1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: If you thought four hours a day, hundred minutes a 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,120 Speaker 1: week was enough, I think again. He's the last remnants 3 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: of the old republic, a sole fashion of fairness. He 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: treats crackheads in the ghetto cutter the same as the 5 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: rich pill poppers in the penthouse. It's the clearinghouse of 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: hot takes. Break free for something special, the Fifth Hour, 7 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: which Ben Maller starts right now. It's fifth Hour, and 8 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: we are joined now by Dick Stockton, a legendary figure. 9 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,880 Speaker 1: What a career he has had over the many years 10 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: on network television and calling all the big sporting events NFL, NBA, 11 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 1: stunt baseball, you name it. And he joins us now 12 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: for a special conversation here and a video chat. This 13 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: is not only available on the audio format, but also 14 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: in the video format. Dick, welcome, I'm looking at you. 15 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: You look good here, and how you holding up? How 16 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: you've been having a life here over the pandemic. You know, 17 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 1: I'm doing great, pen and I appreciate you're asking. Uh, 18 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 1: I'm doing the smart things. Uh. I haven't been. You know, 19 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: I'm not hunkering down. I'm living life, but I'm doing 20 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: the smart things. Uh. And you know what they are. 21 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 1: I don't have to go through the whole. It's here. 22 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 1: We all hear it every day. But I'm doing fine 23 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: and we're just all trying to get through this, right. Yeah, 24 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: what have you been doing? Is there anything special to 25 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 1: pass the time? We had a lot of time these days. 26 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: Is there anything that you've found? Are you well, you 27 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: know a lot of a lot of interest and uh, 28 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: you know, and uh and so watching games isn't you know, 29 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: isn't the only thing in the world for me? You know, 30 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:47,320 Speaker 1: I played tennis and I played golf, you know, following 31 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: the rules. Uh, you know. I I work out in 32 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: my pool. Uh. I played the piano. I actually I 33 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,279 Speaker 1: played the piano, saying once in a while, but before 34 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: very you people as little as possible. And I like 35 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: to read a lot, you know, So you know, when 36 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 1: you take everything the consideration, uh, you know, it's life 37 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: and I just go through it, you know. So I 38 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: enjoy what I do and I hope to get back 39 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: to it and we hope that we have an NFL season. 40 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: But you know, it's what I do. It's not who 41 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,799 Speaker 1: I am. And so life has been, you know what 42 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: it is for everyone, but adjusting where it needs to 43 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: be adjusted. Yeah. And and with that, I mean, are 44 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: you planning on calling the games this year? I know 45 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: there's some some guys have said they're not gonna do it. 46 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: Do you know what the plan is for the NFL? 47 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: Are you going to be in a studio somewhere if 48 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 1: you do do the games? Are you actually go on site? 49 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: You know? You know? Then, to be honest, we we 50 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: have no definitive word from Fox Sports. Um. You know, 51 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 1: I'm under contract to do games, and I'm you know 52 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: what I've planned to do the games. Uh, but we 53 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: have not heard anything about how it's going to be done. 54 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: And uh. You know the great thing about Fox Sports, 55 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: and it's been this way through is my twenty seventh 56 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: year with them, is that they call you when they 57 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: want you to know something and there are no rumors. Uh, 58 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: there are no innuendows and none of those things happen. 59 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 1: And when they tell you, that's what it is. And 60 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 1: so when they make a decision, uh, and you know, 61 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: they have to decide how they want to you know, 62 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: broadcast these games and hopefully we'll have them, they'll let 63 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: me know. Yeah. And with that, just in general, I mean, 64 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: you've been around the industry, uh forever, and you've seen 65 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: seen so much here, Like, what is your gut instinct 66 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: tell you on how this is gonna work out? I 67 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: know there's a lot of doomsday people out there that 68 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: this isn't gonna work. What what do you think can 69 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: sports pull this come back off? You know, it's it's 70 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: a It's a great question, Ben, because everyone has speculated. 71 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: The amazing thing is when this thing started, they say, 72 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: what's going to happen to sports? And we've seen some 73 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: movement in a lot of areas. You know, baseball teams 74 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: starting to practice and then stop practicing, the NBA gathering 75 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: in the bubble in the Orlando, the NHL planning. We 76 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: don't know about college football. The NFL is going according 77 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: to what their plan is. I know that, you know, 78 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: the preseason schedule to this point has been knocked down 79 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: from four to two. Uh So, I don't have a 80 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: gut feeling, to be honest, I I don't know. I 81 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: can't predict. I don't think anyone can as to what 82 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: it's really going to look like. There are so many 83 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: reports coming out. I've read, you know, one today about 84 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: the Ravens saying they're gonna allow fourteen thousand people in 85 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: the stadium, the Chiefs will allow a number of people. 