Legendary broadcaster DICK ENBERG died Thursday at the age of 82 after suffering what his family believes to be a heart attack, according to a front-page piece by Bryce Miller of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Enberg "defined versatility as a broadcaster, covering 28 Wimbledon tournaments, 10 Super Bowls and eight NCAA basketball title games" as the play-by-play voice for UCLA. Enberg’s talented voice was "paired with relentless preparation and a zest for telling the stories behind a generation’s biggest games." His last full-time role before he retired last year "came as the TV voice of the Padres." Enberg was "known for his signature call of 'Oh, my!'" and "channeled his passion for sports and the people behind them into a new podcast called 'Sound of Success'" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/22). In L.A., Tom Hoffarth notes Enberg's catch phrases of “Oh, my!” and “Touch ‘em all” "punctuated his enthusiasm for broadcasting baseball, football, college basketball, tennis and golf." Enberg spent 25 years at NBC covering the NFL and NBA and was "known as the voice of the Rose Bowl for many years with partner MERLIN OLSEN." He moved to CBS in '00 to "continue on the NFL, college basketball and tennis," and in '04, he "went to ESPN for tennis." The Padres hired him starting with the '10 season (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 12/22). In N.Y., Nicholas Parco notes Enberg "was honored" with the Baseball HOF's Ford Frick Award, the Pro Football HOF’s Rozelle Award and Basketball HOF’s Gowdy Award. He also "won 14 Emmy awards and nine Sportscaster of the Year awards" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/22).
TRUE TO HIS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ROOTS: In L.A., Mike Kupper notes Enberg "got his big break" in '65 when KTLA-Ind. was looking for a sportscaster. In quick succession, Enberg was "calling the weekly televised boxing cards at Olympic Auditorium, became the radio announcer" for the Rams, and "began working UCLA telecasts" during JOHN WOODEN's tenure. It was then "on to a decade-long association with the Angels, until NBC called." He "formed an unforgettable NCAA tournament trio" alongside AL MCGUIRE and BILLY PACKER (L.A. TIMES, 12/22). The AP's Bernie Wilson notes former UCLA players BILL WALTON and JAMAAL WILKES during a game in February "presented Enberg with a No. 8 jersey, signifying the number of championships he called" during his time with the school. Enberg had said that the "most historically important event he covered was 'The Game of the Century,'" when Houston defeated UCLA in '68 to end the Bruins' 47-game winning streak (AP, 12/22). ESPN Radio 710 L.A.'s John Ireland wrote, "If there was a Mount Rushmore of LA Sports Announcers, Dick Enberg is on it with CHICK HEARN, VIN SCULLY and BOB MILLER." ESPN's Jay Bilas: "I grew up listening to Dick in Los Angeles, and had the great honor of working with him. He was the best of the best in every way." NBC News' Tom Brokaw: "oh my, what a loss. we arrived in LA about the same time, 2 midwesterners, wide eyed and excited about opportunities. he stayed the nice guy to the very end" (TWITTER.com, 12/22).
REMEMBERED BY CO-WORKERS: Enberg is fondly being remembered by his former co-workers. ESPN's Chris Fowler: "Met Dick Enberg in his Angels’ booth as a 12 y-o dreamer & wannabe. I’ve learned from & admired his unmatched class & grace ever since... was immensely proud to call him an ESPN tennis colleague." ESPN's Darren Cahill: "One of the nicest men you could ever hope to meet. A total pro and legend of sports calling. I always felt honoured to sit next to him in the ESPN booth & his advice was genuine & priceless." Padres analyst Mark Grant: "One of the best ever. He was a true gentleman. It was an honor to sit next to him for 7 years. ... Professor, I’ll miss you coming in the booth to say hello, tell some stories and have some laughs." FS San Diego's Michelle Margaux: "SO honored to have worked on the same broadcast & always loved his stories/jokes. One of the most knowledgeable men and will certainly be missed." Sideline reporter Bonnie Bernstein: "A man I was so very privileged to work with... dine with every NFL season Friday night... and happily take that toss 'down to B-Squared on the field'" (TWITTER.com, 12/22).
NARRATING THE BIGGEST GAMES: ESPN's John Buccigross wrote, "For my age group there simply wasn’t a bigger, big game national voice than Dick Enberg. Mystical at Wimbledon with BUD COLLINS, big NFL voice with genteel Olsen, College hoop mediator with Packer/McGuire and more. Joyful delivery/love of sport like no other." The N.Y. Post's Joel Sherman: "I knew it was a big game late Sunday afternoon when I heard Enberg and Merlin Olsen." SI's Jimmy Traina: "Dick Enberg & Merlin Olsen usually calling an AFC West football game on a . Sunday afternoon - one of the indelible sounds of my youth." WNBC's Bruce Beck: "Dick Enberg was the maestro of the greatest college basketball broadcast team ever assembled with Billy Packer and Al McGuire on NBC. They were entertaining, informative and simply a joy to listen to and to watch" (TWITTER.com, 12/22). NBCSN's Chris Simms: "Growing up with him, you knew it was a big game when he was announcing it" ("PFT," NBCSN, 12/22).
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS: Pro Football Weekly's Eric Edholm wrote, "Baseball. Golf. Tennis. NCAA hoops. NFL. Olympics. Not many could call all of them as brilliantly — and with as much class — as Enberg." Twins announcer Dick Bremer: "Golf, basketball, football, tennis and his first love, baseball...Dick Enberg did them all and did them all very well. A model of preparation." Toronto-based CILQ-FM's John Derringer: "In this age of specialization, there may never be another Dick Enberg. The man was a pro's pro and it was always like he was just there, waiting to call a game, race, match, contest." Philadelphia-based WIP-FM's Howard Eskin: "Enberg could step into the broadcast booth of any sport and be great." NBC's Mike Tirico: "Dick Enberg, as good as it gets. He cared about the game and the viewers. He elevated his partners. A perfect fit calling any sport .. and even better guy when you got to meet him."
POSSESSING A GOLDEN VOICE: ESPN's Trey Wingo said, "As a fan listening to Dick Enberg growing up in the '70s, and then in the '80s when I got in the business, it was just the ease with which he called a game. He had that very smooth, sort of comforting midwestern-style" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 12/22). NBCSN's Mike Florio: "One of the distinctive voices of the '70s. Anyone out there who grew up at that time -- it was Dick Enberg, PAT SUMMERALL and then AL MICHAELS, the voices you hear and know immediately. They could be saying anything and you would know exactly who it is" ("PFT," NBCSN, 12/22). ABC’s T.J. Holmes: “This is a broadcaster who has been in our homes our entire lives. The word ‘legend’ should be reserved for guys like this. ... He was so good and so versatile that he could turn two little words into one of the greatest catchphrases of all-time” (“GMA,” ABC, 12/22). Fox Sports Radio's Jason Smith wrote, "If I had to go with my broadcasting Mount Rushmore (national broadcasters), it would be: Dick Enberg, HOWARD COSELL, Vin Scully & KEITH JACKSON" (TWITTER.com, 12/22).
ONE OF MANY FORTHCOMING TRIBUTES: NBC will air a tribute to Enberg during "Football Night in America" prior to Saturday's Vikings-Packers game (NBC).
