Former Timberwolves voice Kevin Harlan remembers his time in Minnesota
When it comes to the top voices in network sports these days, Kevin Harlan's in the same league as Al Michaels, Marv Albert or Joe Buck. His style, beloved by sports fans around the country, was created over 9 memorable years with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
His roots, as he discussed this week on the Morning News with John Hines, are firmly rooted in the Midwest. His years in Minnesota and Kansas City are what most sports fans are familiar with.
But Harlan's story starts much earlier, and in enemy territory.
Bob Harlan is a name those of us in Minnesota may not be familiar with. Cross the border into Wisconsin, and that name is synonymous with the Packers. Bob Harlan was the Chairman of the Board, and CEO of that franchise between 1989 and 2008. This is the guy who turned the Packers into one of the league's most succesful franchises, helped them win a Super Bowl, and was inducted into the Packers and Wisconsin Halls of Fame.
Bob Harlan is the father of Kevin. And as Kevin admitted to John Hines Thursday morning, he has a soft spot for the green and gold.
"I grew up in Green Bay," Harlan said. "My dad was with the Packers for 37 years, ran the team for 21 years. I was a ball boy for the Packers and I've broadcasted their preseason games since 2003. Deep down inside, and probably not a good thing to say as I'm coming back to the Twin Cities, the Packers are the team that is my team."
Harlan started broadcasting games in high school for WGBP, his school radio station. He did basketball, football and hockey. Harlan left Wisconsin to attend the University of Kansas where Jayhawk Basketball play-by-play announcer Tom Hedrick took the young Harlan under his wing. Evenutally, Harlan began to fill-in for Hedrick from time-to-time before graduating in 1982.
Harlan's career path took him to the NBA as the voice of the Kansas City Kings (now Sacramento), back to the University of Kansas, and then was the Kansas City Chiefs radio voice from 1985-1993. He also did games for the Univerity of Missouri between for three years.
Harlan and his family have called Kansas City home since leaving Wisconsin.
In 1989, the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves joined the NBA. From 1989-1998, Harlan's voice and memorable calls were one of the highlights for the franchise as they struggled for an identity on the court. The Timberwolves lost a lot of games during those 9 seasons. Harlan and his original partner on those broadcasts, Tom Hanneman, would inject comedy in order to survive a lot of long nights watching another Wolves loss.
Harlan talked about some of those early years with John Hines Thursday:
"Those early years with the Timberwolves were good for my career, in terms of relaxing and enjoying the game. Finding the fun parts to embellish, and the great moments to get excited for, with a very good friend Tom Hanneman. Tom and I have these personalities that mix pretty well. One of the funniest, nicest, best guys I've ever worked with. He was really the driving force in some of those crazy broadcasts, and we had some fun."
The most memorable partner during those years was probably Kevin McHale. They worked together between 1993 and 1995 before McHale moved to the front office, a brief but fun period for Wolves fans. The game was almost an afterthought to the enjoyability of listening to the Kevins go back-and-forth.
By 1997, Harlan had been tapped by Turner Sports to work NBA Playoff games, which he still continues to do. He also began doing radio for Westwood One doing NFL games, including his current gig with Monday Night Football. In 1998, Harlan left the Wolves for the much greener pastures of CBS Sports, where he also continues to work. He also has done NCAA Tournament games for many years for CBS.
Harlan will call the Vikings-Broncos game on CBS TV this Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
"My wife and I are coming in this weeeknd. We can't wait to get back there and see some old friends."
