A Chick Hearn Moment

“The Jell-O’s jiggling.”

Chick Hearn

Over the years, I have watched a lot of volleyball. Both my daughters played in school and on club teams. The games are wonderful to watch; they were great for the girls and for us as a family, and we made many new friends through this experience.

So, what does this have to do with basketball-announcing legend, Chick Hearn? Many times, I have witnessed parents sweating it out on the sidelines when we were ahead by, say, 22-13. I guess in an effort to calm them, and perhaps myself as well, I’d say, “This is a Chick Hearn moment.”

Generally, they’d look at me blankly for a moment, and then I’d see the light go on when I recite Chick’s famous words: “The game’s in the refrigerator, the door’s closed, the light’s out, the eggs are cooling, the butter’s getting hard, and the Jell-O’s jiggling.” Nobody could call a basketball game like Chick, and those of us privileged to have heard him still miss him.

Of course, if the game score was 13-22 instead, I’d yell just as loud as any other parent, “You can do it girls!”

-Hank

A Chick Hearn Moment