Chick Talks and Faithful Just Love It

Laker basketball, in its full form, was back on the air Tuesday night, and the action really picked up during a timeout midway though the second quarter, when Shaq and Kobe got out of the way to make room for the two biggest names in Los Angeles sports history.

Vin Scully, welcoming Chick Hearn back to the broadcast table.

“For the Los Angeles Lakers, the basketball fans of Los Angeles and sports fans everywhere, we take time out to salute the return of Chick Hearn,” Scully said via videotape.

“Chick, an inspiration to each and every one of us, has had his troubles and, as usual, has bounced back.

“So he returns for this game, and from all of us, congratulations, God bless and welcome back, Chick.”

Camera cut to Hearn, behind the Laker microphone for the first time since December, watching the video and blushing.

“Boy, that was nice,” said Hearn, thoroughly surprised and pleased. “That was nice. You guys ... “

Hearn paused to clear the lump from his throat.

” ... I don’t know how you can treat me so well.

“I’m grateful that you do.”

Lump-in-throat was a contagious condition Tuesday, with Laker fans reacquainting themselves with an old friend who had been sidelined for 56 games, having been slowed by a double-team that would have floored men half his age--open-heart surgery followed by hip-replacement surgery.

Since Christmas, we had followed the medical updates, read the progress reports, heard the rumors that he might make it back before the playoffs. We held out hope, but let’s face it: It was nervous time. Hearn’s 85. He had just been introduced to a new heart valve, an artificial hip. A comeback, after 31/2 months, was going to have to be seen to be believed.

So we saw Hearn back, headset back in place, looking good if a little gaunt, sounding enthused if a little frail.

“It’s easy to take care of you, big fella,” Stu Lantz assured his longtime partner. “You deserve everything and more. I just can’t figure out why they’re playing this game.”

For the first time all night, Hearn sounded confused.

“Why do you mean that?” he asked, unknowingly setting Lantz up for a punch line.

“I thought we were here to celebrate your return,” Lantz said. “We don’t want to watch a basketball game.”

The Lakers and the Utah Jazz were the sideshow, as everyone seemed to agree except the referees. Before the game, the Lakers’ radio station, KLAC 570, passed out hand-held Chick Hearn masks to every fan. Fox Sports Net aired taped tributes from Bob Miller, Tom Lasorda, Penny Marshall, Seal and other Staples Center dwellers.

Then, the moment everyone was waiting for: Hearn’s announced return--a few seconds for Chick to stand and wave and acknowledge the cheers from the crowd.

Everyone was on board except the game officials, who were supposed to hold the ball until Hearn received his ovation.

Suddenly, however, the cameras jerked away from Hearn and focused on the court, because the game had just tipped off and the Lakers were taking a 2-0 lead.

“There’s a game tonight?” Lantz deadpanned, aiming a subtle jab at the officials’ rather poor sense of timing.

Gamely, Hearn joined right in.

“This is the happiest I’ve been since I married Marge!” he exclaimed, picking right up where he left off, settling in quickly for another “Shaq down the middle ... BLOWS THE LAYUP!!!”

Hearn was back, even if his vocal cords trailed him by about a quarter-and-a-half. Initially, his voice sounded a little weak and scratchy, as his wife Marge had predicted during a pregame television interview.

“Some days his voice is still a little weak,” Marge said. “That’s from the vocal cords being stretched with tubes and what have you. But it’ll get stronger as he talks and uses it.”

Another accurate prediction. By the end of the third quarter, Hearn, buoyed by the Lakers’ inspired play, sounded more robust, edging closer to old form. Finally, watching Kobe Bryant beat three defenders for a spectacular basket, Hearn let loose.

“OHHHH!!!” he roared as the ball swished through the hoop. “He made a basket with three men on him! That’s one of the great plays of the season!”

Or at least until Bryant’s next spectacular basket--a running buzzer-beater that put the Lakers ahead, 87-70, at the end of the quarter.

“I’m glad I came back to see that!”

Before the game, Marge had sounded quite the concerned wife, saying she hoped “he can keep up with everything. I think he can.”

Hearn managed a good deal better than the Jazz, on their way to a 112-82 defeat and officially out of it with 8:37 left--according to popular decree, back after so long an absence.

“This game is in the refrigerator!” Hearn announced as the Lakers opened a 96-70 lead, sounding thrilled with every syllable.

“I haven’t said that in SO long!”

Robert Horry made it 98-70.

“The Jello’s jigglin’!”

All in all, it was a pretty good episode of the 2001-2002 highlight film. Once again, the Lakers were acting the part of championship contenders. But better than that, after 31/2 months, the Lakers had their soundtrack back.