Good old Larry (Image: SI.com)
From looking at the message boards and listening to sports talk, you'd think that Munson had already passed. So many folks speaking in such dark, depressing tones.
Folks, Larry Munson is alive and looking to go out (professionally) on his own terms. Or pretty close to it. We should all be so lucky.
We all knew this day was coming. He doesn't own a time machine, a fountain of youth or even a flux capacitor. He was going to retire at some point. The circumstances certainly aren't ideal, but it's manageable.
Don't misunderstand me...I want Larry to get healthy, feel better and stay engaged with the program for as long as he wants. I'm with Damon Evans who said, "If he wants to call the games til he's 106, that's fine with me." But regardless of how this shakes out....
Not preemptively mourning him.
Here's my Recommendation for LarryFest Tour 2007***:
-- Enjoy an extra stiff cocktail in Larry's honor
-- Pack a nice cigar for post-game celebrations
-- Flirt with women entertainingly too young for you
-- Don't forget the Larry Munson Drinking Game
-- And most of all...a special ECHO CHEER for Larry
The Echo Cheer (I have no idea what else to call it) is the back and forth call from the North Stands to the South Stands of "Georgia/Bulldogs." In my life, I've heard the stadium call only two things..."Georgia/Bulldogs" and "David/Pollack" (vs. Kentucky his last year). I never heard the legendary "Herschel/Walker" or "Terry/Hoage" back and forth calls. And I don't remember it ever happening for Zeier or Vince Dooley.
But it should happen for Larry Munson. And it should be deafening. A round of applause and a long standing ovation just isn't going to cut it. We need a thunderous, multi-minute back and forth during each of the home games. It should be audible from other SEC venues. If you've got a contact with the cheerleaders....make this happen.
And afterwards, if you want to enjoy that Victory Cigar, drink another cold one or smile at another co-ed, then all the better. I think Larry would be into that.
To Larry Munson! The Bill Brasky of Announcers. Let's enjoy this last season together!
PWD
***The LarryFest Tour 2007 name is rancid bad. But I'm open to other suggestions. Drop 'em in the comments section.
