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RIP Bill Currie

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:21 pm
by Jeemie
Bill Currie: The "Mouth of the South"

OK- only those who grew up in Pittsburgh in the 70s-80s will remember this guy.

Loud suits that gave you a headache to look at them, boutonniere in his suit, and nice, folksy, sports commentary that would include any subject matter.

Guy was a Pittsburgh icon- up there with the Gunner and My-rhun Cope.

I will miss him.

RIP, Bill!!

Image

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:26 pm
by VAdame
I saw that yesterday.

RIP, Sweet Ol' Bill!

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:26 pm
by KillerTomato
Yeah, I'll miss him, too. He was quite a character.

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:01 pm
by Ritterskoop
North Carolina fans are distraught. It isn't just Pittsburgh.

From The Raleigh News & Observer (truncated):

Bill Currie, nicknamed the “Mouth of the South” during his days as a popular radio and television personality in North Carolina, died “a Tar Heel fan to the core,” his daughter said Tuesday.

Born in High Point, Currie attended Catawba College. Witty and irreverent, he did the radio play-by-play for North Carolina football and basketball during much of the 1960s.

One of Currie’s more memorable lines occurred during his broadcast of N.C. State’s 12-10 win against Duke during the 1968 ACC basketball tournament in Charlotte. In the days before the shot clock, neither team forced the action. The halftime score was Duke 4, N.C. State 2.

Currie advised listeners that the action was about as exciting as “artificial insemination.”

“That line may not have been in good taste, but it was one that a lot of people still talk about,” said Woody Durham, who took over Tar Heels broadcasts the following season.

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:21 pm
by wbtravis007
I could tell by looking at his picture that I would've loved him.

Skoop's story proves it.

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 5:42 am
by Jeemie
Ritterskoop wrote:North Carolina fans are distraught. It isn't just Pittsburgh.

From The Raleigh News & Observer (truncated):

Bill Currie, nicknamed the “Mouth of the South” during his days as a popular radio and television personality in North Carolina, died “a Tar Heel fan to the core,” his daughter said Tuesday.

Born in High Point, Currie attended Catawba College. Witty and irreverent, he did the radio play-by-play for North Carolina football and basketball during much of the 1960s.

One of Currie’s more memorable lines occurred during his broadcast of N.C. State’s 12-10 win against Duke during the 1968 ACC basketball tournament in Charlotte. In the days before the shot clock, neither team forced the action. The halftime score was Duke 4, N.C. State 2.

Currie advised listeners that the action was about as exciting as “artificial insemination.”

“That line may not have been in good taste, but it was one that a lot of people still talk about,” said Woody Durham, who took over Tar Heels broadcasts the following season.
Yeah- I forgot to add "and North Carolina".

He's always a Pittsburgher to me- I always forget he had a whole other career before he ever came to the 'burgh.

Philly folks might remember him too- although his stint there was short and disasterous. Philly folks didn't "get" him.

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:22 am
by T_Bone0806
Ritterskoop wrote:
Currie advised listeners that the action was about as exciting as “artificial insemination.”

“That line may not have been in good taste, but it was one that a lot of people still talk about,” said Woody Durham, who took over Tar Heels broadcasts the following season.
That line was hilarious.