Bill King and Lon Simmons, and to a lesser extent, albeit significant, Hank Greenwald, were the gold standard of Bay Area play-by-play broadcasters. Not just that they were all beloved and respected locally, but indeed nationwide in the industry.
King was especially a rare breed--at one point, doing pbp for the Raiders, Warriors, and Oakland A's in the -70's and early 1980's . That's three--3! different sports and excelling in all. Sure, Bill's specialties were highlighted by his Raiders' and Warriors' work, (Holy Toledo!), but even at the end, his baseball accounts resonated just as much as his baseball and football work. To this day, nobody even comes close to his legacy.
Simmons's Giants' work, (and 49ers too), was just as effective and revered as King's. Lon's humor and style was second to none. And both he and King could get away with it because both had built up a respected resume and the Bay Area sports fans were lucky enough to be home base for their unique style.
King was so good on his Warriors' chores, you'd have swore you were courtside at the Oakland Arena even if you happened to be listening in your car radio or were at home. His rants on NBA referees were legendary, ("No guts, Ed Rush!, no guts!") And King was usually right, by the way.
The Raiders 70's galore was mixed with a healthy dose of King's legendary calls; the "Immaculate Reception" in Pittsburgh; the "Sea-of-Hands" miracle catch by Clarence Davis from Kenny Stabler; the "Holy Roller" in San Diego.
Simmons too. Who can forget his steller 49ers' calls and wise cracks during the gloomy period of the mid 70's SF Giants? Could you just imagine how these greats would react to today's homer-itus environment?
That's why were blessed here to have the likes of Ted Robinson, Ken Korach, Randy Hahn, and Drew Remenda. I like Jon Miller and I think Dave Flemming is an up and comer.
Robinson is the complete professional; sure, he was overly excited at the conclusion of the 49ers/Saints crazy, great game, but could you blame him? The Vernon Davis catch call and the ensuing comments were perfect and hit the spot, (Eric Davis doing his best Jan Hutchins "The Play" Cal/Stanford Big Game impression).
Like King, Robinson will rip if he has too and unlike countless Midwest homers, delivers a steady diet of excitement for BOTH teams, with an emphasis on the home team, sure. King was great in that manner, as were both Lon Simmons and Hank Greenwald.
Korach is superb, but doesn't get the accolades because he broadcasts the A's.
Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda make quite a team with the Sharks. Hahn's quick and subtle style, with Remenda's quirky, funny, and knowledge of the Sharks and NHL have brought me into the hockey arena and I never thought I'd ever go there.
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Don't forget Krukow and Keiber doing the Giants TV. They are the best!
ReplyDeleteEric Davis ruined the last two 49er touchdown calls with his idiodic (Cesar Romero) Joker-like cackles. Shut up and speak only when color is needed. I thought S.F. was supposed to be sophisticated? Homers!
ReplyDeleteEric no colored was needed.
DeleteA lot of analysts talk when they're not supposed to. Drew Remenda you're one of them!
ReplyDeleteIn addition to Kruk and Kuip, I think Greg Papa is good at any sport that he does. His "Touchdown...Raidersssss!" calls are over the top and much more pronounced than when he first started, but Greg is passionate, knows the game inside and out and rarely misses a big call.
ReplyDeleteKruk and Kuip may be 'homers' who root for the Giants, but they do give credit when it's due and they also have great synergy and a wonderful sense of humor. Kruk never fails to educate the listeners, while Kuip has a nice dry sense of humor and a great voice.
I certainly agree with you about Simmons and King, who set the highest standards. Think of all of the years that these two men worked in the area...King from 1959-2004 and Simmons from 1957-2002. Lon 'hung up the mike' when he admitted that his vision was failing him, but Bill hung in there until a few weeks before he died. Their epic calls of some of the area's greatest sports moments will live on forever.
Both men were also extremely encouraging, friendly, and without big egos. Both were gracious, helpful and supportive of younger announcers.
