We  were  shocked  to  learn  that  Rory  Markas  had  passed  away  on  January  4  at  the  age  of  54.

Rory  had  broadcast  Angels’  games  for  eight  seasons  on  radio  and  was  about  to  become  their  lead  television  announcer  to  begin  the  2010  season.

In  late  2008,  Rory  underwent  brain  surgery  which  removed  a  blood  clot,  and  he  returned  in  time  for  the  2009  season.  I  visited  him  in  the  broadcast  booth  several  times  this  past  year,  including once  in  Arlington,  Texas.

Rory  Markas  was  well-liked  by  everyone  who  knew  him,  and  a  very  good  play-by-play  sportscaster who  also  aired  USC  basketball  games.

Rory’s  father,  Gary,  was  the  director  of  KNBC  newscasts  in  the  1960’s  and  1970’s  when  I  anchored  the  6  PM  and  11  PM  sportscasts  on  the  station,  and  like  Rory,  one  of  the  nicest  guys  you  would  ever  want  to  meet.  Unfortunately,  we  lost  Gary  to  cancer  when  he  was  47.  At  the  time,  Rory  was  16.

RP

Harry Kalas broadcast the games of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1971 until his death on April 13, 2009 in the broadcasting booth in Washington. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Harry and I shared the microphone during the 1984 National League Championship Series between the Padres and Cubs for the CBS Radio Network.  He was a likeable man who also narrated for  NFL Films and did the voice overs for Chunky Soups. Harry was 73.

RP

We lost one of the nicest men in our profession when Gil passed away.

Although we were on competing newscasts in the 1970’s, Gil Stratton was always friendly and personable.  He had a smile on his face any time we saw each other. When you look at what he accomplished, his days on Broadway, in the movies, television, and umpiring baseball games, Gil had a rich life.

1922-2008

R.I.P. Gil

“Once again, the Braves snatch defeat
from the jaws of victory.”

1939-2008

R.I.P., Skip

We lost one of the good guys the other day. After a 19-month battle with brain cancer, Bobby Murcer left us at 62. Continue Reading

It was almost 40 years ago that I met Stu Nahan.

In 1966, we came to Los Angeles and I went to work at KNBC-TV (Channel 4) as the weekend sports anchor. In 1968, Stu returned to the city of his birth after moving to Canada when he was two years old. He joined the sports staff of KABC-TV (Channel 7). Continue Reading