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1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announcers (Read 911 times)
tamalie
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1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announcers
12/18/08 at 17:59:51  
Per the 1979 edition of The Complete Handbook Of Pro Basketball, here are the NBA's local TV and radio flagship stations and announcers for the 1978-79 season.  
 
Many teams went with TV/radio simulcasts rather than having separate crews although in some cases it might be due to the book having incomplete information. Another reality is in that era most teams only showed a small handful of games on TV in a given season. Hardly anyone showed home games due to fears about depressing attendance and not every road game made the air either. It would be interesting to know how many games each team televised, but it would not be surprising to see that some teams showed as few as a dozen games per year on television, rendering a separate TV announcing crew unnecessary in the eyes of many.  
 
Any additions or corrections are welcome.
 
Atlanta Hawks: Skip Caray on WTCG-17 and WSB 750-AM
 
Boston Celtics: Roger Twibell and Bob Cousy on WBZ-4 and Johnny Most on WBZ 1030-AM
 
Chicago Bulls: Lorn Brown and Johnny "Red" Kerr (Jack Fleming?) on WGN-9 and Jim Durham on WIND 560-AM
 
Cleveland Cavaliers: Joe Tait on WJKW-8 and WWWE 1100-AM
 
Denver Nuggets: Al Albert and Bob Martin on KWGN-2 and KOA 850-AM
 
Detroit Pistons: Tom Hemmingway and George Blaha on WKBD-50 and WJR 760-AM
 
Golden State Warriors: Bill King on KTVU-2 and KNBR 680-AM
 
Houston Rockets: Gene Peterson on KHTV-39 and 740-AM
 
Indiana Pacers: Bob Hein on WTTV-4 and Bob Lamey on WIBC 1070-AM
 
Kansas City Kings: Neil Funk on KBMA-41 and KCKN 1340-AM
 
Los Angeles Lakers: Chick Hearn and Pat Riley on KHJ-9 and KLAC 570-AM
 
Milwaukee Bucks: Eddie Doucette, John McLocklin, and Jim Irwin on WVTV-18 and WTMJ 620-AM
 
New Jersey Nets: John Sterling and Mike DiTomasso on WOR-9 and WVNJ 620-AM
 
New Orleans Jazz: Hot Rod Hundley on WGNO-26 and WGSO 1280-AM
 
New York Knicks: Andy Musser and Cal Ramsey on WOR-9 and Marv Albert and Richie Guerin on WNEW-1130 AM, Home games are referred to as being televised on "cable television" without any network or announcers being specified.
 
Philadelphia 76ers: Don Henderson, Bill Campbell and Matty Goukas on WKBS-48 and WPEN 950-AM
 
Phoenix Suns: Dick Van Arsdale on KPHO-5 and Al McCoy on KTAR 620-AM
 
Portland Trail Blazers: Jimmy Jones on KPTV-12 and Bill Schonley on KPUL 970-AM
 
San Antonio Spurs: Terry Stembridge on KMOL-4 and WOAI 1200-AM, Greg Haber handles the radio call when Stembridge does the TV games
 
San Diego: Arrangements were uncertain at press time. So was the nickname, the former Buffalo Braves had moved to California, but had not yet named themselves the Clippers.
 
Seattle Supersonics: Wayne Cody and Steve Jones, with Rick Barry during the playoffs, on KIRO-7 and Bob Blackburn on KIRO 710-AM  
 
Washington Bullets: Tony Roberts and Mike Riordan on WDCA-20 and Frank Herzog on WTOP 1500-AM
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« Last Edit: 12/24/08 at 13:11:19 by tamalie »  
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wdoodlesonII
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #1 - 12/18/08 at 18:31:46  
For the Nets- John Sterling was one of their announcers in 1978-79 and believe they were on WVNJ (620) and WOR (9)
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wdoodlesonII
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #2 - 12/18/08 at 18:35:59  
Roger Twibell was pxp'er for the Celtics on WBZ (4)- believe he replaced Len Berman (who went to WCBS (2) in NY) at some point before season began- which would explain omission
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jtgrace1
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #3 - 12/18/08 at 19:49:13  
Quote from wdoodlesonII on 12/18/08 at 18:31:46:
For the Nets- John Sterling was one of their announcers in 1978-79 and believe they were on WVNJ (620) and WOR (9)
Sterling's partner was Mike DiTomasso; they did all 82 games on WVNJ and simulcast about 15 games on channel 9 (which also carried Knicks, Rangers and Islanders games...so there were many conflicts).
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wdoodlesonII
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #4 - 12/18/08 at 20:05:30  
Quote from jtgrace1 on 12/18/08 at 19:49:13:
channel 9 (which also carried Knicks, Rangers and Islanders games...so there were many conflicts).

 
The Nets were at the bottom of that food chain before the Devils came along in '82
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cowboybud
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #5 - 12/18/08 at 21:13:07  
Quote from tamalie on 12/18/08 at 17:59:51:

Houston Rockets: Gene Peterson on KHTV-39 and 740-AM

 
I don't think Screamin' Geno did TV, but I could be wrong. I seem to remember Bill Worrell doing the games around this time (I was 10), but I could have my years mixed up.
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Steviek
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #6 - 12/18/08 at 21:18:17  
Quote from wdoodlesonII on 12/18/08 at 20:05:30:
Quote from jtgrace1 on 12/18/08 at 19:49:13:
channel 9 (which also carried Knicks, Rangers and Islanders games...so there were many conflicts).


