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May 13, 2009
'Voice of the Cardinals' makes another HOF
By GREG FALLON
gfallon@muncie.gannett.com
MUNCIE -- Morry Mannies has a rule.
For
the sake of not missing one single game, surgeries must wait until the
offseason. And despite sometimes excruciating pain in his back during
the most recent Ball State football and basketball seasons, this year
was no exception to that rule.
The
53-year "Voice of the Cardinals" elected to delay spinal surgery until
March 31. He had a similar surgery a few years ago. This time, however,
the recovery turned out to be quite a challenge.
The
legendary East Central Indiana radio sportscaster -- the
longest-tenured active Division I play caller in the nation, he
believes -- spent all but two days of April in the hospital recovering.
He finally returned home May 2.
"It's
been very difficult. I'm still weak, but at least I'm up and around,"
Mannies said. "I haven't had a very active life recently."
Still, because of his rule, Mannies fully anticipates being ready for football season come August.
It's
that steadfast devotion and passion for what he does that on Tuesday
landed Mannies another honor for an already stacked résumé.
The
Indiana Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame on Oct. 1 will induct
Mannies, who has called more than 5,300 Ball State and high school
games and logged more than 35,000 hours behind the microphone during
his career.
"Whenever
you're elected or nominated for something like this, it makes you feel
good," Mannies said. "Particularly from the standpoint that this is
kind of a lifetime award."
This
sort of honor is nothing new for Mannies. It's just the latest in what
is already one of the most distinguished careers in the state.
Mannies has already been awarded:Indiana Sportscaster of the Year (three times).Mid-American Conference Sportscaster of the Year (three times).Induction
to the Ball State Athletics, Mid-American Conference, Delaware County
and the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Halls of
Fame.Recipient of the Ball State University Alumni Association Beneficence Award in 1985.Recipient of the Alumni Association's highest honor, a Distinguished Alumni Award, in 2005.
Mannies
-- who in 1956 was hired by WLBC founder Don Burton, also a member of
the IBA Hall of Fame -- will be inducted with 1968 Ball State alum Tom
Cochrun. Cochrun was the main anchor at WTHR-TV in Indianapolis from
1986 to 1995 and was news director at WISH-TV in Indianapolis from 2003
to 2006. Also being inducted are Dick Baldwin, David Goodnow, Jimmy
Mack and Anne Ryder.
"It's a huge honor," Ball State Athletic
Director Tom Collins said Tuesday. "Obviously, anyone who has been at
their craft for 53 years, deserves a lot of credit. We are happy that
Morry is one of our graduates and alumni and done such a great job with
Ball State sports over the years."
Mannies and the others will be inducted to the Hall on Oct. 1 at The Fountains in Carmel.
By
then, he anticipates being fully recovered from his surgery. And
despite the recovery setbacks over the last month and the pain he
endured while behind the mic during the season, Mannies said he not
only fully intends on fulfilling year No. 54 this coming season, he
foresees a few more years in the booth beyond it.
"As long as my
health is good and my skills are good, I would like to continue," said
Mannies, whose first broadcast was a Central football game at LaPorte
High School in 1956. "It's still my most exciting hobby. It's the thing
I love to do."
So much so, in fact, surgeries in Morry Mannies' world just play second fiddle.
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