Let me see, How do I explain or compare this event…. Those of you that regularly read the black know I am a sports head. Bowling is a competitive sport to me along with shuffle board and ping-pong! I am an admirer of all sports. I have always felt that whatever sport you participate in you probably do well. It’s something you love, something you know you have always wanted to do or be a part of. So for me to get the opportunity to speak with, I am going to say legendary, for sure Broadcast Hall of Famer, sports announcer Verne Lundquist, really cannot be expressed in words. I told Verne [and I asked if I could call him Verne] that I hope this is my big break.

Trying to keep my common sense and journalistic integrity, I tried to gather some information about when where, why and how Verne “the voice” Lundquist got started. How he feels about current salaries, and his feelings on the development of Steamboat. He has been living here since 1984. Learned to ski in March of ‘71, and there is photographic proof of three skiers and Lundquist. Those three skiers in the photo: Billy Kidd, Mix Beauvais, and Ronnie Connelly, [who not only taught Verne how to ski, she then went on to run a USO in Guam for 15 years].

First you must know, for those of you that don’t, Verne does chill in the Boat with his wife Nancy like the rest of us Locals when he is not covering sports for CBS. They also just recently celebrated their 28th Anniversary in April. Verne was recognized by Steamboat City Council for his numerous philanthropic donations, of which I compared to the Chief Yankee, the late great George Steinbrenner, may he rest in peace managing the heavens baseball team.When I asked Vern how he and Nancy decide which organizations to assist. His reply; “We try to keep it local, and find viable organizations of which to help out in any way possible.”

Verne has been covering sports for 47 years, 36 of which has been network. Verne graduated from Texas Lutheran in ‘62 with degrees in Sociology and History…Hmmmm. Very smart socially aware broadcaster who has a thing for history. Could work…And obviously it has, Thank you Verne.

Let me just toss some names out there for you that know sports: Tex Schramm, Bill Mercer, Al Michaels, Dick Enberg, Keith Jackson, Bob Costas. Those gentlemen, are Verne’s buddies, peers, probably students. After trying a year in Seminary, and realizing that was not the profession for him, Verne started as the weekend sports guy on KTBC in Texas as a summer replacement DJ in 1963. That radio station was owned by President Johnson.

He did a number of PA announcements and by 1964 he was the full time guy, replacing a gentlemen by the name of Joe Cummins who left after 5 months. After doing pre and post game interviews in the locker room for the Cowboys from 1967-‘69, Verne was the voice of Cowboy play-by-play radio from 1972-‘83.

Lundquist told me his biggest break came in January of 1972. While pseudo agreeing to working as the Sports Director in LA. #2 in the market at the time, CBS owned. Sitting at the BelAire CC, he sees Jack Benny and George Burns having lunch and thought, “I could get use to this…” He flies back to Texas, gets off the plane, walks down the concourse to the Cowboys charter heading to the Super Bowl. Tells Tex Schramm about his opportunity. Tex says, “You didn’t sign anything?” Verne says, “No”. Tex says, “Good, wait, let’s have lunch when we get back.” Tex then tells Verne about the play-by-play opportunity coming his way eventually, since Bill Mercer wanted and went to focus on baseball play-by-play and the rest seems to be history.

When I asked Verne about current salaries, he simply pointed out we the people fuel the free market. Probably should not be giving so much guaranteed money up front but salaries = entertainment value. He told me Dan Fouts was the 1st million dollar NFL athlete and Terry Bradshaw was making $325,000 a season before retiring as a 4 time Super Bowl winning QB.  I don’t have that much space to tell you everything from the conversation, but you can listen to more quality sports info from Lundquist on Harvey’s Huddle.

I am going to try and get him to be a Huddle correspondent. That should make ESPN Radio stand up and notice the efforts of the little sports show that could… On 1230am ESPN local radio from 4-6pm Monday and Thursday’s, or on-line at www.kbcr.com. Verne also told me that he really hopes for positive results on the downtown development as well as the mountain re-development. He would like to see the Vintage Car show return to Steamboat. And he really is not a fan of the added games to the prestigious March Madness NCAA  B-ball tournament. He interviewed Don Meredith after the Icebowl, Super Bowl II.

Verne was also in the Air Force Reserves from 1965-‘71. His wife Nancy was a spotter for him for 15 years. Lundquist recently turned 70, has two years left on his contract, and should definitely receive an extension, some guaranteed monies and maybe even a statue. He has earned the perks. It was a pleasure and an honor, something I will always remember, and I hope the rest of you now realize how deep the history of sports in Steamboat runs.

I’ll holla,

MEOWWWWWT