Posted by chicagomedia.org on September 19, 2008 at 09:33:25:
Swirsky picks up where he left off
Although he's been out of the market for almost as long as he was here, Chuck Swirsky sounds as if no time has passed.
Still the same unabashed love for Chicago, still the same unbridled enthusiasm for sports, still the same reverence for broadcasting, and still the same voice.
That unmistakable voice.
Chicagoans who don't remember Swirsky from his 15-year run here -- most notably as the No. 1 sports guy on Tribune Co.-owned news/talk WGN-AM (720) -- are in for quite a treat.
Starting in early October, Swirsky will debut as play-by-play announcer for Bulls basketball broadcasts on ESPN sports/talk WMVP-AM (1000). He'll work alongside color commentator Bill Wennington, who's been the Bulls' radio analyst for five seasons.
It's a role for which Swirsky, 54, is eminently qualified, having spent the past decade as the voice of the NBA's Toronto Raptors.
Although he was in the middle of a long-term lucrative contract and had become a bona fide celebrity in Toronto, the lure of returning to Chicago for a place in the Bulls' broadcast booth was irresistible.
Truth be told, Swirsky never would have left the market in the first place if he'd been guaranteed play-by-play opportunities by the folks calling the shots at that time.
On the eve of his triumphant comeback, "The Swirsk" shared his thoughts about the state of the business, his career and this year's prospects for the Bulls:
Q. Your Chicago radio career began on AM 1000 (as WCFL), and now you're coming back to the same frequency. So you've come full circle, haven't you?
A. That's a good way of putting things in perspective. It is full circle. My first on-air broadcast on WCFL was Aug. 27, 1979. My radio board operator, Ed Murphy, came to me 15 minutes before the broadcast and showed me a blank radio log. We were, from what I was told, the lowest-rated 50,000-watt station in American broadcast history. No one bought advertising time. I ended up interviewing myself for four hours. I finally received a call two hours into the show which turned out to be a wrong number. The caller was looking for a Chicago pizza place. I kept him on the line for a good 10 minutes. I was desperate, believe me.
Now I'm back on ESPN 1000 in a better environment for sure.
Q. What made you decide to return to the market?
A. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Toronto. The city is tremendous, and the Canadian people are wonderful. But family considerations, the Bulls' worldwide brand, along with my love for Chicago were overriding reasons to return.
Chicago is a great sports city. That's not just hype. That is a fact.
Q. What are your happiest memories here? Anything you missed most about Chicago?
A. My happiest memories are the relationships that I made that have endured the test of time. We relocated back to Wheaton in the same neighborhood where we once lived, and it's like we never left. Chicago is the city that I met my wife, and two of our children were born here.
The day I left Chicago -- Oct. 4, 1994 -- was one of the most difficult days of my life. I gave my heart and soul to WGN Radio and the Chicagoland community, and I missed the passion and soul of the city itself.
The best memories include the Bulls' championships, the Hawks going to the Cup Finals, the Bears winning the Super Bowl, and the White Sox and Cubs winning their first divisional titles.
Q. For the last seven years, you've been doing television in Toronto. Are you looking to do TV work here too?
A. I experienced the best of both worlds in Toronto, not only calling the play-by-play for the Raptors (10 seasons -- the last seven on TV), but hosting a midday sports talk show. If opportunities present themselves to get involved in sports programming in Chicago, I will certainly explore them. My work ethic remains strong, and I still have the enthusiasm of a 10-year-old kid. I love communicating with listeners and enjoy the art of conversation.
Q. How has sports radio here changed since you've been gone?
A. Wow, how much time do we have? The positive: Both ESPN 1000 and the Score do a great job servicing the Chicago and Midwest audience with a local flavor of sports conversation. Satellite radio has specific channels for specific sports. There is something for everyone.
The downside? Some -- not all -- hosts have taken the liberty of talking down to their audience through sexual innuendo and personal attacks against sports personalities. I think you can still have compelling sports radio without lowering professional standards.
Q. You worked with many of the all-time greats in Chicago broadcasting. What did you learn from them?
A. You're right, Robert. I was thinking about this just the other day. I came to Chicago when I was 25 years young. In a span of 15 years, I worked alongside Wally Phillips, Bob Collins, Spike O'Dell, Harry Caray, Jack Brickhouse, Milo Hamilton, Vince Lloyd, Lou Boudreau, Ron Santo and Steve Dahl, and shared an office with John Drury. I learned that every one of these incredibly talented individuals allowed themselves to be just that -- themselves. They didn't change from day to day.
Of all the people I worked with in Chicago, I was closest to Bob Collins. I still can't believe Bob is gone. The day he was killed in a plane crash was one of the worst days of my life.
Q. How have you been received since you came back?
A. Since returning to Chicago, the feedback has been great. I am already reconnecting with listeners and viewers through correspondence. I am accessible through the Bulls' Web site and return every e-mail and call I receive. I am open for the fans 24/7. That's the truth and that's a fact.
Q. Your prediction for the Bulls this season?
A. The Bulls are one of the youngest teams in the NBA, and I am excited to follow the journey and growing pains of a talented core group. The addition of Derrick Rose will be beneficial for the growth and development for the long-term success of the franchise.
The Bulls are headed in the right direction and I am fired up to begin the upcoming season.
(FEDER/st)