Chuck Swirsky discusses his departure from Toronto

[redred9]

ha yeah I didn't realise how much I missed his voice until I listened to that. I hope that he comes and gets his job back once Devlin's contract runs it's course. He made watching Raps broadcasts a lot of fun.

[YogiStewart]

his voice sounded quite different during that interview.
not just when he was telling his personal story, but i found his voice sounded older, a little shakier and almost sad.

[tecumseh18]

It was interesting that Chuck went out of his way to note that he and BC had a professional relationship, but not a personal one.

It takes a lot of factors to lead to a huge move like Chuck made - i.e. to quit a TV gig in Canada to go back to radio in the US, immediately after becoming a Canadian citizen. The kid's health thing, well, I've got two young kids of my own and am enormously sympathetic. A father would do ANYTHING for his kids. But is he suggesting Sick Kids couldn't have handled it? Attempting to save the marriage I get, but downsizing your income substantially is not usually a recipe for marital success.

I dunno. Swirsky was such a corporate shill when he was here. I'm just used to automatically disbelieving anything he says. I always suspected that BC thought Chuck's clownish persona wasn't the "right" image for the organization going forward.

And it's such a shock to hear that the only guy who didn't vote for Roy for ROY is a Bargs believer.

I don't like to bring this up again but that video proves why Chuck was a much better commentator than Devlin. Chuck did a great job calling the action and being on top of the play for a memorable moment. Devlin is horrible with keeping up with fast moving plays and would have completely botched the call.

Yeah, Devlin would have said "Raptors win! No, overtime!"

[Waylon Mercy]

Poor Matty D gets to much flack for someone as talented as him with his resume and who also
pours his heart into the organization. Chuck got to call games during the VC & T-Mac era and
the Bosh playoff years. Matty D got a few months of Mitchell and the entire Triano era of
tanking.

I understand people having a connection with the Swirsk but treating Devlin like a piece of
trash? For those who have League Pass you know Devlin is better then at least 90% of the
play by play guys out there.

[bigdirty]

Chicago is so lucky. They're going to be a great basketball team for the next decade and they got Swirsk to call their games.

Devlin ain't bad, but Swirsk is just better.

[SuperHigh]

Why don't Devlin and Chuck get along....cause they are being compared to each other??

[sewerfrosh]

Class act, very unique and very approachable to the fan base, I'm not one to approach people but anytime I met Swirsk, he carried the conversation, always interested in the person he was talking too. Devlin although much different is very approachable and receptive to fans and their annoying ways, both professional and unique in their ways, we should be happy to have had both of them work the games.

[Meursault]

his voice sounded quite different during that interview.
not just when he was telling his personal story, but i found his voice sounded older, a little shakier and almost sad.

noticed the same thing. he still sounded excited talking about the game, but generally sounded more morose, less "youthful", and upbeat. i guess he has been through a lot these past few years

[Al_Oliver]

Swirsk>Devlin

Jack is the only one on the air who is tolerable. The rest you just have to put up with... or change the channel.

[FluLikeSymptoms]

I always just thought that BC told him that he wouldn't be back The following season so Chuck took the best job he could get. Always respected Chuck's commitment and fan interaction but I was really, really tired of his PBP. I'd love to have him back here on TV but not calling games.

[name_discrep]

Chuck always seemed like a great guy and truly loved being here. As an announcer was frustrating at times - especially breaking out the salami and cheese too early (pretty sure he did it in Kobe's 81 pt game)...

But no doubt he seems like a good person and really respect his decision to put family first. He really did connect with fans and made more an effort to become part of community it seems than probably most, and players seemed to really like him.

Was nice to hear the Andrea shout out.

[kingkao]

Man, his life did get kind of crazy. I wish we could get Chuck back, I wonder if he wants to come back to Toronto, he'd see his kids a lot less but he probably gets to leave a troubling environment. That really sucks.

[whysoserious]

I did not know the specifics but I thought it was clear it was family reasons that made him return home. I don't remember people ripping him but it's quite sad they would.

Chuck was a hell of a PBP man. He brought such excitement to the game and although the salami and cheese thing got annoying at the end, he was also able to make some of those lean years on the court fun and entertaining.

Chuck should forever be remembered as one of the few positives for this organization in 16 seasons.

[lucky777s]

I did not know what was going on in his life, but I did say to myself years ago "When is this guy ever home?"

He was so committed to his career. The travel, the Raptor events, the radio show, the constant contact with fans, that it seemed like he never had any time to be a family man. Wife was alone with the kids so much.

When they said he moved back to CHI the only word was 'to be closer to family' and it seemed to be the wife that needed that.

Its a doubly sad situation for him as both his personal and professional life suffered. I do think he loved working in Toronto, other than watching bad basketball.

Devlin was a needed change of pace although not fantastic. More old school professional. Maybe chuck returns one day if the team gets good and we want that exciting over the top broadcaster back.

[miruss2001]

Special guy. I miss him.
Issues with children's health can be so exhausting for a marriage. The emotions just become so huge.
Glad to hear he's turned a corner. I wish nothing but the best for the guy and never once felt any animosity for his departure.

[Lawnmower Man]

He seems much more toned down since he went back to Chicago.

It could very well be that his overenthusiam in Toronto could have been just to mask how he was feeling inside.

[JPHolling]

he did seem like a very nice guy. im not really a fan of chuck or devlin for that matter... i like listening to guys like reggie, or marv... that kind of style

[JJWong17]

If it was Chuck and Jack all the time, I would have loved it. But you put Chuck and Leo together and they just got kinda goofy sometimes.

Really surprised to hear the truth, guess I didn't keep up much but I do miss the man. Best of luck to his kids and their health.

[Anatomize]

jphollins those are nationally renowned broadcasters for a reason. Local guys will never be that good, try listening to the kings broadcast and not falling asleep. Raps have one of the better crews in the league, warriors are the best imo.

[RapsCA]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVhXZd04hVw