Thanks, Uncle Verne

 

Verne Lundquist will call his final Masters tournament tomorrow.

He's been a fixture in the tower overlooking 16 for over a quarter of a century.

But to those who know his career, there is so much more to discuss.

Go back to the 1960s when he was a sports anchor in Texas and became the radio broadcaster for the Dallas Cowboys. By the mid-70s, he began working for ABC Sports before eventually joining CBS. Save for 1995-1997 when he went to Turner, "Uncle Verne" has been with the "Tiffany Network" since 1982.

He has excelled at the NFL, college football, college basketball, golf, and figure skating, where his calm demeanor was a welcomed presence during the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding debacle at the 1994 Winter Olympics.

He was also in the movie Happy Gilmour.

Verne doesn't necessarily have a true "trademark" line. Verne is just real and that's why he's "Uncle Verne." He's the avuncular voice who isn't phony. He's playful, doesn't inject himself into the action, and honest.

His is a presence, a voice, a face that will be missed.

To a person like Verne Lundquist, you don't recite the trademark. There's no "it's outta here" or "Yes!" or "Bang!"

No, instead there are moments. Moments that aren't rehearsed. There's no yellow pad of cute lines.

When Jackie Smith of the Cowboys dropped a sure touchdown pass in Super Bowl XIII, it was Verne, calling the game for the Cowboys who exclaimed, "Bless his heart, he's got to be the sickest man in America!"

When Christian Laettner ended a gut-wrenching East Regional Final with a turnaround jumper in the 1992 NCAA Tournament, Verne stayed natural. The call was simple: "There's the pass to Laettner...puts it up...YES!"

Calling the 2005 Masters, Tiger Woods hit a chip-in on 16 that seemed improbable. Except, it went in, and Verne was on the money with his reaction: "Oh, my goodness!...OH, WOW!! IN YOUR LIFE, have you seen anything like that?"

To a new generation, Verne is known for his call of "Kick Six," the play that ended the 2013 Iron Bowl between Auburn and Alabama. A missed 57-yard field goal try was returned by Auburn's Chris Davis from the end zone. Verne, on TV, called it with the zest and shock that it deserved.

"On the way … No, returned by Chris Davis. Davis goes left. Davis gets a block. Davis has another block! Chris Davis! No flags! Touchdown, Auburn! An answered prayer!"

But no call of Verne's -- none, in my opinion -- is quite as iconic as three words spoken in 1986 at The Masters. Jack Nicklaus, who was 46 at that point, nailed his putt on 17 to take the lead for the first time as he would become the oldest winner in tournament history.

The images are iconic but, when done correctly, the call can also become iconic.

It was classic Verne. He's a witness to the whole thing and he spoke words that so many have repeated. Tony Savino and I have said it to each other countless times.

"Maybe ... Yes, SIR!"

You've seen it. You've heard it.

And, to many of us, we know it.

Uncle Verne began to back away in 2016 after the Army-Navy Game. He stepped away from college basketball after that. But he wanted to stay with The Masters.

Tomorrow will be the end of his 40th tournament and he felt this is the right time to take the headset off.

It will be emotional.

Our business will be sadder without him.

But have I relished listening to -- and learning from -- Verne Lundquist?

Yes, sir!