Washington Wizards: Bidding a Personal Farewell To Phil Chenier

Washington Wizards play-by-play analyst Phil Chenier has been a member of the team for virtually his entire life, but now his time’s coming to an end.

(Note: I’ve refrained from writing anything personal on this website for a long time, but figured this might be a good time to reflect.)

Like everyone else, I’ve had bad days.

Instead of sulking in my own misery, I found solace in basketball. Whenever I had a bad day or just wanted to remove myself from whatever was bothering me, I turned to the sport. I often put my headphones in, shooting for hours at a time until I felt better. I practiced free throws, threes and pull up jump shots to the beat of the music in my ears.

By the time I returned home, my day was almost over and the dreadful feeling inevitably reappeared. But I couldn’t go to sleep with that feeling. So, again, I turned to basketball.

With the courts closed, I had to resort to watching basketball instead of playing it. That was my routine for years.

On nights when I didn’t feel good about myself nor my environment, I looked forward to watching the Washington Wizards play – but not because of the game itself.

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After Gilbert Arenas‘ departure in Washington, the Wizards were tough to watch. Andray Blatche, at least for a few months, was the face of the franchise. More description really isn’t necessary.

Still, the Wizards made me feel better. They made me forget about my troubles and temporarily pushed the negative thoughts and feelings away.

I became accustomed to watching the Wizards lose. The New Jersey Nets are awful. Washington can sneak out with a win. I’d convince myself the Wizards had a chance, but rarely did.

I still tuned in almost every night.

There was something oddly comforting about the Wizards. It took me a long time to figure out why I kept watching, even before I started covering the team.

Now I know why I subjected myself to what was a poor representation of NBA basketball.

I kept watching because of Steve Buckhantz and Phil Chenier.

The broadcast duo loved the game more than anybody in the world, it seemed. Buckhantz coined phrases for certain shots, expressing genuine excitement when one of the Wizards performed well. I looked forward to hearing a potential “Dagger!” call every night.

Even more than the commentary and play-by-play, I kept watching (and listening) for the passion the two exuded.

Chenier, a former Washington Bullet, never lauded himself for his accomplishments on-air, despite being one of the best guards to ever put on a jersey for the nation’s capital.

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Whenever Buckhantz noted one of his many successes in D.C., Chenier quickly deflected the comment and spoke about a former teammate.

The two have remarkable chemistry, like no other broadcasting duo in the NBA.

They lean on each other for support, excusing one another if an interruption occurs.

If a game gets rough, they start to entertain the audience by reminiscing about the past or even injecting some of their personal lives to the call.

There’s a sort of unselfishness that’s represented in each of their broadcasts; a level of respect that’s unmatched. Both genuinely love sitting next to each other, regardless of the outcome.

And at the end of this season, the duo will be split, as reported by Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post. After 33 years of talking Washington Wizards fans through joy and struggle, CSN has decided not to renew Chenier’s contract, effectively ending his time with the team.

The replacements, on the surface, are exciting. Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood, Antonio Daniels and Chris Webber have all been floated around as former Wizards who could fill Chenier’s seat next season.

But Chenier’s energy and his calming presence will never be replaced. The chemistry he had with Buckhantz will not be replicated.

As the season comes to a close, the Washington Wizards are on pace to win 50 games – something they haven’t done since 1978, when Chenier was still in the league. At the very least, Chenier will be a part of an historical run with the franchise.

Next: Why the Wizards Could Get To the NBA Finals

Things for the team, and myself, are different. I’ve learned to cope with difficulties and embrace life for what it is: full of joy, challenges and questions. But whenever I need a quick pick-me-up, I tune into the Wizards broadcast, knowing Buck and Phil will be there to provide comfort, just like they always have.