's to tell a story about a player. No baseball broadcaster alive today can go back that far. Scully (who is 88) is in his 67th and final year with the Dodgers. Scully will be missed.
Until his un-timely death in August 5, 2002, We also had the pleasure of listening to the incomparable
Hall of Fame broadcaster
Francis Dayle Hearn. AKA
"Chick Hearn" call Laker basketball games since March of 1961.
The Lakers moved here in 1960 from Minneapolis, and play at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, before moving to the Forum ( in Inglewood, just north of the site where the Rams are building their new stadium) in 1967. For decades, we've had some of the best in the business calling sporting events here in the southland. We've been blessed. The Forum was the place to be during the "show-time" era. Most home games were sold out during this time. Needless to say the local scalpers did a brisk business on game nights.
The particular phrases that Chick used during his broadcasts were labeled "Chickisms". Many are staples of basketball.
When a book of his memoirs was published in 2004, it included an audio CD with the calls as well as a
Chick Hearn Rap-Around rap song created with the samples. Hearn had a very unique wit and sense of humor. Being a huge Laker fan at the time,
I fondly remember everyone of these "Chickisms" .
- 20 foot lay-up: A jump shot by Jamaal Wilkes.
- Air-ball: An errant shot that fails to touch either the rim or the backboard.
- (He sent that one back) Air-mail Special!: A strongly blocked shot, often sent high into the stands.
- Bloooows the layup! : Missed a very easy layup.
- Boo-birds: Fans who boo their own team when they play badly.
- (He did the) bunny hop in the pea patch: He was called for traveling.
- (You could) call it with Braille: An easy call for an official, e.g. a blatant foul.
- (He got) caught with his hand in the cookie jar: A reaching foul.
- (The) charity stripe: The free throw line.
- (That player is in) civilians: The player is not in uniform.
- (He's got 'em) covered like the rug on your floor: Really good one-on-one defense.
- (They) couldn't beat the Sisters of Mercy: The team is getting beat badly.
- (They) couldn't throw a pea into the ocean: The team's shooting is really awful.
- (It'll) count if it goes ...: A player that is fouled in the act of shooting, or alternatively gets off a shot just before the buzzer sounded. It go-o-o-oes!: The shot is successful.
- (That shot) didn't draw iron: A shot which misses the rim, but hits the backboard. Sometimes he would add but it drew a lot of flies.
- Dime store score: A 10 to 5 score.
- Dribble-drive: A player drives the basket while dribbling.
- Finger roll: A shot where the ball rolls off the shooter's fingers.
- (He) fly-swatted (that one): A shot blocked with force and authority.
- Football score: A score resembling one often seen in a football game (e.g., 21-14).
- (He threw up a) frozen rope: A shot with a very flat trajectory.
- (We're) high above the western sideline: Chick's perch at the Forum, from which he called his "word's eye view" of the game.
- Hippity-hops the dribble: A player dribbling the ball does a little hop step.
- I'll bet you an ice cream: Hearn and Keith Erickson (his one-time color commentator) often bet ice creams on the outcome of a shot or game.
- (He's got) ice-water in his veins: When a player hits a clutch free throw.
- (It's) First and ten: Multiple players are sprawled on the floor after a physical play or diving for the ball.
- (It's) garbage time: The (often sloppily played) final minutes when reserve players get a chance to play in a game that's out of reach (after it is in the refrigerator).
- Give and Go: A player passes the ball, makes a quick cut, and receives a return pass.
- (In & out,) heart-brrrreak!: A shot that appears to go in, but rattles off the rim and misses. Sometimes it went in so far you could read the Commissioner's name from below.
- He has two chances, slim and none, and slim just left the building: The player has no chance of success with this play.
- If that goes in, I'm walking home: Similar to a prayer, when the opponent shoots a shot that is a prayer, a streak, or some amazing shot. (Usually on the road)
- Leapin' Lena: A shot made while the player is in the air and off balance.
When you heard Chick call a game, it was almost like being there.
Nobody called a game like Chick. Not before, or since,
HE was the best!!!
BOTH of these gentlemen have streets named after them near the site of each team's venue.