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R.I.P. Bob Blackburn

Have been following updates from people who visited him (esp. Dick Curtis) -- I know folks were gathering emails sent by people from all over and reading them to Bob in recent months. He got a lot of smiles and strength from those messages --- so if you had sent any, THANK YOU.

One of Bob's sons (also Bob) was in radio -- spent some of his years at KIIS in L.A. supporting the Dees show.
 
Wow! A bit of a surprise when I went to the Seattle Times website and saw the headline that Bob has passed away. As a kid I absolutely loved his play by play when the Sonics were a brand new team. I remember listening in after getting home in elementary school to KOMO and Bob Blackburn and the Sonics. To me he was a real pro and was "The Voice Of The SuperSonics." Bob---thanks for a job very well done--indeed!!!! I left Seattle in the mid-70's after high school and when I returned in 85-86. Bob sounded great, then I went back South for a few years, and then when I could hear the Sonics games again it was after 1992, and they had added Kevin---don't get me wrong Kevin is fantastic.....but I missed hearing Bob Blackburn all by himself call the games. He again did one heck of a job!!!

Here's the Seattle Times link to the story:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nba/2010746641_blackburn09.html
 
We OPs (original Portlanders) remember Bob as the voice of the Beavers and Beavers - Oregon State and Portland's AAA franchise. My first sports media memory is peering into Multnomah Stadium's field level press box right behind home plate and seeing Bob, clad in a short-sleeve white shirt and tie, calling the game through the collective tobacco haze of the box.
Good stuff....
 
Bob was a wonderful guy and loved the Sonics. Now he's with some of the other greats of his era, Pete Gross and Wayne Cody.
 
scrap said:
Wayne Cody? You're kidding, right?
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I'll have to second that. Wayne was well-known, and certainly was marketed well, but was more a "personality" than a real sports reporter/broadcaster. RIP, indeed, but sorry, he wasn't a serious Seattle sports figure.
 
345palm said:
I've got news for you: they were all entertainers. The word "serious" doesn't apply to sports.
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Yes, there is a certain entertainment value to sports, and sportscasters. Dave Niehaus, Bruce King, Bob Blackburn were all entertaining. But somehow they were able to do it without being phoney, irrelevant, and hokey. Wayne was not a sports guy, he was a well-marketed clown. Anyone who appreciates sports will get what I am saying. Nothing personal against Wayne, he was what he was. RIP.
 
searadiofreak said:
345palm said:
I've got news for you: they were all entertainers. The word "serious" doesn't apply to sports.
Click to expand...


Yes, there is a certain entertainment value to sports, and sportscasters. Dave Niehaus, Bruce King, Bob Blackburn were all entertaining. But somehow they were able to do it without being phoney, irrelevant, and hokey. Wayne was not a sports guy, he was a well-marketed clown. Anyone who appreciates sports will get what I am saying. Nothing personal against Wayne, he was what he was. RIP.
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But, Wayne was a sports "specialist" at KIRO back in the day! ;)
 
searadiofreak said:
Wayne was not a sports guy, he was a well-marketed clown. Anyone who appreciates sports will get what I am saying. Nothing personal against Wayne, he was what he was. RIP.
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Way to speak ill of the dead. Your mother must be proud.

For whatever you think of Mr. Cody's sports knowledge or ability, he did it for a long time, probably longer than you'll be in a career.
 
HowardMBurgers said:
searadiofreak said:
Wayne was not a sports guy, he was a well-marketed clown. Anyone who appreciates sports will get what I am saying. Nothing personal against Wayne, he was what he was. RIP.
Click to expand...

Way to speak ill of the dead. Your mother must be proud.

For whatever you think of Mr. Cody's sports knowledge or ability, he did it for a long time, probably longer than you'll be in a career.
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Despite the fact you brought my mother and career into this, I will try and rise above that.

When does commentary about deceased celebrities become appropriate? Is it a year, or five? Or is eight years still not enough?
 
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