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A Tribute

With Dave Sims and Mike Blowers stepping in to replace other Daves Valle and Henderson on the broadcast, it's time we reflect on the last few years of Hendu's announcing career to better appreciate everything he gave us as a narrator, as an analyst, and as a man. And given that the members of the LL community are among those who knew Hendu best, what better way to orchestrate this celebration than by quoting ourselves?

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Star-divide

Speaking of whom, it's "Corr-dair-oh", not "Corr-dorr-uh". That's for you, Hendu. Take notes.
This may look like bad baserunning, but it's not.
Felix's problem, according to Hendu: he doesn't have a "mean streak."

This guy gets paid to angry up the blood. There's no other explanation.

'Oh Boy Obertie?'

Hendu is an illiterate jackass.

Hey, Hendu.

The Expos don't exist anymore.

We hope the Mariners aren't getting on one of those streaks where they win 20 in a row.
Really? Does Rivera want the ball on the ground, Hendu? I couldn't tell. Him smacking the dirt is just so confusing and cryptic.
Hendu knew his stuff when talking about outfield defense, and that's all I'm going to say about him, since I'm being nice today.
Without MLB.tv graphics, Hendu sounds like he's just ranting about nothing at all.
-----
there are no graphics. he is just ranting about nothing
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Oh.

How unsettling.

4.8 and 4.4 are NOT similar ERAs, Hendu. Holy beings have pity.
- - 7th Inning, Safeco Field Beer Garden - -

So a buddy of mine and I were lavishing Wee Willie with derisive comments last night out in center field, just within earshot of a somewhat inebriated Dave Henderson.  After talking about the merits of having Willie and Greg Dobbs on the roster, Dave promptly told me that I "should not blame the problems of the team on the backups."  

Now I could blame this on the beer that he was swilling, or the fact that he was blatently hitting on another guy's girlfriend (with the guy right there!), but it just upholds the fact that players, fans, managers and yes, even dimwitted fomer player/color commentators even miss what they're seeing because of their emotions.

It should be noted, however that he doesn't always believe what he says on the air.  He conceded that roughly half of it was complete BS.
...
He also threatened to whack me with his world series ring if I ragged on Dobbs or Bloomquist more.  Since I probably would have to appear in court in Seattle when I sued him, I opted to let him run his mouth and make himself look like an ass.

The Special Olympics were created to make Hendu feel less alone in the world.
HE STRUCK OUT ON A BREAKING BALL

WHOEVER ENCOURAGED HENDU TO PURSUE BROADCASTING IS AS GUILTY AS HENDU HIMSELF

Did Hendu just advocate throwing at somebody on a 0-2 count?
Hendu's favorite sentence prefix: That's why they call it.

As in, "that's why they call it average," "that's why they call it the hot corner," and "that's why they call it professional baseball."
-----
I wonder if Hendu ever gets stuck in a recursive loop:

That's why they call it that's why they call it that's why they call it that's why they call it that's why they call it that's why they call it ...
-----
LOL Hendu Remix

THATTHATTHATTHAT THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT
THATTHATTHATTHAT THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT
THATTHATTHATTHAT THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT
THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT
P-R-O PROFESSIONAL ::scratch scratch DRUM & BASS::....

Sixth inning:
Rick Rizzs: "Justin Leone is on the bench today, just called up from Tacoma."
Dave Henderson: "Don't forget about Dobbs!"

Well, I can't really capture the way he said it in plain text - it was hasty and excited, like when you walk out of the restroom after dinner at a restaurant and notice that the group of friends you came with are already near the door, and you shout at them to wait up while running in their direction and stumbling over other peoples' feet. If I were in the booth with Hendu, I probably would've replied with something like "Yeah, and what if I do forget about Dobbs?" And then we'd start bickering, and the rest of the broadcast would be brimming with sarcasm and awkward silences.

Hendu preaching the value of walks.

I think my ears are on inside-out.

Mark Loretta is the big out in this Boston line-up because he hits in front of David Ortiz.

Uhh, wouldn't that somewhat imply that David Ortiz is the big out this Boston line-up?

Over the course of a long season you need a blow every now and again.
Hendu's a great guy and a charitable person, which makes it difficult for me to wish he suffers some debilitating injury.
How is it that Red can talk about playing in the World Series and actually sound reverent and humble, while Hendu just sounds like an arrogant jackass?
Who the hell is Lorado?

