Max

If you are part of the Jayhawk Nation, you know the subject of this story.  But even if you don't know what a Jayhawk is, there might be something special here for you.

Max Falkenstien broadcast his final Kansas Jayhawk basketball game inside historic Allen Fieldhouse Wednesday night.  It wasn't your normal farewell however.  Max has been broadcasting KU basketball and football games for 60 years.  Let me repeat.  60 years.  Can you even imagine doing the same thing for 60 years?  And liking it?  Max did and he loved it.

Allen Fieldhouse opened in 1955, the same year I was born by the way.  He has been at the microphone for every game in the greatest college basketball venue in America.  (Bring it on Duke and Kentucky.)  But he already had a decade under his belt when the basketball team moved in to the house that Phog Allen built.  I am just one of hundreds of thousands of Kansas fans who have listened to Max call KU basketball and football.  When I was a youngster, I would hide the radio under the pillow on KU game nights to listen to Max call the game, more often than not a victory. 

Kansas honored Max Wednesday night at halftime of the Jayhawks game with Colorado.  His career was reviewed.  Athletes representing all six decades of Max's broadcast career were at mid court with him.  His family, including his wife of 57 years were seated with him.  Max said he knows she has heard more KU radio broadcasts than anyone else.  And then Max received the greatest honor anyone can receive in Allen Fieldhouse.  A banner was unveiled high in the south end of the fieldhouse with his name and his "retired jersey number."  60.

At 4:00 p.m. Wednesday I made a decision that I will always be glad I made.  I have season tickets to Kansas basketball and I usually attend the games.  Tonight I decided to go home to watch the game on television.  But I had the radio on instead of the announcers on television.  And I listened to Max Falkenstien broadcast his last game from his beloved Allen Fieldhouse.  It was my personal way of paying him a tribute for giving us 60 years of great memories. 

   The word legend gets thrown around.  Max Falkenstien is a living legend and a true citizen brand.  Trust me, Max would never use either of those phrases.  But I will.  Thanks Max.

Oh, by the way, Kansas beat Colorado 75-54.  You think the Jayhawks would lose tonight?  No way.

Comments

[brady]

I am a part of one of the younger generations to grow up with Max. I remember the first time I listened to Max with my dad and him telling me that he used to listen to Max when he was my age really impressed me. I have a tape recording of the 1988 National Championship broadcast with Max and Bob Davis and I used to listen to it every night as I was falling asleep, for years. I can recite most of the broadcast because of it, and will certainly remember forever the way Max so genuinely and, in his eternally youthful way, simply cheered "The Jayhawks are National Champions, YEAAA!"

Congrats, Max, on a wonderful career and life.

[Justin]

Very nice write-up on a living legend. Although I'm not an alum, as a college basketball fan and native Kansan, I've always been a fan of Jayhawk hoops.