Posts tagged ‘Skip Carey’

Last week’s Bravescast will go down as one of the most memorable for me. After shooting the show on Sunday evening I got home and settled in. I decided to cut on the news and see what is going on over the weekend. That’s when I got the shock that everyone else received. After watching the news story, I had such a mix of sudden emotions at once. I was feeling Sadness, denial, confusion and more. For most people they lost a great sportscaster and long time voice of the Braves and Hawks. For me, Skip was that and a whole lot more.

I grew up in a small town outside the Atlanta area. Much like Skip, I shared an enormous passion for sports. It is a passion that grew more and more as I got older. I was only 8 years old when I started keeping up with the braves in 1991. The worst to first year was some of my first memories as a braves fan. Throughout my early childhood the only time I was not planted in front of a tv at game time was when I was at practice. Like most kids in sports, I wanted to be a pro athlete. As the years pasts I knew that it was not going to happen and started thinking what do I want to do when I grow up? My parents and other relatives always mentioned to me that if I really should try to become a sports broadcaster. There came a certain point in my life where I decided to change my role models and idols. I stopped “wanting to be like Mike” and started “wanting to be like Skip”.

Skip Caray was the biggest influence I had in wanting to be a broadcaster. There were many nights when my bed time came around at 10:00pm, my mom would make me cut my tv off but allowed my radio to be on. I would always stay up till early in the morning when the Braves were playing on the west coast. Skip was there day after day and game after game. As I entered High School the Braves were still in the middle of the greatest playoff run pro sports has seen. As I got older I really began to respect Skip and the other Braves broadcasters more and more. I think we had the best in the business. I also began to get more of the jokes and sarcastic things that made Skip who he is. He was a very clever broadcaster who could always keep you entertained no matter what the score was. I hated missing a Braves game because there was no telling what Skip may have said that I missed. After I graduated high school I went into broadcasting school and took up a high school writing position at a local newspaper. This was the point in my life where I really started paying attention to broadcasters and their styles. Skip had a style all to himself. There will never be another Skip Caray. When I got my first play by play job I tried to take all the positive things from broadcasters that I have learned from over the years. Skip use to give some occasional advice during broadcast and on his “ask Skip” segment. He made me realize that you don’t have to have an outstanding voice to make it. He mentioned that it was all about passion and being able to make someone feel as they were there. Skip was the greatest at that.

When I watch all the great calls he has had on tv I can still imagine I was there. I knew that as bad as I felt after getting knocked out the playoffs he felt the same. He was honest and always told it like it was. I always wanted to be able to tell Skip how much he meant to me. I wanted him to know he is the main reason why I became a broadcast journalist. I thought about writing a letter or e-mail, but I decided I would do it in person. I got to see Skip at fan fest. My friend Chris and I waited to the end of the autograph line so we would have a chance to really talk with him. Skip autographed his shirt and I never said anything to him about his influence on my life. I thought maybe it wasn’t the right time or it might sound corny or something. I sure wish I would have said something now! I will never ever forget Skip Caray and what he meant to both me and the city of Atlanta. I am grateful I am living in the “you tube” times. I can flip on a computer and hear his voice with only a few short clicks. We will be having a special Skip tribute of our own this weekend. It should be ready on Monday. Please feel free to leave you comments and special Skip moments of your own.

Here are some great places to hear other tributes to Skip:

Skip Caray Braves Video Tributes
Skip Caray Hawks Broadcast Highlights
Skip Caray Radio Tribute Braves Radio Network
Skip Caray Radio Tribute WSB