86 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: I don't know. I really don't know, and so it's 87 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 1: I'm fine with that. We all want to know. And 88 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: when when the word comes down, that will be the word. 89 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 1: And until it does, we just wait and see. Dick, 90 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: have you ever been in a position in your long 91 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,039 Speaker 1: career that that rivals something like this? I mean, obviously 92 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 1: the climate is drastically different, but just the the lack 93 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: of opportunity to actually be at a you to call 94 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 1: a game and maybe have to do things from a 95 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 1: remote studio. Has that ever happened to you, whether it's 96 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: for for baseball and football, basketball all never. Never, I've 97 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: never had to call a game from a studio. If 98 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: I had to, I would be prepared to do so. Obviously, 99 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 1: they're going to be different things. I mean, you're not 100 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: going to have all the people on site if you 101 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 1: do that, um, and we could be on site if 102 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,839 Speaker 1: they separate your partner, you know, and uh, you know, 103 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: the people up in the booth, I don't know. I 104 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 1: mean I don't know any of them. Couldn't answers to 105 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: whether they're going to piping crowd noise or whether they're 106 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,479 Speaker 1: going to have virtual fans in the stands. I have 107 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: no idea what they planned to do. I think they're 108 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: having big discussions, But I have never been under that 109 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: circumstance before. I've always been at the games that I 110 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 1: have broadcasts, and I've never done it off of a monitor. 111 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 1: But if I had to in a studio, that's what 112 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: I do, like all the other all colleagues wouldn't have 113 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 1: to do the same thing. Yeah, And I was gonna 114 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: ask you just a piggyback top of that, like during 115 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 1: your long career and how you've performed, are there points 116 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:08,799 Speaker 1: in a broadcast who you actually use the crowd's emotion 117 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: and how they've kind of gotten up or even down 118 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: and use that as an extra tool for you, And 119 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: how you actually sound while you're on Are you you 120 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: feed into that emotion? That's a That's what I do. 121 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: I actually, I mean I that is that is what 122 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 1: I'm you know what I feel. And a lot of 123 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: broadcasters have been that way. Been Scully of course, has 124 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: been that way. The great Dodger broadcaster. Uh, you know, 125 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: Joe Buck is aware of that very much, and uh 126 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: I even employed it. You know what I when I 127 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: called called the fisks home run way back in the 128 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: seventy five World Series between the Red Sox and the 129 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: Cincinnati Reds when Fisk get the home run, and I 130 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: remained silent for nearly a minute while the crowd was 131 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 1: going crazy and the cameras were showing the fans and 132 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: showing Fisk grounding the basis. And I think that's really 133 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,719 Speaker 1: what iportant part of a broadcast is. I personally feel 134 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: that announcers talk too much, and that you know, they 135 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: have so much information at hand that they want to 136 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: give it out, but the fan at home doesn't want 137 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: to be assaulted all the time. And you know, sometimes 138 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: you know, the term too much information really fits when 139 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: you're doing a broadcast. So I believe in that there's 140 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: nothing better than the reaction of the crowd and the 141 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: different pictures that a director would show, you know, at 142 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 1: a sporting event after a touchdown or a home run 143 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: or any of those things. So you know, that's the 144 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: important thing, and so that comes into play a little bit, 145 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: you know, if we don't have fans at the game. 146 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: Be sure to catch live editions of The Ben Maller 147 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: Show weekdays at two am Eastern eleven pm Pacific on 148 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio app. Yeah, 149 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: and and just to follow that up, you've done radio 150 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: and television. I know you was the TV guy, but 151 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: you've done a lot of radio. We're radio guys mostly, 152 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: so did you You're great at television, But did you 153 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 1: compare and contrast? Do you like radio more when you started? 154 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: Or is it you've always enjoyed television. Well, I grew 155 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: I grew up, then I grew up on radio. I 156 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: mean I grew up on radio. I think baseball is 157 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: a radio sport. I think it's meant to be a 158 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: radio sport. The thing that I love about radio, and 159 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: I've done, like you men in much more television than radio, 160 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: is the fact that in radio you use your imagination. 