What Did Chick Hearn Mean To Soccer in LA

[TequilaJoal]

Well first off, Chick is Los Angeles Basketball. And called the game like it is played here, fast, exciting, and above all innovative and interesting. Before i became a fan of soccer i was first and foremost a Los Angeles Laker Fan. As i feel soccer is the only other sport on this planet which generates the pure excitment and individual creativity that basketball does. These 2 sports are bring out natural ability. Chick Hearn who coined phrases we still use today like airball and slamdunk was in tune to the game and the passion and creativity around it. Hopefully, his style is not lost on Galaxy announcers.

As we watch our matches on TV, i ask this question what would've Chick said while calling a Galaxy Match?

Does our current crop of announcers bring us their true passion and creativity to the broadcast? As L.A. is with basketball, obviously the best team in the World, they deserved the best announcer in the world.. one who helped put Los Angeles on the Map in the sports world, also one who helped breed millions of fans living in this city and bridged that gap to join us all. It's proof is the over million fans who showed up at the Laker rally in June for the championship.

The Galaxy is lurking in the shadows but can only be primed with its demographic and slow but surely gaining interest to take off. remember basketball was nothing in 1960 when it came here. no hope for it, nobody cared. but it grew, and grew, and grew and in 1971 we got our first championship. which has led to 8 more since then.

Chick Hearn called them all.. for our new announcers, do like chick, call it the way you see it, try new things, say stuff the others wont and be honest. And hopefully we can achieve the heights Chick and the lakers have , real soon.

[galaxyfan03]

Speaking as a true "diehard" fan of the 80's SHOWTIME Lakers, I will miss Chick VERY MUCH!! My regret is that I didn't get to hear & see more of Chick in action, obviously because of the fact that I live in NY. The Lakers were my "life" during the 80's & I wish I had the opportunity to enjoy Chick's work A LOT more than I did. But through Laker videotapes of their 5 NBA Titles in the 80's, I grew to understand & admire his incredible talent as a broadcaster.

BTW, Laker fans, the 80's Lakers (Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Byron, Cooper) would run circles around Shaq & Kobe's Lakers. Just MY opinion!!!!!

As far as the Galaxy announcers go, I thoroughly enjoy listening to Joe Tutino & Rick Davis. They don't "overanalyze" the game, like some guys do (i.e. Edwards & Keough). They let the game flow & only interject when required. Hopefully, they won't change their style.

If only Chick announced soccer, perhaps it's popularity in the USA would be MUCH higher. That's how GOOD an announcer he was.

RIP, old friend. Los Angeles and, indeed, the entire sports world will miss you.

[The Cadaver]

To answer the question posed in the topic:

Absolutley nothing.

[LittleEM12]

Originally posted by The Cadaver
To answer the question posed in the topic:

Absolutley nothing.

Originally posted by BocaBarca:
I just registered to let you youngsters know of Chick's connection with soccer in Los Angeles. If my memory serves me right, he was the voice of the Los Angeles Wolves team (owned by Jack Kent Cooke) that won the USA (United Soccer League) title in 1967 at the LA Coliseum in front of over 17,000 fans (including yours truly).

L.A. Wolves (aka Wolverhampton) beat the Washington Whips (aka Aberdeen) 6-5 in overtime in a very exciting match.

May he rest in peace, he was the soul of our Lakers team.

If this is true than he was involved in Soccer.

[The Cadaver]

He may have broadcast soccer way back when. In terms of having and real or lasting impact on the soccer world in Los Angeles, zippo. No one associates him with soccer (except perhaps historians) and his efforts did not result in a material promotion of the sport. I stand by what I said.

[TequilaJoal]

It's not technically what he did for soccer.. it is what he can offer to our passion about a fledgling team like the Galaxy.


The Lakers came here to under packed houses for years too... but he innovated a new style of announcing that helped put basketball in LA on the map world wide.


The thing i think our broadcasters namely ( Joe and Rick ) can try to emmulate is a style, get one, and keep re-inventing it. I think alot of times they are affraid to go off the script.

Chick called a game the way he saw it, invented terms and created passion around the game, that drew people in.

for all that is discussed. Ty and Jack are the only ones trying out there to make a style of broadcast that sucks you in. make up sometimes lame but creative terms, and if rick and Joe can come up with something... in 40 years time, we might be talking about them in the same breath.

