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sports Monday 15 January 2018

Keith Jackson, 89, announcer with ‘Whoa, Nelly!’ call, dies

By JAY REEVES anything and loved doing “Some people become the
Associated Press it.” voice of the sport through
Keith Jackson laid down Jackson might be best their expertise, which Keith
the soundtrack to Satur- known for his “Whoa, Nel- certainly had. But it’s almost
day for a generation of ly!” exclamation, but he as if the good Lord created
college football fans with didn’t overuse it. Borrowed that voice, which sounds
phrases such as his signa- from his great-grandfa- like what red clay ought
ture “Whoa, Nelly!” From ther, a farmer, the phrase to sound like if it could talk,
the World Series to the also part of a commercial to be the perfect voice
Olympics, NFL to NBA, he Jackson did for Miller Lite in for college football,” Davis
did it all over five decades the mid-’90s. But it was no told the AP.
as a sportscaster, but most catchphrase. Jackson is a member of the
appropriately his final as- “He never made any- Sports Broadcasting Hall
signment before retiring 12 thing up,” Musburger said. of Fame, and called more
years ago was one of the “That’s how Keith talked.” Rose Bowl games, 15, than
greatest college football In a Fox Sports interview in any other announcer. In this Jan. 25, 2014, file photo, Keith Jackson arrives at 66th
games ever. 2013, Jackson said his folksy “When you heard his Annual DGA Awards Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza
Jackson died Friday. He language stemmed from voice, you knew it was a Hotel in Los Angeles.
was 89. his rural upbringing and big game,” said Bob Iger, Associated Press
A statement by ESPN, which he became comfortable chairman and chief execu- provided them,” Herbstreit down scramble.
consolidated with ABC with the usage through the tive of The Walt Disney Co., posted on Twitter. “Fourth-and-5. The national
Sports, Jackson’s longtime years. which owns ESPN. After serving four years in championship on the line
employer, announced his “I would go around and Jackson’s death comes the Marine Corps, Jackson right here,” Jackson said
death Saturday. No cause pluck things off the bush just three weeks after that broadcast his first college right before Young took the
was given. He was a long- and see if I could find a of another sportscasting ti- football game in 1952 as an snap on that memorable
time resident of Sherman different way to say some tan — Dick Enberg, known undergraduate at Wash- play. “He’s going for the
Oaks, California, and died things. And the older I got for his own excited calls of ington State. He worked in cornerrrr. He’s got it! Vince.
near his home there. the more willing I was to go “Oh, my!” during a 60-year radio and television before Young. Scores.”
A native of west Georgia, back into the Southern ver- career. joining ABC Sports in 1966. The Rose Bowl stadium’s
near the Alabama border, nacular because some of Kirk Herbstreit was among Jackson first announced his radio and TV booths were
his smooth baritone voice it’s funny,” Jackson said. the college football broad- retirement in 1998 but re- renamed in his honor two
and use of phrases like “big ESPN “College GameDay” casters paying tribute to turned to work. He retired years ago. He is in the Rose
uglies” for linemen gave his host Rece Davis, who grew Jackson on social media. for good after the 2006 Bowl Hall of Fame for his
game calls a familiar feel. up in Alabama, said listen- “Can close my eyes and Rose Bowl, when he called contributions to the New
“He was one of our giants,” ing to Jackson assured him think of so many of his spe- Texas’ upset of South- Year’s Day game, which is
longtime broadcaster Brent that it was OK for a nation- cial calls. Thank you Keith ern California for the BCS he credited with nicknam-
Musburger told The Associ- al broadcaster to sound for all the memories and championship on Vince ing “The Granddaddy of
ated Press. “He could do Southern. the grace in which you Young’s last-minute touch- Them All.” q

Peterhansel wins 8th stage of Dakar Rally, Sainz keeps lead

TUPIZA, Bolivia (AP) — Da- Al-Attiyah. Peterhansel is Argentinian Kevin Bena-
kar Rally defending cham- another seven minutes vides of Honda.
pion Stephane Peterhansel back in third. Bad weather conditions
recovered from his crash Peterhansel crashed Satur- made organizers cancel
the day before to win the day 129 kilometers into the Monday’s ninth stage of
eighth stage of the race stage with damage to his the race between Tupiza
on Sunday. The Frenchman left rear wheel, suspension and the city of Salta in Ar-
won after 498 kilometers and radiator. gentina. “There is a risk of
(309 miles) between Uyuni In the motorbike race, floods and storms,” said
to Tupiza in Bolivia with Frenchman Antoine Meo race director Marc Coma.
the Peugeot driver holding of KTM won with a 1 min- Southern Bolivia has been
a 49-second advantage ute, 8 second lead over hit by heavy rain over the
over his teammate Cyril American Ricky Brabec of last few days and Dakar
Despres. Honda. Frenchman Adrien Rally’s camp in Tupiza was
Spaniard Carlos Sainz was van Beveren of Yamaha flooded as well. The rally is
Spectators cheer as Driver Carlos Sainz, of Spain, and co-driver fifth but still leads the over- reclaimed the overall lead expected to resume Tues-
Lucas Cruz, of Spain, race their Peugeot during the 8th stage of
the 2018 Dakar Rally between Uyuni and Tupiza, Bolivia, Sunday, all classification with a 1 despite finishing seventh day with the 10th stage be-
Jan. 14, 2018. hour, 6 minute advantage in the stage. Van Beveren tween Salta and Belen in
Associated Press over second-place Nasser has a 22-second lead over Argentina.q