Three Legends… & Lucek
The Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters recently held a very special luncheon to honor legendary sportscaster Al Michaels on his numerous career accomplishments. During the event, held Friday, June 16 at the Sportsman’s Lodge, PPB President Alan Perris presented Michaels with PPB’s Art Gilmore Career Achievement Award. Among the very special guests in attendance were two other Los Angeles-based broadcasting legends — the immortal Vin Scully, who spent 67 years with the Dodgers, and Bob Miller, who recently retired after 44 seasons with the Los Angeles Kings.
Having Vin Scully there was extra special for Michaels, who was born in Brooklyn and grew up listening to Scully calling Brooklyn Dodger games. After the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, so did Michaels’ family, relocating here in 1958. Other guests included Michaels’ son, Steve, former NFL player-turned actor Fred Dryer, KNBC/Los Angeles newscaster Chuck Henry and Rich Eisen of the NFL Network.
The Associated Press named Al Michaels as “TV’s Best Play-by-Play Announcer,” and for good reason — he holds the distinction of being the only TV commentator to call the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals. He also called the 1985 championship bout between Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Michaels is also known and loved for his many years of work on Monday Night Baseball and Monday Night Football, but he’ll probably best be remembered for his now-historic calls during the “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Winter Olympics and the earthquake-interrupted Game 3 of the 1989 World Series. Pictured, after the ceremony, (l-r) some random gate crasher later identified as Kenneth Lucek, Al Michaels, Vin Scully and RAMP‘s own in-house legend, Steve Resnik. [Photo credit: Roxanne Schorbach]