161 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: You're sitting in front of the radio, you know, set 162 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: or whether it would be a transistor radio when I 163 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: was growing up or whatever you now, and you imagine 164 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: things and the announcment describes what is going on, and 165 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: you're now imagining the runner running, uh, you know, towards 166 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: the sun part of the field, or towards the open 167 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: end of the stadium into the you know, whatever the situation. 168 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: Situation may be in and a good broadcast to describe 169 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: in football, especially the uniforms that the team was wearing, 170 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 1: or in basketball before it starts, so you can imagine 171 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: them in the colors that they're wearing. And so it's 172 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 1: very important to do it. And you know, some of 173 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: the best broadcasters on radio that I grew up with 174 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: didn't talk uh end to end, They didn't fill every 175 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: second of it. They'd let the crown come in there. 176 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 1: There was a great baseball announcertain and you may have 177 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: remembered named Ernie Harwell, and he worked for the Detroit 178 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 1: Tigers for I don't know forty years, fifty years, thirty 179 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: ye or whatever it was. And and the great sound 180 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 1: And think that all of the Michigan people late at night, 181 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: you know, outside listening to just the sound of the 182 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 1: crowd for the moment when Ernie was doing a game 183 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: and just saying what needed to be said. Yeah, it's 184 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:48,079 Speaker 1: it's it's great. And you went you went to Syracuse. 185 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,959 Speaker 1: But now when you went to Syracuse, now it's broadcasting 186 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 1: you is it because of you? Dick the guys like 187 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:55,599 Speaker 1: yourself there. Because now if you want to be a 188 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: broadcaster in sports, you've got to go to Syracuse. Well, 189 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 1: I suggest that they changed the name to the Stockton 190 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:05,680 Speaker 1: School of Broadcasting instead of the new House School of Broadcasting. 191 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: But he paid for all those buildings and all those 192 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 1: great facilities that they have, And so I wasn't the 193 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: first one. Um uh, you know, I was one of 194 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: the early ones. I think Marv Albert and I were, 195 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: you know, synonymous. He was ahead, but I think I 196 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: worked at the campus station before he did, W A. R. 197 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: And uh. And all of them have come in since. 198 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: And some of the great ones that we know have 199 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: come from Syracuse University, and their facilities actually are as 200 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 1: good as any networks facilities. That's that's how tremendous has become. Dick, 201 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: is there anything professionally you you haven't done what you'd 202 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: like to do? Well, you know, that's a that's a 203 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: good question. I have no regrets. I mean I've called 204 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: a World Series. I've called six Super Bowls on you know, 205 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: the world feed of the NFL that went overseas. I've 206 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 1: done nine NBA final I've done n c A tournament games, 207 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: have won the host of the championship game. I've done 208 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: a couple of Olympics. I've also done a couple of 209 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: hockey games. And you know, the one thing that I wish, 210 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: and it's not a regret, is that I had done 211 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:17,719 Speaker 1: more hockey because I really enjoyed hockey growing up in 212 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: the suburb of New York City a Ranger fan and 213 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: listening to a lot of the games, uh, you know, 214 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: from out of town on the radio. And uh if 215 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: I had an opportunity to two hockey games for Fox 216 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:34,680 Speaker 1: working with Mike Ruzione when Fox had the contract for NHL, 217 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: and I would have enjoyed doing more hockey. That's the 218 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: only thing. But I wouldn't call it a regret. What 219 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: about Philly Olympics. What events did you call for the Olympics? Well, 220 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: I I was I was blessed to call one of 221 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: the great Olympic events of all time in the Winter Olympics. 222 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 1: I called Dan Jansen's gold medal and world record speed 223 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: skating event and in a in a great story because 224 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 1: as you know, Jansen had competed and uh come up 225 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: short in previous Olympics for various reasons, and he did 226 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: not win the five hundred. He slipped and that was 227 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: one of the problems he had falling. But his last 228 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: event in the last chance to win a gold medal 229 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 1: was the one thousand meter in Hammar in Norway, and 230 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: uh Eric Heiden, the Great. Eric Heiden won five gold 231 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 1: medals in the nineteen eighty Olympics in speed skating was 232 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: my partner and he not only won the gold medal, 233 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: he set the world record, so he finished on a 234 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:35,199 Speaker 1: high militon so that was great. And in Valda Sare 235 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 1: I called the men's alpine skiing events the there So 236 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:41,839 Speaker 1: those are the two Winter Olympics I broadcast and it 237 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 1: was a great thrill to do that. Fox Sports Radio 238 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch 239 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: all of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com 240 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,599 Speaker 1: and within the I Heart Radio app search f s 241 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: R to listen live. So I guess the question is 242 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: obviously that you've called every type of sport imaginable. Which 243 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 1: one is the hardest? Which one there from a play 244 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 1: by play standpoint? What is the one that is the 245 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: most difficult to call, whether it be on television or radio. Well, 246 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,199 Speaker 1: that's another another good question. Now I never called horse racing. 