Several Los Angeles Lakers broadcasters, including Stu Lantz, were honored at the 27th annual Southern California Sports Broadcasters Awards luncheon this week. Lantz became the 37th member of the SCSB Hall of Fame.
President Chris Roberts and Executive Director/Vice President Rand Elkins announced the inductees. Also featured were guest speakers, USC football head Clay Helton, San Diego Chargers executive John Spanos and former Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo.
Now 71, Lantz was a player himself prior to becoming a broadcaster. He played for the University of Nebraska, then drafted in the third round by the San Diego Rockets in 1968. Lantz also played with the Lakers but retired in 1977 due to a reoccurring back injury.
Lantz is in his 30th season as a broadcaster and 14th with the Lakers. He has previously received seven local Emmy Awards, been named best television commentator by the SCSB and won the honor for radio six times.
During his long career in the booth, Lantz has worked alongside the great Chick Hearn, Paul Sunderland, Joel Myers and now Bill MacDonald. MacDonald attended the luncheon, and so too did the Lakers Spanish-language broadcasting team.
Adrian Garcia Marquez won the Spanish-language award for best TV, play-by-play; Pepe Mantilla won for radio analyst; and Fernando Gonzalez won for radio, play-by-play. Fernando Pinto was a finalist for TV color analyst but did not win.
Marquez are Pinto each are in their fifth season with the Lakers, while Mantilla (24th) and Gonzalez (21st) have been part of the organization for multiple decades.
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