Fairfield Stags Radio Voice Bob Heussler Has Busy Schedule

In a recent reply to an invitation, Rich Ackerman, the CBS Sports Radio football guru, update anchor and top-notch play by play man, said: “In the words of Marv, ‘sorry but I have a game.’”

“The Ack,” of course, was referring to the customary and classic response of one Marv Albert, play-by-play man supreme, who during the zenith of his career was calling both Knicks and Rangers games, anchoring local sports on WNBC Channel 4, and then added NBC Sports NBA contests to his repertoire.

Marv-elous actually wrote a book entitled: “I’d love to but I have a game,” published in 1993, which is a look at the acclaimed sports announcer’s many decades of broadcasting, documented zany travels within.

Among those who have literally taken a page from Albert’s book are: Mike Breen, who paints the word picture on MSG Network’s Knicks broadcasts while doubling up as the Voice of the NBA on ABC/ESPN; Nets television voice Ian Eagle, who bookends those Brooklyn NBA games with national broadcasts of both the NFL and NCAA on CBS; Michael Kay’s daily double headers hosting drive time sports talk on ESPN NY 98.7 Radio and calling Yankees games on the YES Network (sometimes triple headers plugging in an episode or two of the marvelous Center Stage program); young Ryan Ruocco joined the crew with YES Network Nets and Yanks games and studio hosting, and ESPN televised NBA games; and of course Marv’s son Kenny Albert, a chip off the old block, indeed, as the Rangers radio play by play man, back up to Breen on Knicks television, national hockey broadcasts on NBC Sports, and NFL and MLB games on FOX Sports – now that’s a mouthful!

And then there’s Bob Heussler, who takes a back seat to no one on play-by-play delivery nor the packed calendar.

“Mr. Met,” as he was dubbed by Mike Francesa and Christopher Russo on the “Mike and The Mad Dog” radio program decades ago because of his affinity for the Amazins’, is in the throes of what will be a 51 straight days/61 of 63 days work load that includes his chores as update anchor on WFAN Radio, Fairfield Stags play by play on WVOF Radio with sidekick Joe DeSantis, simulcast on occasion on SNY, voice of the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA, and fill-in for Chris Carrino on the FAN’s Nets radio broadcasts. By the way, he took off on New Year’s Day and stole a day later in the month to celebrate his lady friend’s birthday, otherwise the streak would have been further extended.

“My schedule is no big deal, it’s the business,” says Heussler matter-of-factly. “Thankfully, we all really love what we do.”

Thankfully, indeed! So, friends, please don’t feel badly when the reply to your invitation is “I’d love to but I have a game.”