Collmus to replace Durkin?

[pointman]

This was tweeted by Mark Hennig of Tom Durkin on the Match Game in 1979. It is kind of funny what word trips up Durkin at the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIfi...ature=youtu.be

[TouchOfGrey]

Can't believe his last day is almost here.

Durkin: The stories he has told

Durkin's greatest hits

HRRN's Anthony "The Big A" Stabile's Blog on Durkin

Tom Durkin: Erudite influences behind a celebrated voice

NYRA to honor legendary race caller Tom Durkin with special two-day celebration at Saratoga Race Course

[jballscalls]

Originally Posted by TouchOfGrey

Can't believe his last day is almost here.

Durkin: The stories he has told

Durkin's greatest hits

HRRN's Anthony "The Big A" Stabile's Blog on Durkin

Tom Durkin: Erudite influences behind a celebrated voice

NYRA to honor legendary race caller Tom Durkin with special two-day celebration at Saratoga Race Course

Here was a fun little story I did asking a bunch of announcers their favorite Tom Durkin calls/memories. Some cool stories!

http://jasonbeem.com/2014/08/28/trac...rkin-memories/

[ScottJ]

Originally Posted by pointman

This was tweeted by Mark Hennig of Tom Durkin on the Match Game in 1979. It is kind of funny what word trips up Durkin at the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIfi...ature=youtu.be

Many years back, I met Tom Durkin and said two words : Speedy Gonzales.

His response was classic. Tom said, "Everyone knows the right answer is Pancho Gonzales".

We both laughed and everyone else was dumb-founded.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by ScottJ

Many years back, I met Tom Durkin and said two words : Speedy Gonzales.

His response was classic. Tom said, "Everyone knows the right answer is Pancho Gonzales".

We both laughed and everyone else was dumb-founded.

That hilarious. Here's Part One of his Match Game. He comes across as so sweet and nervous!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjO2LEsYbQc

Oh, 1970s game shows. You were the best.

[Sightseek]

Hate to see him go, but the fans gave him a great sendoff.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Hate to see him go, but the fans gave him a great sendoff.

And his farewell speech was terrific, too.

[ateamstupid]

Absolutely terrific sendoff. Kudos to everyone involved. The man was truly one of a kind and you can't say that about many people.

LOL I noticed the "Your The Man" thing too. Fail.

[Arletta]

Great article by Joe Drape @ NY Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/01/sp...reer.html?_r=2

[bigrun]

Originally Posted by Cardus

My favorite Durkin call was the 1990 Breeders' Cup Classic: "And here comes THE DERBY WINNER!!"; he had to yell it to be heard.

Favorite call.

My all time fav '84 breeders cup..Wild Again desperately holding on and on the outside Gate Dancer...I had Gate Dancer...boohoo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpoEMCJdj1M

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Cardus

About the Winner's Circle ceremony gifts: how on Earth does someone -- or some people -- allow the jockeys -- I think it was the jockeys -- to present him with a glass-encased jockey saddlecloth with "YOUR THE MAN"? "YOUR"??

I immediately thought of this:

[Pants II]

"Your the man"

Serious question...is the Saratoga jockey colony into erotic asphyxiation?

It could explain the inexcusable grammatical error and the strangling of horses all meet by the little Rhodes scholars.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Cardus

You wanted Durkin to do a flying dismount yesterday?

No, I'd MUCH rather see you do one.

Look at where it says, or rather should say, the word juvenile.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Cardus

I agree that his speech was terrific, and it is difficult to gauge a retirement speech, since it is mostly about whatever (in this case) Durkin felt that he wanted to say. It is his career, and he is able to say whatever he wants to address.

The most interesting part of the speech was how he built anticipation for those listening to hear who he meant by the "most important person in his career". It was a neat way to highlight the "horseplayer". Nice touch.

About his final race call: he didn't make it all about him. And clearly, he had fun with it. "Splashtastic" was his last significant word as a race caller. Borne solely out of the circumstance of the sloppy track, not a forced, "signature" call. Again, a nice touch.

About the Winner's Circle ceremony gifts: how on Earth does someone -- or some people -- allow the jockeys -- I think it was the jockeys -- to present him with a glass-encased jockey saddlecloth with "YOUR THE MAN"? "YOUR"??

As for the crowd: excellent "Tommy Durkin" impromptu chant as he descended from the booth and headed towards the Winner's Circle. Nice Yankee Stadium-like touch.

Nice touch on grammatical error..lol