SSDL Episode 19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP6jl-6XyRc&t=593s
Sports Stories does NOT contain descriptions of violence, sexual content or explicit language. Sport Stories is suitable for all audiences, except Celtic Fans, who, I guess can listen if they really want to.
Born in 1971, Christopher McGee came up on the somewhat less than hard scrabble streets of the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles. As a youngster, Geeter, as he would eventually come to be known, would play imaginary games of football, basketball or baseball in his front and back yards, complete with imaginary teams and with rosters of imaginary players, all recorded diligently onto notepads. This is not uncommon for many of us that loved sports, well, maybe the part with full rosters and keeping accurate records is a little much, but you get the idea. The part of that, that very few of us can say, is, he pretty much became that guy.
Geeter, would play his way into an All-CIF basketball player in HS, a captain of an NCAA volleyball finalist in college, the voice of pro beach volleyball and now the studio host for his favorite team, one of the greatest franchises ever, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Please note that this interview with Chris McGee was recorded January 23rd, three days prior to the death of Kobe Bryant and eight others.
Welcome to Sports Stories, we are excited to bring you part one of “Life is Sweeter with Geeter”, as Laker broadcaster Chris McGee knocks down the three. Nobody has ever announced the introductions of players like Chris McGee. Geeter, as he is known, would set a new standard as the MC of pro beach volleyball. That’s how I came to know Geeter. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, I had been an MC, or really a stage announcer, for Women’s Pro Beach Volleyball. As I had left that behind, Geeter was just getting started with the AVP pro beach tour. Geeter took things to a whole new level. He broke new ground with his style, using his own stream of consciousness, social references and humor that, combined with his knowledge of the sport and his great charisma had crowds across the country going nuts. One job lead to the next for Geeter, who learned to always say yes, and now he holds down the position of Host of the Los Angeles Lakers Studio Show.
Beach volleyball originated in Hawaii but the two on two game really came of age on the shores of Santa Monica beaches. In 1960, the first Manhattan Beach Open was held and won by Mike Bright and Mike O’Hara. 1960 was also the year the Lakers would debut in Los Angeles. Moving from Minneapolis, they brought their (5) NBA titles and their nickname to a warmer climate, where they would become one of the most popular franchises in the world. Seems like Minnesota also lost out on the greatest college basketball coach ever in John Wooden, due to the weather..anyhow, Laker first round pick Jerry West out of West Virginia would team with the great Elgin Baylor, then add in the ever entertaining and groundbreaking play by play man Frances “Chick” Hearn and the Lakers were on their way. Playing in the Memorial Sports Arena next to the Coliseum, the Lakers were the best team in the NBA during the 60’s not named Celtics. The Boston Celtics, with the absence of free agency, kept together an all star line-up and won all six NBA championship series the two teams played against one another in the decade. In 1968, the Lakers acquired the great Wilt Chamberlain, who, incidentally, had once scored 100 points in game, 100 points! I mean, Kobe Bryant could only score 81 with his best effort…anyhow, a few years after picking up Wilt from the Philadelphia 76er’s, the Lakers in 1972 won an NBA record 69 games, stormed through the playoffs and won their first championship in Los Angeles, culminating with a five game triumph over the New York Knicks. From that ’72 team, a team I was lucky enough to watch practice as an 8 year old, Wilt and teammate Keith Erickson were frequent beach volleyball players, a sport which had done it’s own share of growing throughout the 1960’s and was on it’s way towards becoming popular enough to support a series of professional events by the mid 70’s.
The two entities of beach volleyball and the Lakers had moved to and were thriving in the culture of Southern California. And so it was, in 1973, that our guest today was born. The greatest beach volleyball MC of all time, the studio host of one of the greatest franchises in all of pro sports, was just starting to make some noise...
Now that I have dropped: Bright and O’Hara, The 16x NBA Champions, The Indiana Rubber Man, Mr. Outside, Mr. Inside, Chicky Baby, The Boston Celtics, Wilt the Stilt, The Black Mamba, The 1776ers, The Knickerbockers and “That’s Right Chick”…
He’s a heart breaker, he’s a three point maker, Geeter it’s time for your shot!
From the 7428 Studio in the Shadow of LAX, here is part one of a three part interview with Laker Broadcaster Chris “Geeter” McGee…