RIP Mr. Enberg.............
- Thread starter PU pit bull
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Sad to hear.....remember so many NCAA games with him, Al McGuire and Billy Packer......also the NFL games and Rose Bowl with Merlin Olsen. And that was well into his career. Some classic tennis matches.....and even game shows.
RIP, Mr. Enberg.
The last time I saw him was a couple years ago after a Padre spring training game. We were there to watch our son in the Padre system and headed back to the hotel. Happened to see him walking back to his hotel pulling a small suitcase. Just him ... seemed odd somebody of that stature being alone.
I think we peons have assumptions that those "stars" are surrounded ... when in fact, they are alone. I have no validation of this, but didn't most of us avoid asking the prettiest girl out because we assumed she had so many offers ... dunno .... just my meandering mind after six fingers and two minutes to my bedtime.
He really wanted to play at Purdue and had an excellent tryout on campus but coaches were looking at guys they knew more about. Likely playing at 3A HS wasn’t a help. Because he wanted to major in biomedical engineering he had limited options and chose to go NAIA to do both. Padres drafted him after his soph year. As 6’-3” LHP did well being voted their advanced A pitcher of the year and being selected to go to MLB Fall League in Arizona one year. Made it to 2A level with lot of great memories. Now out of baseball after 4 full seasons and finishing his biomedical degree paid for by team. Even though dream didn’t pan out for him I still think anytime a kid gets an opportunity, whether baseball, basketball, football, or any other go for it and never look back. As I said the experiences, memories, friendships he can’t replace.
But maybe his better career is just starting. Hope it is a great one.
There is a great pic out there, some where, of Fernando Alonso checking through Indianapolis Airport after his private test at IMS....just him, like anyone else.
I loved "Sports Challenge". He always had a great assortment of players on the show from all the pro teams.
Enberg was an IU Hoosier to the core but nonetheless he and Howard Cosell were the greatest announcers of that generation.
I always enjoyed listening to Enberg, but when I hear his name I can’t help but be reminded of Keaton Moore. RIP.
To me, the sound of his voice gave validation to whatever game he was working, as being important.
Liked his thoughts on John Wooden: “Greatest man he ever met after his father.” About as good a tribute that a guy can give.
Puh-Leez...
Cosell was an opinionated , thought-provoking bag of arrogance, but hardly an elite play-by-play guy.
Who can forget some of his classic Christmas Carols lines:
"Chestnuts fricasseed upon an un-encumbered inferno!
And THAT man, Jack Frost, amid a feeding frenzy....in one's nasal cavity!"
"Rudolph.....the multi-legged, antlered mammal.....with that proboscis all agleam and aglitter......and if one were to surmise, they would obviously testify to its apparent incandescence...."
"Well into the evening hour without disturbance.....and well past dusk at a sanctified time.....the Madonna.....and mamma or as some would say mom with newborn little toddler......"
"And here comes THAT man.....SANTA.....Mr. Claus....right down his lane like only he and Lombardi's Packers can......taking no prisoners and with a compilation as long as the Great Don Shula's win total...he has conferred and reviewed it multiple times....."
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* credit to a portion of these goes to the Bob & Tom Show®
