After moving the franchise to Los Angeles, California, the Lakers went through many personnel changes. But one person who stayed and became synonymous with the Lakers was Chick Hearn, their play-by-play announcer for more than four decades and over 3,000 games. HBO’s “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” picks up after the franchise was sold to Jerry Buss in 1979, beginning the magnificent turnaround few expected. Chick, whose voice welcomed many new fans to the NBA, continued to call Lakers games into their glorious and triumphant era. So, let’s find out more about him, shall we?
Who was Chick Hearn?
Francis Dayle “Chick” Hearn was born in Buda, Illinois. He got his nickname while playing in an amateur basketball league; Chick’s friends pranked him by giving him a box with a chicken on it when he thought it contained sneakers. He married Marge, whom he met in high school, in August 1940. Chick’s career with the Lakers began in March 1961, beginning an almost impossible legacy that spanned over 40 years. He was known for his quick and convenient yet imaginative delivery method that many have since come to love.
Chick’s style and impact was best explained by fellow announcer Eddie Doucette. He said, “If you want to capture the beauty of the game, you have to be as fast as it is. And to do this, you can not miss the rhythm of the ball. Chick Hearn is probably the best there’s ever been at getting you to hear the rhythm of the ball. Chick’s innovative play call gave the sport many memorable terms like a slam dunk, a triple-double, and a finger roll that have become part of the basketball vocabulary.
Not only that, Chick was known for phrases like ‘no harm, no foul’, ‘ticky-tack foul’ and ‘faked it in the popcorn machine’ which thrilled the listening crowd. . The terms and phrases he found with were called Chickisms. Later, Chick’s broadcast partner of 15 years, Stu Lantz, said of him, “When you’re authentic, people see it. You cannot hide the authentic. You can fake anything you want, but you can’t hide it. He made you feel so at home, plus he was in everyone’s living room, you know? With 82 matches, he is in your living room 82 times a year. You just fell in love with the guy.
Throughout his career with the Lakers, Chick called games for 3,388 consecutive games beginning in November 1965. In addition to announcing NBA games, he served as a commentator for college-level sports, boxing and professional football, among others. Chick was also known to offer some interesting statistical nuggets during his commentary. In addition, his equation with the players sets him apart from the others. Magic Johnson once said, “When I talked to Chick, most of the time it was hardly about basketball. He was always so proud of me. I received little notes from him. It would do me so much good. »
How did Chick Hearn die?
Chick’s streak of consecutive matches ended when he underwent heart surgery in December 2001 and later a broken hip in early 2002. He returned to the broadcast booth in April of that year. However, in August 2002, Chick fell at his home in Encino, California and injured his head. Despite two surgeries, he never regained consciousness. On August 5, 2002, Chick died at Northridge Hospital Medical Center in California. He was 85 and approaching his 64th wedding anniversary to Marge. Chick also became the first broadcaster to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Read more: How did Jerry Buss die?