[Dali]

You're right about devloping individual style TJ, something I think has been lacking not only in the broadcast booth but also in MLS in general. What's needed is some old fashioned pizzaz and some controversy. I think MLS tries too hard to be squeeky clean to market itself to the soccer moms. So what you end up with is a product and presentation that, for all its good points, ends up being rather bland. Say what you will about Gazza, for instance, someone with that sort of talent and gift (some say curse) for wacky shenanigins is the sort of thing the public eat up. It's these sort of characters that can bring the sport more attention.

Right now MLS is like an earnest young man, tie straight, scrubbed and clean in his business suit and too eager to please his fusty bosses. When what we really want to see is a rebel who'll roar up in a motorbike wearing ripped dreams with a babe draped over him annoucing he's got better things to do than train for the big match coz come game day he'll score the winner anyway.

[Cyclonis]

It's not technically what he did for soccer.. it is what he can offer to our passion about a fledgling team like the Galaxy.




The thing i think our broadcasters... alot of times they are affraid to go off the script.

Chick called a game the way he saw it, invented terms and created passion around the game, that drew people in.

Sorry to bring such an old thread back... (might be a blast from the past for some), but after watching the US take on Brazil today, I also believe that we are in need of a 'Chick Hearn' of soccer. As much as I admired Wynalda the player, I don't think he and his team cut it.

Great performance, if even the final scoreline seemed a bit unfair. The thing that bothered me though was that they insisted on playing at American football stadium with the yard lines still visible. It makes us look like such a third-world soccer country. Especially since there are several soccer specific stadiums where they could have played.


But back to the point I was trying to make, it would be great if we had a voice of the Galaxy. Someone, that someday, could be compared for what he did in soccer, what Chick had for basketball.

[bhlightnr]

If this is true than he was involved in Soccer.

I am a Lakers fan as well and my life as a fan is diminished with the loss of CHickie Baby. As far as Chick's involvement in soccer, he was very briefly the voice of the Los Angeles Aztecs when they moved into the Rose Bowl. Remember, Chick was a very active announcer and was the Voice of the Aztecs as well as the Lakers & UNLV Basketball.

Bulldog Tutino is an excellent announcer, better than the TV voices we have. Tutino knows when to talk and when to criticize and lets the game play itself out and gives a vivd picture. On TV, Watson & Rogandhino have done what I never thought could be done, been worse than Bretos & Hopkins. Watson sounds like the kid who was told to work his way back up to the A team and forced to eb there. No wonder he was assigned primarily to high school sports when he was first in LA, because that is where he belongs. Rogandhino sucks, nothing more. He is the worst homer and worst analyst I have ever heard. Bretos & Hopkins, while homers and screamers, actually had some points but their whimsy was just annoying. You see why Bretos got a job in WWE programmimg because he is a joke.

[tk421]

A good announcer would do wonders. Can make a slow game better and a great game, epic.


I still miss Chick Hearn RIP

[TequilaJoal]

I can't believe that was 5 years ago.

Still miss the ole' chickmeister.... The lakers have never sounded the same since.

And dam, rick and joe have been replaced many times over since then, The Galaxy are still not working with a permanant pair in the booth for televised games.

Hopkins/Bretos - blah

Rogandino/Watson - uninspired

Sullivan/Bretos - getting there

Dave O'brien/Wynlada - oh jezzzus christ. Baseball guys shouldn't call soccer matches.

Or I would have called this thread 5 years ago, Wow, what would Vin Scully do for soccer in LA?

[fantasyexctasy]

As we watch our matches on TV, i ask this question what would've Chick said while calling a Galaxy Match?



WE SUCK

[Geneva]

When, courtesy of Martino/Klein, the score became 3-0, I told my husband that this game is in the refrigerator.

Bretos & Sullivan are doing a pretty good job. Sully is kinda serious, like all of Chick's sidekicks. Bretos knows his game, and maybe with some more study/polish he can step it up.

[The Cadaver]

he was very briefly the voice of the Los Angeles Aztecs when they moved into the Rose Bowl. Remember, Chick was a very active announcer and was the Voice of the Aztecs as well as the Lakers & UNLV Basketball.

All true, but Chick really reached his apex as an announcer doing the old Bowling For Dollars TV show. If the man could make that interesting, he could broadcast ANYTHING!

[rtdavide]

With the occasional negative comments posted here about the various TV announcers, this thread reminds me of something I heard Chick once say: "Any idiot can do color commentary".

Chick spent his time calling the actual game because on the radio, the only link you had to the action was the announcer and his play by play. TV play by play is unnecessary. There is no need to call out who is passing to who because the viewer can see that for himself. That's why they end up talking about other points.... some of which can be annoying, but nonetheless, they aren't going to be calling play by play like a radio announcer.

