SWC75
Bored Historian
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On Kentucky Derby Day, here's a great story from the old days of radio broadcasting.
One of the most popular sportscasters of the 30's and 40's was Bill Stern, who not only did play-by-play of major sporting events but had a show where he dramatized supposed events involving sports personalities and other historical figures, telling phony made-up stories. Woody Allen spoofed Stern in his film "Radio Days":
Naturally, the public loved it, (Fake News has always been more popular than the real thing). And they loved Stern, which was good because nobody else did. He was the sort that viewed his colleagues as rivals and was jealous of anyone else's popularity. He was also noted for his lack of preparation. He depended on underlings to pass him notes during broadcasts to keep track of things and when Bill fouled things up, he would take it out on the help. One of the things that he was noted for in the business was identifying the wrong ball carrier on a long run in a football game. He would dramatically describe a 50-yard run by Smith only to be passed a note that Jones had the ball. The fans at the game had no idea what Stern was saying because they didn't have transistor radios yet and the fans listening the radio couldn't see the game so Stern would announce that Smith had lateralled the ball to Jones and the next day's newspaper would just say that Jones had scored on a 50-yard run. Nobody would be the wiser, other than those he worked with and those they talked to.
The most respected broadcaster in the business was Clem McCarthy, who did a lot of things but was most famous for horse racing. he was known as "The Voice of the Kentucky Derby". As a professional and as a person, Clem was everything Stern was not. He always came prepared and was famous for never making a mistake. Nobody ever had to slip him notes. he was also famously good-natured and got on well with everyone who worked with him.
His popularity within the business made Stern, who was sick about hearing what a great guy Clem McCarthy was, bitterly angry. Then McCarthy made the one mistake anybody had ever heard him make. He got two horses with similar colors mixed up and called the wrong winner in the Derby. he quickly realized his mistake and apologized profusely to all the bettors listening. But it was the talk of the industry. Not long afterward, McCarthy encountered Stern in a hotel lobby. Bill began kidding him about the mistake - 'kidding' in his way - raking him over with sarcastic comments about the great Clem McCarthy who never makes a mistake. McCarthy took it in silence until it was time for him to leave the room, then exited with this line:
"Well, Bill, you can't lateral a horse!"
One of the most popular sportscasters of the 30's and 40's was Bill Stern, who not only did play-by-play of major sporting events but had a show where he dramatized supposed events involving sports personalities and other historical figures, telling phony made-up stories. Woody Allen spoofed Stern in his film "Radio Days":
Naturally, the public loved it, (Fake News has always been more popular than the real thing). And they loved Stern, which was good because nobody else did. He was the sort that viewed his colleagues as rivals and was jealous of anyone else's popularity. He was also noted for his lack of preparation. He depended on underlings to pass him notes during broadcasts to keep track of things and when Bill fouled things up, he would take it out on the help. One of the things that he was noted for in the business was identifying the wrong ball carrier on a long run in a football game. He would dramatically describe a 50-yard run by Smith only to be passed a note that Jones had the ball. The fans at the game had no idea what Stern was saying because they didn't have transistor radios yet and the fans listening the radio couldn't see the game so Stern would announce that Smith had lateralled the ball to Jones and the next day's newspaper would just say that Jones had scored on a 50-yard run. Nobody would be the wiser, other than those he worked with and those they talked to.
The most respected broadcaster in the business was Clem McCarthy, who did a lot of things but was most famous for horse racing. he was known as "The Voice of the Kentucky Derby". As a professional and as a person, Clem was everything Stern was not. He always came prepared and was famous for never making a mistake. Nobody ever had to slip him notes. he was also famously good-natured and got on well with everyone who worked with him.
His popularity within the business made Stern, who was sick about hearing what a great guy Clem McCarthy was, bitterly angry. Then McCarthy made the one mistake anybody had ever heard him make. He got two horses with similar colors mixed up and called the wrong winner in the Derby. he quickly realized his mistake and apologized profusely to all the bettors listening. But it was the talk of the industry. Not long afterward, McCarthy encountered Stern in a hotel lobby. Bill began kidding him about the mistake - 'kidding' in his way - raking him over with sarcastic comments about the great Clem McCarthy who never makes a mistake. McCarthy took it in silence until it was time for him to leave the room, then exited with this line:
"Well, Bill, you can't lateral a horse!"
