CU Guru [1955]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 1230
Joined: 9/7/13
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Memories of Jim Phillips
Apr 16, 2019, 9:48 PM
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I met Jim in 1980 while working at WFBC AM (1330). FM had yet to become King of Radio then - so AM was still "IT" in '80. I did WFBC's evening show - 7p to midnight - & the boss brought Jim by to meet me, tour the place, & I was told Jim would soon start a nightly 2-hour sports show from 7p-9p & I would be his call screener, board-op, etc.
Jim told me to keep the nuts off & the dull questions like, "How do think the Tigers'll do this year?" (6 months from the start of FB season.)
Jim thought I was a great "screener" and we got along very well. For the next 23 years we were good friends & had fun times.
When Jim started calling the AA G'ville Braves games (he was a BIG baseball fan) he'd often say, "Come on by the game tonight & we'll have some fun on the air. Bring another announcer or 2 & we'll cut up a while." We'd drop by a Braves game & have great time. Did it often.
Later in the '80s, I moved to Richmond & then Jax, FL. In Richmond, Jim would sometimes come up & we'd catch the AAA R-Braves there. After moving to Jax, I'd join him for the broadcast when G-ville was in town.
While in Richmond in '84, I called Jim at the team hotel & asked if he had an extra ticket for the CU/Cavs FB game @ UVA. Game day, I went to the hotel & Jim gave me a press box pass. Saw the Tigers blow out UVA 55-0!
I was back in G-ville in the '90s (another company) & Jim was there too. I said, "We oughta catch the World Series in Atlanta." Jim (a lifelong Indians fan) said, "You wanna go? I can get us tickets!" So we did & 4 of us saw the Braves take the 1st 2 games - then the 6th (and the '95 Series 4-to-2). Bit of a downer for Jim.
Jim loved all sports, but LOVED baseball! Great stories...like the time he was with the Tigers at a hotel. The elevator opened & Johnny Bench walked out. Jim was a big Bench fan, told him that & introduced himself. Jim said Bench's response was - - "...Huh..like I give a F..." Jim was no longer a Bench fan.
Another time, Jim was having a brew or 2 late in a hotel bar. He looked over - this guy was alone at a table. Jim thought, "That looks like Ted Williams!" Ted was not known for being nice to fans, but Jim gave it a whirl. Ted wound up asking Phillips to join him, & the 2 talked baseball for a couple of hours!
One more - through Jim, I got to know SoCar's longtime "voice" Bob Fulton. Bob & Jim we're great friends for decades. The late Bob F. was a real gentleman. Getting together with those 2 was a hoot! Talk about great stories - those guys had a million.
OK - 1 more quickie on Jim. He drove us from the hotel to the W.Series (he had a special VIP press parking pass). He'd drive up to 1 of the main entrances & let us out - then park. One game, the squeegee guys were out in force cleaning windshields. Jim rolled down the window & snapped, "Don't do it! Don't want my w.shield cleaned!" The guy kept on anyway. Jim pulled out a .38 from his glovebox, pointed it at the guy & said, "I SAID DON'T CLEAN IT!!" The guy moved on - quick!
Sorry for the length, but was thinking about old Jim & how lucky I was to have known him.
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