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Photo of Chick Hearn

Francis D. "Chick" Hearn

Francis “Chick” Hearn turned the seemingly simple task of broadcasting a sporting event into an art form, and in the process became an icon and a celebrity. Hearn’s first broadcast words were uttered in Manila where he was stationed after World War II. At that time, he did play-by-play for a touring basketball team on the Armed Forces Network. In a career that spanned seven decades, Hearn began a streak of 3,338 consecutive broadcasting games for the Los Angeles Lakers on November 21, 1965, before ending on December 16, 2001. Known for creating a glossary of broadcasting buzzwords – known as “Chickisms” –  Hearn coined the terms “on him like a postage stamp,” “the mustard's off the hot dog,” and “can't throw a pea in the ocean.” He introduced universal basketball phrases such as “slam dunk” and “no harm, no foul.” 

Enshrined

2003

Born

November 27, 1916 Buda, IL

Died

August 05, 2002

Contributor Stats

3x NATIONAL SPORTSCASTER
OF THE YEAR
1959, 1965, 1987
1992 RECEIVED CURT GOWDY
AWARD
1965 AWARDED AN EMMY
FOR EXCELLENCE IN
BASKETBALL COVERAGE
1986 RECEIVED STAR ON
HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME
3,338 CONSECUTIVE GAMES
BROADCASTED
42 YEARS BROADCASTING
FOR L.A. LAKERS