I was lucky enough to get to know both of them quite well, and it was a real treat to sit down with either on of those gentlemen at the ballpark, in the press box, in the dugouts, or t he clubhouses and talk with them.
Another who should go on your list, but has been gone for many, many years was the late great Russ Hodges. Hew was the man who called the 'Bobby Thomson shot heard round the world,' and came west with the Giants as their number one radio-TV announcer in 1958. Teaming with Lon from 1958-70, the two of them became so comfortable and such good friends, and for those of us who grew up watching those great Giants teams of the 1960s, it was a big part of our lives to hear this tandem call the games on the radio.
Good column Rich!
Thank God Joe Starkey isn't holding the 49ers back anymore.
ReplyDelete5 P.M. tonight on the NFL Network, a 90 minute version of Sunday's game.
ReplyDeleteGreg Papa blows Robinson out of the water. Greg SOUNDS like a real pro, his voice gives the game an exciting current and he's a smart guy. Ted whines when "his" team is struggles and has a really tiny voice. No comparison.
ReplyDeleteThey may be good but they call hockey games. Hardly anyone is listening or watching. Those that are interested are at the games.
ReplyDeleteI go to a hockey game or two per season, it's a lot of fun, but listening to hockey on the radio? watching on tv? no thank you.
Rich, I could be full of shit, but how are their ratings? I'm guessing even less than Oakland A's baseball, no?
THIS BLOG IS TOO POWERFUL,no.4398..How many times have I posted about Robinson's squeaky voice?..that he doesn't have the timbre of a great announcer. And in my last post weeks ago I said "Do the 49ers want their great moments to called by Ted?". I think Ted has read them because where he used to get excited to where his voice would rise until only dogs could hear him...WITHOUT a doubt he's worked at modulating his voice. That call was much more exciting.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mind Eric Davis's you-hoo!. My feeling -like during the Giants run- is that homerism for a great team is warranted. Its when they stink and you tell me its perfume that I hate.
s
Drew and Randy spend too much time talking about how great western Canada is. They don't make my list. Neither does Ted whats his face. And Korach? Uh...
ReplyDeleteEvery one overlooks the masterful PBP of Dan Rusanowsky. Without a doubt the most underrated PBP guy in the market. A real pro and real good guy.
ReplyDeleteBill King was also fond of ripping NBA referee Mindy Rudolph.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget: before he did Warriors radio and TV, Bill King was part of the Giants' radio team with Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons -- and Bill also did San Francisco Seals hockey on KFRC back when the NHL had only six teams, none west of Chicago ... plus he did a daily "sports roundup" studio show for many years.
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, "Anonymous #3": that none of those four make your "list" says more about you than it does about them. Randy Hahn, Drew Remenda, Ted Robinson and Ken Korach are four of the most talented broadcasters you're going to find anywhere.
D.J.
D.J., Greg Papa makes my list. He was a great transition from the great Bill King for football and especially NBA before he got stabbed in the back.
ReplyDeleteAs for the "your 'list" says more about you than it does about them..." I grew up on Bill King. Enough said.
I concur Rich but, to me, Greenwald was the wittiest and the most interesting,(along with King),to listen to.
ReplyDeleteKruk and Kuip can eat shit. Tired of hearing them call games. And Kuip has the worst homerun call of the league.
ReplyDeleteKuiper does a decent job, but yes, that HR call is awful. The worst part os he and others think its cool.
DeleteIts not.
Bill King was a classic. Living on his house boat did not afford him many trips to quality doctors that would have had him alive to this day.
ReplyDeleteI marveled how sometimes he had a coat and tie on and underneath the table he had short shorts and shower thongs.
Now everyone on air does that....
Rich - By the way. Where is Jan Hutchins. Didn't he marry some heiress?
ReplyDeletestill shocking to me that king isnt in a single hof
ReplyDeleteBeyond ridiculous, considering who is. The HOF is a joke.
