Thom Brennaman, welcome to the unemployment line

There was a famous story about Red Barber and his absolute hatred of having to share the broadcast with an ex-jock. Vin Scully was on the old Costas Coast go Coast (a show that really should be archived somewhere). I don’t remember who the former player was, but the I guess the previous day’s game in Boston was postponed for rain and Barber asked him what he had done on his off day.

“Not much. Loafed around the hotel and caught a movie,” he said.

“Really?” Barber shot back on the air, mind you. “A city with so much history to see and beautiful art museums...and you couldn’t think of anything else to do but watch a movie and hang around the hotel.”

 

Jack Buck was right there with those guys. And I'd listen to Gary Thorne call anything.

 

MY MAN.

I loved hearing him call the NHL. Game four of the '94 finals - "MARTIN GELINAS WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!?"

Tremendous presence, humor and feel for the moment.

 

I grew up with Harry Caray and Steve Stone on the Cubs, Pat Foley on the Hawks (road games), and Tom Dore and Johnny Kerr on the Bulls. I have no complaints.

 

Always enjoyed John Rooney and Ed Farmer on the radio for the White Sox ... glad they stuck together to call a World Series title. And RIP, Farmio.

Hawk Harrelson? Put it this way, he was a better White Sox GM than he was a broadcaster. And he was a horrible GM.

Couldn't stand listening to him on TV, and I'm a White Sox fan. People tuning in to WGN to watch Chicago's opponent had to really love him.

 

How many of Barber's non-jock partners would have gone to an art museum rather than a movie?

 

Orioles play-by-play guy.

 

Talked to longtime Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Hornets, Charlotte Bobcats announcer Steve Martin once about Thorne.

Apparently, they were both originally from Maine. Martin said we needed to get together over drinks about Thorne. Never had that opportunity. Would have loved it.

FWIW, Martin was not negative i.e. Thorne. And the guy was a hell of a good NBA p-by-p guy. The whole George Shinn fiasco threw his professional life into a whirlwind.

 

Steve Martin. Jesus Christ. There’s a name I haven’t thought of in 30 years. Charlotte Hornets basketball with Martin and Gil MacGregor on 1110-AM Out of Charlotte. A signal so powerful we picked it up like a local station in Pittsburgh. When there were no NBA games on TBS, TNT or old WOR-9 I’d either dial them in or Joe Tait out of Cleveland.

 

Years ago when Gary Thorne was doing Devils broadcasts, I was surprised one night to find he was reffing my beer league game. So I made a stop and covered the puck. He skates over and I asked, "Would you?" And he goes, "Kick save, and a beauty!" Made our night.