There’s been some beautiful eulogies and tributes toward the late Bill Walton, who passed Monday after a prolonged battle with cancer. But Boston sports radio host Fred Toucher took the road less traveled, opting for the Mike Francesa route of offering a eulogy and then some.
The 71-year-old Walton has yet to be laid to rest by his family and loved ones, and Toucher felt it’d be appropriate to rifle off a couple of shots at the beloved basketball player and announcer.
This all started when a caller suggested to Toucher around 7:35 a.m. ET on Toucher & Hardy that the host pay tribute to Walton with a clip of him hanging up on Walton some 14 years ago after the Celtics lost the 2010 NBA Finals.
“While I don’t know, it happened,” Toucher said. “He called in and was acting a fool about his son on the Lakers.”
He then mocked Walton while mimicking his voice.
Oh no, first of all, you gotta buy a Jeep Wrangler.’ But while he was selling cars, like make up your mind, you phony hippie. Are you really selling cars, or are you all about peace and love?” Toucher said.
Whether he was joking or not — we won’t assume — it’s in bad taste, especially calling Walton a “phony hippie.” Every story that comes out from media members shows that not only does everyone have a story to tell about Walton, but he was universally loved and praised. Sure, you can see how your paths crossed with a moment made for radio, but when your knee-jerk reaction is to name-call someone who hasn’t been dead for 24 hours, perhaps you’re better off not commenting at all.
And when the show deliberated about playing the clip, Toucher uttered these lovely words: “Just go ahead; he’s dead. I didn’t kill him.”
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