Everyone by now knows what happened yesterday. It’s not as if something like this happens that often. I’m sure everyone went on youtube immediately finding their greatest moments of Harry Kalas letting them sink deep into memories. You found the clips that sent shivers down your back, and the clips that made you frustrated at Phillies, and the ones that made you crack a smile.
The one constant for all of that was the voice that was there to share it all with you. And it’s odd that we all get attached to a voice that we’ve never met in person, but this is something that every Philadelphia sports fan holds dear. It’s the voice of that 10,000th loss in mid-July 2007, but it’s also the voice of October 2008 that brought an end to 25 years of frustration and near misses. There will of course never be another man like Harry Kalas. He embodied Philadelphia sports, and while the loss is sad and devastating there is only more reason for us to stand up and cheer louder. As corny as it might sound we are the voice of Philadelphia as well. We are the loudest fans in all the free world. Harry’s voice may have stood out during that final pitch of the World Series, but all he has ever been is one of us. He was the spokesperson for thousands, and our cheering only backed him making his voice that much bolder.
Ever the Flyers fan, all of this got me thinking once again on the great Gene Hart. As a kid I would listen to him, the same voice that saw something I would never witness first hand. He was there for the Stanley Cups. When I listened to him I was a part of that team, and I was right with Bobby Clarke as he was handed the Stanley Cup.
A voice is a powerful thing. Only a lucky few get to become the voice of their fans, and fewer still become legends. Gene Hart and Harry Kalas were Philadelphia legends. They are the city of Philadelphia full of history, hardship, and hope. We can no longer hear their voices directly, but if you listen closely when the crowd stands up and cheers at every opening tip, at every kickoff, at every opening pitch, and at every puck drop you will hear them every time. That’s the sound of Philadelphia. And though it changes, favorite players leave, seasons end…the one constant that is always there is the voice of those that brought us everything we have. These are the people that gave us our Matt Stairs going yard, our McNabb scramble magic, our Andre Iguodala buzzer-beaters, and our Joffrey Lupul overtime playoff goals. They’ve given us so much, and it’s time we gave back.
You don’t have to but when the puck is about to be dropped in Pittsburgh at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, and when the opening pitch is about to be thrown 5 minutes later in Washington only two men will be on my mind. When you begin to cheer for your team just take that one extra second to remember those that were there with us through everything that makes us Philadelphia sports fans.
RIP Harry Kalas 4/13/09.
“Brad Lidge stretches… the 0-2 pitch… swing and a miss! Struck him out! The Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 World Champions of baseball!”
RIP Gene Hart 6/14/99.
“15 seconds left in the game… 10 seconds. Orr shoots it down the ice… Parent makes the save. Ladies and gentlemen the Flyers are going to win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers have won the Stanley Cup!”
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