Not only could he read well, but write too. And write he did. Sports, news, Gary Park was quite the performer and one of the very best, Wayne Walker, I'd put him in the same class, a 1 and 1A --a time when KTVU and KPIX were regal and established.
Gary Park was a perfectionist and it showed. His sports report on The "10 O'Clock News" was apointment watching.
Always had a tan going, a real classy guy, had the George Hamilton look
ReplyDeleteDid Giants games too
ReplyDeleteBack in the day when there was awesome sports and news anchors.
ReplyDeleteNice remembrance, Rich. I really liked Gary's work and presence, in studio and when he called Giants' games. Likewise, with regard to Walker (at PIX, and when he worked as an analyst during Niner games).
ReplyDeleteCompared to the posers on the tube today, Gary Park stands way above them all. No doubt he was a smooth operator. He carried a satchel with him, which caused some to have a double take in those days. He also had an aura about him, as if he thought he was better than you. But years later, I'd rather watch him than the idiots filling the two minutes at the end of newscasts these days.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P.
ReplyDeleteRichie: I always loved when Gary Park would broadcast Giants games. Especially games from Montreal. He would talk the jazz clubs and restaurants in that city
ReplyDeleteTony, Gary Park loved the trips when the Giants traveled to play the Expos. He'd rave about Montreal's famous "smoked meat,: which he made sure to pronounce as the locals did "le smok-ed meeat."
DeleteWhen the newscast had the time for a ten -or-twelve-minute sports segment it often ended with the feature race from Golden Gate Fields or Bay Meadows: Gary Park would introduce it "Fillies and mares competed..." and Todd Creed's call "Tur-nnning into the str-rretch."
ReplyDeleteIs Gary Park still walking the earth with the rest of us? I vaugely recall him. I had gotten rid of myTV shortly after the '89 Quake.
ReplyDeleteBetter than DENNIS?!?
ReplyDeleteHis in game broadcast announcing was excellent. A shame the Giants only had 20 games on a season, but he was just great to have announcing those games on TV2.
ReplyDeleteHe was best! You need to post the video of him in the Giants Club House after they clinched the 1987 West Division down in San Diego, when he tells an out of control Will Clark that he is Over- Modulating! Who says that? The Great Gary Park.
ReplyDeleteI loved Gary Park broadcasting Giants games on TV. So knowledgable and engaging especially during a rain delay. Jack Clark, Willie McCovey, Darrell Evans, Mike Ivie, John "The Count"Montefusco, Bob Knepper, Johnnie Disaster, Terry Whitfield and Larry Herndon.
ReplyDeleteLong before “Boomer” Bergman, my high school friends renamed Park, “Gary RecreationArea”. Just saying.
ReplyDelete“ we’re Here in San Diego, a lovely coast side community of some half a million souls. Now as far as the restaurant scene goes, there are many delightful spots around town you should check out. One of the gems I visited during my last trip here to San Diego id a little seafood joint called “Ned’s place.“ They serve a delightful BOTTOM fish there! I would recommend a white wine to go with it. perhaps a Wente Brothers 1963 Chardonnay. Oh, by the way there is a game going on and you just saw Will Clark smack single to centerfield. But let’s get back to the restaurant scene…”
ReplyDeleteGary Park during a trip to San Diego in the mid 1980s.
He was so cool I remember one Sunday afternoon game he was calling from Chavez Ravine, he started speaking about the best shows playing on Broadway; the Giants were about to depart for Gotham. His delivery on KTVU was effortless. Gary Park did not take sports or himself too seriously.
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