247 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: I think that would be, uh, you know, a difficult 248 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: one to call, and I never got into that. But 249 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: I think you know honestly, and people think you the 250 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 1: sports that you have to fill are the hardest, and 251 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:26,079 Speaker 1: I don't look at it that way. I mean, I've 252 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: called a lot of baseball games, and baseball you just 253 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: don't fill. You let the crowd and the ambiance take over. 254 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: And when there's a big pitch in a big moment, 255 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 1: you know, you call that and uh. And sometimes you 256 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: just say they see it strike three and the picture 257 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: walks off the mount and you really don't have to 258 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: say anything. But I think, to me, the hardest is football. 259 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: And the reason why, man is because you have a 260 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: segment of moment of time to call a play, and 261 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: when you call that play, it has to be correct. 262 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: It has to be accurate, it has to be either 263 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: right call, it has to have the right emotion under 264 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 1: the moment of the game, and then you have to 265 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: get out and let your partner come in and then 266 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 1: you may play off your partner at the end. So 267 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 1: I think that you have to make a short period 268 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: count when you call a football game, and that's why 269 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 1: I think that's the one that may be the most challenging. 270 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: And I mean, what was it like in the early days, 271 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: And I know what it's like now in the business. 272 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: But when you were breaking in in the in the 273 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: sixties and the early seventies and you were making your mark, 274 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: what was how difficult was it? What was the process 275 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: like compared to what it is now? Well, you know, 276 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 1: it's all about experience and all about reps. And I 277 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: wrote the other day in my in my column that 278 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: I do, uh you know, the Stockton dot com, which 279 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: I do one every week, and I talked about a 280 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: lot of factors of my career Stockton says. And it's 281 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: a column I also write for a newspaper called The 282 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: Thousand Island Son. And I was talking about preseason football. 283 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: And the first football game I ever called was a 284 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: preseason game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the St. Louis Cardinals. 285 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: And this was in before the Steelers became a powerful team. 286 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: And I'll never forget I was calling the game and 287 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: the game was going so fast for me that I 288 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: felt like I wanted to put my arms out, stand 289 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 1: up and say, can you just stop and slow down 290 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: and let me catch up because I had to catch 291 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: up to who ran the ball, who made the tackle, 292 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: how many are to the game? What down is it? 293 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: And this was the hardest thing for me to get 294 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: because it was going too fast. And now, to me, 295 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: when I call a football game, it's in slow motion. 296 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: I see the receivers going down field, I know who 297 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: they are. It's all about reps. It's all about experience, 298 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: and so I think when you're doing things in the 299 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: early days, then it's all about just getting the experience 300 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: down and you get better with age and with time. Dick, 301 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: on that note, you started to where you're at now. 302 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: We see a lot of your content replayed over and 303 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: over and over again, especially with the Lakers and Celtics 304 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: and and obviously what not with the World Series. But 305 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 1: you don't have a chapter. You have books of content. 