Is Brett Ratliff the Next One Out?
March 26, 2010Tribe Talk: Carrasco Making a Surge
March 26, 2010Geoff Sindelar passed away yesterday from an apparent heart attack at the age of 62. I can still remember driving around with my dad hearing “The Professor” Geoff Sindelar saying “Good item!” to one of the many calls he would get asking his opinion about sports memorabilia. In those days, I believe he was on WWWE (now WTAM) before he had his show on WKNR. Either way, it is one of the voices of my early days as a sports fan.
I loved the way he ran his radio show. He would show very little patience for the dumber callers, and let the callers with good ideas keep on running. It seems basic, but sports radio would be a much better product in general if it was run as cantankerously everywhere as it was when Sindelar was behind the microphone.
Sindelar was one of those guys who I pictured in my head from his voice and then when I saw a picture of him later on, he looked almost exactly as I expected him to look. That isn’t always the case with radio guys. But with Sindelar his giant voice and distinct Northeast Ohio accent matched perfectly with the big guy with the equally big, bushy mustache.
For more on Sindelar check out Chuck Murr’s article on Indians Ink.
16 Comments
Much too young Geoff. Rest in Peace.
Remember the days of his memorabilia show on Sportschannel where guys would also call in with questions about the value of certain rookie cards. The guy was one of a kind. I remember there were stories out there of people pranking him with references to their friends’ names while asking if he had seen them play in the minors. He would supposedly take the bait everytime.
My cousin and I were just talking about The Professor yesterday. He’ll be missed. I used to love to call his show back in the day and try to stump him on some obscure baseball trivia. He was not only a smart guy, but a good person.
Oh man… I loved listening to his 5-7p slot. The man had some great baseball knowledge. I had the fortunate opportunity to hang out with him on several occasions in my mom’s basement, of all places, when he would come by to evaluate my late father’s trading card collections. I would take off from work when I heard he was coming over, just to pick his brain about the Tribe.
So long Geoff… You made my life richer. I have no doubt you’re safe at the plate.
Sad day in Cleveland sports. RIP Professor
Sindelar was great. Sports talk in Cleveland nowadays is unlistenable. Too bad there aren’t more broadcasters like Geoff.
Such a shame. So young too. Rest in Peace Professer.
I too was turned on to the Professor by my Dad. Everytime he came on KNR the past few years for some spot shows, it brought back great memories. Rest in Peace Professor, we will miss you!!
Really sad news to hear for me. When my family moved to North Olmsted in the early 90s we ended up being next door neighbors to the Sindelars for until they moved a few years later. Having moved from Memphis, Geoff was the guy who got me into all Cleveland sports. He was also the guy who told me Mark Price was traded and Lenny Wilkens was gone.
Much too young indeed.
I used to love listening to Sindelar on my clock radio as a kid. I remember him bantering back forth with “Karlovick” (could there be a more Cleveland-sounding duo than “Sindelar and Karlovick”?). Appreciate his contribution to northeast Ohio, and best wishes to his family
Sindelar was great, for sure. Always asked the tough questions, no nonsense.
I used to see him at the ballcard shows at the Strongsville Holiday Inn…was always a special thing to get to talk to him…and he treated me with respect, spoke with me like I was a person instead of a kid.
I would say he will be missed, but he’s been missed for awhile.
Really sad, I remember driving with my mom or dad and making them put on WKNR (when it was 1220) and listening to him. Bill Needle too. Really sad day in the sportstalk community, he will be missed.
Loved the professor and used to call his WKNR show every once in a while when I was younger. He knew I was just a teenager calling in, but he always treated me with respect. I’ve missed his voice on the dial for a long time. RIP.
I will never forget the first time i ever called in on a radio station. I had a bunch of collectables from a very giving uncle of mine. I would call him everytime i had a chance when I was 12. Thank you for your patience with a young 12 year old kid 20 years ago. He was what Clevelanders are all about. Rest in Peace big Guy. We will miss you forever.
Apparently it was a cerebral hemorrhage, not good times.
My brother and I grew up listening to Sindelar, back when we shared a room with bunk beds haha. Crazy stuff. RIP.