Chick Hearn is one of the true broadcasting legends of all-time. Throughout all of the great players in Laker history: West, Baylor, Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Shaq, and Kobe, Hearn was there to witness all of them at their best.
Hearn amassed a number of accomplishments throughout his storied career, but none was more legendary than his streak of consecutive games called for the Lakers. On January 19, 1998 Hearn broadcasted his 3,000th consecutive game for the Lakers, a 92-89 win over the Orlando Magic.
One of the most beloved figures in Lakers history, Hearn had an impact on basketball that could never be measured. He was one of the very few people who was able to do a simulcast for live games, meaning his wonderful voice could be heard on both the television and radio.
Hearn’s streak started in November 21, 1965 and would last 36 years, ending on December 20, 2001. All together, Hearn called 3,368 consecutive games for the Lakers and was the only play-by-play man the Lakers had ever known until his unfortunate death in 2002.
Along the way, he coined numerous terms that are now looked at as basic basketball terms. Phrases like finger roll, triple-double, and slam dunk were all created by the legendary Hearn. He was also known for putting the game ‘in the refrigerator’ when the Lakers had the victory sealed.
There are very few iron men in sports today, and those guys are looked at as being on a higher plane of toughness. We love Kobe Bryant for his ability to play through almost anything and that same desire rested in Chick Hearn.
Let’s remember this week in Lakers History, for Chick Hearn calling his 3,000th consecutive game in 1998.
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