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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > August > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThankfully, Caray’s humor will keep him alive forever
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This was so Skip Caray on Monday afternoon at Cathedral of Christ The King, because it was a celebrity roast disguised as a funeral mass. The Braves team bus was more than 30 minutes late. That’s why somewhere from The Great Beyond, those packed inside the massive sanctuary almost could hear a wisecracking voice say, “Is this a Fox broadcast?”
You shouldn’t frown during an earthly farewell when the person leaving was more into smiles. Exhibit A: Harry Christopher Caray, Jr.
Just take it from Bill Bartholomay, the Braves’ chairman emeritus who was among those who hired Caray during the dreadful mid-1970s for Atlanta baseball. “We did not have good teams, so it was important that those communicating for us were personalities. You just couldn’t be average. You had to be special, and he was certainly that.”
Many seconded Bartholomay’s opinion of Caray before, during and after a two-hour service that was filled with more joy than sadness. Let’s put it this way: Those in charge of such things should have replaced the organist with a drummer. After all, rim shots were needed more often than not, starting with Monsignor Tom Kenny uttering seconds into his homily, “As Skip would say, ‘Stay tuned and don’t turn off your sets.’ ” Then, Kenny added, “Caray is coming home. Can he make it?”
The monsignor eventually suggested that the Braves radio and television announcer who died two Sundays ago is “safe” in heaven. This was before the jokes and the stories kept coming. The impromptu comics ranged from some of his former broadcast partners to his personal doctor to a current Braves player. You want to know how zany (or shall we say appropriate) this was? Even John Schuerholz left his normally stoic role as Braves guru to do his version of a standup routine during what was called remarks of remembrance.
Former Braves pitching great Phil Niekro shook his head in the aftermath outside of the church, saying, “It was sad for me that Skip died, until guys started talking in there. I became a bit more alive.”
Everybody did, because Caray was as vibrant as ever through those who kept producing chuckles and laughs while recalling their life with the ultimate voice of the Braves for the past 33 seasons. There was Pete Van Wieren, for instance, one of Caray’s former broadcast partners, quipping after he studied the filled pews, “In the late 1970s, when we weren’t drawing this many people to the ballpark …”
Rimshot.
Soon afterward, Ernie Johnson Sr., another one of Caray’s broadcast partners, told anecdote after anecdote — all of them hilarious — before mentioning with a straight face, “I didn’t know where Skip was coming from half the time we were working.” There was Charlie Wickliffe, Caray’s personal doctor. He alluded to his patient’s prolific days as a heavy drinker by saying, “He often told me, when I die, you’re going to have to stand up in front of a bunch of people and tell them what happened.” Near the end, Braves pitcher John Smoltz mentioned how Caray once described first baseman Ryan Klesko’s clumsy efforts in left field like this: “Ryno is running the right routes. They’re just not getting the ball to him.”
Double rimshot.
With apologies to the remains that sat inside the casket across the way, this wasn’t that old familiar, “So long, everybody.” This was “Hello, everybody” regarding the Skip Caray who will live forever through those jokes and stories.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Braves/MLB
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By bravesfan
August 11, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
Never thought I’d say this, but….good column.