Chick Hearn 2002 Deaths

Chick Hearn

Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster, whose play-by-play announcing told the story of nine NBA championships and was revered by generations of Southern California sports fans; introduced words like "slam dunk," "air ball" and "finger roll" to the basketball lexicon; called 3,362 Lakers games over 42 seasons, including 3,338 consecutive games from Nov. 21, 1965 to Dec. 16, 2002; underwent heart surgery in December 2002; born Francis Dayle Hearn, he was given his nickname while he was an amateur basketball player—he was handed a box of sneakers only to be surprised to find a chicken inside; two-time National Sportscaster of the Year; inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1992); member of the American Sportscasters Hall of Fame; He died of a brain injury suffered after a fall at his home.