Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Chick Hearn's Statue Unveiling Today
The Lakers and Staples Center will be unveiling a bronze 5,000 pound sculpture of the legendary Lakers announcer Chick Hearn today in a ceremony in front of Staples Center at 4:30 pm. The nearly 16-foot statue will stand in front of the box office at Star Plaza at Staples center on Chick Hearn Court (11th street).
The ceremony is free and open to the public and will feature speeches from his widow Marge Hearn and other individuals who played prominent roles in Chick's career. Also beginning Wednesday fans will have an opportunity to take photos with the sculpture in an empty chair at the announcers' table next to Chick.
The statue was created by Omri Amrany, the famed Israeli sculptor who also created the Magic Johnson sculpture that also sits in Star Plaza, Harry Caray at Wrigley Field in Chicago and Wilt Chamberlain at Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelphia among others.
Hearn broadcasted Lakers games for 42 years from 1961 to 2002 during which he set a record 3,338 consecutive games broadcasted from November 21, 1965 to December 16, 2001.
During his 42 years, he helped develop the vernacular for basketball broadcasts that is still used today with terms like "slam dunk," "air ball" and "charity stripe." He also did play-by-play for basketball during the 1992 Olympics, UNLV basketball with Ross Porter from 1986-1990, USC football and basketball from 1956-1961 and color commentary of the Rose Bowl from 1958-1961.
Among the honors he received was being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991, being the 20th member in the American Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1995, having the portion of 11th street between Figueroa Street and Georgia Street renamed "Chick Hearn Court", and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The entire ceremony will be broadcast on Fox Sports West HD at 4:30 pm and will be emceed by Bill McDonald and Stu Lantz, Hearn's broadcast partner from 1987 until his death in 2002.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