Thats the 10th time I've heard Hendu randomly say that name.

Actually, Hendu, they call it a 25 man roster because there are 25 men on it.
Quote Hendu:

This guy is 'on the roll' as Pineiro and Meche are.

On the roll.

The roll.

"One of the premier closers in the game: Cabrera, Francisco Cabrera."

Hendu started his 4/20 celebration a week early and he's going to continue a week late.

Yes! Hendu's average comment appears at the 19:34 mark, local time. Who was closest in the pool?
There's four corners to a strike zone

Hendu confirms that the zone is, in fact, quadrilateral, rather than the demonic pentagram that many had feared.

is it important that I as a viewer see that Dave Henderson reads books?  Anyone with a clue knows Hendu is illiterate and that that is total crap.
Some people say those numbers will return to average, others say the numbers mean something. In this case, they mean Ichiro likes to hit off CC.

Hendu musta done a lotta drinking in his day to kill off that many brain cells.

Hendu said something smart. It's a Christmas miracle!
Hendu on Corey:

He used to be a baseball player before he was a pitcher.

GUHHHHHHH NO IT IS NOTTTTTT IMPORTANT THAT GIL MECHE HAS MANAGED TO HANG AROUND THIS BALLGAME. GIL MECHE SUCKS!!!! WE WOULD ALL BE BETTER OFF WITH GIL MECHE DOING AN INTERPRETIVE DANCE OF HIS CURVEBALL RATHER THAN ACTUALLY THROWING IT! SHUT THE q#&(#@qhwkehr(#yroiuheoiuweqyr(#y(#Y098374 HENDU
Hendu giggles like a little girl. He went into little fits when the camera panned to show a puppy in the bleachers (it was Dog Day at the stadium), and later when it showed some fat kid eating Dippin' Dots. You know how when other people are laughing, it makes you want to laugh as well? Yeah, well, to the guy in the room next to mine, the seventh inning must have sounded like the funniest thing I've ever seen.
Can someone please jam a pen into Dave Henderson's throat. Thanks.
Hendu's made up word of the day: Aquaccuations
Hendu making fun of Carl

Here's hoping Everett ends our Hendu problem once and for all after the game.

Hendu is killing my love of baseball
Henduism: A veteran hitter know that when you get your pitch, it's a bad idea to foul it back.

SINCE WHEN does a hitter GET THE IDEA to foul a pitch back?  "Hmm, fastball in the wheelhouse.... I'VE GOT AN IDEA: I'll foul it back into the screen!  That's the ticket!"

Dave Henderson spent a good two or three minutes talking about Jason Kendall's powerful handshake. I'm dead serious. Later on, he used "adrenalated" in a sentence and, evidently having taken a liking to the word, used it two more times before a commercial break forced him to shut up. Hendu's Sunday to-do list: Use real words.
surprise surprise

the fan of the game is a woman. I'm keeping track of this from now on.

ewwww Hendu, creepy.
-----
Come onnnnnnnn...

Come onnnnn...
-----
I'm lost on this reference

help anyone?
-----
That's what Hendu was saying when they were showing the fan of the game for some reason.

"Curveballs get hit farther than fastballs."

Dave Henderson needs to accompany Carl on his voyage back to the mother galaxy.

As Hendu says, a walk is a rally. Give up a home run, but don't walk him.
That's why they call it average.
Hendu talking about averages again
Fun with Hendu:

Hargrove's been using the ol' magician's basket today.

A Google search for "magician's basket" yields one result. This is a step down from his problems with "adrenalated" on Saturday.

Hey, Hendu.

The J in Jimenez doesn't sound like a normal J. Have you met any hispanic people before?

Hendu (on Moyer): "When you throw 200 innings, no one remembers how old you are."
Me: "Actually, as far as Moyer is concerned, I think that's the first thing anyone ever talks about, and it's usually something like 'he's 43 years old, he couldn't possibly throw another 200 innings.'"
Dave Henderson is a fucking idiot.

There is no trade deadline. You can make trades 365 days of the year.

Hendu went to the Tony Muser School of Brains.
Yeah Hendu.

The Angels don't play at Disneyland.

