Over the years we have been lucky enough to meet and speak with Chick on several occasions. He was always friendly and candid with the fans, no matter what behind-the-scenes bungling might be going on. He would regularly confide to the crowd when something was awry, probably to light a fire under some poor schlep. Yeah, you really felt like you were tight with Chick.

Back in the mid '90's, Chick's pre-game call-in show was much more entertaining than the games. Some of the callers he put up with were true testaments to his patience. I particularly remember a guy named Larry. At least one or twice a season, he'd call in and ask about something or another. Eventually, he'd get to his real beef: "Chick, why don't you announce exactly how many fouls the players have? When you blah-blah, you don't blah-blah, then I can't blah-blah-blah-blah-blah." Larry never figured out that he'd have better luck telling Dr. Laura what to do. But Chick remained composed. And of course, he never changed a thing. (Side note: I've even heard Larry calling in to Stu Lantz's and Larry Burnett's shows, trying to get them to tell Chick what to do! Yeah, right. I'm going to miss ol' Larry boy.)

Golden Throat was the last barricade to the entire Fox-ification of Laker broadcasts - there's now no reason to turn the radio up and the network's sound down - what's the difference? Chick defined an era and no matter how many championships may come, Laker basketball just ain't what it used to be.

Here is a modest gallery of Chick images I've compiled. I will add more, so please check back:

Click Chick for Pix

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~ N E W !~

Click Here to See "Chicks" Galore at the Doo Dah Parade, Pasadena, California 11/24/02

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