Why is ken harrelson called hawk

Of 43 past recipients, only five have been former ballplayers. That and all the memories, nicknames and catchphrases he has given audiences will be his true legacy, no matter how this Frick vote goes. Skip to content. Latest Chicago White Sox. But earlier this season, the Hawkeroo as he is known by both friends and foes flew a little too close to the sun even for him. A rant against umpire Mark Wegner during a May 30 game against the Tampa Bay Rays, which became an instant YouTube classic, sparked debate among fans and the sports commentariat about when enough is enough.

Wegner tossed out White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana for allegedly throwing at a batter, and Harrelson launched into a Hawkian harangue for the ages. What in the hell are you doing? In the aftermath, tail feathers tucked, Hawk had to explain himself to Reinsdorf—the explanation taking the form of an abject apology. He was also called to account by the commissioner of baseball, an almost unprecedented occurrence for a broadcaster. For years there have been calls for Hawk to go. Yet Harrelson has won five Emmys and, two years ago, the Ring Lardner Award for excellence in sports journalism.

The obvious question is how. Harrelson at work in He rounds a corner and passes a plaque featuring a silver image of him and an inscription that declares the entire floor and its warren of media suites to be the Hawk Harrelson Broadcast Level.

That honor was bestowed on him before the beginning of last season, a couple of months after he inked a new four-year deal to call White Sox games that virtually guarantees he will be around to celebrate a full 30 years as the TV voice of the team. A grin here, a little wave there, and Harrelson lands at last in his own personal catbird seat: a black swivel office chair pulled up against a ledge in a small glassed-in split-level booth a few rows above home plate.

At the windows swing out, and with a whoosh, the muggy hot-dog-and-beer-fragrant breeze chases the air-conditioned chill into the warm summer evening. Plenty of time for that over the next three hours. Instead, as he prepares, his eyes dart back and forth—alternating between notebooks and a flat screen with an in-progress game between the St. The exchange hung in the air for several seconds; for the next few days, it lit up the lines at sports talk shows.

To this day, Jackson insists he was just ribbing Harrelson, who agrees the whole thing was overblown. And indeed, earlier on this night, when the two bumped into each other, they exchanged what seemed to be genuinely friendly words. Harrelson and Stone are cordial and professional but say little between innings and almost never look at each other. His knowledge of the game and his personality are equally strong; he can stand up to the occasionally withering challenges of the Hawk. When the team is winning and things are the way they should be, it can be a delightful broadcast.

I begin by listening for Hawkisms and marking them down in my notebook. And of course, surreptitiously, I study the feature that quite literally defines him: the Nose. But with my nose, I had to be different, if for no other reason than to divert attention from it. Harrelson in , taking a swing.

And I went over and hit him as hard as I could. He badly wanted to help. Sports provided the means. Ken Harrelson is polarizing. Like what you're reading? Signup today! Support independent, award-winning college journalism on this site. Donate here. More in Sports. Indiana volleyball prepares for weekend matchups with Illinois, Nebraska. Indiana cross country to compete in Regional Championships Friday.

Eric Holcomb announces anti-vaccine mandate lawsuit Nov 5, pm. Powered by Solutions by The State News. Cellular Field on August 6, in Chicago, Illinois. The Rangers defeated the White Sox On May 31, , Ken Harrelson announced that his years in the White Sox broadcast booth will end after the season. Harrelson will soon begin his 33 rd season with the White Sox. It was not a name, but a description.

So I started going around to the PA announcers in the minor leagues and asking them to introduce me as Hawk Harrelson. Before broadcasting sports, Hawk played sports. In high school, Hawk was a three-sport athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball.

Hawk told the Chicago Magazine :. I made All-American in basketball and had 56 scholarship offers from major colleges. Football was second. Baseball was my third favorite to play, but I loved the game more than the others.