306 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: So when people obviously watch this material and now you 307 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: see it on television some of the greatest games that 308 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: you've ever witnessed and called, what does that mean to you? 309 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: How do you feel when you watch those games just 310 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: to replay? Well, I'm just I just say, what a 311 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: what a blessed career I've had, and uh, and I 312 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: just watched it. I mean, if we all saw the 313 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: last Dance, I think a lot of people did of 314 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls Championships and and uh, I 315 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 1: guess my calls were featured sprinkled throughout it, and it 316 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: was just fun to watch, and I would smile recalling 317 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: those games. I remember calling Jordan the sixties three point game, 318 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 1: the most points that he ever scored in a game, 319 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: and it was at Boston Garden. And so what I 320 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: do when I hear a lot of that is that 321 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: I remember being there at the time, and I remember 322 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: walking into Boston Garden for you know, that second game 323 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:14,399 Speaker 1: of that that brief, you know series between the Bulls 324 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 1: and the Celtics, and uh, and I remember the circumstances 325 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 1: of it. When I see the Lakers and the Celtics, 326 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: I remember sitting down the courtside no air conditioning at 327 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: Boston Garden, sweating through my clothes. And I know that 328 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 1: the Lakers didn't have any air conditioning either, which is 329 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:33,920 Speaker 1: why they had to get I v s at halftime 330 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: of their games against the Celtics in the those memorable, 331 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: you know matches they had in the eighties. Be sure 332 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 1: to catch live editions of The Ben Maller Show weekdays 333 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 1: at two am Eastern eleven p m. Pacific. Well, to 334 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,719 Speaker 1: follow that up. I grew up watching every great memory 335 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 1: I think of with Bird and Magic you were calling 336 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 1: the game. I remember you at the Boston Garden with 337 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: Tommy Heinson and Pat O'Brien at the half and you 338 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: know I remember is. I mean, you must hear this 339 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,239 Speaker 1: all the time, but you really when people see you, 340 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 1: they it's like you flashed back to that wonderful time 341 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: when you fell in love with sports. Uh. And you 342 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 1: must hear that quite a bit when you're out and 343 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: about talking to people. But are you known for that? 344 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: Do you think the Celtics, Lakers is or just in general, 345 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,199 Speaker 1: the NBA and the eighties is what you're known for. 346 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 1: You've done so much do you think that's what you're 347 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 1: calling card is? Well, you know, it's funny. I've I've 348 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 1: done uh you know, twenties twenty seven years with Fox 349 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: doing NFL and I've done NFL with CBS before, And 350 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:35,920 Speaker 1: you're absolutely right, I'm getting to that point. I've done 351 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:39,640 Speaker 1: a lot of division, um you know, playoffs with Turner 352 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: when I did those games for them along with games 353 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 1: with Fox, and I did the Olympics. But I think 354 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 1: that you know, people do uh you know tab me 355 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 1: with the eighties because I called every Lakers Celtic Final 356 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: in the eighties. So when you're doing them year in 357 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: a year out, and uh, you know you art of 358 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 1: course with the seventies Sixers and the Lakers, and you 359 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:05,119 Speaker 1: end up with the Detroit Pistons, the bad Boys winning 360 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 1: their back to back finals. Uh, you know at the 361 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 1: end of the eighties up in to the So I 362 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 1: think people say, yeah, Lakers Celtics, and maybe more for 363 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,879 Speaker 1: that than for anything else. Yeah, I think I agree 364 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 1: with you there. Yeah. And and also you did NBA 365 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 1: games you set up until a few years ago, and 366 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: you know, the guys today there's always this bar room 367 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: controversy that that guys have. You know, could Lebron and 368 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: Kawhi Leonard and these guys play against Burden Magic and 369 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 1: the guys before that you've called those games. You've seen 370 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: all these different generations of NBA players. What do you say, 371 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: I don't. I don't get into that. You know then, 372 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,399 Speaker 1: And the reason why is that we're talking about different eras. 373 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,679 Speaker 1: I mean, you look at Jerry West and Oscar Robertson 374 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: and Bill Russell and Will Chamberlain, and then you look 375 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: at the athletes of today, the speed, the size, I mean, 376 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 1: the centers were six nine at that time, the guards 377 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 1: were six one. You're six one. You know, the chances 378 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: are you're not gonna, you know, be able to see 379 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: much action because who are you going to defend? And 380 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:13,400 Speaker 1: then when Magic Johnson came along as a six ft 381 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 1: nine inch point guard or power forward or center as 382 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 1: he played the one game that Kareema build your bar 383 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,960 Speaker 1: was out and you remember that, I think it was uh. 384 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 1: You know, the size and the speed of these players, 385 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 1: especially in football. You look at football highlights from the 386 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:33,800 Speaker 1: fifties and you look at football highlights now. I mean 387 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 1: offensive lineman can run faster than running backs did in 388 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: those days. So you know, time has made athletes bigger 389 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: and faster, so to compare, you know, I think it's wrong. Uh. 390 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,120 Speaker 1: And and for the for the same token, I think 391 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 1: it's wrong to forget about the era of Oscar Robertson 392 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 1: and Jerry West. You know, an Elgin Baylor and if 393 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 1: you were to say, and people saying, who who's he 394 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: stick talking about? And then move into the sixties and 395 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 1: you look at the chem Elijah Wan and Elvin Hayes 396 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 1: and people say who are they? And then you move 397 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: on to other years and now it's Lebron and so 398 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: I think what you have to do, guys, is to 399 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:17,400 Speaker 1: just accept the era that you're in and not compare. 