Remembering Bill

By Don Peterson
Say Hey by the Bay Staff Writer

We all have heard "George Blanda is king of the world," "Get your big butt off the field," and "Madden's grin is ear-to-ear like a split watermelon," among other famous Bill King lines. Here's a couple of favorite King moments and expressions that are less famous:

After Rickey Henderson was ejected in the first inning in Baltimore:
"Tim Tchida showing his macho to the world! ... (sarcastically) I'm sure these fans all came out to watch him!"

From the Warriors era:

"Fifteen footer, goes 14!"

"Barry misses again. ... Warriors so cold they have frost on their shoulders!"

"Attles on the floor screaming bloody murder!"

"Barry to Hopper to Yo-Hon. Slam dunk!"

And courtesy of Dave Belli, whose description was so vivid that I felt as if I'd heard it myself: During a Warriors-Pistons fight: "Dudley and Money!! Dudley and Money!!"

And did any other sports broadcaster use the phrase "in high dudgeon" to such great effect?

Speaking of high dudgeon, during the 1992 ALCS at the Coliseum, an
"elephant call" was played over the P.A. (like Stomper, get it?),
supposedly to get the crowd charged up. Upon hearing the noise, King
stopped in mid-sentence ...

King: "What was that?!"

Fosse (almost sheepishly): Well, that's the elephant call they've started doing ...

King (outraged): "WHO started doing it?!"

One more thing. I was watching an old movie from the '40s once and I'd swear I heard someone use the expression, "Holy Toledo." I don't know if Bill ever said where he got the phrase from, or if it was his own creation, and now we might never find out. But I'm going to find that movie again (I think it was a Ginger Roger film called "The Major and the Minor") and check it out.

Enough from me. Anyone else have some Bill memories to contribute?