White Sox to Throw Stone At Hawk
Yesterday's Chicago Tribune reported that former Cub and ESPN analyst Steve Stone will fill in for current Sox 
analyst Darrin Jackson August 7-12. Stone's pairing with Hawk Harrelson, could be one of the most interesting in TV history and worth going out of your way to tune in for.
I have never drank the Steve Stone kool-aid. I know that he is a beloved Chicago icon, but if you examine why the reasons may surprise you. For all those years with Harry Caray, I always thought Stone was out of place, the studious, serious baseball observer who was constantly interrupted by his drunk uncle. I further believe that his popularity is strongly tied to Harry, that he is popular by association rather than on his own skill set. There are many people who become icons because of their ties to someone else, not having been that popular or well known before they teamed up with whomever.
I give Stone credit for trying. Being second banana to harry Caray wasn't easy. If Harry liked you (and he liked Stone) then you were golden and had a job for life. If Caray didn't, you were banished like Joe Garagiola, Milo Hamilton and Josh Lewin. Harry had that much clout. So, Stone's longevity, prior to Harry's death was largely due to his being able to manage Harry.
Then, Stone took a couple of years off to regain his health. The Cubs trotted out such stiffs as Dave Otto and Joe Carter, who even made D.J. and Chris Singleton sound like real announcers. The Cubs grew desperate and in an effort to right the wrong, they begged Stone to come back where he worked with Chip Caray.
The last years of Stone's Cub tenure, he was free to do as he wished. Harry was dead and Chip deferred to him a lot. It was then you could discover what an egomaniac the guy is and how smug and "too smart for the room" he can be. The pairing with Chip Caray was a disaster, largely because Chip is not a very strong play by play announcer and Stone had carte blanche to chime in. Together, and really through no fault of their own, their comments regarding the team and the organization crossed the line between truth and perceived truth and both men were fired after the 2004 season.
Chip Caray has moved on to Atlanta where he works with his Dad and Joe Simpson. Stone, however, tried to move on to ESPN, but on a national level, failed miserably. He signed a contract with the Score in Chicago and spouts analysis four days a week. And now, he's poised to fill-in for DJ.
On TV, Hawk is Hawk, love him or hate him. He's a homer and he does what he does. I can handle him if the game is interesting. If it gets out of hand, he either pouts and disappears leaving play by play to the overwhelmed and under skilled Jackson or just starts talking about old baseball guys or keeping his fanny down.
Jackson is a willing participant, just happy for the work.
Enter into this world one Steve Stone. Hawk has a reputation for being a cutter, he likes to cut his partners down to size. The first year he work with Jackson, there was noticeable tension in the booth as Jackson didn't understand part of his role was to be Hawk's target. Stone can be self effacing, but I think he will come in prepared to dish it back, probably at a level that Hawk doesn't even know he's doing it. The egos here will be huge and the big thing will be while Hawk tries to drive the bus off the road like he usually does, Stone will grab the wheel and try to steer it back on course. This will make for some very interesting broadcasts indeed, especially if the Sox play like they did in Boston last weekend or Wednesday night against Detroit. And, I've got to think among the hard core Sox fans, there will always be that thought of "don't believe him, he's a Cub fan" everytime Stone opens hisnostrils mouth to speak.
There was also mention in the story that if the Sox do not renew Chris Singleton's contract on radio, Stone might join Ed Farmer in the radio booth. I find that hard to believe, first because alleged current radio play by play man Ed Farmer was also a pitcher and during the same era as Stone and secondly because you couldn't get both their egos in the booth. Farmer, who has zero play by play skills but is a Jerry Reinsdorf favorite, has a laconic, fractured delivery and tries to do play by play and color all at the same time. Singleton, who is not very good but has improved 1000% from last year, at least offers some perspective on defense and hitting when Farmer allows him to speak and when they are not talking about something irrelevant.
As far as Stone becoming a permanent member of the Sox broadcast team, I think that is a rumor started by someone who thinks that would solve all the problems with the Sox broadcasts. The truth is, Stone wants Jim Hendry's job, partially because he thinks he's that smart and partially because he would get revenge on someone that helped usher him out the door with the Cubs. It's no secret Stone wants to run a team, and if you ever catch him on the Score, that's how he comes across. Hopefully, Jerry Reinsdorf learned his lesson in 1985 about making a broadcaster general manager.
Steve Stone is a shrewd guy, making a living off his partnership with Harry Caray ten years after his partner was called to the big happy hour in the sky. He is a fairly straight forward person who doesn't rattle easily and can, if necessary, show you his claws. Working with Hawk is not an audition, it is simply hiring the perceived best person available (I would have brought Wimpy back for a week.) If the Sox do try to make this a permanent arrangement with Stone, I, for one, will be happy to hit the mute button and do the play by play myself.