I don't know which thing about Hendu annoys me more - the way he stumbles over simple sentences, the way he makes up his own spur-of-the-moment nonsensical colloquialisms, or the way he just gets things totally wrong. An example of #1: every other thing he says. An example of #2: "(Donnelly)'s getting loose like you get ready to catch a train." An example of #3: "Tim Salmon introduced himself to Guardado last night with a big home run." (Salmon has faced Guardado 26 times in his career, more than anyone else on the team.) What makes it worthwhile is that I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way. In the absence of Ron Fairly, Dave Niehaus was forced to work with Hendu again, and early in the game you got the feeling that he really wasn't enjoying himself. Before they switched off the announcer mics between innings, you either heard total silence or Dave muttering to himself about things I probably won't understand until I'm however old he is. There's not much chemistry there, which makes it fun to try and pay special attention to the announcer dynamic when the game starts dragging.
Two words Hendu knows that we don't: Maxillary diastema.
Ugh. It's gotten to the point where Hendu's voice actively makes me enjoy the game less.
I swear, Fairly's going to sock Hendu in the kisser.
NO, HENDU SEXSON SHOULD NOT NAME HIS KID HENDU.  Unless it has Bell's Palsy.
Hendu's like that friend everyone had in there group of friends that was just there so everyone could make fun of him
What the hell is Hendu rambling on about?

I don't think he knows there's a game going on.

Heard from Hendu's bedroom last night

OH, OH, FSN TRACER! YEAH, YEAH, YEAH! DAMN, YOU'RE ALMOST AS GOOD AS THE SLOW MOTION CAMERA! OH FUCK YEAH! TRRAAACCCEERRRRRRRRRRR!

Hendu: Johjima has caught every game the Mariners have played.
Dave: Well, that's only three.
Hendu: ...
Dave: ...
New Mariner Broadcast Drinking Game:

-Take a shot every time Dave Valle or Hendu say "that's why they call it the hot corner" after a well-struck grounder or line drive to third base.

I have no idea what Hendu is talking about.

Water is wet.

Hendu, on pitching: "You have to give Waechter a lot of credit, (Everett) hit a home run the last time on an inside fastball but (Waechter) went right back in there."
When testing the mic did Hendu say:

"Vladi Vladi...we like to party"??? and "We're hot we're hot...you're not you're not"???

Rizzs: And the A's continue...to score runs.
Hendu: And do a lot of things right, too.
One of the most irritating things a person can do is make a joke and then immediately call attention to the joke by laughing at it or saying something to the effect of "now that's funny." Not only is it a dead giveaway that the person isn't very confident in his jokes (probably because he doesn't tell many good ones), but it also ruins any kind of subtlety present in the wordplay or delivery. Put another way, it's a great way to spoil a great joke. With that in mind, I present to you Dave Henderson, circa the third inning:

I think I'm going to give up golfing. ...until the next time I play. How 'bout that!

I didn't even have time to think "well that was actually somewhat clever" before he went and wrecked it. I haven't groaned that loud in years. Fortunately Hendu was able to salvage the broadcast by rattling off a string of knee-slappers in the ninth about how Julio Mateo has a valuable rubber arm and that Hargrove shouldn't be afraid to put him in a tie ballgame.

Hendu on Hammond:

"This guy's ERA is sub-zero at 1.45."

Hendu?

Is he a logger?  What was that little rundown about wood properties?

Things Dave Henderson said about the NL today: "They stink." "We're better." "They're the inferior league." One wonders how far he would've gone had Rick Rizzs not quickly cut him off. "Guys in the National League are a bunch of spineless pussies" probably wasn't out of the question.

----------

And Shepherds we shall be
For Thee, my Lord, for Thee.

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cg8
I'm still trying to figure out how both Carlos Guillen and Dave Henderson get hit with drunken driving infractions, yet Henderson hangs around Seattle three years longer.  Unreal.  
Sports and Bremertonians. Because we can.

by wackomann on Mar 31, 2007 2:47 PM PDT   0 recs

I really don't remember saying this
"There's four corners to a strike zone

Hendu confirms that the zone is, in fact, quadrilateral, rather than the demonic pentagram that many had feared."

