Sportscasters Health

Chick Hearn, having missed only his second half of basketball in more than 35 years, said Wednesday night he expected to broadcast Friday night's game in Los Angeles, his 3,273rd in a row. Referring to Joseph Sugarman, his Beverly Hills physician, Hearn said, "I think he'll have me ready. He's a magician." Hearn awoke Wednesday morning with laryngitis. A local doctor and nurse tended to Hearn for much of the day, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The last time Chick Hearn wasn't behind the microphone at a Laker game, Lyndon Johnson was in the White House, gas cost less than a quarter a gallon and Kobe Bryant was 13 years from being born. Since then, the Lakers have won 2,092 games and eight National Basketball Assn. championships. But tonight, for the first time in 36 years and 3,338 consecutive games, Hearn won't be there. He's been sidelined by open-heart surgery.

Rex Hudler may never know what caused blood to spill onto the surface of his brain last week, but doctors told the Angel television analyst Tuesday that he appears out of danger and on the road to recovery. "Rex just said it was a miracle," said his broadcast partner, Steve Physioc.

Rex Hudler may never know what caused blood to spill onto the surface of his brain last week, but doctors told the Angel television analyst Tuesday that he appears out of danger and on the road to recovery. "Rex just said it was a miracle," said his broadcast partner, Steve Physioc.

Johnny Most, 68, retired radio announcer for the Boston Celtics, had his legs amputated above the knees because of a blood circulation problem.

CBS baseball announcer Jack Buck, who is also the St. Louis Cardinals' play-by-play radio announcer, remained hospitalized in Philadelphia after complaining of weakness and lower back pain. Buck left the broadcast booth during the Cardinal-Phillie game at Veterans Stadium Tuesday night and was taken by ambulance to a hospital. According to a spokeswoman, Buck experienced internal bleeding, possibly caused by aspirin he had taken for the lower back pain.

The last time Chick Hearn wasn't behind the microphone at a Laker game, Lyndon Johnson was in the White House, gas cost less than a quarter a gallon and Kobe Bryant was 13 years from being born. Since then, the Lakers have won 2,092 games and eight National Basketball Assn. championships. But tonight, for the first time in 36 years and 3,338 consecutive games, Hearn won't be there. He's been sidelined by open-heart surgery.

Chick Hearn, having missed only his second half of basketball in more than 35 years, said Wednesday night he expected to broadcast Friday night's game in Los Angeles, his 3,273rd in a row. Referring to Joseph Sugarman, his Beverly Hills physician, Hearn said, "I think he'll have me ready. He's a magician." Hearn awoke Wednesday morning with laryngitis. A local doctor and nurse tended to Hearn for much of the day, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Johnny Most, 68, retired radio announcer for the Boston Celtics, had his legs amputated above the knees because of a blood circulation problem.

CBS baseball announcer Jack Buck, who is also the St. Louis Cardinals' play-by-play radio announcer, remained hospitalized in Philadelphia after complaining of weakness and lower back pain. Buck left the broadcast booth during the Cardinal-Phillie game at Veterans Stadium Tuesday night and was taken by ambulance to a hospital. According to a spokeswoman, Buck experienced internal bleeding, possibly caused by aspirin he had taken for the lower back pain.