Chick Hearn was the announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1961 to 2002.  From 1965 to 2001, Hearn announced 3,338 consecutive Laker games with many simultaneously being broadcasted on radio and television.  In his long career, Hearn left a lasting impact on sportscasting, inventing now commonly used terms such as slam dunk and air ball.

On this day, August 5th, in 2002, the Legendary Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn passed away at the age of 85.  In his later years, Hearn had battled and recovered from several health complications, including heart problems and a broken hip.  Hearn died from a serious head injury suffered during a fall in his California home.

For his contributions to the Los Angeles Lakers organization, a portion of WEst 11th street in Los Angeles was renamed Chick Hearn Way.  In 2010, a bronze statue of Chick Hearn was placed in front of Staples Center, where the Los Angeles Lakers play their home games.