But I'm proud of me.

by Graham on Mar 31, 2007 3:05 PM PDT   0 recs

Yikes I forgot about that picture.
Hendu looks like he's trying to set me on fire with his mind and Valle looks he's undressing me with his.
No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Mar 31, 2007 3:26 PM PDT   0 recs

That's Rizzs.
But yeah, totally.

by Jeff on Mar 31, 2007 3:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Rizz,Valle, whatever
The dumb all blends together anyways.
No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Mar 31, 2007 4:02 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I do remember the Rizzs/Valle pic
where they looked like conspiring child molestors.

by Gomez on Mar 31, 2007 4:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh Boy Obertie
I've never laughed this hard in my life. These are all hilarious.

by JLC on Mar 31, 2007 4:08 PM PDT   0 recs

I remember saying a couple of these
LOL.  Man, Hendu's worst brought out the best in us.

by Gomez on Mar 31, 2007 4:16 PM PDT   0 recs

Okay, this really really made me anxious for
the season to start. The game threads here, honestly, I can't imagine baseball with them.

by Matthew on Mar 31, 2007 5:32 PM PDT   0 recs

Hendu of the badly handicapped son
Who carried him everywhere and spent every moment he could with him.  Lighten up guys, he is still a man and he doted on his sons, normal and otherwise. Maybe not a great broadcaster but he did give us an insight into pro ball.

by gt6triumph on Mar 31, 2007 6:19 PM PDT   0 recs

No one actually hates him as a person
Just as an announcer.
Hot potato is an entirely different game when you're starving

by Mariner John on Mar 31, 2007 6:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

and he did his job poorly
which is what we're making fun of him for.

by Matthew on Mar 31, 2007 7:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes
I'm sure Hendu is a decent guy.

I'm also sure he is a horrible announcer.

We see all sides.  For example, if people want to rip on, say, my singing ability, I totally understand.  I know they're not condemning me as a person.

by Gomez on Mar 31, 2007 9:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The greatest insight he gave me into pro ball
Is that the mute button is my friend.

by Graham on Apr 1, 2007 12:21 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I haven't laughed this hard in a while
especially at the FSN Tracer one.
Hot potato is an entirely different game when you're starving

by Mariner John on Mar 31, 2007 6:22 PM PDT   0 recs

That appeared funny
..until I read it. I don't want to sound offensive to anyone here, since I respect your blogging talents and this website is incredibly awesome, but why the hate for Hendu? Maybe he's not very bright, but come on, do you think -you'd- make a good announcer? Chances are, it wouldn't be very pretty. No one wants to here about anything fancier than a WHIP from an announcer. Well, maybe some people do, but atleast he was entertaining (to me). When the announcers say stupid shit, I ignore it, and when they amuse me, it's gravy. I'd much rather have an oblivious fool announcing than an embittered stats expert, ya know? Baseball is a depressing sport, so all the better that we can laugh at the announcers and have their quirks and strong personalities liven up the broadcast.

Also: "So a buddy of mine and I were lavishing Wee Willie with derisive comments last night out in center field, just within earshot of a somewhat inebriated Dave Henderson.  After talking about the merits of having Willie and Greg Dobbs on the roster, Dave promptly told me that I "should not blame the problems of the team on the backups."  " Why the Willie hate? I can understand disliking the fact that he soaks up a good amount of at-bats, but come on, can -he- help that? What's he supposed to do, say "Hey coach, don't play me, I suck"? The team sucks anyways, if Willie-boy gets some playing time, all the power to him. Atleast he seems to be a nice guy, unlike Guillen. Also, if you ever heckle a player that can hear you, well, he'd better be Barry Bonds or Jose Guillen, or some prick, and even then, that's pretty dishonorable and repulsive. I heckled hecklers when I was 10; even then it was apparent that it was wrong. Those guys, especially the suckass ones, undoubtedly feel weird running out to strike out and miss catches in front of knowledgable fans. They might make a lot of money, but that doesn't make it alright to heckle them. That's way beyond childish, it's dishonorable and vicious.

Henry Kissinger ist der Ubermensch

by spittle8 on Mar 31, 2007 7:02 PM PDT   0 recs

If you are
A. Just because you don't expect much from a broadcaster doesn't make it wrong for us to do so.

