Some “Maybe” Speculation/Comments On The NHL ‘Offs And John “Superstar” Sterling

Some comments with maybe follow. Maybe these NHL ‘offs are going to be all Colorado and Carolina, each (6-0) (4-0) at home but, I say though that is a pretty hefty plurality “fave” to be the NHL final match up, much will happen, making it at least a slight struggle for both to get there. Noting Las Vegas, under late season hired coach John Tortorella is up (1-0) vs Anaheim, which paved for Vegas, beating an underachieving Edmonton team in the prelims. Maybe becomes relevant as I remember John Sterling, a superb broadcasting talent, who died days back at age 87.

John Sterling, who once had a “Superstar” “intro” while doing his WMCA sports talk show, (Phil Chenier was one of the superstars and at that point he was close) on which he was so often rude to the callers, perhaps in some cases deservedly so, had quite an ego, told me off once when I asked why are you so pro Nets, by saying “they pay me dumby,” yet the maybe morphs to definite, as he was an exceptional talent, so much better than almost all play by play people today, who put together an incredible career.

I emulated him, not as much as I did Joe Tait or Marv Albert, in doing basketball play by play. All four of us were “on the play,” (Marv Albert wrote telling me I was, exponentially small consolation as …..). Sterling was excellent, though an unabashed “homer,” even distorting, such as during his famed or infamous bdcst of the Nets’ #6 last ABA title clinching win, vs the Denver Nuggets in ’76 (at a point— (Denver’s) Issel walks with the ball, lays it up and in, as an example).

Mr. Sterling was even better broadcasting hockey. He was superb. This past Saturday, the day he fell ill, not to recover, I heard he and Bob Lawrence on a broadcast of game 1 of the best of 3 Isles/Canucks NHL prelim in 1976. Early action, a quick (2-2) and else, with Sterling so good and entertaining.

He was off the Isles’ broadcasts, having seen the team develop, but a great Montreal team was in the way of them winning a crown, before the team’s incredible run of 4 straight Stanley Cup wins in 5 straight final round appearances (’80-’84).

It was near opposite with Sterling and the Yankees, after 4 bad years (’89-’92), sustained excellence, another 4 of 5, that being four Yankees titles (three in a row ’98-2000) from (’96, John’s favorite-2000) and a fifth in 2009.

I made my peace with the man I call “Superstar,” with memories of his comment to me, his being nice when I gave him a fact, his unbelievable “just woke up” voice when I called him at his hotel room around noon, one year when he was with the Braves, actual talk of a pendant he was wearing while on the telecast of a World Football League game. (so many of these leagues that tried, if only Hitler sold some paintings and the USFL succeeded!!) It included “back after the commercial for more talk about John’s pendant.”

There is much more I can write, quickly a young and different voice, Sterling is conducting interviews with Orioles players after they swept the defending champion Dodgers in the ’66 World Series.

Speaking of those Dodgers in that great era (pennants in ’63,’65 and ’66-titles in the first two), John often told the story of L.A. pitcher Don Drysdale, who missed the game, being informed that Sandy Koufax pitched a no hit game. Don’s reply, a question, did we win? The Dodgers light hitting along with great O’s pitching manifested in 0’s for the Dodgers, in that ’66 Fall Classic.

It stops there, but there is more. Most important, the memories good and bad flow. What an impact! What a career! I have to add he and the truly great Mel Allen, reminiscing about past World Series, circa ’77, before broadcasts of Yankees ‘offs tilts, are treasures. Sterling had great talent, memorable broadcasts and MAYBE that is all needed, to tilt John into the win column.

I will resist, in the big ones, Sterling Wins (maybe I did not, but no capital letters Mom).

Click below, watch and hear vintage “Superstar” Sterling calling it with Ernie Johnson Sr. commenting as Rick Camp hits a most improbable game tying home run as part of an unbelievable, rain delayed, eventual Mets win vs Camp’s and Sterling’s team, the Braves, that ended past 4 A.M. the next day July 4 and 5, 1985.

54 years of my memories, both good and bad–tilted very good, regarding the so talented John Sterling, pictured above.

Yet another one more, 56’s (in John’s case 5600 plus consecutive games broadcast, not in the same league as Joe D’s hitting streak of 56 consecutive, but quite a feat. Maybe a shared cup of coffee between them awaits.