Sunday, June 8, 2008

Celtics - Lakers: Missing Most and Hearn

We’ve all seen and heard enough about the rich Celtics - Lakers traditions. Well, almost. How can this championship round go on without hearing the names Chick Hearn and Johnny Most? It can’t.

Considered the two greatest basketball radio-broadcasters of all-time, Hearn and Most were the voices of these two great franchises - and as much a part of their glorious history as Russell, West, Bird and Magic.

Johnny Most announced Celtics games “high above courtside” (his traditional opening remark), from 1953 to 1990. Chick Hearn could be heard calling Lakers games from 1965 to 2002, including a consecutive-game streak of 3,338. Between the two, there were 25 championships (16 by Most and 9 by Hearn), and nearly 90-years of radio-broadcasting. Most passed away in 1993. Hearn in 2002.

Hearn was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. He was also inducted into the American Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 1995 - and has a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. Most was inducted into the media-category of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, and was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Basketball Hall of Fame trustees. That he’s not an actual Hall of Famer is a travesty.

Hearn is credited for numerous basketball sayings - called “Chickisms,” including “slam dunk,” “air-ball,” and “no harm, no foul.” My personal favorite was “ticky-tack” foul. Most was best known for his raspy voice and villainizing of Celtics opponents. His famous call: “Havlicek stole the ball” lives in NBA and Celtics lore.

I grew up listening to Johnny Most - and grew old admiring Chick Hearn. There will never be anyone like them again.

Celtics versus Lakers just isn’t the same without them.

posted by Gil Vieira at 9:05 am  

2 Comments »

  1. There is also a statue of Chick Hearn in front of the Staples Center

    Comment by HST — June 9, 2008 @ 7:10 pm

  2. I grew up listening to Johnny Most. And while he was a huge ‘homer’, he was the most entertaining announcer I’ve ever heard.

    Comment by Manny — June 10, 2008 @ 4:21 am

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