Ron Santo bled — and I mean bled — Cub blue. He and straight-man (play-by-play commentator) Pat Hughes were brilliant together. Santo was the ultimate die-hard Cubs fan. He groaned and he hooted — with the groaning, of course, being more frequent than the hooting. I miss Santo, who passed away in December of complications from bladder cancer. I miss the hilarious banter with Hughes during broadcasts. But now that I’ve found a place on the Bulls bandwagon (it’s filling up fast), which is headed straight for the playoffs and maybe beyond, another broadcast duo has caught my attention.
Stacey King and Neil Funk are riveting. The pair couldn’t be more different. King recently started singing a Snoop Dogg song to Funk on the air during a timeout, to which Funk replied, “Are you all right, Stacey?”
King, who helped the Bulls win three of their six NBA titles during the dynasty, could sit in for team mascot Bennie the Bull if need be. While his insight into the game is respectable, it’s his boisterous energy that draws you in. Makes you want to be King for a day. Here’s a recent sampling of the man’s spunk:
March 26 against Milwaukee
With 56.4 seconds left in the game, Derrick Rose drives down the middle of the key for a poetic tear-drop shot.
“He’s the Windy City Assassin! He’s got ice water in his veins! Look at that stare, Neil Funk! Look at it!”
With 42 seconds left, Rose hits a turn-around fader.
“It’s showtime! MVP baby, give it to him! That boy is Baaad, Funk!”
With 29.3 seconds left, Rose zips a pass to Ronnie Brewer under the net for a quick basket.
“He’s percolating, Funk, like a pot of coffee! Chicago’s finest, woooooo!”
The Bulls, who never led until the last two minutes of the game, close out the win.
“Let’s drive home safely, Funk!”
March 28 against Philadelphia
Carlos Boozer slam dunks.
“Ooozey-boozey!”
April 2 against Toronto
Kyle Korver hits a three.
“Take that with you, Funk!”
Rose blocks his third shot attempt of the game.
“Rose is having a block party and the invitations have been sent out! They’ve been sent out!”
Contact: bspencer@oakpark.com