DeleteGreg Papa is the new "King". He prepares, is intelligent, warm, humble and can tell a great story to keep the listener engaged on both sides of the brain. Ken Korack and Hank Greenwald (his talented son, deserves a shot at MLB), very very special and underappreciated. Lon Simmons crawled into our cells, and has a permanent spot in all of our hearts and brains.
ReplyDeleteFitz is great. Why isn't anyone mentioning Fitz?
ReplyDeleteI loved Hank Greenwald when he was broadcasting for mostly mediocre or bad Giants teams in the 1980s and and mid 90s. The two best seasons for him
ReplyDeletewere 1989 when the Giants finally won another pennant and he was teamed with Ron Fairly in the booth. Fairly wasn't a great play by play guy, but he was a decent analyst and a good storyteller.
1993 was also special, as the Giants still had Will Clark, Matt Williams, and for the first time, a svelte (before steroids) Williams Barry Bonds. They won 103 games that year, but lost nine straight at home in September which doomed them in the end. There were so many classic moments that season though, as the 1993 team saved baseball in San Francisco.
And Hank always had those off the cuff, funny remarks that were made for baseball broadcasts on the radio. Example:
"We're here in Montreal on a delightfully beautiful afternoon, and coming to the plate now is the delightful, de-lovely, DeLino DeShields!"
Priceless!
I remember listening to the great Bill King do warriors games as a kid. Great announcer and great voice.
ReplyDeleteNow, Bob Fitzgerald is also a tremendous pbp guy. I really enjoy his work, does not get too wrapped up in himself and does not overdo the calls.
And for MLK's holiday..all the local media African Americans I noticed,Eric,Pam,Rod -and Radnich,worked. Sad.
ReplyDeleteBUT BUT the Raider touch down call is lame
ReplyDeleteI dont like papa's touch down call for the raiders. Too contrived.
ReplyDeleteYou must be deaf,dumb, and blind, or his mother, if you like Fitzgerald.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Bill King call of all time was at the 'Holy Roller' Raiders' win at San Diego in the early part of the 1978 season.
ReplyDeleteDown 20-14 with eight seconds to go, QB Ken Stabler was trying to make something happen at the Chargers 30. Time for one more play, But Chargers' linebacker Woodrow Lowe grabbed Stabler and was about to end the game with a sack when Stabler intentionally fumbled the ball away.
King takes it from there:
"The ball is loose, a wild scramble...two seconds on the clock....the ball is rolling toward the endzone....Casper is grabbing at the ball...it is ruled a fumble, Casper has recovered in the end zone! The Oakland Raiders have scored on the most zany, miraculous,
absolutely impossible dream of a play! John Madden is on the field! He wants to know if it's real! The officials say Yes! Now get your big butt outta here! He does! There's nothing real in the world anymore! The Raiders have won the football game! 50,000 people minus a few lonely Raider fans here in San Diego are stunned! This one will be relieved..forever!"
I was in the Raiders' traveling party that weekend, as at the time I was working as a sports anchor for KIEM TV station in Eureka, and I was sitting next to Raiders radio producer Ron Fell, a friend of mine on the flight back to Oakland. Fell decided to have some fun and pulled out a cassette player, popped in a cassette of that last quarter, and replayed the last several minutes of that game for all of those who obviously hadn't heard it.
A bunch of players, as well as Madden and owner Al Davis crowded around our seats to listen, and I remember Madden and Davis laughing almost hysterically as they reacted to Kings' great call. Several other guys including Snake and
running back Pete Banazsak, (who helped set up the play by knocking the ball forward toward the goal line) were also listening with big smiles on their faces.
I think most of the Raiders realized that they had literally stolen one that day and were very lucky. So it wasn't a big surprise that the Raiders ended up losing several close games after that and consequently didn't make the playoffs for the first time in seven years. 1978 was also Madden's last year as he had ulcers and was burnt out by the stress.
But King's calls of games like that still remain among the best ever in Bay Area sports radio history. We miss ya Bill!
Can't stand Fitz. Love Papa and Korach. My all time fave is the legendary Bill King. Did all 3 sports superbly. He briefly did college hockey back in the 50's. I bet he was great at that too!!
