I hope this is not a false memory, but I feel like Gil Santos was one of the guys who read the school closing announcements on WBZ on snowy mornings when I was a kid -- he and Dave Maynard. So his voice was part of my life for as long as I can remember. RIP.
No, not a false memory. Waiting with breathless anticipation for that stentorian voice to utter those magic words “...no school, all schools.”
Because the Patriots were so bad for so long, they were regularly blacked out on local TV for home games. That meant that Gil Santos was the only connection to the team for so many. Pre cable, pre Internet he was it. If you wanted Patriots football it was WBZ and Gil Santos. God bless him and peace to his family. What joy his memory conjures up.
I love his appearance on one of the myriad of videos about the “tuck rule.” He gives hands a washing motion, and says “now we have payback for Sugar Bear Hamilton and roughing the passer. All even.” The voice of the team, yes, but also the voice of the fan. RIP Gil Santos.