For all that speculation and bewilderment about Jack Armstrong’s possible departure, the shock of Chuck Swirsky’s resignation as lead television analyst for the Toronto Raptors came with a magnitude force of a Carribean hurricane.
For years, Swirsky has given his blood and passion for the Raptors, fighting his way through the early radio broadcasts before leaping to the broadcasting forefront in the Vince Carter years.
It was only recently that Swirsky gained his Canadian citizenship and proudly showed that he was as patriotic about his adopted country as any red-blooded Canadian could be. His family safely tucked away in the city of Burlington, Swirsky showed a love for all things Canadian no matter how small and insignificant.
With an afternoon radio program that managed to cross provincial and international borders, Swirsky managed to create an enthusiastic approach to not only basketball, but his other love, baseball. The Chuck Swirsky Show always gave a light hearted look at the entire sports landscape and was a great afternoon break from a hectic day. Of course as an adopted son of Canada, he also brought his own unique take on the national passion of hockey, but one never could doubt his itch to talk hoops.
It is therefore not without a lot of angst that he came to a decision to leave the Raptors market in order to become the radio play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Bulls. Returning to his old stomping grounds, Swirsky leaves behind a legacy of play-by-plays and unique nicknames that will not be forgotten. Names such as “CB4″, and “Air Canada” will continue to be remembered by fans, while other “Swirsky-isms” such as “that was sick, wicked, and nasty” will go on to be attributed to some of the best plays that we’ve seen over the past 12 years.
Thinking back, Swirsky has managed to give us his take on the Raptors when a young phenom by the name of Vince Carter took the franchise to great heights. Swirsky called the first playoff games and the first series wins. He called the Chris Child miscue and the first CB4 game. Swirsky was there when Charlie Villanueva made 48, and was there when Kobe made 81. In the years that he called Raptors ball, he gave us his take on the Carter trade and the rebirth of a franchise looking for a new identity. Some might say that he was a bit over the top, but no one could doubt his own passion for our local hardcourt heroes and he always gave it his all even in the darkest days of the franchise.
Whoever should replace Swirsky will have huge shoes to fill. As a man who managed to grow the game of basketball outside of his broadcasts and provide endless passion and enthusiasm for all things Raptor-related, Swirsky was one of the few broadcasters that left an impression. Towards all that he met, and even those he didn’t (via his Blackberry), he managed to give his time and effort to make the game just a little bit better, and a little bit more noticeable in this big country we call home.
Without a doubt, we all wish the ride could have been longer, but I hope that you’ll all join me in wishing Chuck Swirsky all the success in Chicago. He will be sorely missed as an ambassador to the game and to Raptors basketball.
6 Comments
Sorry to see him go. Family always comes first in my books.
Just please don’t replace him with Paul Jones or Rod Black.
I’m an elementary school teacher - I can tell you that Chuck brought a lot of life, interest and humour to the game; he won many young fans for the Raptors and for basketball. What a fitting tribute - and we all wish him well.
Tfan — yes, definitely get someone new and leave Paul Jones and Rod Black where they are.
Anybody know about the guy Doug Smith suggested, Seattle’s Kevin Calabro?
Tfan - Paul’s good only with Eric Smith. I feel that he’s improved quite a bit from his time talking about soccer/footy in previous years.
Carol - Thank you for the kind words. I’ve always felt Chuck was the best kind of spokesperson that Torontonians could have had and always kept the embers lit in the Raptors’ hearth.
Jeff W - dunno. But he better be emotional. I don’t want a robot doing play by play, which happens a lot every time I watch a game on NBATV
Kinnon - just wanted to add a postscript today…I keep the sports fans in my school up-to-date by posting scoreboards, pictures, game stats and the like on the wall outside my classroom (I guess the other teachers wonder why their students’ washroom breaks take so long). I put up a nice picture of Chuck in his Raptors Red shirt, with a little comment that he had resigned. Well, LET ME TELL YOU - the kiddies went wild. They didn’t know…”What??” I heard…”No more onions?”. You know what, they were truly surprised, but when I explained to the crowd that he had left for “personal family reasons” one little fellow piped up, “You have to think of your family first.” I loved that. (By the way, they WEREN’T so surprised to see Paul Maurice’s picture up there!)
We’ll all miss him very much and also on the Fan 590. Memories and Memories. He’ll always be bald–is-beautiful in Toronto and Chicago. ThX for the memories Chuck. The Fridge to the Salami and Cheese will always be open.
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