Last year he was a backup on the state championship team. Arlen is now the starting point guard and, understandably, Bucky wants to see him play. That’s why after over 40 years behind a microphone, Bucky is going to miss some Flyer games this season.
He was alongside me for the exhibition vs. Southern Indiana and was there for the season opener vs. Alabama A&M. Bucky is skipping the trip to Puerto Rico and then broadcasting the game vs. UIC on Nov. 29 before heading down to Florida until after Christmas.
Former Flyer Brooks Hall will join me for the games in Puerto Rico and will do some other games, along with ex-players Keith Waleskowski and Josh Postorino.
In what is now my 32nd year of doing play-by-play for the Flyers, there has been only one game that Bucky did not work with me. That was vs. McNeese State in the National Invitational Tournament in 1986 when WHIO-TV borrowed him for the telecast while the late Gene Schill worked the game with me on radio.
I have missed a handful of games through the years due to Flyer football conflicts, back surgery in 2002, and I missed the entire 1999-2000 season after a job change at WHIO. The one constant through the years has been Bucky, and quite honestly, I have a hard time imagining broadcasting a UD basketball game without him.
I am sure listeners will find it odd as well, but I have great confidence in the job that Brooks, Keith and Josh will do in providing their own unique insights.
Bucky will keep tabs on the Flyers while he sits courtside at his grandson’s games in Orlando. He and I will talk regularly, and after the first of the year, he will be back on the air. Even though his coal miner’s son background makes him chafe at the thought of missing work, he deserves this chance to be a grandpa and a fan.
Wish Bucky and “little” Arlen well, as Brooks, Keith, Josh and I keep the seat warm until he gets back. Between the four of us we will fill in for Bucky Bockhorn, but no one will ever replace him.
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