O’Donnell: Packers’ Wayne Larrivee sees things Bears fans should be watching
THERE MAY BE NO MAN ON THE PLANET better credentialed to comment on the Bears-Packers rivalry — and Sunday's upcoming twilight throw-down at Lambeau Field — than Wayne Larrivee.
He's manning his 27tth season of play-by-play in the radio booth of Green Bay, now based out of flagship WRIT-FM in Milwaukee. Prior to that, he was the Bears' No. 1 voice for 14 seasons (1985-98).
His rookie year in Chicago — after an apprenticeship of seven seasons with the Chiefs — was merely the now-fabled march to victory in Super Bowl XX.
IF THERE IS A HINT OF COHERENCY IN CANTON, Larrivee will one day be among the few “local” game callers to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame via the Pete Rozelle Radio-TV Award.
Some days it pays for the sports-media tender to stay out of the way of a supremely talented, informed professional. Larrivee's perspectives and recall, some of which are guaranteed to make the imaginations of Bears fans tingle:
ON THE UPCOMING GAMES BETWEEN THE BEARS AND PACKERS (Sunday and Dec. 20 at Soldier Field) — “If anyone is still wondering if the Bears are for real, they aren't paying attention. The way they dominated the Eagles in Philadelphia at the line of scrimmage last week said it all.
“I understand the quarterback is a little rough around the edges. But he is a winner. The offensive line is dominant, and the defense is getting healthier in the secondary.
“Understand something about this season — while there are some impressive records around the league, there are no 'great' teams this year. No one of the ilk of the Lions, Eagles, Chiefs, Bills and Ravens of last year. That's why you see so many upsets.
“The Chicago team is playing the best of any team in the NFC North. We as observers and fans get to see the most traditional of NFL rivalries over two of the next three weeks. But now it's not just about the rivalry — for the first time in a long time, these games figure prominently in deciding the division championship and postseason.
“What a treat.”
ON HIS FIRST SEASON WITH THE BEARS (1985) — “It was a blur. The Chiefs had one winning season in my seven with them. I got to Chicago and the Bears were the most focused and talented team I'd ever been around.
“WGN-AM program director Dan Fabian hired me for play-by-play and Jim Hart — the recently retired Cardinals quarterback and a suburban Chicago native — to handle analysis.
“But he needed someone to make this new broadcast team 'Chicago!' In 1985, there were only a few quintessential Chicago Bears legends available. One of them was an actor living in Malibu (California) named Dick Butkus.
“Was there any ex-Bear at the time who was more 'Chicago?'” That's who Fabian nabbed and it worked to perfection.
“The roll the Bears went on that season was epic. When they finally got to the mountaintop and won it all, I had two regrets. The first was that it was the Patriots and not the Dolphins in the Super Bowl. The Dolphins were the only team to beat the Bears that season.
“The second regret was that I had not been there before that legendary season. That would have given me a better historical perspective on all that was happening and what it meant that year.
“I felt a little guilty because I got there for the party without enduring the prep.”
ON THE HARDEST PART OF HIS DECISION TO LEAVE CHICAGO (in 1998, with radio rights shifted from WGN to all-news WMAQ-AM 670 for the 1997 season) — “What was most difficult about leaving Bears broadcasts for the Packers were the fans and especially the people I worked with in Chicago.
“Hub Arkush, Doug Colletti — our statistician — Tom Thayer, Jeff Joniak, who was assisting in the booth at the time, Mark Zerang, our engineer. Lorna Gladstone was the program director at WMAQ and all were good friends.
“We did dinner together on Saturday nights before games. We discussed everything from the game to life in general.
“Of course I had no idea fans would be so upset to see me go. I didn't realize how much Chicago embraces its sportscasters. Those fans and their passions are what makes Chicago a great sports city.”
ON THE BEST PART OF LARRIVEE'S LONG RUN IN WISCONSIN — “It's been a dream come true. The Packers were the team I followed as a kid growing up in western Massachusetts.
“The best part of this job for me has been the nearly three decades that the Packers have been relevant.
“Every season, all broadcast teams and media want to see the team they are covering do well, make the playoffs and maybe win a championship. All of us want to cover and be part of something special.
“That 'special' for me was Super Bowl XX when the Bears beat the Patriots and Super Bowl XLV when the Packers beat the Steelers in Dallas. Those games and seasons are the highlights of my football broadcasting career.
“To me, it's very special to have been fortunate enough to broadcast a Super Bowl championship for each of the two most venerable franchises in NFL history.”
NOW, GAME ONE OF A REMARKABLE SPLIT “DOUBLEHEADER” awaits Larrivee beginning Sunday at a Green Bay tundra expected to be appropriately frozen (3:25 p.m., Fox).
In Year 48 of his amazing NFL career, there can be no doubt that Wayne Larrivee will be ice-proof and as ready as any golden professional at 1265 Lombardi Avenue.
Jim O'Donnell's Sports and Media column appears each week on Sunday and Wednesday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com. All communications may be considered for publication.