Chick: His Unpublished Memoirs and the Memories of Those Who Knew Him
- Book Review,
by Steve Springer
Book Description
Chick Hearn was the beloved broadcaster for the Los Angeles Lakers for four decades and 3,338 consecutive games; his previously unpublished memoirs are now available for the first time ever along with a anecdotes and stories from those who knew him (and the Lakers) best along with an audio CD of Chick's greatest calls.
From the Inside Flap
Slam dunk. Air ball. Dribble drive. Ticky-tack foul. All are integral elements to anyone's basketball vernacular, and all were coined by legendary broadcaster Chick Hearn. But Chick's contributions to the game of basketball, to the Los Angeles Lakers organization, and to fans in particular, go light years beyond popularizing a dozen or so of the catch-phrases so widely used today. Chick Hearn ws the voice of the Lakers basketball from the day the franchise moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960. He himself had migrated from the Midwest, taking his wife Mrage, son, Gary, and daughter, Samantha, while leaving behind a devoted following in Peoria, Illinois. What he created in L.A., however, became more like an extended family several million listeners and views strong. After signing on to become the first Los Angeles Lakers play-by-play announcer, Chick worked tirelessly to build his legend. He prepared fanatically for games; he bonded with players, coaches, and management; he reviewed every broadcast in search of ways to improve; and, ultimately, he all but perfected his craft. He broadcast an astounding 3,338 consecutive games during his 42-year career, and his name rings louder among Laker fans and family than the likes of Baylor, West, or even Johnson. To those players he was a father figure, developing deep friendships and helping them find their way in the unpredictable world of professional basketball. To the coaches he was an ally, earning their confidence and respect with his uncanny knowledge of the game and providing valuable insight from his unique "world-eye view". To colleagues in the media he became larger than life, but never too big to offer words of encouragement or to lend a helping hand. His greatest prescenece of all, though, was with the fans. He bridged the team and the organization to the millions of faithful, fanatical followers of the purple and gold. Chick lived and breathed Lakers basketball, and he delivered it to the Southern California living room with a passion only he could muster. He was part of the family, to be sure, but he was also fair and objective and called every game the way it was played. Chick lived and worked through every incarnation that has been the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that is now considered by many to be the most visible and perennially charismatic franchise in sports. The struggles of the sixties and the losses to Russell's Celtics; the triumphs of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West; the passing of the torch from Wilt to Kareem; and the separate dynasties of Magic and now Shaq and Kobe - Chick was the only common denominator tied to the organization during that incredible five-decade span. Chick includes Hearn's own take on that remarkable relationship and his untold stories about the players, coaches, and owners that have contributed to the Lakers' fascinating history. It also includes their stories about Chick, offering rate glimpses into the mind of a broadcasting legend and a devoted and emotional family man who endured more personal loss than many of us could ever imagine.
About the Author
Chick is Steve Springer's fifth book. He previously authored The Encyclopedia of the Lakers and coauthored Winnin'Times: The Magical Journey of the Los Angeles Lakers with Scott Ostler and Fred Claire; My 30 Yeras in Dodger Blue with Fred Claire; and 60 Years of USC-UCLA Football with Michael Arksuh. Springer has been with the Los Angeles Times for 20 years. He has covered the Lakers on and off for 30 years in a sportswriting career that began at the Thousand Oaks News Chronicle (1974-1979), followed by a move to the Orange County Registrar (1979-1983). Springer and hs wife, Annette, have two grown children, Dina and Alan, and a son-in-law, Daniel Garcia.
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