Dave Niehaus
Posted by Andy on November 11, 2010
Dave Niehaus, broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners since their inception in 1977, has died.
I apologize for the earlier version of this post that offended numerous people.
Posted by Andy on November 11, 2010
Dave Niehaus, broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners since their inception in 1977, has died.
I apologize for the earlier version of this post that offended numerous people.
November 11th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
"that offended numerous people"
I really wish I was born in 1910 so I could have avoided all of these thin-skinned clowns.
November 11th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Andy, I was milldly surprised that you included some of the negative stuff, but thought you did it well -- and even included some of it in the short announcement I posted to BattersBox.ca myself. Realism doesn't always play well to a wide audience, but for the most part, I thought, well done.
November 11th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Thanks for your support, but in the end I deferred to the numerous angry voices who chimed in on the earlier post. They were right to be offended; I certainly could have kept silent or at least waited a while to talk about my views on Niehaus' ability as an announcer. It was insensitive of me.
November 11th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
To be honest, I was largely giving you crap and wasn't actually offended. It was mainly the juxtaposition that caught my eye.
November 11th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
#4 others after you were clearly far more offended.
November 11th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
I must be getting less tolerant these days -- I still wonder why even an obituary on this page generates controversy.
November 11th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
I think it shows class and good judgment to pull the original post. We all say things and post things we later regret from time to time. Context is everything.
November 11th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Not a bad call to remove the post. But my response on the original, regarding "Homers" as the team announcer might make for a good blog. I grew up listening to Lindsey Nelson, Ralph Kiner and Bob Murphy broadcast Met games, plus an occasional Yankee broadcast featuring Bill White and Phil Rizzuto. It would be interesting (to me) to hear what many posters think/thought of their favorite teams announcers.
November 11th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
With regard to StephenH, I agree without question! Being a Reds fan, I was priveledged to listen to three of the best -- Waite Hoyt, Joe Nuxhall and Marty Brenneman. As kids we even listened during rain delays, just to hear Hoyt tell his stories and relive his Ruth-era Yankee days.
We take great stock in dissing announcers [just ask Rob Dibble}. So when a really good one, a la Niehaus, Nelson, or Nuxhall passes away, it is appropriate to pay our respects.
November 11th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Frank,
Hoyt, Nuxhall and Brenneman were so well know as local announcers that Met fans knew who they were. I think over the years, the Met announcers have been really good about pointing out other announcers and making interesting comments. I know they always seemed to mention Richie Ashburn of Philly.
November 11th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Andy -
I appreciate the pulling of the article. Thank you for your consideration.
Mick -
"realism doesn't always play well to a wide audience"...I'm all for realism, and all for calling things as I see them. However, the day after someone very close to the hearts of millions in the Pacific Northwest has died is not the day for cold, eyes-wide-open realism. That day will come, sure, but it's not today. Today is for grieving.
November 11th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Now you've got me wondering what I missed!
We've lost quite a few great announcers in recent years, and we thank them for the memories.
November 12th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
I grew up listening to Dave Niehaus calling Mariner games and I'll miss hearing his voice. I hope they give the full time gig to Rick Rizzs.
November 14th, 2010 at 4:13 am
Whatever I missed in the earlier version of this thread, I am thankful that I did miss it.
To those of this generation here in the Northwest, Dave Niehaus was baseball, pure and simple. I know I can't imagine hearing anyone else's voice in the lead spot on M's broadcasts.
My father died three weeks ago. He and I watched a lot of Mariner games together, especially as his health deteriorated in the last few years.
Now, losing Niehaus, too, I feel like I've taken a left-right combo to the gut from Mike Tyson.
As bad as the M's were this year, and have been throughout much of their history, next season may be truly unbearable.
I was at at a Safeco Field tribute Saturday. Grown men much tougher than I am were in tears. We lost family.
November 15th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
It's been almost a week. Any chance Dave gets into the In Memoriam section of the main page?
November 15th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Andy,
A personal apology, of sorts, here. Sorry if my last post sounded a little snippy.
Thank you for adding Dave Niehaus to the In Memoriam list.
From all that I gathered earlier, there was some difference in opinion between you and some of the others here.
Having been a broadcaster on Armed Forces Radio for much of my 20 years of Navy time, I understand that people like different things in how their news/sports/music is presented.
Many fans in the Northwest grew up with Dave. He was the face of the franchise, in good years and bad.
We were ecstatic when the Mariners beat New York in '95, but we were probably happier for Dave than anyone else. He was so full of life, and joy, every day he sat down in front of that microphone.
There was no championship, but that one moment -- that one call, as Edgar stepped in -- is as perfect as any I have ever heard To have a play unfold exactly as it was just set up, in such a setting, is as good as gold.
Since there are no other comments here since Friday afternoon, except for mine, I assume that not many people really care that much. Or, at least don't feel a desire to respond.
Mariners' fans are, by nature, used to being ignored. Lost, up in the far left corner. We finally got some recognition for a few years, since faded.
Dave was the franchise's first Hall of Famer...our first Hall of Famer. We cherish his memory, as much as anyone who loved Harry Carey (Dave's childhood favorite), or Jack Buck, or Harry Kalas, or Ernie Harwell.
(I was lucky enough to get Mr. Harwell to sign a ball once. What a classy gentleman.)
I'm pretty sure Celtics' fans wouldn't have liked anyone to disrespect the memory of Johnny Most.
trendon (#1)
It has nothing to do with being thin-skinned. At least, in my opinion. It has everything to do with showing the proper respect at appropriate times.
Everyone out there is somebody's favorite. Player, announcer, whatever.
As such, everyone deserves that respect.
Back in 1910, I'm pretty sure society would have been more understanding of that, even as players we later learned were scoundels, were lionized.
November 15th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
JeffW, I have nothing to do with the running of this site. I forwarded your comment about Niehaus and the Memoriam section, but I have no control over who gets added or when.
November 15th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Andy,
At any rate, thanks.
Having said what I said earlier, I like very much the various threads and polls, that you generate here. It's a fun place, and I learn a lot. I apprecate all the effort.
Thanks for listening. The Niehaus passing really hit hard.