400 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:21,400 Speaker 1: I think personally, there's too much comparison all around. I mean, 401 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 1: somebody wins and the greatest team of all time, he's 402 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: the greatest player of all time. Uh, is this the 403 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 1: greatest moment of all time? Let's enjoy the moment and 404 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 1: say it goes with all of the great volumes of 405 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: great sporting events that we've seen over the years. Look, 406 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 1: I'll say, you know, Tom Brady, you know, is one 407 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: of all those Super Bowls? You know has to be rated. 408 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 1: You know, who would you say would be better? That? 409 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:47,159 Speaker 1: I couldn't find anyone better because of the number of 410 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: championship Season one and the great success of the Patriots. 411 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: But I don't think you can go down the line 412 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: in many areas in many sports and say, you know, 413 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 1: the greatest of all time. Let's just let's just honor 414 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:00,680 Speaker 1: the ones that are doing it at the h Well, 415 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:04,119 Speaker 1: dick On, with that being said, do you think leagues 416 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:08,120 Speaker 1: have gotten away from what made them truly good or special? 417 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I can think about what the way Major 418 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 1: League Baseball is now there's so much put into saber metrics, exit, velocity, 419 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:19,199 Speaker 1: launch angle, and those are things you know, when you 420 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:21,399 Speaker 1: were calling games and calling the world serious, you wouldn't 421 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 1: think about it. Use seven, eight, nine guys of the 422 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 1: bullpen to record nine outs. Do you think certain leagues 423 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 1: have gotten away from what made them truly special or 424 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:34,679 Speaker 1: do you feel like each league has progressed accordingly? Totally agree? 425 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:38,120 Speaker 1: I totally agree with you. I think sports are so 426 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: different today and so many aspects. And you pinpointed launch angle. 427 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,199 Speaker 1: I mean, I remember seeing in the fifties, sixties and 428 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: seventies teams would play in the World Series or played 429 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 1: big games, and the game of baseball has changed dramatically. Um, 430 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 1: you know, you gotta look at the baseball diamond and 431 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,160 Speaker 1: the geometry of what it is, and and the great 432 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 1: romance of baseball position playing and the strategy of hit 433 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 1: and run stolen basis uh sacrifice moving men in the 434 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:13,119 Speaker 1: scoring position. A basic gets the run home. But now 435 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:16,400 Speaker 1: it's home run or no count, or it's home run 436 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:20,399 Speaker 1: and strike out. And to me, that's not baseball to me, 437 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: to be honest, that's I know, it's what it is today. 438 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 1: I recognize it for what it is, but to me, 439 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 1: it's home run or strikeout. And I think when they 440 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:33,640 Speaker 1: went to the you know, home run derby the day 441 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 1: before the All Star Games and young kids and look, 442 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: let's face it, young kids come up and they want that. 443 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: So I don't. I'm not saying they should return to 444 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 1: those days, but I personally, having been around for many, 445 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:51,400 Speaker 1: many years, appreciated the art of baseball when it wasn't 446 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: just a home run, when it wasn't just a picture 447 00:23:54,080 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: throwing and a strikeout or a walk or a strikeout 448 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:03,719 Speaker 1: or a home run. There's more to baseball than that, 449 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 1: in my opinion. I mean Greg Maddox. You don't find 450 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:11,680 Speaker 1: a guy like Greg Maddox a whole of thing, picture 451 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 1: and anymore who never have had a great fastball. But 452 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:18,240 Speaker 1: if you get you out with his ball placement, the 453 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 1: way he would move pitches around, the way he would 454 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: off speed pitches, the way he would change speeds, to me, 455 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 1: that's the art. And in basketball, I have to say 456 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: that it's now a three point or no count, and 457 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 1: it's now who can hit the long shot. It's not 458 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:35,200 Speaker 1: about working the ball in it's not about power basketball. 459 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: If that's the case, So I think there are a 460 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,919 Speaker 1: lot of elements to those games that are different today. 461 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 1: I'm not I'm not going to say they're no good anymore, 462 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:46,159 Speaker 1: and I won't say that because that's the way the 463 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 1: games are. I just appreciate the way the games were 464 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 1: in the other days, and I know that's a day. 465 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: Be sure to catch live editions of The Ben Maller 466 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 1: Show weekdays at two am Eastern eleven pm Pacific. So 467 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 1: when you were a kid, did you grow up in 468 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 1: that cluster? I I have a lot of friends that 469 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: are New Yorkers too, but it's like cluster. It's usually 470 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:10,880 Speaker 1: if you're a Yankees fan, you're a Rangers fan, you're 471 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 1: a Knicks fan, and and so on and so forth. 