9-25-16 Following Dodger’s Charlie Culberson fitting walk-off homer in last Dodger game he would broadcast, legendary announcer Vin Scully gives one last ‘thanks’ to fans singing ala Harry Carray ‘Wind Beneath My Wings.’ Is that really Scully singing?Pretty nice voice! All round talent will be missed
VIN SCULLY – The Last Class of Another Era Says Goodbye
‘Mr Story Teller’ personified 1950s ‘Happy Day’ values he grew up with-
– the consummate professional maintained a humbleness you no longer see
Dodger baseball announcer announced 67 years for the Dodgers – longer than anybody. Scully announced 53% of all Dodger games going back to the beginning- 1800s. Incredible!
Only Vin Scully could get away with saying whatever he wants. Because who he is and because he says it right – in a nice, constructive way.
Whether it was his comment about Venezuelan socialism or telling the Giants Brandon Crawford how NOT to slide, we loved hearing it from Vin.
Vin made us comfortable. Even though he’d been one of the few ‘non-homer’ announcers still going, he would make Dodger fans feel better in a loss just by hearing his dulcet tones. Scully made you feel good not only about baseball but about life. When things got bad he would remind you that there’s a lot more to life than the kid’s sport – even though Scully still refers to himself as the eight-year-old kid getting to do what he always wanted – for 67 years!
The ‘Master Story teller’ made you feel good about baseball and life – even if the Dodgers lost. He brought class from another era you don’t see much anymore. There are other good sports broadcasters but , still, nobody will probably ever fill Scully’s shoes.
Regarding the Venezuelan comment, Scully made headlines earlier this year not for a sports event but for a comment he made about Socialism in Venezuela. After talking about a particular player from Venezuelan he bemoaned the fact that ‘socialism doesn’t work, ‘ while expressing his sadness for this player and others from Venezuela because of the state of the government there. ‘We know that socialism doesn’t work’ or wordsto that effect. Any other sports announcer would likely not touch such a topic or get excoriated. Not that Scully does it often. He pretty much stays right withbaseball, but shows great interest in the human side of the players, and this comment derived from that interest
The other recent above mentioned note was when Scully recently offered constructive criticism for the Giants’ Brandon Crawford’s sliding ability. He first , however , made some very positive comments, noting Crawford’s exceptional skills in the field and at bat but then questioned the head first slide that cost Crawford to leave the game and be out a fwe days after getting scraped up on the hands and face. ‘Players are taught anymore not to slide head first,’ said Scully.’
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 19: George Lombard #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers gets in-between Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Brandon Belt #9 of the San Francisco Giants and Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants after words were exchanged after the final out of the seventh inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on September 19, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) Most agree that it was Bumgarner who really set off the skirmish with one of his patented ‘stare downs’ and questioning Puig. SCULLY handled the situation in the announcing booth as he always does, with humor while diffusing the situation – at least for TV and radio viewers
IS BUMGARNER THE NEW BARRY BONDS 2.0 ?
Giants September mini-surge by some players shows Bumgarner and others appear to be drinking the Kool-aid again while displaying that Bondsian arrogance (Bumbarner) which cost the Giants a big game against the Dodgers. After a lack-luster July and August , Bumgarner once again has suddenly improved in September ala past years not only pitching but hitting monster home runs in batting practice, Meanwhile, not all this year but some of the usual ‘September surgers ‘ are back at it , hitting well above their normal averages, notably Hunter Pence (.350), Brandon Belt (.350) with newcomer Eduardo Nunez (.380) and even bench player Ehire Adrianza (.300). Whether it’s enough for the Giants semi-annual unlikely push to the playoffs this time we ‘ll soon find out
