Motor City Sonics Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 I knew Frank when I interned at the FM station and he was on WJR. Always nice to me (and trust me, not every radio personality was nice to the interns). He was also smart enough to not take the Tigers radio gig after Ernie got fired. He knew that person wouldn't have had a chance. Can't say I agreed with his politics and he stepped in it badly a few years ago. I thought he was good at play by play for both Michigan and the Tigers, but the standard is Ernie Harwell and Dan Dickerson and that is a very high standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gehringer_2 Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 7 minutes ago, Motor City Sonics said: I thought he was good at play by play for both Michigan and the Tigers, but the standard is Ernie Harwell and Dan Dickerson and that is a very high standard. He was very good for FB PBP. Maybe 2nd in my rankings to Van Patrick, though Dan Miller has grown on me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabretooth Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 Frank was a legend and FWIW I agreed completely with his politics, though he whiffed very very very badly on the Sergio/Tiger thing. I was more of a David Newman guy in terms of talk radio, miss him so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oblong Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 28 minutes ago, sabretooth said: Frank was a legend and FWIW I agreed completely with his politics, though he whiffed very very very badly on the Sergio/Tiger thing. I was more of a David Newman guy in terms of talk radio, miss him so much. Man... David Newman was so so good... he would speak off the cuff in a way that would take us a few days to write ourselves. So intelligent. I loved his movie quizzes. He was the very best of talk radio. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabretooth Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 Newman was awesome in all phases....very thoughtful/ecclectic and warm. Would love to see that kind of radio host again somewhere. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oblong Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 I remember Art Regner had him on his show after he'd been let go by WXYT. he lamented some big news story at the time that he missed out on... not sure if it was the OKC bombing.... It was around that time, mid 90's. Don't think it was Lewinsky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious D Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 Poor Frank. Only got 2.5 posts in his own eulogy thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Cowan Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 I heard Frank Beckman doing Tigers games a few times in the mid-90's and really liked him. He was paired with Lary Sorensen whom I didn't really care for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motor City Sonics Posted February 14, 2022 Author Share Posted February 14, 2022 10 minutes ago, Tenacious D said: Poor Frank. Only got 2.5 posts in his own eulogy thread. I think it might have had a little to do with his politics and I do think some people believed that he, very quietly, pushed for the Ernie firing. I don't know if he did that, but he was smart enough to pass on replacing him right away. Didn't matter what Rathbun & Rizz did (was that their names?), people were going to hate them for replacing Ernie. All I can say is that the few times I did actually talk with him, he was very nice and I was a lowly intern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious D Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 34 minutes ago, Jim Cowan said: I heard Frank Beckman doing Tigers games a few times in the mid-90's and really liked him. He was paired with Lary Sorensen whom I didn't really care for. I like Sorensen a lot—thought he was very insightful. Was sorry he had his challenges with alcohol that derailed his broadcasting career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.TaterSalad Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 I grew up listening to Frank Beckman call UofM football games. I was too young for Bob Ufer as he died before my time, so for me it was always Frank Beckman on the radio. I really enjoyed Frank as a play-by-play guy for Michigan and the Tigers. Sad to see he had just retired and barely got to enjoy a minute of it. 72 years old and just into retirement, such a shame to have happen. RIP Frank Beckman! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabretooth Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 4 hours ago, Tenacious D said: Poor Frank. Only got 2.5 posts in his own eulogy thread. Stay classy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger337 Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 I got a chance to talk to Beckman down in Lakeland as he was waiting for his interview show to start. He was very friendly and patiently answered all my questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtutiger Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 (edited) I hadn't heard him in years after moving out if state, but he was good on the radio both in his announcing and his commentating. Seemed like a really decent man and its a tough loss. Edited February 15, 2022 by mtutiger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casimir Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 15 hours ago, Tenacious D said: I like Sorensen a lot—thought he was very insightful. Was sorry he had his challenges with alcohol that derailed his broadcasting career. I remember tuning into a pregame on the radio and Sorensen's letter of resignation was read on air, I think by Beckman. It was just a strange beginning to a ballgame. The situation itself was bizarre because I think it kind of came out of nowhere, at least for those not privy to the situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oblong Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 Larry has been very public about his severe drinking problem. He went to jail. Lost his marriage. He seems to have rebounded quite well. I follow him on social media. Works for a college now. The rumor I heard at the time is he got drunk and insulted Marian Ilitch. Right before he got the Tigers gig he was briefly on the WDFN in the morning when they launched. That was June of 94. By the 95 season he was with the Tigers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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