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24 Seconds With...Kings radio broadcaster Gary Gerould
Last Updated 12:11 am PDT Sunday, March 23, 2008
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C4
Q: How many years have you been doing double duty as a Kings' play-by-play man and one of the faces of network broadcasting for auto racing?
A: I was actually doing the racing thing with NBC, along with other assignments, when the Kings came to Sacramento. One of the very first things I asked when they expressed an interest in having me become a play-by-play announcer was, "Can you give me flexibility because of my commitments, at that time, to NBC." They said yes. To my wonder, over 23 years now, the Kings have been very, very kind in letting me do double duty.
Q: How often do you get NBA people wanting to talk racing?
A: It happens from time to time.
Q: Are you surprised when that happens?
A: I used to be surprised, but I'm not that surprised anymore. It's interesting how those things seem to work out. Now there's one small element of crossover in the NHRA drag-racing ranks because Tom Hammonds, who was a very good NBA basketball player, is now a Pro Stock driver and does very well. He's very competitive. Larry Nance for some years was also a Pro Stock driver. It's hard to imagine guys of that ilk – 6-8, 6-9, 6-10 – crammed into the confines of a race car going 200-plus miles per hour in the Pro Stock category.
Q: Are any of the drivers bigger fans than others?
A: A couple come to mind immediately: Ron Capps and Tony Pedregon, who are both upper-echelon Funny Car drivers. We're talking 330-mile-an-hour guys. Tony Pedregon got his share of headlines a couple weeks ago. He had a horrendous explosion that got a tremendous amount of national play. The Maloofs are among those who sponsor his car. They have provided him with – you should see this – a customized Escalade golf cart that he has at the racetrack. They're great motor sports fans and great sponsors, so there's always an interest from Tony. Ron Capps is the same way and Gary Scelzi, who's from Fresno. They've all been to Arco at different times and have taken in games. They're usually among those who ask.
Q: Who among the current group of Kings would be the best race-car driver?
A: It might be Francisco García.
Q: Because?
A: When I've seen him leave the arena a couple times or leave the airport, it's sometimes hammer down. It used to be Hedo Turkoglu. Hedo would have been the guy. But among the current Kings, it's probably going to be "Cisco."
– Scott Howard-Cooper
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