By Barry Weisbord
With Dick Enberg's sudden passing, racing has lost a great friend. You will read words describing Dick as a true gentleman, the consummate professional, a great teacher of broadcasting (he started out as a college professor after earning a PhD in health science)–all with unbridled enthusiasm. As a friend for over 30 years, I can attest that those characterizations are all true.
What you might not read elsewhere, is what a good friend of racing he was. On a summer day off–not that there were many– he often could be found at Del Mar, a short drive from his home, just trying to pick a winner. He loved being at the track even more on days he was not getting paid to be there.
We originally met in the early 80s when Tom Hammond, who was the Matchmaker Sales announcer at the time, asked if he could bring his NBC colleague to Royal Ascot. Along with his love of racing, he also enjoyed Broadway, and had a vast knowledge of show tunes. With racing, sports, and a strong propensity to break into Broadway song, for me it was a match made in heaven that included many great days racing in America and Europe, and memorable nights at the theater in London and New York. I also got to enjoy the play he wrote, “Coach,” about his long time college basketball broadcast partner, the free-spirited Al McGuire.
I observed his professionalism first hand. Dick was always so well prepared, even more so when doing a sport not in his “wheel house.” I was involved with the NBC telecast of the Tour de Trump, a bike race in Atlantic City in 1989. Dick was anchoring the broadcast from the casino roof, off the boardwalk. It was a very windy day. He had copious notes that blew away very early in the lengthy live broadcast. There was no panic, just some frantic writing between commercial breaks and some helpful assists from the production team. The audience was none the wiser. Some strong cocktails were shared by all when we left the air. It was amazing to witness such rare skill.
His sports “wheel house ” was vast. He was considered an expert in so many sports. Baseball was a true love–he played in college and later coached, but along with the first Breeders' Cups were Super Bowls, Olympics, Final Fours, Rose Bowls, Wimbledons, and so much more, which earned him induction into sports and broadcast Hall of Fames and numerous Sports Emmys. All the preparation and knowledge were delivered with unique enthusiasm. He loved the theater of the broadcast and loved playing to his audience. I have had a few great enthusiasm mentors in my life, but none more important than Dick. He enjoyed his work, his life, his family, like none other.
Our thoughts go out to his wife Barbara, his children and their families. His was a life well lived.
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