B. What do you think we were doing if not laughing at Hendu's "quirks"?

C. Get off your ridiculously high horse re: heckling. This is sports. Honestly, it's all just entertainment. It's the place to go to get away from the real world.

by Matthew on Mar 31, 2007 7:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Right on the point Matthew..
Henderson was paid well to be a good announcer and he wasn't. He got to keep his job for awhile in spite of being bad at it. If I was that bad at what I did I would have been fired a looong time ago, not to mention I probably would have caused a few deaths along the way (not through rage, but ineptitude).

No one here calls Hendu a jerky, wife-beating, dinosaur hating, Britney diddling scumbag, we just call him a bad announcer and laugh at his Henduisms and malaprops.  

Beer...giving my kidneys and liver a job since 1990.

by Ben in Va on Mar 31, 2007 7:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Still...
he was a little better than Neihaus over the past 3 years or so!

by ppl4life on Apr 1, 2007 12:12 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Umm
Yes, I am serious. I appreciate the condescension, as well, quite called for...

I understand that. But if you had read what I wrote, you'd understand that I do expect something from a broadcaster, I just don't expect them to blast Joe Fan with a bunch of sabermetrics because really, baseball is not about advanced statistical analysis and the kind of folks you find on USSM. It's about watching grown men hit a ball with a bat, and eating peanuts/hotdogs/swilling beer. Guys like Hendu are funny, personable, enjoyable folks. Obviously, this is totally subjective, but what isn't. I think most people would agree with me that guys like Hendu make listening to a radio broadcast/watching the game more enjoyable. If I wanted to analyze stats or have expert commentary, I wouldn't be listening to the radio/watching ESPN.

There's a difference between poking fun at quirks and making a guy out to be a intellectually challenged SOB. Atleast, I like to think so...

I'd normally agree on these things, but, no: heckling an athlete because he doesn't perform up to your standards is not only childish, it's disgusting and dishonorable. I'll admit: I love those fat men who come to the game and heckle so well and fervently you'd think it was their job. That's part of the atmosphere of baseball. However, I wouldn't expect an intelligent individual to engage in this sort of behavior, for such activities carried out by immature folk is "cute", and when it is perpetrated by more well-bred folk, it becomes malicious and repulsive. I concider just about everyone on this website intelligent, including you. It's not cool to heckle people for performing poorly, dude. Come on! I shouldn't have to argue this with you.

Henry Kissinger ist der Ubermensch

by spittle8 on Apr 1, 2007 4:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Uh, I'm going to have to disagree
I don't care that Hendu doesn't look at baseball in the same way we do, I care that he says stuff that's blatantly wrong/obvious/stupid. So he takes away from my enjoyment of the game.

I enjoy heckling the away team, I'm not sure I've ever done it to a Mariner.

by Graham on Apr 2, 2007 12:04 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well
Heckling the away team is another matter entirely. I think that is perfectly fine :D I remeber booing A-Rod as a child when I lived in Texas. I wouldn't do it today, though.

I'd rather have a putz (hehe) that makes nonsensical/incorrect statements that makes me chuckle occasionally/makes the game feel lively than someone who knows what they're talking about but doesn't have charisma and charm. There are many games I can think of that were made less painful and sometimes even boring due to the announcers like Rizzs, Hendu, Niehaus, even Fairly! I think the majority of Mariners fans would agree with me, and that is the majority that are not familiar with sabermetrics. Stupid announcers are part of the game to me, and they make it more enjoyable. But that is just my opinion.

Henry Kissinger ist der Ubermensch

by spittle8 on Apr 2, 2007 5:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hendu, is that you?
No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Mar 31, 2007 7:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't think I could do a better job
but I'm not being paid however much a year to do it.
Hot potato is an entirely different game when you're starving

by Mariner John on Mar 31, 2007 8:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ahem
Maybe he's not very bright, but come on, do you think -you'd- make a good announcer?

Actually, yes.  And I'm aware of the work, preparation, stress and TV presence it takes to do the job.  And I'd imagine many others here could probably give a more passable effort than Hendu.  And by 'more passable' I mean 'passable,' as in 'not terrible.'

by Gomez on Mar 31, 2007 9:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So do we have to have 2 Daves at all times?
Hot potato is an entirely different game when you're starving

by Mariner John on Apr 1, 2007 12:26 PM PDT   0 recs

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