The Nets were at the bottom of that food chain before the Devils came along in '82

 
Not to mention conflicts with Mets during the spring.  So WOR Channel 9 had the Mets, Rangers, Knicks, Islanders, Devils and Cosmos.
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wdoodlesonII
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #7 - 12/18/08 at 22:17:25  
Quote from cowboybud on 12/18/08 at 21:13:07:


I don't think Screamin' Geno did TV, but I could be wrong. I seem to remember Bill Worrell doing the games around this time (I was 10), but I could have my years mixed up.

 
I had the 1979-80 version of this book when I was a kid- recall it had a picture of Wolfe Perry as a draft pick from Loyola (Ill)- who went on to be part of the later "White Shadow" cast- in the draft recap- can't recall if I got through the school book club or whatever- but recall most guides for sports at the time had insanely early deadlines- think the old Street & Smith football guides were put to bed around late May/ early June, IIRC
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ku528808
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #8 - 12/18/08 at 22:26:09  
slight correction KBMA (now KSHB) is Channel 41. Channel 4 is WDAF which was the NBC affilliate before switching over to Fox. KBMA was an independent before switching to FOX in 1994.
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SeahawksFan96
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #9 - 12/18/08 at 22:27:18  
Quote from tamalie on 12/18/08 at 17:59:51:


Seattle Supersonics: Pete Gross and Gary Justice on KIRO-7 and Bob Blackburn on KIRO 710-AM

 
This was the season when the Sonics won the NBA Championship.  A correction on the TV announcers it was the late Wayne Cody and he had several different partners Rick Barry and Steve "Snapper" Jones.
 
As a long time Sonic fan (but not anymore after they moved out of Seattle), the 1978 - 79 season was their first season on KIRO 710 AM after it's first 11 years on KOMO AM 1000 (the original home of the Sonics from their expansion season 1967 to 1978).
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SeahawksFan96
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #10 - 12/18/08 at 22:28:52  
Quote from wdoodlesonII on 12/18/08 at 18:31:46:
For the Nets- John Sterling was one of their announcers in 1978-79 and believe they were on WVNJ (620) and WOR (9)

 
Is this the same John Sterling that does the Yankee games?
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SeahawksFan96
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #11 - 12/18/08 at 22:37:56  
BTW a couple of years before 1979 when the Sonics won the championship their games on TV were on KTNT and then KSTW Channel 11 from Tacoma, WA back in the 70's and they would simulcast the games on KOMO AM 1000.  The Sonics moved to KIRO TV in 1975 with Ron Barr doing play-by-play and was replaced by the late Pete Gross (who was known as "the original voice of the Seahawks") a year later.
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JP
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #12 - 12/18/08 at 22:44:26  
Quote from SeahawksFan96 on 12/18/08 at 22:28:52:
Quote from wdoodlesonII on 12/18/08 at 18:31:46:
For the Nets- John Sterling was one of their announcers in 1978-79 and believe they were on WVNJ (620) and WOR (9)


Is this the same John Sterling that does the Yankee games?

 
 
One and theeeeeeeeeeeee same.
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tamalie
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #13 - 12/19/08 at 01:35:28  
Quote from SeahawksFan96 on 12/18/08 at 22:27:18:
Quote from tamalie on 12/18/08 at 17:59:51:


Seattle Supersonics: Pete Gross and Gary Justice on KIRO-7 and Bob Blackburn on KIRO 710-AM


This was the season when the Sonics won the NBA Championship.  A correction on the TV announcers it was the late Wayne Cody and he had several different partners Rick Barry and Steve "Snapper" Jones.

As a long time Sonic fan (but not anymore after they moved out of Seattle), the 1978 - 79 season was their first season on KIRO 710 AM after it's first 11 years on KOMO AM 1000 (the original home of the Sonics from their expansion season 1967 to 1978).

 
Would Rick Barry have done games in 1978-79? He was still an active player at the time.
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #14 - 12/19/08 at 01:41:34  
Quote:
One and theeeeeeeeeeeee same.

 
"Theeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win!!!" Who could forget that call?
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SeahawksFan96
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #15 - 12/19/08 at 15:37:36  
Quote from tamalie on 12/19/08 at 01:35:28:
Quote from SeahawksFan96 on 12/18/08 at 22:27:18:
Quote from tamalie on 12/18/08 at 17:59:51:


Seattle Supersonics: Pete Gross and Gary Justice on KIRO-7 and Bob Blackburn on KIRO 710-AM


This was the season when the Sonics won the NBA Championship. A correction on the TV announcers it was the late Wayne Cody and he had several different partners Rick Barry and Steve "Snapper" Jones.

As a long time Sonic fan (but not anymore after they moved out of Seattle), the 1978 - 79 season was their first season on KIRO 710 AM after it's first 11 years on KOMO AM 1000 (the original home of the Sonics from their expansion season 1967 to 1978).


