A Mighty Voice Lost
Posted by Michael.
I feel like I lost an uncle today, or maybe a good friend. Harry Kalas, voice of the Phillies and NFL films, passed away today, and it’s just not fair.
It’s almost impossible to think of Harry without also thinking of his long-time friend and broadcast partner, Richie Ashburn. The two of them worked together for 27 years (Ashburn passed in 1997), and were a pair unlike any other – they were close friends and were able to play off each other perfectly, knowing what the other was thinking and either filling in perfectly or getting out of the way as needed. Listening to Harry and Whitey broadcast a game was like being invited over to their house, as a couple of buddies described the game and did it well… each summer night weaving the story of the game with intelligence, humor, and a clear passion for the sport.
April 14th, 2009 at 8:38 am Using
Although I was not in Phillies land and thus did not experience their home town commentary, I did see many an NFL film in my day. I’m not sure what the upcoming dramatic NFL films will be like without him, for instance “How the Denver Broncos decided to set their franchise on fire durring the 2009 offseason.” At least for that one, only Raiders and Chiefs fans will watch, but there will someday be more positive NFL tales to tell that would have been far better with Harry Kalas.
April 27th, 2009 at 12:50 pm Using
Nothing in the world is as soothing as listening to Harry Kalas call a game. So, so very sad.