Skip to main content
  • Join The Club
FOLLOW US
Menu Close
  • On Air
  • Audio
  • News
  • Twins
  • Weather
  • Traffic
  • Traffic
  • Weekday show audio
    • Dave Lee
    • Hey, It's Cory Hepola
    • Chad Hartman
    • Paul and Jordana
    • Sports To The Max with Mike Max
    • The Henry Lake Show
  • All On Demand Show Audio
  • Podcasts
    • Hines Reads
    • Beers with Blois
    • Hey, they grow up so fast
    • Real Leaders with Roshini
    • Synapse Podcast
    • Two Haute Mamas
    • World Of Aviation
    • Youth Sports Intervention with Lea B. Olsen
  • Sports
    • Twins
    • Timberwolves
    • St Thomas
    • Vikings
  • News
    • Local
    • State
    • National
    • Politics
    • World
  • Complete Schedule
  • Contests
    • Contest Rules
    • Contests
  • Galleries
  • Events
  • WCCO Radio Good Neighbor
  • WCCO Radio Good Neighbor Business Of The Week
Listen
  • Live
  • Podcasts
    ONLINE STREAM

    Never miss a story or breaking news alert! Listen at work or while you surf.

  • Episode 12: If you are an elite athlete will you be scouted? Piston's Coach Dwight Casey tells you why
    December 05, 2019
  • Real Leaders with Roshini: Prouty Project's CEO challenges you to stretch yourself--even if that means traveling to one end of the Earth
    December 05, 2019
  • 11-30-19 - The Retire Young Radio Show presented by Online Trading Academy.mp3
    November 30, 2019
  • He survived the fiery crash to tell the story.
    November 28, 2019
  • The new haute mama: Lindy's mom "GiGi"
    November 26, 2019
  • Two Haute Mamas Take Over Nascar
    November 26, 2019
  • Real Leaders with Roshini: Ali Kaplan is a triple threat online, in print, and on the airwaves
    November 26, 2019
  • 11-19-19 UGM Shepherd of the Valley Church
    November 26, 2019
  • 11-22-19 UGM Paul Mordh
    November 26, 2019
  • 11-21-19 UGM Kent Peterson Bituminous
    November 26, 2019

Breaking News

  • Local
  • National
  • Proposed Minneapolis budget draws both support and opposition
  • Klobuchar returns to Iowa with plan for a changing economy
  • Evening News: MN takes on JUUL, Hartman on impeachment and a wild boar attack
  • Minnesota's domestic violence problem highlighted by recent deaths
  • NTSB: lack of training, documentation contributed to deadly Minnehaha Academy explosion
  • Headlines: Harris drops out, NTSB says lack of training led to contributed to gas explosion at Minnehaha Academy
  • New conditions, delivery methods for Minnesota medical pot
  • Hey, St. Paul... move those cars! Please...
  • Score one for the B1G, thanks to the Gophers
  • Seahawks outscore Vikings on MNF 37-30
  • Hotel collapse in New Orleans leaves 1 dead, 2 missing

On Air Now

  • Podcasts
  • Episode 12: If you are an elite athlete will you be scouted? Piston's Coach Dwight Casey tells you why
    December 05, 2019
  • Real Leaders with Roshini: Prouty Project's CEO challenges you to stretch yourself--even if that means traveling to one end of the Earth
    December 05, 2019
  • 11-30-19 - The Retire Young Radio Show presented by Online Trading Academy.mp3
    November 30, 2019
  • He survived the fiery crash to tell the story.
    November 28, 2019
  • The new haute mama: Lindy's mom "GiGi"
    November 26, 2019
  • Two Haute Mamas Take Over Nascar
    November 26, 2019
  • Real Leaders with Roshini: Ali Kaplan is a triple threat online, in print, and on the airwaves
    November 26, 2019
  • 11-19-19 UGM Shepherd of the Valley Church
    November 26, 2019
  • 11-22-19 UGM Paul Mordh
    November 26, 2019
  • 11-21-19 UGM Kent Peterson Bituminous
    November 26, 2019

Recent Podcast Audio

Episode 12: If you are an elite athlete will you be scouted? Piston's Coach Dwight Casey tells you why
Real Leaders with Roshini
Real Leaders with Roshini: Prouty Project's CEO challenges you to stretch yourself--even if that means traveling to one end of the Earth
11-30-19 - The Retire Young Radio Show presented by Online Trading Academy
He survived the fiery crash to tell the story.
The new haute mama: Lindy's mom "GiGi"
Two Haute Mamas Take Over Nascar
View More Episodes

Recent On-Demand Audio

Katie McMahon
Dr. Love!
Club Crawling with Greg Burke
Mike Max 840
Richard Louv
View More On-Demand Audio

Former Timberwolves voice Kevin Harlan remembers his time in Minnesota

© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
© Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
© Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
(Getty Images / Rob Carr / Staff)
(Getty Images / D Dipasupil / Stringer)
(Getty Images / Minas Panagiotakis / Stringer)
(Getty Images / Minas Panagiotakis / Stringer)
(Getty Images / Harry How / Staff)
(Getty Images / D Dipasupil / Stringer)
(Getty Images / Minas Panagiotakis / Stringer)

Harlan will be on the mic for the Vikings-Broncos this Sunday

The WCCO Morning News with Dave Lee
November 14, 2019 - 4:29 pm
Categories: 
Sports
Local

When it comes to the top voices in network sports these days, Kevin Harlan's in the same league as Al Michaels, Marv Albert or Joe Buck.  His style, beloved by sports fans around the country, was created over 9 memorable years with the Minnesota Timberwolves.  

