Thoughts on Skip

The passing of Braves announcer Skip Carrey was surreal this week for me. It's sort of like when you realize a relative has gotten old and frail and will most likely pass sometime soon. It's still strangely awkward, and in some weird way, I think Skip was like a distant uncle to me. Throughout the vast amount of baseball games I watched over the years, I probably listened to his commentary and opinions of baseball and life more than any of my own uncles.

It feels like yesterday, but it wasn't. Growing up as a kid, I became a die hard baseball fan at 11, when my older cousin took me to my first game in 1987 to what was called the Walt Disney World Series(i.e. you get a free poster of Dale Murphy with Mickey and Goofy, which hung in my room for years). From there I was sold...as a young teen, my cousin Brian and I would spend weekends collecting, selling, and trading baseball cards and watching games. I guess that's where Skip would come in.

I remember watching games most nights of the week and weekend(what else can a 13 year old do in between playing video games and riding a bike?) I remember my mom coming in and turning the games off late at night when it was time for bed. Like it or not, you're kind of forced to like the announcer that's given to you by the television station. I was the fortunate teenager that had TBS Superstation in his town and they just happen to show the Braves EVERY night and for years I heard Skip, Pete Van Werren and Ernie Johnson(my favorite).

Pete was the analytical, smart professional. Ernie was the old school, yesteryear baseball guy that brought enjoyment to the game. Skip...well, Skip was the smart alick, know it all, tell it like it is and not to mention funny guy. Here's the truth of Skip to me thought, he brought what many baseball announcers lack these days...INTELLECTUAL honesty. Skip wasn't like the posh announcers these days(no names). There weren't back stores dramas to help the listener at home "feel" closer to the game. No, he broadcasted the game to help the listener understand what's going on in the game...good or bad, so thanks uncle Skip.