ReplyDeleteNot a Giants fan, but Jon Miller is good. Can't stand Kruk and Kuiper. Way too big of homers for me. I enjoyed Hank Greenwald back in the day. Lon was good, nice dry wit about him
I agree with just about all of this, although I always thought that Lon Simmons was not particularly impressive with football. It is one thing that it's obvious that you want the team to win and your listeners know it--thats fine-- but I think Simmons sometimes crossed the line into "homer" territory; he usually lost interest and stopped narrating sufficiently when the '49ers were losing. If they were hopelessly behind, as they often were in the 1960s and 1970s, he's sometimes start getting sarcastically pithy, even seeming to want the Niners' opponent to go ahead and pile up a bigger score.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to note that Giants fans don't care much for outsiders; for instance, they never really took to Al Michaels, generally rejected Lindsey Nelson, and took quite some time to warm to Jon Miller--three of the greats of the business. (They loathed Ron Fairly, definitely not one of the greats) by default--he had played for the Dodgers and came here after his Angels job)
Many of the SF Giants pbp guys did a great job, including the likes of Lon Simmons, Joe Angel, Al Michaels, Art Eckman, Hank Greenwald, Lindsey Nelson, and the list goes on. Even current PBP guy Jon Miller calls a good game. I enjoyed Hank Greenwald's quick and very dry sense of humor. Al Michaels was a good source during the 1989 game with the earthquake because he knew the Bay Area (he was from there), so he could let viewers know of issues in specific parts of the area. As for TV, I grew up with Gary Park as the Giants TV guy. On the Oakland side, Monte Moore did a great job as the A's radio guy for many many years. Does anyone remember Red Rush and Hal Ramey? Try 1977? This was the year that Finley basically dismantled the team and they didn't even have a home radio station until 1/3 into the season. Of course, nobody could call a basketball game like Bill King. As far as football is concerned, I am mostly a college guy and I do like to listen to Joe Starkey call a Cal Bears game. Sure, he's not overly emotional, but he does call a good game. Bottom line, the Bay Area was blessed with a ton of good radio sports talent.
ReplyDeleteYou bet I remember Red Rush. With Dom Valentino. Back in the days when the future M C Hammer was the A's principal executive. And Red also did a brief stint on Cal basketball in the early 80s.
DeleteHey Nick: Millers a life time Giants fan Bay Area kid .
ReplyDeleteOh, I know! Outsider was the wrong word for Jon, and he worked A's games much earlier! But he had worked elsewhwere before coming back here, and, since he wasn't Hank (who is?), it took a while to become a popular figure.
DeleteRed was the original Rush. "From six to four to three and as beautiful as can be." (Gross to Picciolo to Page)
ReplyDeleteAnother one from Red Rush, who shared the Warriors radio broadcasts for two years on KNBR with Hank Greenwald (the two split the season's broadcasts up 50/50..each doing about 40 games...a strange arrangement but one made by the late Bill Dwyer who was a strange dude!)
ReplyDeleteRed: 'HE TICKLES THE TWINE FROM 29" (long outside shot)
RED: HE EYE IT, HE TRIES IT, HE BUYS IT ! (a free throw)
and finally my favorite: "THAT WENT DOWN LIKE AN ICE COLD BUDWEISER, SMOOOOTH AND GOLDEN...MMMMMM...MMMMM!
Hilarious!
I screwed up. It was Gross to Picciolo to Revering. My bad. :-)
ReplyDeleteTed - "We'll NEVER Doubt Alex Smith Again" Robinson? totally embarrassing call.
ReplyDeletehomer fail.
I HAVE READ IN THE A'S 71 YEARBOOK WHEN RED RUSH BROADCAST THEIR GAMES THAT RED WAS THE P-B-P VOICE OF THE 1957 SAN FRANCISCO SEALS.DOES ANYONE RECALL LISTENING TO THOSE BROADCASTS..
ReplyDelete