Would Rick Barry have done games in 1978-79? He was still an active player at the time.

 
He did some first round playoff games with the late Wayne Cody on KIRO TV.  Steve Jones did most of the regular season with Wayne.
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saltrek
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #16 - 12/22/08 at 14:29:38  
Quote from tamalie on 12/18/08 at 17:59:51:

New York Knicks: Andy Musser and Cal Ramsey on WOR-9 and Marv Albert and Richie Guerin on WNEW-1130 AM, Home games are referred to as being televised on "cable television" without any network or announcers being specified.

 
Sometime in the 70's was the birth of the MSG network. The full name was used: the "Madison Square Garden" network. It was a premium channel that could be purchased on cable, and it aired all of the Knicks & Rangers home games. I do not know who announced the Knicks games on that channel, though.
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #17 - 12/22/08 at 15:27:01  
Quote from saltrek on 12/22/08 at 14:29:38:
Quote from tamalie on 12/18/08 at 17:59:51:

New York Knicks: Andy Musser and Cal Ramsey on WOR-9 and Marv Albert and Richie Guerin on WNEW-1130 AM, Home games are referred to as being televised on "cable television" without any network or announcers being specified.


Sometime in the 70's was the birth of the MSG network. The full name was used: the "Madison Square Garden" network. It was a premium channel that could be purchased on cable, and it aired all of the Knicks & Rangers home games. I do not know who announced the Knicks games on that channel, though.

Andy Musser and Cal Ramsey
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #18 - 12/23/08 at 08:42:51  
I'm pretty sure Jack Fleming did the Bulls TV play-by-play during the 1978-79 season. After having been the Bulls radio voice in the early 1970's, Fleming returned to do the Bulls games on TV for one season. I remember watching a Bulls game a few days before Super Bowl XIII (Cowboys-Steelers), and Fleming, who was the Steelers radio voice, briefly talking about the game.
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« Last Edit: 12/24/08 at 17:48:48 by Johnwp »  
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #19 - 12/24/08 at 11:17:11  
Quote from cowboybud on 12/18/08 at 21:13:07:
Quote from tamalie on 12/18/08 at 17:59:51:

Houston Rockets: Gene Peterson on KHTV-39 and 740-AM


I don't think Screamin' Geno did TV, but I could be wrong. I seem to remember Bill Worrell doing the games around this time (I was 10), but I could have my years mixed up.

 
 
I recall Peterson doing TV around that time. KHTV used to do promos w/him saying that he was doing the games.  I also vividly recalling him doing interviews at halftime on TV. Worrell was sports director at KPRC-TV during those years. He was ousted there when they hired Ron Franklin away from KHOU early in 1980. I don't think Worrell did Rockets' TV until HSE (now FSN Houston) started up in '83.
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cowboybud
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #20 - 12/24/08 at 14:33:09  
Quote from Shiner Bock on 12/24/08 at 11:17:11:
Quote from cowboybud on 12/18/08 at 21:13:07:
Quote from tamalie on 12/18/08 at 17:59:51:

Houston Rockets: Gene Peterson on KHTV-39 and 740-AM


I don't think Screamin' Geno did TV, but I could be wrong. I seem to remember Bill Worrell doing the games around this time (I was 10), but I could have my years mixed up.



I recall Peterson doing TV around that time. KHTV used to do promos w/him saying that he was doing the games.  I also vividly recalling him doing interviews at halftime on TV. Worrell was sports director at KPRC-TV during those years. He was ousted there when they hired Ron Franklin away from KHOU early in 1980. I don't think Worrell did Rockets' TV until HSE (now FSN Houston) started up in '83.

 
Interesting. I wouldn't think Peterson's "style" would have translated to TV. Was Foley with him?
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"We'd want a Cowboys game played at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday night from a minor league baseball stadium in North Dakota." - Unnamed network executive
Dallas Cowboys - The WORLD is our secondary market.
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Re: 1978-79 NBA Local Broadcast Flagships & Announ
Reply #21 - 12/24/08 at 15:45:26  
Quote from cowboybud on 12/24/08 at 14:33:09:
Quote from Shiner Bock on 12/24/08 at 11:17:11:
Quote from cowboybud on 12/18/08 at 21:13:07:
Quote from tamalie on 12/18/08 at 17:59:51:

Houston Rockets: Gene Peterson on KHTV-39 and 740-AM


I don't think Screamin' Geno did TV, but I could be wrong. I seem to remember Bill Worrell doing the games around this time (I was 10), but I could have my years mixed up.



I recall Peterson doing TV around that time. KHTV used to do promos w/him saying that he was doing the games.  I also vividly recalling him doing interviews at halftime on TV. Worrell was sports director at KPRC-TV during those years. He was ousted there when they hired Ron Franklin away from KHOU early in 1980. I don't think Worrell did Rockets' TV until HSE (now FSN Houston) started up in '83.


Interesting. I wouldn't think Peterson's "style" would have translated to TV. Was Foley with him?

 
I think he worked solo, but I'm not 100% sure.
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