It got a little dusty in Flushing Meadows on Wednesday afternoon.
ESPN played a lengthy tribute to Cliff Drysdale in between U.S. Open matches as the legendary broadcaster is set to retire at the conclusion of the Grand Slam.
Host Chris McKendry noted that the 84-year-old Drysdale is ESPN’s longest-tenured analyst, having been with the network since Sept. 14, 1979.
“That was the day this voice of reason and source of endless entertainment became the voice of tennis in our country and all around the world,” McKendry said. “A gracious Hall of Famer, he is our friend and he is our North Star.”
The touching video was narrated by Drysdale’s good friend and golfing great Jack Nicklaus — and included commentary from those at ESPN with whom he has worked for the last four-plus decades.
The South African-born Drysdale was a top player in the ’60s and ’70s, winning the U.S. Open doubles title with Roger Taylor in 1972, and was a member of the “Handsome Eight.”
“They were the James Bonds of tennis,” ESPN analyst Darren Cahill said in the video.
After joining the network as an analyst — his first assignment was a US vs. Argentina Davis Cup match — he later became a play-by-play voice.
“Cliff Drysdale is so many things to me: An amazing friend and a mentor,” fellow ESPN analyst Patrick McEnroe said during the video.
Drysdale was understandably emotional after watching the tribute alongside McKendry, Mary Jo Fernandez, Chris Evert and McEnroe.
“I thought you guys would put something nice together,” Drysdale, who still has one more match to call at the U.S. Open, said. “I never thought it would be anything that elaborate. Somebody went through a lot of trouble to put that together and I really appreciate it. It’s been a long road, but it’s been a smooth road.
“I’ve always had the full respect of everybody in this company. I felt the love of everybody around this table and all those who are not around this table. Nobody has disrespected me or not given me everything that they’ve had from the beginning, it continues to this day. I don’t know where I am going with this, other than to say my great friend Jack Nicklaus to put his voice on there is something that is really special.”
There was no official reason for Drysdale’s retirement, although Nicklaus noted in the video it would give the friends a chance to play more golf together.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