I have never drank the Steve Stone kool-aid. I know that he is a beloved Chicago icon, but if you examine why the reasons may surprise you. For all those years with Harry Caray, I always thought Stone was out of place, the studious, serious baseball observer who was constantly interrupted by his drunk uncle. I further believe that his popularity is strongly tied to Harry, that he is popular by association rather than on his own skill set. There are many people who become icons because of their ties to someone else, not having been that popular or well known before they teamed up with whomever.
I give Stone credit for trying. Being second banana to harry Caray wasn't easy. If Harry liked you (and he liked Stone) then you were golden and had a job for life. If Caray didn't, you were banished like Joe Garagiola, Milo Hamilton and Josh Lewin. Harry had that much clout. So, Stone's longevity, prior to Harry's death was largely due to his being able to manage Harry.
Then, Stone took a couple of years off to regain his health. The Cubs trotted out such stiffs as Dave Otto and Joe Carter, who even made D.J. and Chris Singleton sound like real announcers. The Cubs grew desperate and in an effort to right the wrong, they begged Stone to come back where he worked with Chip Caray.
The last years of Stone's Cub tenure, he was free to do as he wished. Harry was dead and Chip deferred to him a lot. It was then you could discover what an egomaniac the guy is and how smug and "too smart for the room" he can be. The pairing with Chip Caray was a disaster, largely because Chip is not a very strong play by play announcer and Stone had carte blanche to chime in. Together, and really through no fault of their own, their comments regarding the team and the organization crossed the line between truth and perceived truth and both men were fired after the 2004 season.
Chip Caray has moved on to Atlanta where he works with his Dad and Joe Simpson. Stone, however, tried to move on to ESPN, but on a national level, failed miserably. He signed a contract with the Score in Chicago and spouts analysis four days a week. And now, he's poised to fill-in for DJ.
On TV, Hawk is Hawk, love him or hate him. He's a homer and he does what he does. I can handle him if the game is interesting. If it gets out of hand, he either pouts and disappears leaving play by play to the overwhelmed and under skilled Jackson or just starts talking about old baseball guys or keeping his fanny down.
Jackson is a willing participant, just happy for the work.
Enter into this world one Steve Stone. Hawk has a reputation for being a cutter, he likes to cut his partners down to size. The first year he work with Jackson, there was noticeable tension in the booth as Jackson didn't understand part of his role was to be Hawk's target. Stone can be self effacing, but I think he will come in prepared to dish it back, probably at a level that Hawk doesn't even know he's doing it. The egos here will be huge and the big thing will be while Hawk tries to drive the bus off the road like he usually does, Stone will grab the wheel and try to steer it back on course. This will make for some very interesting broadcasts indeed, especially if the Sox play like they did in Boston last weekend or Wednesday night against Detroit. And, I've got to think among the hard core Sox fans, there will always be that thought of "don't believe him, he's a Cub fan" everytime Stone opens his
There was also mention in the story that if the Sox do not renew Chris Singleton's contract on radio, Stone might join Ed Farmer in the radio booth. I find that hard to believe, first because alleged current radio play by play man Ed Farmer was also a pitcher and during the same era as Stone and secondly because you couldn't get both their egos in the booth. Farmer, who has zero play by play skills but is a Jerry Reinsdorf favorite, has a laconic, fractured delivery and tries to do play by play and color all at the same time. Singleton, who is not very good but has improved 1000% from last year, at least offers some perspective on defense and hitting when Farmer allows him to speak and when they are not talking about something irrelevant.
As far as Stone becoming a permanent member of the Sox broadcast team, I think that is a rumor started by someone who thinks that would solve all the problems with the Sox broadcasts. The truth is, Stone wants Jim Hendry's job, partially because he thinks he's that smart and partially because he would get revenge on someone that helped usher him out the door with the Cubs. It's no secret Stone wants to run a team, and if you ever catch him on the Score, that's how he comes across. Hopefully, Jerry Reinsdorf learned his lesson in 1985 about making a broadcaster general manager.
Steve Stone is a shrewd guy, making a living off his partnership with Harry Caray ten years after his partner was called to the big happy hour in the sky. He is a fairly straight forward person who doesn't rattle easily and can, if necessary, show you his claws. Working with Hawk is not an audition, it is simply hiring the perceived best person available (I would have brought Wimpy back for a week.) If the Sox do try to make this a permanent arrangement with Stone, I, for one, will be happy to hit the mute button and do the play by play myself.
Comments