Scully for Football?! Wouldn't make sense! Like having Shakespeare do the Sinatra thing! ( Not that his poetic skills would not necessarily translate.)
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New York in the 50's! Mel Allen, Vin Scully and Red Barber. We were in the cat bird seat. One correction, the author of the iconic call of Kirk Gibson's iconic homerun was Jack Buck, another icon.
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What a terrific piece. Thank you for giving us such a riveting backstory. I have to tell you though it makes me a little more upset, since we here in the LA area are unable to receive his TV broadcasts of Dodger games (unless we have Time-Warner). I'm even leaving work later just so I can hear some of his radio broadcasts of the home games. By the way, as an aside, you can find the broadcast he did of the Vikings-Rams opening round playoff in 1978 on YouTube. I think it's the game locals refer to as "The Mud Bowl." His descriptions and narrative of a low-scoring game I think still keep one glued to their seat.
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I don't think Scully would have countenanced John Madden's carefree ("dinks") dismissive takes on bone crushing, concussion conducive hits.
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Great piece! Fun read. Obviously, the correct choice was made. I sill miss hearing Madden and Summerall on Sunday afternoons. I met Summerall once (in a bar of all places) and he could not have been nicer. As for Scully, what a career. It's amazing to think that the last NFL game he worked was 35 years ago, and it contained one of football's most iconic moments.
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A few things jump at me at this excellent article. Who would give someone that kind of news right before they call the World Series? CBS, and later, FOX, would not have done right by Vin. At NBC, at least he was able to call some World Series games. Because he stayed around long enough,with the MLB.tv app, I've been able to listen to Scully for years, and his best calls are heard online on MLB.com, thus extending his legend for a new generation. He's leaving on a high note.
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Terry O'Neil deserves a plaque in Cooperstown.
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You're so right. Even if Scully had been selected, however, I think it still would have been a winning combination. I slightly favor Mr. Summerall as well. Doesn't hurt that he was a former Giant during a particularly glorious period.
Great story. And did not know about the contest. But I remember bring in a JFK airport bar watching the Cowboys/49ers. Didn't derail Vin Scully one bit!
Scully was superb as an NFL play-by-play announcer. One of my two favorites of all time – the other being Ray Scott whose philosophy of not getting in the way of the game was so similar to Scully's. Indeed, Ray Scott combined Scully's philosophy with Summerall's voice print and may have been the best NFL play-by-play man in the history of the televised game. It always mystified, and disappointed me that Scully didn't continue in his football role, although as an Angeleno and lifelong Dodgers fan, I'm glad that he wasn't distracted from his role as the club's voice. He is as much of a legend as John Wooden or Vince Lombardi or Roger Federer – Federer being the most akin to him in grace, elegance, timelessness and class.
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When you mentioned both Mr. Scott and Mr. Scully, I recall they were both guest broadcasters I think of the 1965 World Series between the Dodgers and Twins. I'm not sure, however, if they shared the booth at the same time, or shared it with Curt Gowdy.
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I remember that game so clearly. Saw it at Tug's, an old bar in Pacific Beach. I remember Vin didn't sound right that day. But he sounds great now; I'm so lucky to have grown up in SoCal in the 50s-70s. Vin, Dick Enberg and Chick Hearn. Wow.
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I am biased.
Vince Scully used arrange for my Uncle to obtain Brooklyn Dodgers (and LA) because they were friends in college.
Been listening to Vince do baseball since 1954.
For baseball he is definitely the best.
This is his last season. At age 89 he is still doing just fine. A real pleasure to listen to.
Vince Scully used arrange for my Uncle to obtain Brooklyn Dodgers (and LA) because they were friends in college.
Been listening to Vince do baseball since 1954.
For baseball he is definitely the best.
This is his last season. At age 89 he is still doing just fine. A real pleasure to listen to.
2
Vince Scully used arrange for my Uncle to obtain Brooklyn Dodgers (and LA) because they were friends in college.
Tickets?
Tickets?
Yes :)
Thank you for a great article about this icon. He will be sorely missed even by those of us who only occasionally hear his calls.
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I'm glad they picked Summerall. Had Vin gotten the job, he probably doesn't make the "Behind the bag, it's through Buckner" and "She is gone." calls.
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Football in general, and the NFL in particular, would never have appreciated Vin. He's far too nuanced, subtle and gentlemanly.
And, no, I'M NOT a Dodgers' fan...
"“Statistics are often used like a drunk uses a lamp post – for support, not illumination.” Vin Scully
And, no, I'M NOT a Dodgers' fan...
"“Statistics are often used like a drunk uses a lamp post – for support, not illumination.” Vin Scully
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Dumb decision. Summerall was unctuous and boring. (Madden was just unctuous). Scully was too good for that job, anyway. He is and always will be the best.
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Scully is the finest baseball announcer I have ever heard in 50 plus years of listening to baseball broadcasts. That is a medium which plays perfectly to his talent as a story teller. I'm sure he was excellent at announcing football too but CBS made the right call even if the handling was graceless. It's good too to read an article that says a bit about Scully's human side.
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