Radio programs tune into nostalgia

Back in the heyday of college basketball, when it seemed just about everyone tuned in to the games on the radio, many of us still remember the unique skill that sports commentators had in describing the fast-paced action on the court. These radio announcers, most of whose names we’ve forgotten, developed a talent that gave listeners the feeling that you were sitting on the bench next to the coach. They made you feel that you could not only see the action on the court, but you could hear the coach shouting out directives to his players — these commentators were that descriptive.

Announcers Chris Clark in Providence and Johnny Most in Boston were the two I most listened to. One game we all tuned in to at the Boys Club between nationally ranked Holy Cross and Kentucky had all the kids and staff in a state of panic rather than euphoria.

When the radio announcer said, “Doggie has Cousy playing in his jock,” we knew that meant that the Cross was playing tough defense. Sure, when TV came along, we loved watching the games and they had many great announcers; Jay Bilas, Bill Raftery, Sean McDonough and Doris Burke are some of my favorites. But I loved radio, especially commentators like Bill Stern, Paul Harvey, David Brudnoy and Jerry Williams. They were colorful and fun to listen to. Not exactly balanced, but mostly fair.

I hear it said all the time that things are just not the same on radio. But I still like to listen to the news and sporting events. I love to listen to the Kentucky Derby and Howard Cosell describe an Ali fight. I saw my dad and all the fathers in the neighborhood listening to the Joe Louis, Ray Robinson and Rocky Marciano fights sitting on the house steps while sipping a beer — it’s a memory most of us will never forget.

But I have to share with you a radio show that is still a lot of fun. Morgan White hosts a late night radio show on WBZ. Yes, I’m usually asleep by midnight, but when he invites me on “The Morgan Show,” I hear about it for weeks from neighbors and old friends from across the 38 states that he broadcasts to. Morgan is a trivia expert and gets me to talk about the old faces and neighborhoods of Boston.

I am no competition for his knowledge, but our conversation engages some remarkable comments from the wide audience. One night a caller from Hibbing, Minn., asked me if I remembered meeting Frank Brumstick in 1968, the old goalie of the Boston Bruins. Another caller from New Jersey asked me if I had a relative who played in Louie Prima and Gene Krupa’s band. While another all-night listener asked me about Louis Farrakhan’s Boston roots. Morgan White has an amazing audience, and it’s both fun and a challenge to be on his show.