Keith Erickson Resigns as Lakers’ Commentator

Keith Erickson, the Lakers’ radio and television commentator the last seven seasons, is resigning.

Erickson is leaving to become president of Sports Fantasies, Inc., the company that last year created the “Dream Game” tapes. Recorded to order by Laker play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn and Erickson, the tapes are sold to individuals. Since the idea went over so well, the company is expanding.

Erickson, whose contract with the Lakers expired at the end of last season, said he asked the Lakers for a raise and didn’t get it. Erickson said he had also grown tired of the traveling. Those two factors essentially led him to quit the broadcasting job and accept the position with Sports Fantasies. He could not do both.

“It was a great seven years,” Erickson said. “I particularly enjoyed working with Chick.”

Erickson, scheduled to work with Hearn on five Summer League telecasts on Prime Ticket, beginning Friday, and also on Prime Ticket’s coverage of the Magic Johnson benefit game Sunday at the Forum, is now off those telecasts.

Stu Lantz, who played for the Lakers briefly in the mid 1970s, will take Erickson’s place on at least the first Summer League telecast, and Laker assistant coach Bill Bertka will fill in for Erickson Sunday.

Lantz, a 1968 graduate of Nebraska, has done some commentating on college basketball and is a candidate to replace Erickson as the Laker commentator. “He is one of the people we are auditioning,” Hearn said.

Erickson will continue to announce volleyball for Prime Ticket.

Hearn said he will miss Erickson. “I’m just sick about his leaving,” Hearn said. “There is a real love between Keith and I.”