By now you’ve all heard about the passing of longtime Braves announcer Skip Caray. He had battled illness for some time now, but news of his death still came as quite a surprise to me nonetheless. He was 68-years of age. I hope you will forgive me for remembering him in this little hockey forum.

I first started listening to Caray in the summer of 1980 when my family moved to the Atlanta area. I was 15 at the time and my becoming a follower and fan of that team was just as much because of him and the way he delivered the play-by-play as it was the team. He had a way of making one feel like they were sitting in on a conversation more than simply listening to information about a game.

Throughout the years I listen to ball games with my buddies as we cruised about the town at night. I travel the southeast with my soon-to-be bride with his voice coming through the car speakers, (I always had a station list of those broadcasting the games). The Braves were terrible in the mid to late 80s…but Skip made it tolerable. Even through the Eddie Haas years.

When the divine Mrs. R and I wed and moved to Tampa, Florida, his presence remained as cable brought Braves baseball into our apartment. We returned to Atlanta in the summer of ’91…you remember that year, don’t you?

I rocked both of my boys to sleep in the early nineties while watching the team and listening to his broadcasts…late night diaper changes and feedings were accompanied by Skip and the gang if there was a game played from the left coast. Up until a couple years ago, I always laughed with my two tax-exemptions about how the Braves never missed post-season since they came around. Summertime always meant Braves baseball and Skip with Don, Joe, and Pete…whether I was grilling on the deck with the radio on, traveling to the in-laws down in Jacksonville, Florida or simply on the TV as we went about our evening activities.

Throughout the years, we listen as Skip called those plays that will forever remain with all Atlanta sports fans…from announcing the first ever World Series games played in Atlanta, Sid’s slide at the plate…to “Yes! Yes! Yes! The Atlanta Braves have given you a championship”!

In 2003 when TBS removed Skip and Pete from the TV broadcast booth in an attempt to bring in more non-Braves viewers, the outcry from fans was so great that the network capitulated and placed them both back.

When his father, Harry Caray, passed away…we mourned along with him. So many of us sent him well wishes. He remembered and mentioned those touching tributes last September when the Braves ended their 30-year run being nationally televised on TBS.

Caray was sometimes tough on the team, but he always told it like it was…at least in his eyes. He was a Braves fan, but he wasn’t a “homer” in my eyes. If the team stunk out the place… that would be what he said. If the opposing pitcher threw a dandy game to beat the Braves…he would acknowledge that and give him the proverbial tip-of-the hat. He was honest and real.

Skip’s son, Chip, said that one of the last things he got to say to his dad on Saturday was “I love you” as they spoke on the phone. “I hope and pray he’s not hurting anymore”, the younger Caray said. “I hope and pray he’s sitting on a barstool somewhere with his dad arguing about baseball, and his mom and his brother who he misses dearly. I hope he’s at peace”.

Indeed.

We’ll miss ya Skip. And now, I think I’ll go walk the dog…promising to patronize the sponsors.

In Hockey Related News

The Thrashers’ radio booth will be Odgers-less this season.

Earlier this summer, Kovy said, “Thanks…but no thanks” to the KHL. And everyone said…”Hallelujah”!

Terry Frei of ESPN.com ranks the NHL’s bench bosses.

Why would Scotty Bowman leave the Red Wing’s organ-I-zation to go to Chi-town? Brian Compton knows why.

Want to understand why a team would trade a promising youngster for an over-priced vet seemingly past his prime? Jim Kelley of SI.com explains.

And Finally

The winner of today’s ID-10-T Award…

A man from Jacksonville, Florida became outraged enough to call 911… twice… when a local Subway shop failed to put sauce on his sandwich. The first time was because of the improperly made sub…the second was to complain about the time it was taking for police to respond.

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