Hearn Celebrates Milestone Broadcaster Has Done 3,000 Games In A Row For The Lakers
The halftime ceremony honoring broadcaster Chick Hearn’s 3,000th consecutive Los Angeles Lakers game Monday was everything he had envisioned it would be, and then some.
And then, after two long standing ovations, the gifts, honors and accolades, it was time to go back to work.
Hearn stopped to shake hands with well-wishing fans as he entered the tunnel under the Great Western Forum stands, then got congratulatory handshakes from the game’s three officials, Joe Borgia, Hue Hollins and Derrick Stafford.
Monday, everyone was a Chick Hearn fan.
“I was so nervous last night I didn’t sleep a wink,” he said. “I knew this was going to be difficult, and it was. It’s not easy being the center of attention. But you know what made it easy? Because everything I said was from the heart.”
Well, maybe not everything. With the Lakers trailing the Orlando Magic 46-41 at halftime, Hearn got the event’s biggest laugh when he said, “Let’s go, Lakers. You’re playing like dogs. If they play the third quarter like they played the first half, I’m going to buy them Alpo.”
But otherwise the ceremony fit the occasion. A broadcasting icon was honored appropriately.
Among the gifts were a couple of cruises, including one from the Los Angeles TV station that carries Laker games. It was a cruise to Alaska, or as Hearn might say, “As far as (wife) Marge can row.”
Lakers executive vice president Jerry West wrapped up his short speech by saying, “Players can always be replaced, but we’ll never be able to replace you, Chick.”