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| Eric Hasseltine and I |
Eric is a great guy who I always say hello to when I see the Grizzlies play.
Over the years, I've seen him in a number of times at the IZOD Center when the Nets played there and at the Garden when the Grizzlies come to town.
He has been working for the Grizzlies since they moved from Vancouver to Memphis back in 2001. This is his 10th season with the team behind the mic. It's his 6th season doing their play by play on the radio.
Prior to that he served as their radio host on the pre game, halftime and post game shows.
He's originally from the Bay Area. In addition, he went to college at UC-Davis which is near Sacramento.
That's the same school former Jet quarterback Ken O'Brien went to.
Ironically when I met Eric I told him about my trip that was coming up in January 2007. That one I referred to as the "Bay Area Blast".
The King and I flew out to the Bay area and we saw a bunch of games over Martin Luther King weekend. We went to Cal-Berkeley for a college basketball game upon arrival that Saturday afternoon at the Haas Pavilion followed by the Sacramento Kings that night.
After the game we drove to Reno, Nevada to sleep and we hung out at a casino before returning to Stockton to see a minor league hockey game.
On Martin Luther King Day, we went to Oakland to see the Warriors play in the afternoon and then we went to San Jose that night to see the Sharks.
After the double dip, we caught the red eye flight home.
What a blast that was.
As for the Grizzlies, they've had their share of ups and downs since they moved to Memphis back in 2001.
This season they're playing better than in the past. They came to the Garden on St. Patrick's Day night with a 37-31 record. I told Eric they should make the playoffs. He had his doubts that they would. We'll have to wait and see.
When I asked him his thoughts about the Carmelo Anthony trade he said it was a good trade for both teams.
Time will tell who ultimately got the better of the deal.
While I got to see Eric, I had the privilege of seeing his partner on this night too. I'm referring to former NBA player and part owner of the Grizzlies, Elliot Perry aka "Socks" as Eric calls him. He works some of the games. Fortunately for me, this was one of them.
Eliot was an excellent shooter when he played back in the day. He was known for his knee high socks hence the nickname.
I got to speak to him too. He seemed like a real class act and gentleman. He's the one who took our picture.
I hope someday the Grizzlies can find a way to improve dramatically and win a championship so Eric can have the privilege and honor of calling it.
Keep up the great work, Eric. I'll see you again somewhere when I see the Grizzlies play again.
Hopefully the next time we'll be in Memphis in November barring a lockout and assuming the schedule works out right.
Yours truly,
Gary Herman
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