His roots, as he discussed this week on the Morning News with John Hines, are firmly rooted in the Midwest.  His years in Minnesota and Kansas City are what most sports fans are familiar with. 

But Harlan's story starts much earlier, and in enemy territory.

Bob Harlan is a name those of us in Minnesota may not be familiar with.  Cross the border into Wisconsin, and that name is synonymous with the Packers.  Bob Harlan was the Chairman of the Board, and CEO of that franchise between 1989 and 2008.  This is the guy who turned the Packers into one of the league's most succesful franchises, helped them win a Super Bowl, and was inducted into the Packers and Wisconsin Halls of Fame.   

Bob Harlan is the father of Kevin.  And as Kevin admitted to John Hines Thursday morning, he has a soft spot for the green and gold.

"I grew up in Green Bay," Harlan said.  "My dad was with the Packers for 37 years, ran the team for 21 years.  I was a ball boy for the Packers and I've broadcasted their preseason games since 2003.  Deep down inside, and probably not a good thing to say as I'm coming back to the Twin Cities, the Packers are the team that is my team."  

Harlan started broadcasting games in high school for WGBP, his school radio station.  He did basketball, football and hockey.  Harlan left Wisconsin to attend the University of Kansas where Jayhawk Basketball play-by-play announcer Tom Hedrick took the young Harlan under his wing.  Evenutally, Harlan began to fill-in for Hedrick from time-to-time before graduating in 1982.  

Harlan's career path took him to the NBA as the voice of the Kansas City Kings (now Sacramento), back to the University of Kansas, and then was the Kansas City Chiefs radio voice from 1985-1993.  He also did games for the Univerity of Missouri between for three years. 

Harlan and his family have called Kansas City home since leaving Wisconsin.

In 1989, the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves joined the NBA.  From 1989-1998, Harlan's voice and memorable calls were one of the highlights for the franchise as they struggled for an identity on the court.  The Timberwolves lost a lot of games during those 9 seasons.  Harlan and his original partner on those broadcasts, Tom Hanneman, would inject comedy in order to survive a lot of long nights watching another Wolves loss.

Harlan talked about some of those early years with John Hines Thursday:

"Those early years with the Timberwolves were good for my career, in terms of relaxing and enjoying the game.  Finding the fun parts to embellish, and the great moments to get excited for, with a very good friend Tom Hanneman.  Tom and I have these personalities that mix pretty well.  One of the funniest, nicest, best guys I've ever worked with.  He was really the driving force in some of those crazy broadcasts, and we had some fun."

Early Wolves fans will remember some of the great calls from Harlan:  "Oh, baby what a play!"  "Kevin Garnett's gone crazy!"  "With no regard for human life!"  "Googly-Oogly-Oogly!"  "We've got takeoff!"

Harlan had many partners over those 9 years besides Hannemen.  Both on TV and on radio in those days, Harlan worked with Len Elmore, Sidney Lowe, Quinn Buckner, Trent Tucker and our own Chad Hartman. 

The most memorable partner during those years was probably Kevin McHale.  They worked together between 1993 and 1995 before McHale moved to the front office, a brief but fun period for Wolves fans.  The game was almost an afterthought to the enjoyability of listening to the Kevins go back-and-forth.  

By 1997, Harlan had been tapped by Turner Sports to work NBA Playoff games, which he still continues to do.  He also began doing radio for Westwood One doing NFL games, including his current gig with Monday Night Football.  In 1998, Harlan left the Wolves for the much greener pastures of CBS Sports, where he also continues to work.  He also has done NCAA Tournament games for many years for CBS.

Harlan will call the Vikings-Broncos game on CBS TV this Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

In his time at the network level, Harlan still brings out the early craziness Wolves fans were blessed with during his time with the franchise.  Those of us in Minnesota aren't surprised when Harlan does play-by-play of a streaker on the field, or a black cat that gets loose at a Monday Night Football game (even working in a sponsor read!).  

While Harlan calls Kansas City home, and was reared in the land of the Packers, Harlan still has that soft spot for Minnesota.

"My wife and I are coming in this weeeknd.  We can't wait to get back there and see some old friends."

Be the first to know about prizes, contests, giveaways and interviews + analysis exclusive to News Talk 830 WCCO.

Tags: 
Kevin Harlan
Timberwolves
Kevin McHale
CBS
NFL
Vikings
football
NBA
Basketball
FOLLOW US
When texting this station, message & data rates apply. Message frequency is recurring and varies. Reply STOP to cancel. No purchase necessary.
  • On Air
    • Complete Schedule
    • Morning News
    • Dave Lee
    • Hey, It's Cory Hepola
    • Paul and Jordana
    • WCCO Radio News Hour at 6pm
    • Sports To The Max with Mike Max
  • On Demand
    • Latest Audio
    • Podcasts
    • Video
    • Listen Live
    • All show audio
  • News
    • Local
    • State
    • National
    • Politics
    • World
    • Business
    • Health
    • Entertainment
    • Strange
  • Connect
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Newsletter
    • Events
    • WCCO Radio Good Neighbor
    • WCCO Radio Good Neighbor Business Of The Week
  • Station
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    • 1Thing Sustainability
    • Listen FAQ
  • Teams
    • St. Thomas
    • Timberwolves
    • Twins
  • Show audio
  • Contact Us
  • Contest Rules
  • Careers
  • EEO Public Files
  • Public Inspection File
  • Public File Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Copyright Notice

© 2019 Entercom Communications Corp. All rights reserved.

Part of RADIO.COM News.