Chuck Swirsky

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chuck Swirsky
Enlarge
Chuck Swirsky

Chuck Swirsky, a.k.a. "The Swirsk" (born January 30, 1954 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA) is the television play-by-play voice of the Toronto Raptors of the NBA, alongside color commentators Leo Rautins and Jack Armstrong. He also hosts an afternoon sports radio show, “The Chuck Swirsky Show”, from 1–4 p.m. on The Fan 590 radio and writes a daily blog for Raptors.com called “Chuck Checks In”. Swirsky is known to be fond of San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner. At the end of every Raptor victory, he is known to chant, “Raptors win! Raptors win! Raptors win!”. Though born in Virginia, Swirsky grew up in Seattle, Washington.

Contents

[edit] Broadcast History

Chuck was a sportscaster for WGN radio in the late 1980s and early 1990s. While he was with WGN he also did play-by-play for DePaul, Chicago Bears pre half and post game coverage, and Cubs Public Address. college basketball games alongside former coach Ray Meyer. He left WGN for Detroit where he did play by play for both Michigan basketball and football in the mid 1990s.

[edit] Catch phrases

  • “Are you kidding me?!”
  • “Onions, onions, and more onions! Buy a bushel big boy!” (The bushel reference usually to Leo Rautins) The catch phrase "Onions" is borrowed from legendary college basketball broadcaster Bill Raftery.
  • “Get out the salami and cheese, mama! This ball game is over!”
  • “Sick, wicked, and nasty!”
  • “Get out the umbrellas; it's raining treys!” (when the Raptors make several three-pointers).
  • “Nothin' but nylon!” (when a Raptors player hits a shot ).
  • "Anticipation makes the hard-on last longer!"
  • “Oh my Bosh!”
  • “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, ya gotta love it!”
  • “Boom shaka-laka-laka-laka!!”
  • “Ka-Bosh!”
  • "Kaboom!"
  • “Oh baby, what a play!”
  • "Bosh--count it and a foul"
  • “Oh no!” (exclaimed when an opposing player makes a scoring play in the clutch).
  • “My goodness, Leo.”
  • "Somebody get me a Double Double!" (whenever the Raptors are getting blown out).
  • “Raptors win! Raptors win! Raptors win!”
  • “Ring it up from downtown (insert name of a city or town in Canada)”
  • “Always a pleasure talking Raptors' ball”
  • "Wow, wah-wah-wah-wow!"
  • "Vincent Lamar Carter!"
  • "I DON'T BELIEVE IT! NO I DON'T! I SAID I SAID I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!!"
  • (Raptors player) has got the mojo goin'!
  • “ He just gave (Name of player) a facial! ”
  • “Snap, Crackle, and Pape!”
  • “ (Name of player) just ate some Spalding! ” (When a player gets blocked.)
  • " (Name of player) just ate some ACC rim!" (When a player slam dunks)
  • " (Name of player) is a class act."
  • " “Dwight Howard is a man” (Reference to 20 year old prep to pro power forward Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic).
  • " "Whatever." (Swirsky's standard response when he is unimpressed by something or someone)
  • " "Alright." (Swirsky's standard response to when he wants to avoid or change the subject).
  • "Thanks for showing me the love, T-Dot" (upon receiving a warm welcome when spotted in public)
  • " (Name of player), eatin' some ACC iron!" (When a player slam dunks at the Air Canada Centre).
  • " He just posterized (name of a player)" (When a player got dunked on by another).
  • "A shameless plug!" (Every time Swirsky mentions MLSE in his daily blog)
  • "That was an NBA move!"
  • "Air Canada Carter!"

[edit] Trivia

  • Was the inspiration for the Saturday Night Live sketch entitled Bill Swerski's Superfans.
  • Swirsky calls Burlington, Ontario his home, not Toronto as many people tend to think.
  • Contrary to popular belief, Chuck is not a paid employee of the Raptors, rather he is a paid employee of Rogers sportsnet Ontario and does contractual work for other local networks including TSN and The Score.
  • While he was calling DePaul Blue Demons basketball games, Al Lerner and Ed Curran would occasionally have their show preempted by the game. When this happened, they would play a parody of the DePaul fight song (sung by themselves):
It is Swirsky,
It is Coach Ray,
And they're here to do the game;
They are smiling,
They've had dinner,
And they hope you did the same...
etc.
  • Is an honorary member of the Sports Management Society at York University
  • Is a fan of Dairy Queen, which he often mentions on his shows
  • Answers emails and returns telephone calls from fans daily
  • Firmly has confidence every time Rasho Nesterovic attemps a 15-footer that he can make that shot.
  • Is half Italian
  • Considers Raptors' assistant head coach Jim Todd as the best assistant coach in the NBA.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../c/h/u/Chuck_Swirsky_f333.html"