Be Warned: Don’t Mess With Chick

I haven’t felt compelled to send a letter to the editor since Magic Johnson announced his retirement, but after reading Ed Fresquez’s letter about Chick Hearn (May 27), I could not remain silent. First of all, I question the wisdom of the editors to publish the letter, which I felt was quite mean-spirited. Yes, it is important to provide a balance of opinions, but the article the letter was in response to was about the personal tragedy Chick endured losing his two children, not one critiquing his announcing skills.

Secondly, I wish to address Mr. Fresquez himself. Sir, you may have some merit in your arguments about what it takes to be a great basketball announcer (although I, for one, still appreciate Chick’s expertise of the game, and when he does commit the occasional mistake, Stu is there to very deftly and unobtrusively make the correction), but may I suggest that you know absolutely nothing about compassion.

JAN ZAHLER LEBOW, El Segundo

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Last week’s letter from reader Ed Fresquez is sad and pathetic. To suggest that the death of Chick Hearn’s two children is reason for him to retire is both insensitive and without merit.

Chick has been mangling names for two decades, but personally I’ve gotten used to it, and actually find it rather endearing. So what if every Carter in the league has the first name of Butch? It has become part of his lore. Chick has not lost the ability to deliver the flow of the game and he is objective in calling the game. There are probably thousands of listeners who are turning down the TV volume, preferring to listen to Chick and Stu instead of the inane banter of Bob Costas and Doug Collins.

MICHAEL S. LEE, Alhambra

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Sports figures often decline to give interviews or allow their personal lives to be written about in papers such as yours. A perfect example as to why they seek privacy was displayed last week in The Times. After Steve Springer’s wonderful article on Chick Hearn and his family, you had the audacity and lack of taste to print Ed Fresquez’s letter critical of Hearn’s work as an announcer.

The Times has Larry Stewart to critique Hearn the announcer, and it’s a shame that you spoiled a quality article by printing such an inappropriately timed letter. And to Mr. Fresquez, Chick Hearn is an entertainer. Announcing NBA basketball is entertainment. Hearn is hurting no one by his occasional mistakes. He continues to bring joy and credibility to Laker broadcasts, and frankly I hope he never retires. As Bob Costas recently said on the air, Hearn is “beyond legend status.”

GREG DANIELS, Venice

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Saturday afternoon I listened to the Knicks-Pacers game on the radio and realized that Chick is now only 10 times better than anybody doing basketball. Other announcers describe what has happened. Chick describes the game as it is happening.

I know that someday Chick will stop broadcasting Laker games. That decision should be made only by Chick or by God. I hope that doesn’t happen until it’s garbage time when the game’s in the refrigerator, the eggs are cooling, the Jello’s jiggling, and the butter’s getting hard.

JIM KEMENY, Long Beach

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Reader Ed Fresquez’s misleading and mean-spirited perceptions about Chick Hearn couldn’t be further off the mark. If he can’t appreciate a man in his 80s who has infused over 3,200 consecutive broadcasts with an infectious love of the game, and who is still informative, accurate and entertaining in 98% of his on-air moments, what can you say?

Because it would be uncharitable to make any assumptions about this reader’s intelligence, only one possible conclusion remains: Guy must be a Clipper fan. He has my sympathies.

CAY SEHNERT, South Pasadena