My friend Tom, who used to run San Jose a few years ago, asked me to become a blogger. Tom doesn’t ask me for much and always includes me on his mass mailing holiday card list, so I relented.
As a hockey announcer who hasn’t had any hockey to announce for a while, I haven’t had much of an outlet for stream of consciousness expression. Tom tells me that blogging is all about expression, so for better or worse, here goes.
If you’re expecting to get a lot of hockey talk on this blog, you would be correct. I was lucky enough to talk my way into a job as a Sharks television announcer when they first took to the ice back in 1991, and I’ve been on the air talking pucks ever since. Except, of course, for the past year when all the pucks and sticks and everything else was packed away while the owners and players made labor peace.
Personally it was a difficult year in some ways, but, then again, it was a very good year too. I’m one of those “things happen for a reason” people. Last fall my 11-year-old son Randall broke his leg playing hockey. Had I been hard at work calling Sharks games, there wouldn’t have been time to give him the TLC that he needed. When he later tore a knee ligament (yes, on the same leg) skiing at Lake Tahoe, good old Dad was able to drive to rehab. My son is fine now, but he’ll be working off his medical bills well into his 20s.
Without a job calling hockey, I also had the opportunity to try some other things. Ted Griggs, from Fox Sport Net Bay Area, came up with the idea of me calling Arena Football League games. The last time I was involved in broadcasting football was in the 1980s in San Diego, when I worked Chargers radio and did the Don Coreyell and Dan Fouts shows. (Yes, I know it’s hard to process but I’m really that old.) However, that wasn’t play by play; just because you can announce hockey doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be any good at doing football. Fortunately, Ted was patient with me and my color guy, Mike Palawski, bailed me out of trouble frequently, just as my hockey partner, Drew Remenda, does now.
In February, someone else came to my rescue; Ron Longionotti, the GM at CBS 5 television, asked me if I’d like to work alongside the very talented Malou Noubla as a temporary host of Evening Magazine. After several milliseconds of contemplating the offer, I took the job. In the last six months I’ve seen more of the Bay Area than I would have probably seen in my entire life otherwise. I’ve been made over by a San Francisco eyelash artist, Zip Trekked 400 feet above a raging river, and learned the art of drumming from San Jose Taiko. Hey, it’s a living.
Nonetheless, hockey will soon be back on the airwaves, and I’ll be where I love to be: back in the broadcast booth, next to Drew, making it all up as we go along and having the time of our lives.
Randy Hahn is one of the most respected sports announcers in the Bay Area and the long-time voice of the San Jose Sharks.
I am very excited for hockey this year and I miss you and Drew making me laugh on game nights!
Blog-masters – can we get Randy to do a weekly column during the season?
It would be great to have some insight into the NHL regularly.
Randy,
Those of us in the stands could have really used your remarkable play-by-play skills, as well as Drew’s insightful color analysis, to explain how Mayor Ron and his enforcer Joe were able to break so many rules without spending a moment in the penalty box. These guys passed the puck as if there were no lines and skated from zone to zone as if there were no rules. They abused the officials, cross-checked the defensemen, tricked the official scorer, and high-sticked Del the Goalie both inside and outside the crease. No matter how loud the crowd booed not a single official would raise an arm. Small wonder that league officials are now reviewing the game tapes.
Let’s get some fresh legs in there, drop the puck, and get on with a new season!
Randy Hahn is one of the best, most entertaining, most underrated sports guys going.
The game is a blowout – but you’re still tuned in – because Randy is that good. We’re lucky to have him in the bay area.
Nice to see a positive blog for a change. Having the Sharks back is good for San Jose; especially downtown!
Randy will be a great addition and it will be nice to read his insights as we begin our quest for the Cup…since Ratman is gone, we are almost assured of it!
Working alongside Malou …. some guys get all the luck.
Seriously though, with the Sharks back in season I hope their marketing machine is gearing up to bring back frustated fans who either gave up on the Sharks or found other ways to spend their time and money.
The first few weeks will be critical to bringing business back to downtown merchants who suffered through the drought.
Randy,
You ore that almost anyone have seen the activity and economic effect the Sharks have had on downtown.
What do you think about the proposal to bring major league baseball to the Dirdion Station area as the basis of a major privately financed downtown revitalization in the existing underutilized surrounding redevelopment area?
As an observer of local professional sports are you seeing any local business community proactive leadership efforts to make this realistically happen or to retain the EarthQuakes?
Many of us recongnize the many challanges but believe a MLB team is the only basis of a major downtown revitalization in the next 5-10 years since it will take decades to return sufficient residents, retail and business to downtown.
The major obstacle we have to a MLB team and downtown revitalization is our traditional lack of positive proactive local business community leadership.
Our business ” leaders” would rather unrealistically wait for more tax subsidies rather than develop a private financed San Jose stadium / residential / retail / entertainment district which has been successfully and profitably done or is proposed in many other cities.
The lack of local business community leadership is increasingly reflected in their inability to elect a single candidate to City Council and to articulate a civic vision for San Jose other than their own enrichment.
