One of the joys of broadcasting sports is the great people you get to meet that are involved in the business. With this "Hitting the Books," I get to speak of two of my favorites. Bill King was a longtime sports announcer in the San Francisco Bay area, covering all sports, including the Oakland A's.
Ken Korach is currently the radio voice of the A's and an announcer I often listen to after Orioles games on the East Coast when he is out west.
Korach worked with King and his book, "Holy Toledo - Lessons from Bill King: Renaissance Man of the Mic," is about a man he much admired. "Holy Toledo" was a favorite phrase of King and "Renaissance man" refers to the life of King in and out of the booth.
I respected and admired Bill for the same reasons, and I have the same feelings towards Korach. They both put the games above themselves. Both were/are of excellence for the purpose of providing the best broadcasts for fans.
Bill loved enthusiasm for the games. What you heard during his broadcasts were his immediate and honest feelings. His love of music, books and life were just as honest and enthusiastic.
Bill took the time to approach me and commend my work, as he did in the book. That is humbling to me because my respect for him existed long before he approached me.
Ken continues that honest broadcasting today and no one could better write this memory of King.
Ken captures that essence of Bill King in this book.
I thank Ken for his time and, more importantly, for his devotion to Bill in the work done for this book. Substance over sizzle is so important in and out of the booth. Both Bill and Ken represent that.
"Respect yourself and others will respect you." ― Confucius, "Sayings of Confucius"
Gary Thorne is the play-by-play voice of the Orioles on MASN, and the 2016 season is his 10th with the club and 31st covering Major League Baseball. His blog will appear regularly throughout the season. The Orioles and Sarasota County have partnered on the Big League Reader Program, which rewarded kids who read three books in February with tickets to a Grapefruit League game at Ed Smith Stadium in March.
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