Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Remembering Gene Hart, Quick Hits

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Remembering Gene Hart, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

terrific write up, bill. i hold gene hart in the same regard as you. i feel fortunate to have grown up watching the flyers from 1980 on with him to help teach me the game, and i compare every broadcaster to him, fair or not. he's one of the things/people i miss most about hockey from my childhood. i don't think the flyers will ever have another who can compare or be his equal.

terrific write up, bill. i hold gene hart in the same regard as you. i feel fortunate to have grown up watching the flyers from 1980 on with him to help teach me the game, and i compare every broadcaster to him, fair or not. he's one of the things/people i miss most about hockey from my childhood. i don't think the flyers will ever have another who can compare or be his equal.
- hammarby31

Too bad we rarely got to watch as many games as we wanted. Living all the way in central jersey at the time ... Might as well have lived in Medicine Hat

Too bad we rarely got to watch as many games as we wanted. Living all the way in central jersey at the time ... Might as well have lived in Medicine Hat
- wilsonecho91

this is true, but at least we got wtaf-tv29 and were able to watch road games. all i wanted was to be able to get prism.

this is true, but at least we got wtaf-tv29 and were able to watch road games. all i wanted was to be able to get prism.
- hammarby31

Pa failed us.

Edit: at least we could call that espn score line -

Pa failed us.

Edit: at least we could call that espn score line -
- wilsonecho91

it was the 80s. what the (frank) were we going to do?

omg, i haven't thought about that in forever.

it was the 80s. what the (frank) were we going to do?

omg, i haven't thought about that in forever.
- hammarby31

Probably cost $700 a call.

And that damn 28/58 update. Stone ages.

Probably cost $700 a call.

And that damn 28/58 update. Stone ages.
- wilsonecho91

jfc, i feel old. we were so desperate for news. hell, i remember anxiously waiting for the APP so i could read a (frank)ing flyers story and maybe there'd be a picture if we were lucky.

This is amazing - beyond the microphone
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tY58-avkZ2c

Some teams didn't have assistant coaches. The game has evolved.

jfc, i feel old. we were so desperate for news. hell, i remember anxiously waiting for the APP so i could read a (frank)ing flyers story and maybe there'd be a picture if we were lucky.
- hammarby31

Speaking of old, I think we left for Scandanavia 23 years ago tomorrow night (though we got there early ???)

This is amazing - the microphone notwithstanding

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tY58-avkZ2c

Some teams didn't have assistant coaches. The game has evolved.
- wilsonecho91

unbelievable. look at the hair and (frank)ing glasses.

unbelievable. look at the hair and (frank)ing glasses.
- hammarby31

Reminds me of the ones you had in front of NBO...

But seriously, the banter was remarkable and Doc was not over verbalizing or describing anything

Reminds me of the ones you had in front of NBO...

But seriously, the banter was remarkable and Doc was not over verbalizing or describing anything
- wilsonecho91

yep. so so so bad.

doc definitely in the early stages there.

did you watch the whole clip, with the hilights at the end? nice effort liut on the flyers 5th goal. awful.

yep. so so so bad.

doc definitely in the early stages there.

did you watch the whole clip, with the hilights at the end? nice effort liut on the flyers 5th goal. awful.
- hammarby31

I think the video stopped will have to rewatch

Edit: looks like that Boston goalie. Brutal

I think the video stopped will have to rewatch

Edit: looks like that Boston goalie. Brutal
- wilsonecho91

it's preposterously bad. speaking of which...

i gave up 2 horrible goals tonight. i was very good otherwise. cost us the game. i'm so mad.

it's preposterously bad. speaking of which...

i gave up 2 horrible goals tonight. i was very good otherwise. cost us the game. i'm so mad.
- hammarby31

Droopy commiserates

I skated and played poorly as well. At least I was on the ice.

Until tomorrow.

Droopy commiserates

I skated and played poorly as well. At least I was on the ice.

Until tomorrow.
- wilsonecho91

well...i played fine other than those 2 plays. ugh. i'll never change.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Remembering Gene Hart, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Thank you, Bill for that wonderful blog. I too, grew up listening to Gene Hart and I miss hearing his voice to this day. His style and phrases were so unique and awesome!

Who can forget:
" Strap on your seatbelts friends, its gonna be a bumpy ride"
"there's a rugby scrum in front "
"he scores! For a case of tastykake!!!"

and of course:

The Flyers win the Stanley Cup!!!
The Flyers win the Stanley Cup!!!
The Flyers win the Stanley Cup!!!

So good night and good hockey my friend, you will always be a special part of my childhood.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Remembering Gene Hart, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Even back then as a kid, I realized Gene Hart was something special. Whenever an old Flyers game is on TV, I get disappointed if Hart isn't doing the broadcast. Hearing him do a game now, or even just a snippet, brings back a wave of nostalgia.

terrific write up, bill. i hold gene hart in the same regard as you. i feel fortunate to have grown up watching the flyers from 1980 on with him to help teach me the game, and i compare every broadcaster to him, fair or not. he's one of the things/people i miss most about hockey from my childhood. i don't think the flyers will ever have another who can compare or be his equal.
- hammarby31

Well said Hammar.

Good read as always. Only Bill can make interesting Flyers related articles when hockey news is a dead as it currently is... Kinda wish Hexy would do something soon... hire an assistant? trade a contract? fire the ice girls? something.... anything.... is anyone even there?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6FH3efGaMg


"we've got our first bru ha ha"!!!!

Gene Hart, such a part of my life as well so many other hockey fans, a true legend

I remember a lot of later nights listening to the transistor radio for games from Vancouver or Oakland or LA in the mid 70's and him painting a picture of the game with his words.

Met him once when Can Am Hockey hired him to be the announcer for the Dream Week I played in during the late 80's up in Lake Placid.

Lauren was given the gift of a great voice as well.

As usual Bill, awesome article. I'm actually old enough to remember Stu Nahan doing the Flyers games, so I really appreciated your story. In thinking about it, my favorite Gene Hart "moment" is the last 10 minutes of the 1987 finals, game 6. From JJ's goal to Hexy out of the net in the last minute or so, and Gene's reaction, just classic.

Good read as always. Only Bill can make interesting Flyers related articles when hockey news is a dead as it currently is... Kinda wish Hexy would do something soon... hire an assistant? trade a contract? fire the ice girls? something.... anything.... is anyone even there?
- redcoat75

Hextall has been hamstrung by his predecessor. Not much he can do. He got rid of the last 2 years of Hartnell's contract, brought Emery back for a good price, and added a 7th dman. And by most accounts the Flyers had a relatively strong draft. I don't have an issue with what Hextall has done. Give him some time. Rome wasn't built in a day.