CPD
REMEMBERING GIB SHANLEY: Former Cleveland sportscaster Gib Shanley had an interesting fashion style, but he is most remembered for his vocal style.
Shanley's voice made him choice as king of Cleveland TV sports'
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
John Telich grew up wanting to be Gib Shanley.
"I even wore those same wild horse-blanket-type sport coats that Gib did on the air," said Telich, a veteran WJW Channel 8 sportscaster.
Telich added that he imitated Shanley's crisp, short, clear play-by-play style doing the Browns on the radio.
Some fans may remember Shanley saying as the Browns prepared for a field goal: "The set. The snap. The kick. It's up. It's . . . good!!!"
In addition to being the radio voice of the Browns, he did local television sports reports on WEWS Channel 5 from 1963 to 1984.
"Gib was the king of Cleveland TV sports in an era," said Jeff Phelps, a Cavs television show host who also worked with Shanley from 1987 to 1996 at WUAB Channel 43.
Shanley died Sunday at the age of 76. He had back surgery several months ago, contracted an infection and then pneumonia. He called the Browns' games on radio from 1961 to 1984.
Dan Coughlin, a former Plain Dealer sportswriter, was a good friend of Shanley's. He said Shanley, who grew up in Shadyside, Ohio, was a "very good gin player, a man who liked to bet on the horses and go to Las Vegas."
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