472 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 1: Or if you're the way around, if you're a Mets 473 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 1: fan and usually a Jets fan and you're an Islanders fan. Like, 474 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: what kind of group were you usually affiliated with growing 475 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: up as a kid. Well, I was a New York 476 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:27,399 Speaker 1: Giant fan actually before they moved to San Francisco and 477 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 1: baseball uh, And I saw William May's make a great 478 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: catch in the nineteen fifty four World Series over his shoulder, 479 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,359 Speaker 1: and so I saw a lot of baseball games in 480 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 1: the fifties. Unfortunately, my team left there for only about 481 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:41,400 Speaker 1: six years and by rooting for them, and they moved 482 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:44,400 Speaker 1: to San Francisco, and that's what happened. Then the Dodgers 483 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: moved as well. But I was a Giant fan, hated 484 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 1: the Dodgers, and didn't pay any attention to the Yankees, 485 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:52,680 Speaker 1: who would win five streight World Series. I was a 486 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,120 Speaker 1: Nick fan, I was a Ranger fan, and I didn't 487 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:56,879 Speaker 1: live in the city. I lived in a suburb of 488 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 1: the city. And now today, you know, it's interesting, it's uh, 489 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 1: it's uh. You know the fantasy leagues. And an owner 490 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 1: of an NFL team told me a few years ago, 491 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: he says, you know, fans come to our game and 492 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:11,639 Speaker 1: they don't even remove for our kicker because they have 493 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: another kicker that's their fantasy player. I can't, I can. 494 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: I find that hard to you know, fathom, but I 495 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: know it exists and I recognize it. Yeah, and uh, 496 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: what do you call the Red Sox games and A's 497 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: games in your career in addition to the network stuff 498 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 1: that you've done A sixty eight season. People have complained 499 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 1: for years that baseball there's too many games in baseball. Well, 500 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:38,400 Speaker 1: this year they're only gonna get sixty. Do you think 501 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 1: that there's a chance we will see a shortening of 502 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 1: the Major League Baseball season going forward? No? Oh no, 503 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:48,400 Speaker 1: you know, you know what this is all about, right, money, 504 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:50,920 Speaker 1: And it's all about opening up the gates. And it's 505 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 1: not so much how great it would be to have 506 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:55,959 Speaker 1: a sixty or eighty game or a hundred game baseball season. 507 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 1: Now open up those gates. Eighty one home games, eighty 508 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:01,480 Speaker 1: one road games, and that's what you do. And that's 509 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,439 Speaker 1: why they wouldn't change that. And it's a matter of 510 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:08,199 Speaker 1: you know, they want to increase the NFL season, and 511 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:11,400 Speaker 1: they probably will at some point, and that's gonna work 512 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:14,119 Speaker 1: when they do that. I think, uh, there are a 513 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 1: lot of you know, ways you can look at that, 514 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 1: but I think that they're not going to make it short. 515 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: And I think that what people should do this year 516 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 1: and we hope we do have a season, is that 517 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 1: just adopted and acknowledge it, don't criticize it, don't pick 518 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:31,160 Speaker 1: it apart, don't nitpick everything that's going on. I know that, 519 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 1: you know, when it comes to records, you know, someone 520 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 1: may hit four or fifty by the end of the season. 521 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 1: You know that doesn't mean they're Ted Williams who at 522 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 1: four oh six and just except the year for what 523 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 1: it is. I think the records aren't going to work, 524 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 1: but everything else will and they're gonna play baseball and 525 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:50,399 Speaker 1: they're gonna have sports. Hopefully they do, and if they do, 526 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 1: that'll be wonderful. That's great. And I can't talk to you, 527 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 1: Dick without bringing up. You were a guest on The 528 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:01,400 Speaker 1: Blitz that I used to host on Fox Sports Radio 529 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:03,600 Speaker 1: on the weekends, and you had a lot. I've actually 530 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 1: stolen it from you. It's one of the great lines. Uh. 531 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:09,199 Speaker 1: You were calling a game between a couple of teams 532 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: in the NFL that we're not particularly good, and I 533 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:16,400 Speaker 1: asked you, I asked you a question, you know, because 534 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,159 Speaker 1: we had you on before the game and you were 535 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 1: supposed to your job is to hype the game up 536 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:22,880 Speaker 1: and get people watch, and I I was like, giving 537 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,440 Speaker 1: all these numbers and statistics about how terrible these teams were, 538 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:29,800 Speaker 1: and you had the greatest comeback. It's so good that 539 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:32,080 Speaker 1: I stole it and I added it to my repertoire. 