Interesting enough for our current form, the 80's showtime lakers were mentioned in one of the earlier posts, but my first years following the lakers were in the mid seventies when we SUCKED. Players like Gail Goodrich were declining, we had guys like Kermit Washington [who punched out Rudy Tomjonavich] and Cazzie Russell and other losers.... and I remember crying myself to sleep after a whole lot of games when we just sucked. [yeah, i know i took it too seriously, but I was a kid!!] We got Kareem in 78 i think and then Magic in 80 and it all came together but there were quite a few loser years in there.....kind of like our current galaxy.

[Cyclonis]

With the occasional negative comments posted here about the various TV announcers, this thread reminds me of something I heard Chick once say: "Any idiot can do color commentary".

TV play by play is unnecessary. There is no need to call out who is passing to who because the viewer can see that for himself. That's why they end up talking about other points.... some of which can be annoying, but nonetheless, they aren't going to be calling play by play like a radio announcer.


Sorry man, I agree with Chick, but I disagree that play-by-play is wasted on soccer. After watching both the women's and men's national teams play, I was sometimes wondering what the hell the commentators were talking about sometimes. They flew into discussions so far away from the action, that it made the game seem less significant. These were important games, a friendly versus a five time world champion and a world cup debut. I think a little play-by-play is merited.

In Spanish broadcast they usually one person doing the play by play and I think it works. It creates a spell that keeps you hypnotized to the game.
What I really want is a commentator in English who isn't afraid to drop in some trick names like 'sombrero' 'Cryuff turn' 'double stepover' 'clayton' 'scissor kick' 'cross-legger' ect...

[coachsteve]

Great topic and question.

The real question: Does the media impact the popularity of the game?

ABSOLUTELY! How the event is covered can have a definite impact on how the sport is followed and received. Sure there are other factors, but the packaging and telecast quality is certainly important.

Chick Hearn was an idol of mine and comprises much of what I remember that was good about basketball.

I enjoy watching Mexican League soccer - I can't understand much of what the announcers are saying, but their enthusiasm and passion are MILES ABOVE American announcers (BOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRING!!!!) and make the telecast a joy to watch.

[Bayer04fan]

I was a die hard Lakers and Angels fan growing up in the 90's and I LOVED Chick. He will be truly missed. A legend and I am glad I had was able to hear his simulcast via TV or Radio. IMO, the best announcer in the history of the NBA, no one did or does it better.

R.I.P. Chick........
P.S.
Trade Kobe, he is making a mockery and has forever soiled the Purple and Gold...........

[bhlightnr]

All true, but Chick really reached his apex as an announcer doing the old Bowling For Dollars TV show. If the man could make that interesting, he could broadcast ANYTHING!

Cadaver,
You are preaching to the choir, heck Chick even could make a bad Gilligan's Island script exciting and watchable! I think CHick's apex was during the Lakers Showtime era, but that is an arguement for CO 3769- Topics in Broadcasting: Sportscasting course.
Back on topic, I think back to having a transistor radio with the old earpiece in the same Sears in Pasadena where one of the other posters saw Passback Pete,waiting for my folks to get tires on the old sation wagon and listening to Chick call The Cosmos v Aztecs from the Rose Bowl and begging my parents to go to the game, even if we made it at the half because Chick made you buy in and want to be there. The play by play made you want to be a part, and he did that. Sure he could do that with picking your nose, or any other mundane task, but he made you buy in, and that was his gift. If he had been given the lattitude to build the Aztecs in the same manner he did the Lakers in LA, soccer would be even broader in it's appeal in the US. Remember that the Lakers were a sideshow when they came to LA, and Chick was basically a salesman and the broadcasts were an "infomercial" at that time for the team. Now look where the game is. Chick could have done this, again with some latitude, but then again, we all remember the demise of the "forward thinking" ownership in MLS.

[Crimen y Castigo]

"Kareem fakes right, shoots left."

Chick Hearn knew the team so well he would frequently make that call a full second before Kareem would actually fake right and shoot left. It's like he was writing the game and the Lakers were following his script.

I like Bretos, but he gets a bit nutso at times. But considering the dire history of Jack Edwards, Ty Keough, Celo Babloa and Brent "Wold Cup" Musberger, I'll take a wheelbarrow full of Bretos' over those guys any day.

Dave O'Brien is trying. But that doesn't mean he doesn't suck. Because he still does.

J.P. Dellacamera should be the voice of soccer in this country. Why he isn't is a crime for which history will condemn us.