Where are our local business “leaders” who are willing to invest and will profit in building San Jose’s downtown future?
Never heard of Randy, but then again, I’ve never been to a Sharks game. Hard for this native Californian to find much interest in a game played on ice.
I have even less interest now after the past year of no games. I can’t think of anything that would get me to the arena to watch .
Randy, congratulations for doing such a wonderful job on Evening Magazine.
Does Malou speak that fast even while off camera?
OK, drop the puck already!
Leroy!
Go to one game and then talk to us. Its addicting from the first time you go in person. But then again, you probably like the NBA!
Randy –
What do you think the effect of losing Mike Rathje will have on the team? Me personally, I think the team will be fine and he was asking too much money. Plus the new rules won’t favor defenseman like him, but rather the quicker legged players. Seeing Rathje out there sometimes looked like he was pulling the new City Hall dome on his back. Ouch!
Anyway, would love to hear your thoughts. I am sure people are panicking out there in Shark land, but not this guy.
I live outside the area and can’t see the Sharks live in action. I would love a blog from Randy weekly about the Sharks, and the NHL. Let the games begin!
Glad that you were able to stick around and still make a living, Randy. I know that you have a wicked sense of humor and look foward to seeing it in your future blogs. Hell, branch out into commenting about politics too!
Cheers to Randy! Look forward to reading more……
Canada’s loss is America’s gain. Do you people realize Randy Hahn is from the Arctic, where he was raised on walrus meat? We had him in Vancouver for a few years but he was too talented not to escape. Enjoy his work. We miss him … except for the nights the Sharks & Canucks visit Vancouver!
Ok, this thread just turned into one of those delicate holiday (valentines, anniversary, etc) minefields.
Pho Hoa/Jose Posadas – I think Mrs Sharkvoice has called you out. What do you have to say for yourselves? LOL
Is Randy going to take Drew’s spot across from Scott Parker, Kyle McLaren and Vesa Toskala this season?
Randy, maybe when the Sharks get recognized as the great team they are you will also be for you great announcing of games. It was nice to hear about your son and how he has recouped. Probably you will be an even greater announcer now that you have had that off time with your family. It is nice isn’t it to be able to hang out with your kids. Good luck on the new season and look forward to hearing more from you both personally and sports wise.
Leroy,
You have no idea what you’re missing. In fact, if you want to come down to Logitech Ice sometime I’ll personally show you – on ice – how cool the game is. Come down to the rink during a lunch hour in mid-Sept. and we’ll catch a Sharks Training Camp scrimmage and lunch!
Same deal for the rest of you on this blog.
Randy and Drew rock. Besides their on-air jobs, they both regularly donate personal time to volunteer for Sharks Foundation and Fan Development events. The Sharks, and San Jose, are truly blessed to have these two on board.
Randy,
Glad to hear you enjoyed your downtime from announcing the Sharks games and that you were there for your son – how fortunate for him. I’m really looking forward to hearing your voice announce the games again – you’re awesome!
Ooops……
Hi Roberta!
BRING ON THE CUP!!!!!!!!
Roberta –
You are a saint, can’t have a man around the house too much that is for sure!
Randy:
Well its about time! Im looking forward at age 48 to finally seeing a Hockey game in person and where else but with the SJ Sharks.
Please tell me this stuff is real and not like WWF Wrestling? LOL!
Let me know about getting me my seats for 4.
Your photographer in Sacramento.
Wow…Malou gets a mention, but the woman who has been living with the man who has been living without hockey for the past year does not?
Should I be jealous?
Mrs. Sharkvoice (Roberta Gonzales)
Randy, Glad you get to do what you love and are so good at! The kids love you at our school! Here’s to a great year! Jane
Hi everybody!
This is from the “home of hockey”, yes Minnesota. Randy, can’t wait for you to show up again in the coldest place in the USA.
For all of the rest of you, just wanted to make sure you understand how good Randy is, because up here, the guys we have had so far are sooo boring. Roberta: hang in there, that was an unintended mistake, right Randy?
Willi
Dear Mrs. Sharkvoice,
I stand corrected. Randy is not just lucky he is awesomely blessed to have you by his side.
Wow, 29 comments and I haven’t even broken out any of my “edgy” material yet!
I feel I must respond. To begin with SJ Downtown Gal, Drew and I are just as excited about being back on the air talking hockey as you are to hear it. Drew should be especially good. He’s had over a year to practice his ad libs. Novice, thanks for the kind words. It’s alot of fun calling the games, and win or lose, we try to make sure the viewers have a good time watching. Hockeyman wonders what effect the loss of Mike Rathje will be on the Sharks. My hope is that they’ll replace his excellent defensive play with some of the talented young players from the Sharks minor league team in Cleveland last year. But don’t rule out GM Doug Wilson making a trade if he thinks it will make the team stronger. Poster Greg Douglas is almost correct. I did begin my broadcast career in the Yukon Territory but I was actually raised on moose meat and made my on-air debut calling the paw by paw of a dogsled race. I am not making this up. Finally to Roberta Gonzales (my much better half) good luck at Ironman Canada and you have now been officially mentioned.