Roy Steele, The Voice of God, Might Be Ailing

by eshock on Mar 4, 2006 6:47 PM PST Comment 16 comments

Since 1968, us A's fans have enjoyed one of the most distinctive, authoritative, and charming Public Address announcers in the biz. Like the late Bill King, Roy Steele brings a sophistication and flair to the pedestrian phrases to us A's fans. He Update [2006-3-4 22:24:38 by eshock]:was sick in September 05 including the last home stand last season, and he was too sick to participate in the latest round of A's ads.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060303&content_id=1333044&vkey=spt2006n ews&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak&partnered=rss_oak

I feel sorry that the proper honors were not bestowed to Bill before his untimely passing, except for the bobblehead promotion. And, I'm appalled at the snickering regarding his surviving daughters. I don't know what that story is about, but its wrong.

I guess it just strikes me how important the Voice of God (coined by G-man John Miller while attending a game as a fan) is to my experience with the A's. I sorely hope he gets well soon. Does AN want to do something to let him know how much we appreciate him?

Wiki Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcasters_for_the_Oakland_Athletics

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When I look at the link,

I don't see where you get that Roy Steele has necessarily been "sick since the last homestand last season," though the blurb does underplay things just enough to concern those of us who adore him. But taking the blurb at face value, I'd say your diary title and your summary are very misleading.

I'm more intrigued by your reference to snickering at Bill King's daughters. Other than a suggestion that one of them be sliced into equal thirds--and it was just an "off the top of my head" suggestion--I don't recall any snickering and wonder if I missed something. I hate to miss a good snicker almost as much as I hate to miss a good Snickers bar. So can you clarify what you refer to in your appallation?

As for Roy Steele, indeed he should know: WE LOVE YOU, MR. VOICE OF GOD!!! Get well, or stay well, soon!

by Nico on Mar 4, 2006 7:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

The Wiki entry

Granted, I hope I'm wrong and that he's doing well and will be ready to go for the start of the season. The Wiki entry says that he missed the last home stand, but you're right, maybe he just had a cold. Somehow, with his unbelievable attendance record in the past, you have to assume that if he's missing these games, there must be a reason.

"We've added a little more bling to it, so to speak," Macha said.

by eshock on Mar 4, 2006 7:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, what I gleaned

from the Wiki entry was just a summary of what we already knew, which is that he had to miss most of the final homestand. I think the issue wasn't that he was gravely ill, just that it affected his voice and he's in the "voice" profession.

But since he was still not up to snuff when they did the commercials, it must have been more than your ordinary cold, but maybe not more than the plagues that have befallen many people I know--including, but not limited to, our own King Blez.

by Nico on Mar 4, 2006 7:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

there is a nasty virus this winter

that seems like a simple cold, but lasts for months. it particularly affects the voice, so that someone who needs to talk for a living ends up with mild laryngitis for months (constant need to clear the throat, frequent hoarseness, etc.) the only real help for it is to limit how much you talk in a loud tone (like teaching, for example).

How do I know? I've had it for a couple of months.

by OaklandSi on Mar 4, 2006 8:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry to hear that--

yeah, this year's special is a heaping plate of pulmonary and laryngal nasty. I know three adults who have had pneumonia this year, and at my school one child has been battling a "mysterious respiratory virus" for months, while currently another child is out with mono. And it seems to be taking people closer to months, than days, to recover. (Thank heavens for the "Clean Air Initiative"--I mean with a name like that, it must be a program designed to protect the people, not the factories and corporations. <gets off soap box>)

Good luck getting better!

by Nico on Mar 4, 2006 9:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks. Guess I'll have to hold off on

screaming at the umps, the opposing manager, etc., for at least the first couple of months of the season!

by OaklandSi on Mar 4, 2006 9:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, by the time I get done

screaming at the kids, I hardly have the voice left to worry about the umps. Plus, if I yelled "You'll never amount to anything, you worthless piece of trash!" it would just feel like I was still in the classroom.

by Nico on Mar 4, 2006 10:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

King's Daughters

I think that there was a reference to King Lear, but I didn't find it particularly offensive. I though it was kind of witty, actually.

by TurnTwo on Mar 4, 2006 7:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

OK, King Lear references are beyond me

From what I read, Bill's daughter drove him to the park for every game from Sonoma County to Sausalito over to Oakland. She seemed like she took good care of her pops.

"We've added a little more bling to it, so to speak," Macha said.

by eshock on Mar 4, 2006 7:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Isn't King Lear

the King who presided over the case with the two parents arguing over custody of a baby, so the king said "I will slove this, I will cut the Baby in half" so that they would shut up and find a solution on their own.

News from the Bleachers!
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by Zonis on Mar 4, 2006 8:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Prezactly:

'twas King Solomon.

by Nico on Mar 4, 2006 8:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

wiki entry

I took a look at that wiki entry and I forgot that Reggie Jackson worked a brief stint in the booth for the A's. I still remember this famous tid-bit of information: "By scoring that first run before your opponent does now means that your opponent has to score two runs to beat you."

I hope to hear Roy Steele soon.

by AlBowe on Mar 5, 2006 10:07 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Voice of God

Roy was in fact absent for the last home stand and a couple of games before that. It is really weird not hearing his booming voice as the announcer at games. Roy does indeed have an awesome voice which is perfect for announcing at a stadium. If he doesn't come back I'll miss him.

by skwid on Mar 5, 2006 2:53 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Update on Roy's condition

Hopeful to return midseason. It is pretty serious, at least for his craft. I'd like AN to consider a tribute to him. What do you think?

From Joe Roderick's short hops...
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/baseball/mlb/oakland_athletics/14023284.htm?sourc e=rss&channel=cctimes_oakland_athletics

Although no announcement has been made, longtime A's public address announcer Roy Steele almost surely won't be ready for the start of the season as he continues to battle a throat illness. Steele, according to an A's official, has been in and out of the hospital this winter and there is hope he can return at midseason.

"We've added a little more bling to it, so to speak," Macha said.

by eshock on Mar 6, 2006 10:51 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Now THAT'S different,

and more worrisome. And no, I'm not going to speculate on drug abuse...See? I learn... :-}

by Nico on Mar 6, 2006 1:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh no!

Poor Steele. :-( This is terrible news -- I didn't realize that the problem was that serious. I feel so sad for him.

Those last few games were strange enough, it'll be absolutely bizarre to go to the park for those early games and not hear the Voice of God. There's just something inherently comforting and heart-warming in his voice. I hope he recovers well.

"Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic." -Robert S. Wieder

by Kyli on Mar 6, 2006 3:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs