Time Out, episode 145

This tape features a 1984 episode of "Time Out," a weekly sports program that was hosted by a number of Chicago area journalists and sportscasters. This week's commentators are Sports Illustrated correspondent Rick Telander, WBMX Sportscaster and Assistant Coach for DePaul University's Men's Basketball team Kenny McReynolds, WIND reporter Fran Spielman, and former NBA star John Mengelt.

00:00Copy video clip URL This tape begins with promos.

00:20Copy video clip URL Opening sequence for the program.

00:43Copy video clip URL Dissolve into a shot of the four commentators in the back room of the “Time Out” TV set. The narrator gives a brief overview of the program which includes: a commentary from Bill Veeck, a look at the sport of curling with John Mengelt, an NFL Weekend Preview with Gary Fencik, and an interview with former Chicago Cubs Catcher Randy Hundley.

01:25Copy video clip URL The four commentators begin to talk about the debate over the installation of lights at Wrigley Field. This eventually cuts into a commentary with Bill Veeck.

03:30Copy video clip URL Bill Veeck and Roger Wallenstein discuss the effect of Jim Finks’ resignation as President of the Chicago Cubs. Veeck states that he was amazed after hearing the news. He goes into detail about the possible influences behind Finks leaving the Cubs and states that Finks might have felt like he couldn’t benefit the team any more. Veeck remains very complimentary of the former president by saying that he is “a very practical man.”

06:36Copy video clip URL Cut back to the four commentators who continue to talk about Finks’ resignation and his future in the NFL. The four also talk about the extension of Dallas Green as General Manager of the Cubs and the recent Chicago Bulls/Houston Rockets game at Chicago Stadium. The “Time Out” crew was in attendance and interviewed Rockets’ coach Bill Fitch about his experience in coaching Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.

09:06Copy video clip URL Fitch talks about his experience coaching Olajuwon and Sampson and compares it to his coaching Robert Parish and Kevin McHale on the Boston Celtics. He also talks about Olajuwon’s development as a basketball player. This leads into a segment with Telander reading aloud a sports-themed Christmas poem.

11:21Copy video clip URL Telander recites a poem to a number of pseudo-patrons at a table in the back bar. This lasts for several minutes.

14:01Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of Mengelt and Spielman who introduce a segment on ex-Cub Randy Hundley’s Fantasy Baseball League for men thirty and over. Bill Veeck sits down with Hundley to talk about the league and its formation. Hundley states that it has been a “tremendous human experience for everyone involved. … I think the intriguing thing about it is everyone has dreamed of being a big league ball player of some type, and they just think, ‘well this is an opportunity to fulfill that dream.'”  A number of ex-Cubs are also involved with the camp. Veeck expresses his jealousy at not thinking of the idea himself. He jokes with Hundley at the end of the interview by asking if they accept one legged guys into the camp. This lasts for several minutes.

19:47Copy video clip URL Cut to the “Time Out Sports Almanac” segment.

20:40Copy video clip URL Dissolve into a shot of the four commentators who briefly talk about Hundley’s baseball camp before introducing a segment on the sport of curling.

21:10Copy video clip URL We are first greeted by Mengelt who is standing in the middle of the curling playing area. He interviews several curling players about the sport and gives a shot at playing the game.

23:52Copy video clip URL Fencik sits down with Mengelt to give his weekly NFL game preview. The two also talk about Jim McMahon’s injuries and how that has affected both runningback Walter Payton and the team as a whole. This is followed by a football quiz question.

26:04Copy video clip URL Cut back to the four commentators who go on to make their sports predictions for the week. This is then followed by the credits and a promo.

29:23Copy video clip URL Tape ends.