540 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:36,119 Speaker 1: And you said, Ben Snats, tell you what has happened, 541 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 1: but not what's going to happen, and that is that's 542 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 1: one of the great lines. I gotta I gotta credit 543 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 1: you because that was a wonderful comeback to put me 544 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 1: in my place. Well, I didn't mean to do that, 545 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, I was just trying to talk 546 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 1: about people that go by what the past performances. And 547 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 1: last week he gained a d eighty five yards, and 548 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: I said, this week will probably game sixty because teams 549 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,520 Speaker 1: look at film during the week and they say, we 550 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 1: got to stop this guy's got a hundred eighty five, 551 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:05,320 Speaker 1: and they do and somebody else goes crazy. Oh wide 552 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 1: receiver catches swell passes. So I don't really rely on 553 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 1: a lot of statistics that well, but you brought up 554 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 1: another point, a good point about a game between two teams, 555 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: that a game doesn't mean anything. Now maybe nationally a 556 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 1: game between two last place teams don't mean anything, But 557 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 1: I remember growing up, you know, I wanted my team 558 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 1: to win. They may have had a losing record, they 559 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 1: may have been close to last place, but if they 560 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 1: won that game, I felt good. And so what I 561 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: do every week, and I don't get the top games. Now, 562 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: you know, I've been around a long time and guys 563 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 1: deserve their chance to move up, and they do. I'm 564 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 1: glad to be doing games, but I don't get top 565 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 1: games anymore. And it doesn't bother me, and I don't 566 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 1: care because I know that the fans in those cities 567 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: want that team to win that day. And if they're 568 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:54,520 Speaker 1: four and eight and they win and go five and eight, 569 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 1: they feel good all week and the and the food 570 00:29:57,320 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 1: taste good all week and they're five and eight, and 571 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 1: so they want to win that game. And just think 572 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 1: the players are practicing all week long and they're going 573 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 1: through their paces. Why because they want to win the 574 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:11,959 Speaker 1: football game. So it has nothing to do with what 575 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 1: does it mean nationally? Sure, they're out of the playoff phrase, 576 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 1: but they want to get a victory. They want to 577 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:19,960 Speaker 1: get a win, And to me, that's the base of 578 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:23,480 Speaker 1: what sports competition is all about. It's a great way 579 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 1: to say. And I gotta I read. I just was 580 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,960 Speaker 1: looking at your your blog here your column that you're 581 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:32,239 Speaker 1: right and you wrote about Muhammad Ali and you're a 582 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 1: relationship with Mohammad Ali. What Obviously it's a tough question 583 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:38,400 Speaker 1: because he's not around anymore, But what do you think 584 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:40,760 Speaker 1: he would how do you get react. Everything's been going 585 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: on in the in the world here in and he 586 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: was a big part of in his day movement with 587 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: society and it's it's been wild what's going on here in. 588 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:53,959 Speaker 1: How do you think he would react to what's been 589 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 1: going on? You know, I don't know exactly. I mean, 590 00:30:56,960 --> 00:30:59,560 Speaker 1: I know that the Mohammad Alibi Ali was a man 591 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:02,480 Speaker 1: for pe okay. I mean he was a man who 592 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 1: talked about speech, speech piece. He wasn't a violent man. 593 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 1: I know that. And uh, and I know that, you know, 594 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:13,840 Speaker 1: he stood up for his values and I know that 595 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:16,760 Speaker 1: whatever he said. I wish Muhammad Ali were here today 596 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,920 Speaker 1: because he could be a calming force. He could be 597 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:24,920 Speaker 1: a calming guy for society, because everyone loved Muhammad Ali. 598 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 1: He had that smile, he had that magic. There was 599 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 1: something about Ali that was tremendous. And so if Muhammad 600 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 1: Ali could speak today, I wish he could. That's all 601 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:39,120 Speaker 1: I would say. Uh, it's been a pleasure. Dick Stockton 602 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:41,800 Speaker 1: and again the blog, You've got a column. Everyone's gonna 603 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:44,320 Speaker 1: check it out. Watch you on the NFL on Fox. 604 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 1: It's d Stockton dot com. Correct, Yes, it is the 605 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 1: Stockton dot com. And when you get that's the website, 606 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:54,800 Speaker 1: and Stockton says, is where the columns are. And I 607 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 1: talked about, uh, stories inside stories of my career. Uh, 608 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 1: it's not just then I did this, and then I 609 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:05,880 Speaker 1: did this. That's boring because people, you know, it's not 610 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:09,440 Speaker 1: a it's not a rundown of great games that I did. 611 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 1: It's stories behind the scenes, things, interesting things of people 612 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:14,640 Speaker 1: that I've met along the way, and I think people 613 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:16,840 Speaker 1: would enjoy them very much. But I've enjoyed talking with 614 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 1: you and David Ben and it's been great talking to 615 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:21,480 Speaker 1: you things a lot of fun. Thanks for joining us 616 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:23,960 Speaker 1: stick to the I appreciate it. Thank you.